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8-Nights Across the Pyrenees from $6,195

MT Sobek

OFFER ID 1376569

Travel from Bilbao to Barcelona on this comprehensive trek across the iconic Pyrenees, a hiker's paradise. Marvel at towering peaks, high meadows, and enormous waterfalls while traversing challenging and magnificent terrain through the ancient mountain kingdoms of Aragon and Catalonia. Wrap up each day's adventure at a comfortable country inn or historic Parador, heritage buildings revamped as hotels. With guided tours of Pamplona and Barcelona that bookend the trip, learn about the culture and architecture while experiencing the best of this mesmerizing region.

Highlights:

  • Explore Ordesa National Park, called the "Spanish Grand Canyon" for its dramatic cliffs and valleys
  • Enjoy bird's-eye views of the majestic Gavarnie stone amphitheater, with waterfalls pouring over 1,500-foot walls
  • Stay at charming inns and Paradors, and wrap up your trip with a tour of Gaudi masterpieces in Barcelona

Important Trip Details:
This is a challenging hike with substantial elevation gain and loss of over 4000 feet some days. You should be an experienced hiker who is comfortable hiking 6 - 9 hours per day. Terrain varies from established paths, loose rock, and scree. Hiking poles are recommended.

Minimum Age: 16

8 nights from $6,195 per person

Itinerary
Click here for Full Itinerary Details
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Itinerary Details

MT Sobek: Spain & France Across the Pyrenees Hiking

Day 1 Arrive in Bilbao, Spain
4.5-hour private van transfer
Arrive in Bilbao early morning to rendezvous with the group. After a briefing, enjoy a 2-hour drive to the capital of Navarra province, Pamplona — best known for the famous "running of the bulls." Enjoy a walking tour, followed by lunch in the old town. Then transfer to Ordesa National Park, founded in 1918 as Spain's first national park, with sheer cliffs, lush forests, and deep valleys, all dominated by Monte Perdido, the third highest peak in the Pyrenees. Spend the night in the mountain village of Torla.
Accommodation: Hotel Bujaruelo
(L, D)

Day 2 Hike through Forests & Meadows to Gavarnie
6–7 hours/10 miles hiking with 3,201' elevation gain & 2,937' elevation loss
This morning, transfer to the trailhead for a hike along the banks of the Ara River through beech and pine forests. At San Nicolas de Bujaruelo, cross the river on a beautiful stone bridge, the remains of an old Roman road. Continue through meadows and high pastures to Bujaruelo Pass (7,920') and the French border. In the late afternoon, descend into the French town of Gavarnie, enjoying spectacular bird's-eye views of the majestic amphitheater, where foaming waterfalls pour over 1,500-foot walls.
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Vignemale
(B, L, D)

Day 3 Take a Dramatic Hike to Monte Perdido
9 hours/12 miles hiking with 4,700' elevation gain & 4,000' elevation loss
Enjoy dramatic views of the scree field and valley below as you take a challenging 9-hour hike down a very steep scree slope in the area of Monte Perdido. From Gavarnie (4,554'), cross again to the Spanish side via Espuguettes-Puerto Nuevo de Pineta (9,441') and the Circo de Pineta, ending at the Parador Nacional de Bielsa (also known as Parador Monte Perdido) in Aragon's Valle de Pineta — a truly impressive mountain setting!
Accommodation: Parador de Bielsa
(B, L, D)

Day 4 Admire Sweeping Views from the Balcon de Pineta
8 hours/8 miles hiking with 4,158' elevation gain & loss
On today's hike, follow switchbacks to the Balcon de Pineta and Lago Helado de Marbore. This strenuous route goes along the highest part of the base of Pico Marbore and Monte Perdido, two of the area's high peaks. From the Balcon (9,900'), enjoy dazzling views of the valley below.
Accommodation: Parador de Bielsa
(B, L, D)

Day 5 Discover Benasque in Maladeta Aneto Natural Park
2-hour private van transfer
2–3 hours/5 miles hiking with 500' elevation gain & loss
Transfer to the village of Benasque in Maladeta Aneto Natural Park. After visiting the village, drive a little further to Llanos del Hospital, under the peaks of Aneto, the highest of the Pyrenees, and Maladeta. Check into the hotel and enjoy a delicious lunch before the 2-hour hike to Aigualluts, the lower meadow below Aneto Peak. Enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel Llanos del Hospital
(B, L, D)

Day 6 Hike below Aneto, the Highest Peak in the Pyrenees
25-minute private van transfer
6 hours/10 miles hiking with 1,944' elevation gain & 3,200' elevation loss
Hike towards Puerto de la Picada through a tranquil landscape with grazing horses and swaying grasses. After the initial ascent on a good trail with magnificent views of the Aneto (11,168') and Maladeta (10,866') peaks, reach the highest point of the Puerto (8,182'). Then enter Catalonia and the Val d'Aran (7,755') as you descend to the waterfall of Uelhs deth Joeu (Eyes of the Jew). After a short transfer, reach the Parador and enjoy time to stroll through the mountain village of Arties or swim in the Parador's outdoor pool.
Accommodation: Parador de Arties
(B, L, D)

Day 7 Enjoy a Gentle Climb in Catalonia
3.5-hour private van transfer OR 2-hour private van transfer
4 hours/6 miles hiking with 1,000' elevation gain & loss
You are now in the Catalonia region of the Pyrenees, which has a separate identity from the rest of Spain. After a 30-minute transfer, embark on a gentle climb from a meadow below the Puerto de la Bonaigua (6,270') through boulders up to Lagos de Gerver (7,300'), a sparkling lake surrounded by green lichen and bushes bursting with red berries. Then descend to the road, where you board a bus for a scenic drive through the countryside to your accommodation for the night, a Parador with historic architecture offering a glimpse of Spain's past.
Accommodation: Parador de Cardona
(B, L, D)

Day 8 Explore Montserrat and See Gaudi Masterpieces in Barcelona
1-hour cable train transfer and 1-hour private van transfer OR 2-hour private van transfer
3 hours/6 miles hiking with 860' elevation gain & 2,392' elevation loss
Transfer to the cable train of Montserrat, the sacred mountain of the Catalans, and hike via the Pla de Ocells and below the sandstone pinnacles of Cavall Bernat (4,950'). The setting of Wagner's opera Parsifal, this mountain range is a mystical landscape of towering pillars and smooth pinnacles. Descend to the 9th-century Benedictine monastery and shrine of the Black Madonna. In the afternoon, transfer one hour to Barcelona, check into the hotel and enjoy a sightseeing tour, taking in Gaudi-designed buildings. Enjoy a farewell dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Gallery Hotel
(B, L, D)

Day 9 Fly Home
Say adios to Spain! After breakfast, transfer to Barcelona-El Prat Airport for departures home.
Accommodation: Gallery Hotel
(B)

Featured Destinations
Torla
Gavarnie
Bielsa
Benasque
Lleida
In the centre of the fertile plain of the river Segre sits Lleida, a city which has played host to several cultures through its history. Prominent atop a hill in the historic quarter of the city is the old cathedral or Seu Vella, symbol of the capital.
Montserrat (Spain)
Barcelona
Barcelona, the self-confident and progressive capital of Spain, is a tremendous place to be. Though it boasts outstanding Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, and some great museums – most notably those dedicated to Picasso and Catalan art – it is above all a place where there's enjoyment simply in walking the streets, stopping in at bars and cafés, drinking in the atmosphere. A thriving port and the most prosperous commercial centre in Spain, it has a sophistication and cultural dynamism way ahead of the rest of the country. In part this reflects the city's proximity to France, whose influence is apparent in the elegant boulevards and imaginative cooking. But Barcelona has also evolved an individual and eclectic cultural identity, most perfectly and eccentrically expressed in the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Scattered as Barcelona's main sights may be, the greatest concentration of interest is around the old town (La Ciutat Vella). These cramped streets above the harbor are easily manageable, and far more enjoyable, on foot. Start, as everyone else does, with the Ramblas.

Excursions

Barcelona: A Walk Through Barcelona and The Sagrada Familia Park Guell for Families- 6 Hours

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Barcelona: A Walk Through Barcelona and The Sagrada Familia Park Guell for Families- 6 Hours

Your chauffeur and your guide will
be waiting for you at the port. They will be at disposal for 8 hours. Your chauffeur will drive you to the city center of Barcelona.

A Walk Through Barcelona
You will start your day by an exciting 2-hour walking tour of the oldest parts of Barcelona: the Barri Gothic and Born neighborhoods. You will follow your guide as he/she leads you into the small, narrow streets to discover the vibrant, trendy ambiance of Born and the historical atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter. You will see the Santa Maria Del Mar church, the Royal Palace and the world famous “Las Ramblas” avenue. The fun facts and stories
told by our guide will keep your children highly engaged. The children will each get a game booklet to keep them engaged and entertained. After this tour, you will enjoy a
lunch break. Your guide will be there to give recommendations depending on your taste.

Included: 

  • A Walk Through Barcelona:
  • Private certified guide
  • 2 hour walking tour
  • Game booklet for
  • each child
  • 2-hour experience

The Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
In the afternoon, you will enjoy a 3-hour tour inside the two iconic Gaudi sites in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia and the Park Güell. You will follow your guide inside the
jaw-dropping and daring church and listen to the stories about its architecture, construction and future. After 1,5 hours spent in the Sagrada Familia, you will head out to
Park Güell. There you will witness the beauty of Gaudí’s mosaics as well as enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Barcelona. To keep the children entertained during this 3-hour tour, they will all get their own fun-filled game booklet. A perfect way to combine both educational discovery and fun!

The Sagrada Familia and
  • Park Güell:
  • Private certified guide
  • Skip-the-line tickets to
  • Sagrada Familia and
  • Park Güell
  • Transfer in a private
  • mini van
  • Game booklet for
  • each child
  • 3-hour experience

At the end of the tour, depending on your cruise departure time, your chauffeur will drive you back to the port.

Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)

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Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)

Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe.  Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia.  Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028! 

Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations.  Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.

After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter.  Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.

  • Walk the labyrinthine alleys of the medieval Gothic Quarter to find architectural gems like the Church of Santa Maria del Mar
  • Admire the Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, where some of the artist's earliest works are housed.
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Private transport by luxury car or minivan
  • An expert local guide for 8 hours
  • Entrance fees to all sights and museums
  • All taxes
Not Included:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)

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Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)

Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!

Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.

  • Visit the impressive, but still unfinished Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of the Catalan architect
  • Wander through Parc Guell, the UNESCO World Heritage Site considered Gaudi's most colourful creation
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 
  • Private transport by luxury car or minivan
  • An expert local guide for 8 hours
  • Entrance fees to all sights and museums
  • All taxes
Not Included:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Authentic Barcelona by Bike

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Authentic Barcelona by Bike

Overview: Uncover the most authentic side of Barcelona riding the world's best folding bike, a Brompton. Be led by an expert bike guide and venture into a unique and exclusive experience. Connect with your local guide by sharing and listening to trivia stories about Barcelona. Embark on a ride to explore the least touristy Eixample and Gracia districts. Glimpse the Plaça d'Espanya, the Hospital de la Santa Creu, Sant Pau, and modernist estates.

Duration: 3 Hours

Barcelona Sailing Journey

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Barcelona Sailing Journey

Overview: Experience the thrill of sailing the Barcelona Coastline. Glimpse the Barcelona skyline from a different perspective and spot some landmarks, including Frank Gehry Golf Fish Sculpture and the Twin Towers", Torres Venecianas. Immerse yourself in the serene deep blue while seeping your glass of wine. Weather permitting, anchor and venture in a short swim.

Duration: 4 Hours

Exploring Cavas' Origin

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Exploring Cavas' Origin

Overview: Uncover the dedication of a biodynamic winegrowers family committed to excellence in long-aged wines. Venture on a stroll around the winery's iconic vineyards to discover the distinctive features of a unique spot in the Penedès region. Sheltered by the woods, taste a base wine paired with a light snack. Elevate your experience by savoring three long-aged sparkling wines, a limited-edition white wine, and an extra-virgin olive oil.

Duration: 4 Hours

From Market to Home with a Top Chef

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From Market to Home with a Top Chef

Overview: Led by a top Chef who graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu School in Paris, embark on an exclusive gourmet journey at her private penthouse. Head to a 19th-century local market and thoroughly select the finest ingredients for your recipe. Dare to partake in the cooking process while you uncover some secrets of high-end cuisine. Savor the combination of flavors paired with a premium selection of Spanish Wines.

Duration: 4 Hours

Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)

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Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)

Overview: Step away from the bustling Barcelona and embrace Catalonia's unique landscape with La Garrotxa and Fageda d'en jordà. Venture into an exciting 7,5 miles hike through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa. Engage in a circular route through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ascend to the inside of Santa Margarita volcano and discover a chapel lying on its crater. Dive into Fageda d'en Jordà, a unique beech forest that grows on the lava flow of Croscat Volcano. Finalize your trail with a stop at the Croscat Volcano grederes.

Duration: 4 Hours

Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)

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Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)

Overview: Ancient Wonders and hidden gems await you on the famous needles of Montserrat Mountain. Venture into an exciting and intimate hike connecting you to Montserrat's outlandish and most authentic elements. Uncover the region of Agulles and the north face of Montserrat, passing between the needles, having to take some steps climbing ropes, and ending up visiting emblematic places such as Cadireta or Foradada.

Duration: 4 Hours

Montserrat from the Skies

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Montserrat from the Skies

Overview: Marvel at Montserrat Mountain's impressive scenic views. With a bird' s-eye view, witness these massive conglomerates, which form unexpectedly imposing sculptures due to their geological evolution. They all have names related to their shapes, and we find caves, chasms, and torrents in their shelter.
Flying over the Montserrat mountain, the spiritual Center of Catalonia is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and impressive experiences.


Duration: 1 Hour

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
06/28/2026 - 07/06/2026
from $6,195 per person
07/12/2026 - 07/20/2026
from $6,195 per person
07/26/2026 - 08/03/2026
from $6,195 per person
08/23/2026 - 08/31/2026
from $6,195 per person
09/06/2026 - 09/14/2026
from $6,195 per person


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
from $6,195 per person
Length
8 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks
Prices subject to availability and change without notice. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1376569

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