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Javier Gil, AEGM and UIMLA-qualified mountain leader and founder of Ecotour Experiences

AEGM leaderUIMLAVal d'Aran

Javier Gil, mountain leader in the Val d'Aran

Founder and director of Ecotour Experiences. AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader and interpretive guide of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park.

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Introduction

Guiding is reading the terrain,
not just walking it.

Javier Gil Elez is the founder and director of Ecotour Experiences, based in Vilac, in the Val d'Aran. His work as a guide combines his AEGM / UIMLA mountain leader qualification with accreditation as an interpretive guide of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, and a background in Forest Management and Conservation of the Natural Environment. That approach, understanding the terrain before walking it, is what he brings to every activity and trip: he adapts the pace to the group, interprets the landscape, flora and fauna at every stop, and brings in the right professional when the terrain or destination calls for it.

Specialisms

Where his judgement counts most

Interpreting the landscape

Reading the glacial landscape, flora and fauna of the Pyrenees on the ground, not just following the route.

Wildlife tracking

Identifying the tracks and behaviour of Pyrenean wildlife, with the greatest respect for the environment.

Nature photography

Choosing the right spots and moments of light to observe and photograph wildlife and landscapes.

Coordinating adventure trips

Designing and organising small-group trips in the Pyrenees and international destinations.

Approach to safety

The real level comes before the pretty route

Javier works to the same principle on any mountain activity: assess the conditions of the day and the group's real level, and adapt the plan when needed, rather than force a route that doesn't suit the people doing it.

CAG2Safety in avalanche terrain
AEGM · UIMLAQualified mountain leader, no. 2258
AigüestortesInterpretive guide of the national park, no. 590

Activities and trips

What Javier leads in person

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

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

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.

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

Bujaruelo (Torla) and the Monte Perdido massif, on the Spain-France border

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.

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

Val d'Aran and Alta Ribagorça

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.

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

Vall de Boí, Alta Ribagorça

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.

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

Conangles, Val d'Aran

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.

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Two red deer stags locking antlers during the autumn rutActivity

Val d'Aran

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.

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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 ParkActivity

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

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.

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

Val d'Aran, Upper Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà

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.

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

Val d'Aran, Aigüestortes and the Pyrenees

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.

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

Val d'Aran and the Couserans (Ariège, France)

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.

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Two people making their way on snowshoes across a winter landscapeActivity

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

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.

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

Val d'Aran and Pallars Sobirà, Catalan Pyrenees (Spain)

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.

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

Bujaruelo (Torla) and the French side of the Vignemale

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.

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

Llauset, Ribagorza

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.

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Aerial view of the Aneto glacier and the Maladeta massifActivity

Benasque, Aragonese Pyrenees

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.

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The Trango Towers above the Baltoro Glacier on the approach route to K2, KarakoramTrip

Pakistan · Karakoram

K2 Base Camp, Gondogoro La and the Nangma Valley

23 days in the Pakistani Karakoram: the Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp (5,150 m), the Gondogoro La pass (5,585 m) and the Nangma Valley, well off the usual trekking routes. Small group, with Javier Gil.

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Green northern lights over a traditional red Swedish cabin in Arctic LaplandTrip

Lapland · Arctic

Swedish Lapland Photography Expedition

Nine days of photographic ski touring with a pulka on the Kungsleden, between Abisko and Alesjaure, with the Ecotour team: mountain huts and northern lights nights.

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Ridge of the Toubkal massif with snowfields, High Atlas, MoroccoTrip

Morocco · High Atlas

8x4000 Challenge in the High Atlas

Eight peaks above 4,000 metres in the Toubkal massif: a demanding yet flexible high-mountain challenge, based at the Toubkal refuge, with an Ecotour guide plus a local team.

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Ridge of the Toubkal massif with snowfields, High Atlas, MoroccoTrip

Morocco · High Atlas

9x4000 Challenge in the High Atlas · Classic

Nine peaks above 4,000 metres in the High Atlas, based mainly at the Toubkal refuge: the most flexible option of the 9x4000 Challenge, with an Ecotour guide and a local team.

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Ridge of the Afella massif with views over Morocco's High AtlasTrip

Morocco · High Atlas

High Atlas 9x4000 Challenge · Full Traverse

Nine summits above 4,000 metres in a traverse between the Tazaghart and Toubkal refuges: the Full Traverse option of the 9x4000 Challenge, the most demanding and the closest to a small expedition.

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Langtang Lirung (7,227 m) at sunset, with orange clouds over the snowy summitTrip

Nepal · Himalaya

Langtang Valley Trek

Fifteen days trekking in the Langtang Valley, in a small group: Buddhist monasteries, Tibetan culture, Kyanjin Gompa and the Tserko Ri viewpoint at 4,984 metres.

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An Ecotour group crossing a snowy valley on a trek

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Write to him directly and he'll tell you frankly which activity or route suits your group and your level.

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