Spain: Hiking the Picos de Europa
Join us on this hiking adventure in the under touristed and spectacular Picos de Europa of Northern Spain, and explore a dramatic mountain range of limestone peaks that soar to nearly 9,000 feet, with views of the Bay of Biscay below.
Explore another side of Spain on this trek through the Picos de Europa, a beautiful mountain range soaring to nearly 9,000 feet, 29 miles from the Atlantic coast. See impressive limestone spires, wander through cavernous gorges, and traverse rugged trails leading to villages accessible only by foot. You won't find castanets or flamenco in this unexpected side of Spain, but you will find challenging mountain trails, a rich Asturian culture combining ancient Spanish and Celtic traditions, and all under the guideance of native Asturian Erik Perez, who has been hiking these trails since his childhood. Erik is our 20+ year guide for this exclusive trip - no other company takes hikers on this itinerary - and his native expertise will initiate you into to a captivating landscape and a little known local culture.
Day 1: Arrive in Oviedo, Spain
Meet in Oviedo, Spain and transfer to a beautiful parador near Cangas de Onis, home of King Pelayo, who started the Christian reconquest of Spain in the 8th century.
Day 2: Posada de Valdeón
Visit the neo-Romanesque basilica of Covadonga before returning to Cangas de Onis.
Day 3: Day hike
Hike across a pass to Valdeon, a valley between the two large massifs of the Picos de Europa.
Day 4: Cares Gorge – Sotres
Hike through the dramatic Cares Gorge and then up to Bulnes. Continue across an open valley to Sotres.
Day 5: Hike to Aliva
Hike across the central massif of the Picos, ascending rocky trails to the base of several limestone peaks. Optional scramble up Pico Tesorero (8,300'). Descend to a well-appointed mountain hotel in Aliva.
Day 6: Aliva
Hike through local villages or optional scramble up Pico de la Padiorna (7,500').
Day 7: Ribadesella
Return hike through the Duje River Valley to Sotres. Drive to seaside Ribadesella and view the Paleolithic rock art at the caves of Tito Bustillo.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Oviedo and depart. (The September departure can be done back-to-back with our Across the Pyrenees trip.)
TRIP INCLUDES
- expert leadership
- accommodations as noted in itinerary (or similar)
- meals as noted in the itinerary
- airport transfers on Day-1 and Day-8
- sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
- ground transportation
- additional guides when necessary
- tips for hotel staff
- entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
- International airfare
- meals not noted on itinerary
- insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance)
- optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff
- excess baggage charges
- airport taxes (international—varies by location)
- cost of medical immunizations
- items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).
CANCELLATIONS:
20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable