Pyrenees Self-Guided Walks | Point-to-Point Hike

Grade

Moderate

Duration

7 Nights

Style

Self-Guided

Type

Village-to-Village

Price

from £1375

Country

Spain

Unforgettable walks
With you every step
Handpicked hotels with warm hospitality
Mountain holiday specialists since 1997

A self-guided exploration of the Valle de Tena, showcasing the best of the higher Spanish Pyrenees

The Pyrenees offers some of the most remote and wild walking of any of our destinations and on this holiday you will enjoy some of the best medium and high level walks in the area. This is a wonderful route – with fantastic views throughout – plenty of variety and a real sense of journey as you progress up the Valle de Tena.

Your route doesn’t just “stay low” but gets up into the higher mountains. You’ll stay at small traditional Pyrenean villages with narrow winding streets and stone houses centred around medieval churches. This holiday has been designed with intermediate walkers in mind – but each day you will be able to choose between either a shorter or longer option. You’ll cover a reasonable distance each day – between 10 km (6 miles) and 14 km (9 miles) (and up to 20 km (12 miles) on the longer options).

On a Collett’s village-to-village holiday, you do the walking – and we take care of all the rest. Our comprehensive maps and route notes make for effortless navigation, while your baggage is transported daily to the next carefully-selected overnight stop. Each evening you’ll be welcomed into the comfort of traditional accommodation, in charmed surroundings. You decide your dates, and we’ll ensure everything else is organised to perfection.

At a Glance

Dates

31 May – 27 September 2026
You can start any day but Airport transfers (£90 pp return) are available on Sundays only. Private transfers are also available any day (from £240 per taxi each way).

Price

14^th July to 10^thSept – £1475
All other dates – £1375
Single supplement – £185

Grade

Moderate

What’s included

7 Nights Accommodation – in handpicked 2, 3 and 4* hotels
Dinner – each evening either in your hotel, or a local restaurant
Packed Lunch – on Day 2
Baggage Transfers – from hotel to hotel
Welcome Briefing – on arrival
Detailed Route Cards – including maps, route descriptions, GPX tracks etc.
24/7 Telephone Support – provided by our local partner, based in Biescas

Travel

This holiday starts and ends in Biescas. We recommend that you fly into Zaragoza, Barcelona or Madrid Airports.

Every Sunday a shared transfer (2hrs, £90pp return), picks up from:

Zaragoza Airport and are timed to meet the London Stansted to Zaragoza Ryanair flight, the times of which are as follows :
Dep. Stansted 06:20, Arr. Zaragoza 09:35
Dep. Zaragoza 10:10, Arr. Stansted 11:15
Zaragoza Delicias train station at 12:00 midday and drops off the following Sunday at 11:45.
Trains that fit well with our 12:00 inbound transfer are:
RENFE trains – the traditional rail company
Dep. Barcelona 9:55, Arr. Zaragoza 11:38
Dep. Madrid 10:27, Arr. Zaragoza 11:47
Iryo trains – very similar service to RENFE, website more user-friendly
Dep. Barcelona 9:50, Arr. Zaragoza 11:13
Dep. Madrid 9:57, Arr. Zaragoza 11:17
Trains that fit well with our 11:45 outbound Transfer are:
RENFE train – Dep. Zaragoza 12:52, Arr. Barcelona 14:46
Iryo trains – Dep. Zaragoza 12:41, Arr. Barcelona 14:14
RENFE train – Dep. Zaragoza 12:26, Arr. Madrid 13:52
Please note train times can vary depending on the dates but these train times usually run every Sunday. If you can’t get to Zaragoza for the 12 midday transfer, let us know and we may be able to pick you up later when we pick people up from the airport.

If you would like to take advantage of cheaper weekday flights, private transfers are also available any day of the week to/from Zaragoza or Lourdes Airport (2 hrs, approx. £240 each way for up to 8 people).

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive
Arrive in Biescas and settle in. Briefing in the evening about the week ahead, going over the route and giving you a chance to ask any questions.
Meals – Dinner
Overnight – 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
Day 2
Biescas to Panticosa
Shorter Option: Santa Elena – Panticosa: 10.7 km, ascent 670m
Longer Option: Biescas – Panticosa: 15.7km, ascent 870m
In the morning, you can either head out straight from the hotel, or we can give you a short lift to the area known as Santa Elena to cut the distance down for the first day. The route passes under the high cliffs of the Sierra de Tendeñera where you see the valley open up before you. Roughly halfway along the route you reach the pretty village of Hoz de Jaca where there is a kilometre long zip-line which you can ride across the lake. It’s great fun and makes for a nice break in the days hiking. The hike’s full of history as you pass a neolithic dolmen, the scenic church of Santa Elena and bunkers built by Franco to defend against invasion through the Pyrenees.
Meals – Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Overnight – 3* Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa
Day 3
Panticosa - Choice of Circular Walks
Shorter Option: 11.7km, ascent 530m
Medium Option: (via ski gondola): 15.1km, ascent 370m / descent 1050m
Longer Option: (Ibón de Sabocos) 18.5km, ascent 1150m
Today, you have a choice of two circular routes. The shorter option passes through lovely woodland into the meadows of the Valle la Ripera. At the head of the valley, you get to the area known as Rincon del Verde, where 700-metre vertical cliffs rise up from the meadows. The longer option heads up the Valle La Ripera, continuing over a 2000 metre (6560ft) col where you have the option of a side trip to the peak of Montaña del Verde (2288m, 7500 ft) which has wonderful views over the area. As you descend you pass the glacial tarn of Ibón de Sabocos before descending down to Panticosa. There is an excellent mid-length option from mid-July to late August when the ski gondola is running. This takes you up 700 metres into the high mountains from where you can take a fantastic hike back down to Panticosa – highly recommended.
Meals – Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight – 3* Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa
Day 4
Panticosa to Sallent de Gallego
Shorter Option: 10.2km, ascent: 300m
Longer Option: 13.2km, ascent: 900m
Continuing your journey you head into the northern half of the Valle de Tena. Either have an easy half day’s walk around the lake of Embalse de Lanuza, spending an afternoon in picturesque Sallent. Alternatively, climb steeply to the viewpoint of La Cucuraza for bird’s eye views back down to Panticosa and the Valle La Ripera where you hiked the day before. As you continue you get great views into the northern part of the valley and the border peaks before you descend steeply down to the very pretty village of Sallent.
Meals – Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight – Hotel Almud, Sallent de Gallego
Day 5
Aguas Limpias
Shorter Option: (La Sarra loop): 12.6 km (8 miles), ascent: 350m
Longer Option: (Ibones de Arriel): 21km (13 miles), ascent: 940m
Hike along the beautiful Rio Aguas Limpias – the river of clean water. You can have a leisurely day walking to a lovely picnic spot. Alternatively, head higher to a series of high altitude lakes set amongst spectacular mountain scenery.
Meals – Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight – Hotel Almud, Sallent de Gallego
Day 6
Punta del Pacino Circular
Shorter Option: 12 km, ascent: 650m
Medium Option: 14 km, ascent: 700m
Longer Option: 16 km, ascent: 750m
Today, you cross over to the western side of the valley to hike to the summit of Punta del Pacino. While this isn’t the highest peak of the week, it sits right in the middle of the valley, with no high peaks obscuring the view, and you can see almost your whole week’s hikes from the summit. The routes pass through lovely alpine meadows covered in orchids during early summer. The views are stunning throughout the day. There are three circular routes to choose from, each of differing lengths.
Meals – Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight –Hotel Almud, Sallent de Gallego
Day 7
Ibon de Piedrafita
Shorter Option: 13.2km, ascent: 520m
Longer Option: 14.3km, ascent: 730m
Today, you’ll take a short lift to Tramacastilla de Tena. Then one route option passes through the woods of Betato before climbing through meadows to the lake of Ibon de Piedrafita, nestled under the vast cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. The longer route takes a longer track through higher meadows to the lake. Both routes finish at the village of Piedrafita where you’ll be picked up for a short transfer to Biescas where you’ll spend your final night at Hotel Tierra de Biescas.
Meals – Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight –4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
Day 8
Depart
If you are flying from Zaragoza, expect an early start as our transfers are designed to get you to the airport in good time for the return Ryanair flight to London Stansted which departs at 1010! Otherwise we also offer a later transfer which drops off at the rail station at 1145.

Accommodation

Your base for the first and final nights is the excellent 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas in the heart of the old village, set in lovely grounds with an indoor and outdoor pool and a sauna which is a great treat after a weeks hiking. It has a bar, lounge area with sofa’s, a restaurant and gardens with loungers and tables. There is ample and safe parking at the hotel if you need to leave your car there during the week.

Your base for nights 2 and 3 is 3* Hotel Sabocos which is a friendly, family-run hotel in the centre of the village. It has a lovely sun terrace with mountain views – the perfect place to relax with a cold beer after a days hiking! Downstairs, as well as the terrace, you’ll find the restaurant and bar. Upstairs, there is a large lounge with sofas, a pool table and a library with reading area. Evening meals are taken at the hotels excellent restaurant. Some of the rooms of the hotel have balconies or terraces and all have mountain views.

Your next three nights are the spent at Hotel Almud is a wonderful stone building set in the winding streets of Sallent de Gállego. María José is your host in this friendly family-run hotel with just 11 rooms. The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with en-suite bathrooms. The bedrooms have mountain views.There is a living room and reading area with sofas and a stone fireplace where you can have a coffee and relax. Evening meals are taken at local restaurants. Breakfasts are taken at the hotel.

Testimonials

Highly recommended

Excellent organisation and briefing, with accurate up to date GPX files for phone navigation. Lovely hotels and evening meals. Really good destination and spectacular walking. Highly recommended.

Richard Edmunds

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best places to go walking in the Pyrenees?

There are many fantastic places to go walking in the Spanish Pyrenees, and this holiday includes some of the best walks in the Valle de Tena near villages such as Panticosa and Sallent de Gallego and Aguas Limpias.

The Pyrenees provide some of the most remote and untamed walking of all our destinations, and this holiday features some of the region’s finest medium- and high-level routes. It’s a superb journey, offering breathtaking views from start to finish.

When is the best time to go walking in the Pyrenees?

This depends where in the Pyrenees you are looking to go walking, but for the region offered on our Discover the Pyrenees walking holiday, the best time to go walking is between June and September.

Walking in the Pyrenees can feel quite different depending on when you visit. In early summer (June–early July), the mountains are fresh and green, with wildflowers, melting snow, and lively streams, though some high passes may still hold snow. It’s cooler and quieter, ideal for lower and mid-level walks. By late summer (August–September), the trails are fully open and dry, with warmer, more stable weather and clear views across the peaks. Meadows turn golden, and high-level routes become most accessible — making it one of the best times for walking in the Pyrenees

What is the scenery like in the Pyrenees?

Walking in the Pyrenees around places like Sallent de Gállego, Aguas Limpias, and Tramacastilla reveals some of the region’s most striking mountain scenery. Expect dramatic granite peaks rising above lush alpine meadows, with clear rivers and glacial lakes reflecting the surrounding summits. Forests of pine and beech cloak the lower slopes, giving way to open valleys filled with wildflowers in summer. The landscape feels both rugged and serene, with traditional stone villages nestled among the mountains and sweeping views that change with every turn of the trail.

What kind of flora and fauna can I expect to see in the Pyrenees?

In the Pyrenees near Panticosa, Piedrafita, and the surrounding valleys, you can expect a rich variety of flora and fauna typical of high mountain environments. The lower slopes and valleys are covered with pine, beech, and fir forests, interspersed with flower-filled meadows in spring and summer, featuring species such as edelweiss, gentians, orchids, and alpine asters. Higher up, the vegetation becomes sparser, with hardy shrubs and alpine grasses adapted to rocky terrain.

Wildlife is abundant — walkers often spot marmots sunning on rocks, chamois and ibex grazing on steep slopes, and griffon vultures or golden eagles circling overhead. With luck, you might glimpse the elusive Pyrenean desman or lammergeier (bearded vulture). The combination of vibrant plant life, clear mountain air, and active wildlife makes this part of the Pyrenees especially rewarding for nature lovers and walkers alike.

Why book with Collett’s?

Unforgettable walks
With you every step
Handpicked hotels with warm hospitality
Mountain holiday specialists since 1997

Need to Knows

Provider – this holiday is organised by us in association with a trusted local partner, based in the Valle de Tena.

Terrain – most of this walking holiday is off-road on rugged terrain so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support. There is little shade so adequate weather protection is also vital. We strongly recommend the use of walking poles. A reasonable level of fitness is essential.

Maximum altitude – the maximum altitude on this holiday is 2653m above sea level.

Accommodation – the itinerary is based on half board in handpicked 2*, 3* & 4* hotels.

Lunch – packed lunches are included from your overnight accommodation on two of your walking days. Additionally, you can generally pick up supplies from local bakers or mini markets before you set off each day.

Party size – please note that the minimum party size is 2. For groups of 2 or more where a single room is needed, the single supplement is £165.

ETIAS – The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is not due to be introduced until late-2026. Currently there is not an exact date as to when it will come into force. This means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment. For more information read our blog article here

Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.

At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.

Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.

Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.

Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.

Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.