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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

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park · Guided activity

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.

  • CategoryAdventure and nature
  • LevelChallenging
  • Duration5 to 7 days, depending on pace
  • From€248 per person
5.0· 76 Google reviews
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Activity overview

Carros de Foc: the nine refuges of Aigüestortes

The Carros de Foc links the nine staffed refuges of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in a single trek, crossing the four comarcas around the park. Five to seven days in the high mountains, with the Collet de Contraix (2,745 m) as the high point of the route and refuge logistics fully sorted before you set off, so all you have to do is walk.

The Refugi d'Estany Llong, one of the nine refuges on the Carros de Foc trek
  • AreaAigüestortes National Park
  • Duration5 to 7 days
  • GuideJavier Gil · Ecotour Experiences
  • GroupSmall group
  • EcosystemsPyrenean high mountains, 9 staffed refuges

Reading the landscape

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park: the landscape up close

Geology, Wildlife, Plants and Heritage: a closer look at the setting of this activity. Documentary images of species or places not taken at the exact point of the route are shown for reference only, and sightings are not guaranteed.

Estany de Ratera, reference image (geology)
Estany de RateraA lake of glacial origin in one of the cirques the trek crosses.
Estany Llong, reference image (geology)
Estany LlongThe park's very name, Aigüestortes ('winding waters'), describes the meanders the glacial water forms beside this lake.
The Amitges path, reference image (geology)
The Amitges pathIt runs through the Amitges glacial cirque, where rock polished by Quaternary ice can be seen on several stretches.
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GeologyAigüestortes National Park · glacial landscape
View the documentary source ↗
Pyrenean chamois (isard), reference image (wildlife)
Pyrenean chamois (isard)Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica · a regular sight on the crags and slopes the trek crosses.
Alpine marmot, reference image (wildlife)
Alpine marmotMarmota marmota · common in the stony pastures between refuges.
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WildlifeWildlife of Aigüestortes National Park
View the documentary source ↗
Mountain pine, reference image (plants)
Mountain pinePinus uncinata · the conifer that marks the upper edge of the forest on the lower stages of the trek.
High mountain pastures between refuges, reference image (plants)
High mountain pastures between refugesThe highest stretches between refuges cross alpine pastures that burst into flower in summer.
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PlantsFrom mountain pine forest to high mountain pastures
View the documentary source ↗
Refugi d'Amitges, reference image (heritage)
Refugi d'AmitgesAnother of the trek's nine staffed refuges, right in the glacial cirque of the same name.
Stone refuges of the high mountains, reference image (heritage)
Stone refuges of the high mountainsThe trek's nine refuges share the same stone-and-slate building tradition typical of staffed Pyrenean refuges.
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HeritageThe network of nine staffed refuges in Aigüestortes National Park
View the documentary source ↗

Local photos: Ecotour archive. Documentary images: free-licence image banks or Wikimedia Commons, used under licence or with permission. The species and features shown are documented in the area, but seeing them during the activity is not guaranteed.

Before you book

Is this activity right for you?

Check at a glance.

Great fit

You'll love it if…

  • You already do multi-day treks carrying a backpack and have good mountain fitness.
  • You are drawn to the idea of a great hut-to-hut trek, without returning to the same place every night.
Worth a second look

It might not be for you if…

  • This would be your first multi-day trek in the high mountains: better to start with a shorter route.
  • You want fixed dates and a fixed price right now: this trek is still being developed internally.

Private group

A private guide for your group

The activity is reserved exclusively for your group. The total price is split between participants, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays, with no change to the route, the attention you get or the guide's judgement.

Carros de Foc: a trek through the landscapes of AigüestortesPrice per person
2 personas
Solo guiaje; los refugios (media pensión) los pagas aparte, directamente a cada refugioGroup total: €1,800
€900 per person
4 personas
Solo guiaje; los refugios (media pensión) los pagas aparte, directamente a cada refugioGroup total: €1,800
€450 per person
6 personas
Solo guiaje; los refugios (media pensión) los pagas aparte, directamente a cada refugioGroup total: €1,980
€330 per person
8 personasBest price
Solo guiaje; los refugios (media pensión) los pagas aparte, directamente a cada refugioGroup total: €1,980
€248 per person
Ask about dates and availability

Before confirming, we go over your experience, fitness and kit with you.

Javier Gil
AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader · Ecotour Experiences

Who'll be with you on this activity

Javier Gil

Javier knows the Carros de Foc as an endurance trek: it is not just a question of stamina, but of pacing yourself between the nine refuges and reading the weather in each comarca correctly, as it changes from one end of the park to the other.

Before confirming the group, he goes over your real experience of multi-day treks with you, to fit the split of stages (5, 6, 7 or up to 10 days) to the group's real pace.

  • AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader

Activity highlights

What makes this one special

Included

  • Route planning and booking of all the refuges on the trek (to be confirmed)

  • Half board (dinner and breakfast) in the refuges, included in the price (to be confirmed)

  • Ecotour mountain leader throughout the trek (to be confirmed)

  • Included in the activity.

    Public liability and accident insurance

Not included

  • Transport to Espot or Boí

  • Personal trekking gear

Additional information

  • Temperatures in the refuges

    The nine refuges sit between 1,900 and 2,400 m, and the Collet de Contraix reaches 2,745 m: even if it is hot down in the valley in summer, nights in the refuges get quite chilly, even in the middle of July and August.

  • Booking the refuges

    The nine refuges fill up months in advance in high season. Booking logistics are handled as part of the service once dates and group are confirmed.

Before you set off

What to bring

Hiking boots

Broken-in mountain boots and a multi-day trekking backpack

Warm layers and waterproofs for rain and wind

Technical clothing in layers and protection from rain and cold

Folding chair and blanket for comfortable stargazing

Sleeping bag liner (compulsory in many of the park's refuges)

Head torch and trekking poles

Trekking poles and a head torch

Once your date is confirmed, you'll receive the final kit list, adapted to the forecast and ground conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us

01How many days does the Carros de Foc take?

The classic version takes 5 to 7 days, although you can also spread it over up to 10 gentler days, sleeping in the park's nine staffed refuges.

02Where does the route start?

The two usual starting points are Espot and Boí, at opposite ends of the park. The direction and starting point can be adapted to the group's logistics.

03Do the refuges need to be booked well in advance?

Yes. It is a very popular trek in high season and the nine refuges fill up months ahead, so bookings are made well in advance.

04When will it be available with fixed dates and prices?

We are still finalising the refuges, dates and guide for this trek. Get in touch if you are interested and we will let you know as soon as it is available.

05When can it be done?

From June to October, depending on when the refuges open and on each season's snow conditions.

06What level of fitness do I need?

It is a demanding trek: long days in the high mountains several days in a row, with the Collet de Contraix (2,745 m) as the highest point of the route.

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