Ecotour activities

Guided activities in the Spanish Pyrenees and the Val d'Aran

Our activities, from the Val d'Aran to Aigüestortes, the Alta Ribagorça and the French Pyrenees. Choose a type of activity and explore small-group or private outings, each with its level and price clearly shown.

38 activities7 activity typesAEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader

Glacial lake set beneath peaks still streaked with snow in Aigüestortes National Park

Hiking

Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici: Hiking and nature interpretation

An interpretive day out to learn how to read the glacial landscape, plants and wildlife of Aigüestortes, alongside a naturalist guide.

6-7 hours
Private
Moderate

The rocky, exposed ridge of the Pic de Medacorba dusted with fresh snow

High mountains

Pic de Medacorba Ascent

A guided ascent of the Pic de Medacorba (2,913 m), the tripoint of Andorra, Catalonia and Ariège, with a poorly marked, technical and exposed final section.

Full day
Private
Advanced

Two red deer stags locking antlers during the autumn rut

Ecotourism

The red deer rut in the Val d'Aran

Listen to and watch the red deer rut at dawn or dusk in the golden autumn forests of the Val d'Aran, with a specialist wildlife guide.

About 3 h, at dawn or dusk
Private
Easy

Photographer with a tripod beside a high-mountain lake in Aigüestortes under the Milky Way

Ecotourism

Nature Photography in the Pyrenees

Guided hikes in Aigüestortes and the Val d'Aran designed for photographing flora, wildlife, landscapes and the night sky.

3 to 4 hours
Private
Easy

The Milky Way over the silhouette of a mountain range in a starry night sky

Ecotourism

Stargazing in the Pyrenees

A night-sky observation session at the Port de la Bonaigua pass in the Val d'Aran, on the edge of Aigüestortes National Park, a certified Starlight Tourist Destination.

3 to 4 hours
Private
Easy

Meadow and stream at Estany Llong, in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Hiking

Guided hikes in Aigüestortes: From forest to high mountain

Thirteen catalogued routes in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, from accessible strolls to high mountain ascents, with a qualified mountain leader who helps you choose the one that suits you.

Depends on the route you choose
Private
To be confirmed

Person sliding down a natural water chute in the Bausen canyon, Val d'Aran

Adventure

Canyoning in Val d'Aran and the Pyrenees

Five canyons between the Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees, from family-friendly beginner descents to advanced technical level.

1 h 30 to 3 h 30, depending on the canyon
Shared
Easy

Authentic view of Poi d'Unha from the valley

Adventure

Via ferratas in Val d'Aran and Ribagorza: K2 to K4

Seven via ferratas in the Val d'Aran and the Alta Ribagorça, from beginner (K2) to advanced (K4).

30 min to 3 h, depending on the route
Shared
Advanced

Tandem paraglider flying over a high mountain cirque in the Pyrenees

Adventure

Tandem paragliding in Val d'Aran

Tandem paragliding over the Val d'Aran or Luchon with a qualified pilot. Four flight options, from €160 to €250.

15 to 30+ minutes in the air, depending on the option
Shared
Easy

Hiker walking up a snow-covered track between snow-laden pines

Winter

Snowshoe rental in Val d'Aran

Snowshoes and poles ready to collect in Vielha, from €15 for 1 day. No guide, no waiting: book and head out into the snow on your own.

By the hour or by the day: you set the pace
Shared
To be confirmed

Portrait of a European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos), the same subspecies that lives in the Pyrenees

Ecotourism

Tracking the brown bear in the Pyrenees

Head out to track the Pyrenean brown bear with a wildlife specialist: footprints, hair, claw marks on tree trunks and, with luck, a sighting from a distance. No promises, full respect.

Full day
Private
Moderate

E-bike

Electric bike rental in Val d'Aran

We arrange your e-bike hire in the Val d'Aran with our trusted local supplier, with helmet, repair kit and insurance included. Half days from €43 (child) and €64 (adult).

Morning, afternoon or full day
Shared
To be confirmed

The Monte Perdido massif seen from the Soaso cirque, in the Ordesa valley

High mountains

Monte Perdido High Route: A trek around the massif

A 6-day circular trek around Monte Perdido (3,355 m), the highest limestone massif in Europe, crossing Roland's Breach and the Balcón de Pineta between Spain and France.

6 days, 5 nights in mountain refuges
Private
Advanced

The Ventosa i Calvell refuge above the Estany Negre lake, with the Besiberri ridge behind

High mountains

Molières–Besiberris High Route: A 6-stage trek

The Molières-Besiberris High Route (Alta Ruta Molières-Besiberris): a 6-stage, 86 km circular trek from Vielha, linking the Artiga de Lin, Conangles, Caldes de Boí, Ventosa i Calvell and Restanca refuges, with the option to climb Molières and Besiberri.

7 days, 6 nights in mountain refuges
Private
Advanced

The Besiberri massif seen from the Joan Ventosa i Calvell refuge, with the Estany Negre lake in the foreground

High mountains

Besiberri Ascent: Two days in the high mountains

A technical ascent to the summits of the Besiberri massif, with a night at the Ventosa i Calvell refuge and a final grade III scramble near the top.

2 days, 1 night in a mountain refuge
Private
Challenging

Summit of Montardo with the lake cirques of the Val d'Aran in the background

High mountains

Montardo Ascent: One of the great viewpoints of Val d'Aran

Montardo (2,833 m) is the most emblematic peak in the Val d'Aran: a full-day ascent with no technical difficulty but demanding elevation gain, and one of the best panoramas in the valley.

Full day (there and back)
Private
Challenging

Lake Montoliu with the Tuc de Mauberme in the background, on the ascent route from Bagergue

High mountains

Tuc de Mauberme Ascent via Lake Montoliu

Ascent of the Tuc de Mauberme (2,880-2,881 m) on the border between Spain and France, passing Lake Montoliu. Low technical difficulty, a full day from Bagergue.

Full day
Private
Moderate

The Vall de Molières, a forested glacial valley beneath granite peaks, on the way up to the Tuc de Mulleres

High mountains

Tuc de Mulleres Ascent (3,010 m)

One of the most accessible 3,000-metre peaks in the Pyrenees: a one-day ascent of the Tuc de Mulleres (3,010 m) from Conangles, through a granite valley dotted with lakes.

Full day
Private
Moderate

View of the Tuc deth Port de Vielha and the Estany Redon from the ascent route

High mountains

Tuc de Port de Vielha Ascent

Ascent of the Tuc de Port de Vielha (2,606 m), in the municipality of Vielha e Mijaran, with a geodetic marker on the summit and a place on the FEEC's list of the 100 cims.

Full day
Private
Moderate

The Refugi d'Estany Llong, a stone building with a slate roof and solar panels among pine trees, one of the nine refuges on the Carros de Foc trek in Aigüestortes National Park

High mountains

Carros de Foc: A trek through the landscapes of Aigüestortes

The classic circular trek through Aigüestortes National Park: 56 km and about 9,000 m of cumulative elevation change, linking the park's nine staffed refuges.

5 to 7 days, depending on pace
Private
Challenging

Mountain hut lit up at night under a starry sky with the Milky Way overhead

High mountains

Two days in the mountains: Hiking and a night in a mountain hut

A first taste of the mountains at night: walking at an easy pace, sleeping in an unstaffed hut (bivouac only if conditions allow) and waking up right in the landscape, with a guide and sound safety judgement.

2 days, 1 night
Private
Moderate

Path through the Salenques beech forest, with light filtering through the treetops

Hiking

Salenques and Conangles beech forests: The woodlands of the Pyrenees

An undemanding walk through the Salenques beech forest, crossing its bridge and climbing alongside the ravine through the woods, with a link to the GR-11 as far as the Conangles refuge.

Half day
Private
Easy

Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) among the leaf litter of a Pyrenean forest

Ecotourism

The Secret Life of the Val d'Aran's Amphibians

A dusk outing to discover the frogs, toads, newts and salamanders of the Val d'Aran: their life cycle, their calls and why they are a key indicator of healthy ecosystems.

2 hours
Private
Easy

Baciver lake reflecting the mountains, with a dead tree on the shore

Hiking

Baciver Lakes: Hiking and nature in Val d'Aran

A semicircular route of about 5 km to the glacial lakes of Baciver, at the source of the River Garonne, suitable for beginners and families who are already used to walking.

Half day
Private
Easy

Lake in the Colomers cirque, with pine-dotted granite crags and late-lying snow reflected in the water

Hiking

Colomèrs Lakes: A hike through a glacial landscape

A glacial cirque with around 50 lakes, starting from the Banhs de Tredòs car park: a short route to 5 lakes (about 3 h) or a long route that takes in the cirque's 7 classic lakes (about 5 h).

3 h on the short route (5 lakes) or 5 h on the long route (7 lakes)
Private
Moderate

Full moon breaking through the clouds above the silhouette of a conifer forest at night

Ecotourism

Full Moon Night Walk in the Val d'Aran

A short, gentle night walk through the forests and paths of the Val d'Aran to experience the mountains as the light changes: moonlight, sounds, silence and the night-time landscape, with a guide.

2 to 2.5 hours
Private
Easy

Snow-covered summit of Montcorbison seen from the valley, with the town of Vielha in the background

High mountains

Montcorbison: Ascent and landscapes of Val d'Aran

A short, accessible climb of Montcorbison (2,172 m) in the centre of the Val d'Aran, with views of Vielha, Aneto and the Maladeta.

Full day
Private
Moderate

Bat in full flight at night, wing outstretched against a dark background

Ecotourism

Bats and Night-time Wildlife in the Val d'Aran

A short dusk walk along the riverbanks, barns and bridges of the Val d'Aran to discover the valley's bats: echolocation, flight and a bat detector, with a guide.

2 hours
Private
Easy

Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) standing on the ground, Pyrenees

Ecotourism

Birdwatching in the Pyrenees: Val d'Aran, Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà

Guided birdwatching in the Val d'Aran, Upper Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà, with a guide who has an ornithology background. Birds of prey, rock-face and high-mountain specialists, and forest and river species, depending on the area and season.

3 to 4 hours
Private
Easy

Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) standing on the ground, showing its distinctive ochre plumage and red eye-ring

Ecotourism

Wildlife watching in the Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

Watching and interpreting Pyrenean wildlife in a small group, between the Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes, with a naturalist guide.

3 to 4 hours
Private
Easy

The Montgarri sanctuary, starting point of the Pass'Aran trek, with the mountains of the Val d'Aran behind

High mountains

Pass'Aran: A five-day trek between Pyrenean valleys

A cross-border high-mountain trek between the Val d'Aran and the French Couserans, crossing five passes above 2,400 metres in five stages.

5 days, 4 nights in mountain refuges
Private
Challenging

Winter

Snowshoeing in Val d'Aran: Forests and nature

A guided snowshoe route through the snowy forests and landscapes of the Val d'Aran, €55 per person in a group of 4 to 7, adapted to the snow and the actual conditions on the mountain.

4 to 6 hours
Private
Moderate

Isard (Pyrenean chamois) rubbing its head against a tree trunk in mountain woodland

Ecotourism

Animal tracks and wildlife of the Pyrenees

Learn to read the forest and the mountains: tracks and signs of the mammals, amphibians and bats of the Pyrenees, with a specialist wildlife guide.

2 h 30 to 3 hours
Private
Easy

Mountain path through yellow wildflowers, with Pyrenean peaks in the background

Ecotourism

Botanical Walk in the Val d'Aran

An interpretive walk on easy paths to discover the plant diversity of the Val d'Aran: Pyrenean flowers, trees and shrubs, with a guide who specialises in flora.

2 hours
Private
Easy

4x4 vehicle on a mountain track in the Val d'Aran in summer, with Pyrenean peaks behind

4x4 tours

4x4 tour of the Val d'Aran

Guided 4x4 tour to the most remote corners of the Val d'Aran, with stops for short walks, wildlife and local heritage.

4, 6 or 8 hours, depending on the option
Shared
Easy

The snow-covered north face of the Vignemale, with the Gaube couloir

High mountains

Vignemale Circuit: A trek around the giant of the Pyrenees

A 3-4 day trek around the Vignemale massif (3,298 m), the highest peak in the French Pyrenees, with the Oulettes de Gaube and Bayssellance refuges and a passage by the Cirque de Gavarnie.

3-4 days, with an optional ascent
Private
Advanced

Hiker on the rocky ridge of Vallibierna, with the Llauset reservoir far below

High mountains

Vallibierna: Your first 3,000 m peak in the Pyrenees

You set off from Aneto, sleep at 2,425 metres in the Cap de Llauset refuge and climb Vallibierna (3,067 m), with the Maladeta and Aneto as your backdrop.

2 days, 1 night in a mountain refuge
Private
Moderate

Aerial view of the Aneto glacier and the Maladeta massif

High mountains

Aneto Circuit: A three-day circular trek

A 3-day circular trek around the Maladeta-Aneto massif, with nights at the Renclusa and Cap de Llauset refuges, and no need to cross the glacier or reach the summit.

3 days, 2 nights in mountain refuges
Private
Advanced

Reviews

What people who have done our activities say

Excellent5.0

Google76 Google reviews

Write a review

Rut V2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A wonderful experience in a luxury setting. We got in touch with Javi after finding him online and it was a great decision. He's a young guy, passionate about his work and about nature, and it shows. He explained so many things about the rut and the surroundings, and brought samples to show us how animals are tracked, always with respect and without disturbing their habitat. He also took loads of souvenir photos, both of us and of the animals, which we really appreciated. I loved the equipment he uses: he has a screen that attaches to the camera, so we could all enjoy the views without needing telescopes. Thank you so much, Javi, for the experience. You're a truly lovely person.
★★★★★
M. Villar (Proska)2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
Without a doubt an unforgettable experience. Several companies offer the rut, but not like this one: his knowledge of the subject, together with the technology he uses, guarantees a complete outing and lets you enjoy the activity to the fullest. 100% recommended
★★★★★
Loisian2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
We can only thank Javi for our outing: the day before the weather was awful and he advised us to postpone it, so we wouldn't climb up and not see the rut. The next day was wonderful, the views beautiful, and thanks to his experience and his technology we could see everything as if we were at the cinema. If we come back, we'll do it again. 100% recommended
★★★★★
Juanma Ferrer Navarro4 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A really good person who knows the Val d'Aran very well. We had a great morning listening to and watching the rut with Javier, who will be your guide. On top of that, you learn a lot about the local flora and fauna of Aran.
★★★★★
sonia Jiménez2 months ago
Rafting
⭐⭐⭐⭐ An unforgettable week in the Val d'Aran with Ecotour (Javi) We've just spent a week's holiday in the Val d'Aran organised by Ecotour, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The days were full of adventure, nature, excitement and fun. We'd especially like to highlight Javi, who was much more than a guide. His huge knowledge of the area, the wildlife, the plants and the history of the valley gave every activity extra value. You can tell he's a true nature lover and knows how to pass that passion on to the people with him. During the week we did e-bike rides, rafting, canyoning, a spectacular trek in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park with the climb up to Portarró, and we also visited some of the prettiest villages in the Val d'Aran. One of the most special moments was being able to see such emblematic species as the Apollo butterfly, a protected species that is increasingly hard to find. If we had to find a "but", it would only be the rafting, which surprised us least compared with the rest. Even so, we enjoyed the whole experience a lot. We'd also like to thank Javi for his great tips on where to eat in Vielha. He recommended restaurants with excellent value for money, where we could enjoy the valley's food without spending more than we needed to. All in all, a totally recommended experience for anyone who wants to discover the Val d'Aran in a different, active and authentic way. Thank you, Javi, for making this holiday such a special memory. We'll definitely be back!
★★★★★
Elena Olivares Gonzalez6 months ago
We've done lots of activities with Javi and he's always been a magnificent guide; his passion for teaching and for nature is incredible. His faithful companion Vito came with us on every route. If you need a guide in and outside the valley, don't hesitate to book activities with Ecotour. A pleasure to meet such wonderful people in the mountains! See you next time.
★★★★★
PAU RODRIGO9 months ago
Snowshoeing
Excellent experience with Javi on a snowshoe route. Vast knowledge about everything to do with the mountains. Going with him guarantees you'll enjoy your adventure 200% and come back with a smile. He works really hard. The best guide I've ever met. See you soon, Javi. Take care 👋👋👋
★★★★★
Jose Manuel Luque Rodriguez11 months ago
Snowshoeing
More than a guide, a friend!! His level of knowledge about the mountains, snow, animals and everything related to the mountains is exceptional. My experience with him on snowshoes: 15 out of 10!! A professional and one of those people who only give... Personally, I didn't meet a guide, I made a friend. Professionally... one of a kind... I'd always recommend him, and I already do. A hug, Javi.
★★★★★
José Luis Durán12 months ago
Red deer rut
With Ecotour we did two organised rut outings last September. Although in the morning we didn't manage to see any deer (because, unfortunately, the wild boar hunt was on), the experience, both the trekking + observation outing and the afternoon observation, was great. Javier is a great professional who radiates friendliness and passion for his work, and he passes that on in everything he explains. I think we couldn't have found a better guide. A completely recommended experience with him. To repeat another year!
★★★★★
Joan Palomer12 months ago
Red deer rut
We went to see the rut with two little girls, and with Javi it was great fun and he was very attentive. For our next outing in the area, we'll definitely hire him.
★★★★★
Montse Coca1 year ago
Red deer rut
A great afternoon: Javi took us to an area where we could see and hear the rut, treated us to a small snack of local produce and told us about the life of the deer, the differences between antlers… You can tell he's passionate about his work. Thanks to the camera and lens he uses we could see them really well and watch their behaviour during the mating season. A great experience, highly recommended.
★★★★★
Carmen Hernandez1 year ago
Very interesting. Javier is very professional. We enjoyed it and learned a lot. Highly recommended for getting to know the Val d'Aran with him.
★★★★★