Walking in the Picos De Europa
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walking in the picos de europa A UTracks active holiday is all about exploring Europe your way. It’s about walking or cycling the incredible trails of Europe and becoming completing immersed in your travel experience. Since we began in 2006, UTracks has been the leader in active European holidays. Our itineraries have always been creative, rewarding, and very affordable. With over 450 active trips across the continent, UTracks offers unique opportunities explore europe your way to discover an untrodden Europe that spans postcard‑perfect landscapes, centuries‑old cultures, rural lifestyles and tempting gastronomic delights. You can choose to set your own pace on a flexible self guided journey or enjoy the benefits of an experienced local guide on a small group tour. We cater to all fitness abilities with our honest graded system that defines our trips from introductory to challenging. Plus we offer exceptional value with many inclusions on all our trips, allowing you more freedom to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders of Europe. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2‑star or 4‑star, small group or self guided, land, river or sea – UTracks helps you explore Europe exactly theBay way of you want. Biscay TRIP COST TRIP NAME: WALKING IN THE PICOS DE EUROPA Joining Arenas de TRIP CODE: PDE France Cabrales from : $1130 Las Arenas Black Sea TRIP DURATION: Adriatic Sea Trip Concludes: 8 DAYS Bulnes Tielve Arenas de Cabrales GRADE: MODERATE ‑ 3 All prices are per person Spain OPTIONS & ACTIVITY: Madrid Tyrrhenian SELF GUIDED WALK Aegean Sea SUPPLEMENTS Sea L. Tuz ACCOMMODATION: 6 NIGHTS IN 2‑3 STAR HOTELS, Discount for 1 less 1 NIGHT MOUNTAIN HUT Mediterranean Sea night in Sotres: $-50 Ionian DATE DETAILS: Sea Supplement For DAILY FROM 15 APR TO 25 OCT Hotel in Sotres on Day 6: $100 highlights H - High Season Exploring the unique countryside with its mysterious woods, wide glacier valleys and limestone Surcharge: $130 rock formations, including the famous Picu Urriellu Mediterranean Sea Staying at friendly, family run hotels in authentic Spanish villages with opportunities to sample Single Supplement: $350 delicious Cabrales blue cheese and sparkling Asturian apple cider Single Traveller Suitable for families (3‑4 person rooms available) Surcharge: $460 Dead Sea As the trip price is based on twinshare, the trip a single supplement is payable if Rising from the ocean, the Picos de Europa is one of the most striking mountain ranges on the you are not sharing with a friend / family member ‑ or a single traveller Iberian Peninsula. Just 40km long and 20km wide, the jagged limestone peaks rise to 2600m and supplement if you are travelling solo*. contrast sharply with the lush valleys dotted with small hamlets far below. Rich in wildlife such as Please refer to the price options for costs or ask our office for details. chamois, hedgehogs and wild boar and an abundance of wildflowers, the national park is a delight. Note regarding single rooms ‑ The Perhaps the most striking feature of the Picos is the deep gorges and rivers which divide the range single supplement guarantees the into three distinct massifs. The focus of this walk is between the central massif (Macizo Central), privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in home to the highest peak Torre de Cerredo (2648m) and the eastern massif (Macizo Oriental). some places may not enjoy the same Highlights include walking in the wide glacier valleys overlooked by the limestone peaks, the authentic facilities as double/twin rooms. villages and the ascent to the base of Naranjo de Bulnes’ west face, considered to be the signature *The single traveller surcharge is only available on trips deemed suitable peak of the region. At night stay in small family run hotels in Arenas and Sotres with opportunities for solo travellers. It is usually more to sample local specialties such as the famous blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales. expensive than the single supplement due to the extra cost for luggage transfers and organisation. IMPORTANT NOTES H - High Season © World Expeditions Travel Group - Dana Garofani 11/29/2019 9:13:18 AM Page 1 walking in the picos de europa DN1 - High season is from 10 Jul to 15 Sep and a supplement applies. itinerary at a glance DN2 - Departures before mid June may not be able to ascend to the mountain Day 1 Arrive Arenas de Cabrales refuge due to snow conditions and an alternative route will be suggested. Day 2 Walk to the summer meadows of Nava above the Cares River (5.5 or 4hrs) Sotres hotel supplement applies. Day 3 Transfer to Tielve and walk through beech forests to Sotres (4hrs) Day 4 Walk the eastern massif of the Picos (5.5 or 8.5hrs) Day 5 A loop walk around Tresviso (5.5hrs or choice of walks 2.5 to 6.5hrs) Day 6 Ascend to the foot of the west face of Naranjo de Bulnes (5.5hrs) Day 7 Descend to Bulnes and walk through gorges (5hrs) Day 8 Trip concludes detailed itinerary Note: *Departures before mid June and during October may not be able to ascend to the mountain refuge on day 6 due to snow conditions. There is also an option to stay in Sotres on this night – supplement applies in either case. High season is from 11 July to 15 September and a supplement applies. DAY 1 Arrive Arenas de Cabrales On arrival in Arenas de Cabrales, make your way to your hotel located in the centre of the village. We recommend you try the local cider on one of the terraces, visit the parish church with its Romanesque portal and paintings or head to the “Cueva del Queso” Museum, where you get a brief explanation of how the local blue cheese is made. Dinner in the hotel is served from 8:30pm until 10pm, in typical Spanish style. meals: D DAY 2 Walk to the summer meadows of Nava above the Cares River (5.5 or 4hrs) Today’s walk takes you up to the summer meadows of Nava, situated 500m above the Cares River, with excellent views down to the river and towards the high peaks of the Picos the Europa. This is a strenuous but very rewarding walk, especially in early summer when the meadows display a multitude of brightly coloured flowers. There is an option of doing an alternative shorter walk through shady countryside at a lower elevation. Overnight in Arenas. Walking: 5.5hrs option: 11.5km/7.1mi, 650m/2132ft ascent and descent or 4hr options: 10km/6.2mi, 410m/1345ft ascent and descent) meals: B,D DAY 3 Transfer to Tielve and walk through beech forests to Sotres (4hrs) After a short transfer, you will start a lovely mountain walk from Tielve, one of the most authentic villages in this part of the Picos. First you ascend to the summer meadows and cabins above Tielve, enjoying magnificent views over the Picos. You then climb steadily through a fairytale landscape of heather, old beech trees and streams to the pass at La Caballar (1240m), then down to Sotres (1050m), one of the highest villages in the Picos de Europa. Today’s route also includes a walk to Valfríu, where the local famous blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales, is produced. Overnight in Sotres. Walking: 4hrs, 9km/5.6mi, 575m/1886ft ascent, 250m/820ft descent meals: B,D © World Expeditions Travel Group - Dana Garofani 11/29/2019 9:13:18 AM Page 2 walking in the picos de europa DAY 4 Walk the eastern massif of the Picos (5.5 or 8.5hrs) Today there is a circular walk of the eastern Andara massif of the Picos, an area exploited by mining industries in the 19th century. After a short transfer to Hitu Escarandi, the walk begins through surprisingly varied terrain. Initially there is a steep ascent along a former mining track and along some rocky paths. You then walk around an impressive limestone peak in the heart of the massif, later following cattle trails through woods, fields of heather and pastures back to Sotres. This is a wonderful way to explore the strange moon-like landscape of karst, with views to the Cantabrian Sea on a clear day. You’ll enjoy spotting all types of alpine flora, and there is a good chance of seeing chamois, vultures and different species of eagles. There are several options to shorten or extend your walk. Overnight in Sotres. Walking: 5.5hrs option: 12km/7.5mi, 550m/1804ft ascent, 840m/2755ft descent or 8.5hrs option: 18.5km/11.5mi, 1045m/3428ft ascent, 1335m/4379ft descent meals: B,D DAY 5 A loop walk around Tresviso (5.5hrs or choice of walks 2.5 to 6.5hrs) Today you can choose from three walks depending on the weather and your personal preference. There’s a 20 minute transfer (included) before a 5.5 hour walk through the meadows and beech woods of the neighbouring village of Tresviso, where the rare Urugallo, or local Capercaille, lives. A technically easy but longer walk of about 6.5 hours starts with a short transfer (included) then it’s up and down to the summer meadows of Áliva to 1650m through an interesting glacial valley in the shadow of the impressive limestone walls of the central and oriental massifs. Half way you can take a rest at the Hotel Refugio de Áliva, which has extraordinary views from the terrace. Or there’s a quiet 2.5hr stroll along farming tracks near the hotel. Overnight in Sotres. Walking: 2.5 to 6.5hrs, 6 to 18.5km/3.7 to 11.2mi, 300 to 755m/984 to 2477ft ascent/ descent meals: B,D DAY 6 Ascend to the foot of the west face of Naranjo de Bulnes (5.5hrs) The most spectacular walk of the trip leads you to the Vega de Urriellu, reaching an elevation of 2000m, at the foot of the impressive Picu Urriellu, also known as the Naranjo de Bulnes.