Pyrenees: Hiking Paradise Val d'Aran

Vielha is the cozy capital of the Aran Valley in the Catalan High Pyrenees with about 5600 inhabitants and is located at the foot of the Maladeta Massif. Admire this typical Pyrenean high mountain village with its houses made of slate roofs and dark natural stone. The former Romanesque church of Sant Miquèu Arcángel is worth seeing.

You leave Vielha on an old hiking trail in the direction of Vilac. You will walk through a series of small villages with beautiful Romanesque churches, surrounded by views of the high mountains. From the village of Vilamòs you will see the highest mountains of the Pyrenees, the Aneto (3..404 m) and the Maladeta (3..308 m). At the end of the day you will reach Bossòst, a small village with one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches of the 12th century; the church of Asunción de María.

The mountain railroad will take you far into the Torán Valley to the starting point of your hike today. Endurance is required today, but you will be rewarded by a spectacular and unique ambience of the Liat plateau with breathtaking views of the Aigüestortes National Park. The Unyola waterfall is a special highlight of your hike today with its orange glow.

Continue to the next valley: After a short transfer to Val de Ruda, you will hike through a fairytale forest area, past small waterfalls and emerald green lakes to the Saboredo hut. After a refreshment you continue to climb and reach the panoramic passage Port de Ratera with summit possibility to the Tuc de Ratera. A unique and beautiful descent to Sant Maurici Lake awaits you with views of the twin peaks Encantats, the "Enchanted Poachers". At the end of the stage, the mountain railroad will take you to the small town of Espot for an overnight stay.

In the morning, short transfer back to Lake Sant Maurici, from where you will reach the heart of the National Park via the Portarro d'Espot pass: the area of Aigüestortes, also known as the area of the numerous emerald green iridescent mountain streams. At the last big waterfall, the descent to the Pyrenean village of Boí begins. The Boí Valley has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique mountain ranges and 9 Romanesque village churches. A short transfer to Boí.

You will drive through forests and across cultivated mountain meadows and wide valleys in the direction of Aneto. You will reach Coll de Basco and Port de Gelada via Erill de la Vall, where you shouldn't miss a visit to the Romanesque village church of Santa Eulalia and its 23-meter-high, six-story bell tower. Following old mule trails, you will finally reach the village of Senet and continue climbing uphill to the village of Aneto, where you will spend the night in a cozy country house.

At the end of your hiking week, another highlight awaits you, a grandiose hike along numerous mountain lakes to beautifully situated huts that invite you to take an extensive rest. After another pass crossing with fantastic views back to the north side of the Pyrenees main ridge, the mountain railroad will take you back to your starting point in Vielha in the evening, where you can relax and toast to the experiences of your hiking week through the Pyrenees.