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Estany de Sant Maurici and the mountains of the Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

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Guided activities and hikes in the Aran Valley

Ecotour Experiences runs guided day experiences in the Aran Valley (Val d'Aran) and Aigüestortes, in small groups and with qualified local guides. Mountains, nature, snow, e-bike and adventure, always with a sound feel for the terrain.

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Why a local guide

Knowing the terrain changes the experience

Real knowledge of the terrain

We live and guide in the Val d'Aran. We know which routes are in good condition on a given day, something no app can replace.

Small groups

Each activity limits the number of people per guide so that we can adapt the pace and ensure real safety.

Interpreting the landscape

We don't just walk through the landscape, we explain it. Glacial geology, flora, fauna and the cultural heritage of the valley.

Qualified guides

Javier Gil is an AEGM / UIMLA-qualified mountain leader and interpretive guide of Aigüestortes National Park.

The catalogue by category

Find your activity in the Val d'Aran

Nine ways to experience the valley, with real, verified activities from our catalogue.

Mountains and hiking

Ascents, treks and hiking routes over the tucs (peaks) and valleys of the Aran.

Glacial lake set beneath peaks still streaked with snow in Aigüestortes National ParkFrom €60

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici: hiking and nature interpretation

  • 6-7 hours
  • Level Moderate

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 rocky, exposed ridge of the Pic de Medacorba dusted with fresh snowPrice on request

Arinsal and the Comapedrosa Natural Park, Andorra

Pic de Medacorba Ascent

  • Full day
  • Level Advanced

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.

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Meadow and stream at Estany Llong, in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National ParkPrice on request

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Guided hikes in Aigüestortes: from forest to high mountain

  • Depends on the route you choose
  • Level To be confirmed

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.

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The Monte Perdido massif seen from the Soaso cirque, in the Ordesa valleyFrom €248

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

Monte Perdido High Route: a trek around the massif

  • 6 days, 5 nights in mountain refuges
  • Level Advanced

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 behindFrom €289

Val d'Aran and Alta Ribagorça

Molières–Besiberris High Route: a 6-stage trek

  • 7 days, 6 nights in mountain refuges
  • Level Advanced

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 foregroundFrom €120

Vall de Boí, Alta Ribagorça

Besiberri Ascent: two days in the high mountains

  • 2 days, 1 night in a mountain refuge
  • Level Challenging

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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Summit of Montardo with the lake cirques of the Val d'Aran in the backgroundFrom €90

Arties / Restanca Refuge, Val d'Aran

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

  • Full day (there and back)
  • Level Challenging

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.

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Lake Montoliu with the Tuc de Mauberme in the background, on the ascent route from BagergueFrom €95

Bagergue, Naut Aran (Spain-France border)

Tuc de Mauberme Ascent via Lake Montoliu

  • Full day
  • Level Moderate

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.

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The Vall de Molières, a forested glacial valley beneath granite peaks, on the way up to the Tuc de MulleresFrom €110

Conangles, Val d'Aran

Tuc de Mulleres Ascent (3,010 m)

  • Full day
  • Level Moderate

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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View of the Tuc deth Port de Vielha and the Estany Redon from the ascent routeFrom €85

Vielha e Mijaran, Val d'Aran

Tuc de Port de Vielha Ascent

  • Full day
  • Level Moderate

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.

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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 ParkFrom €248

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Carros de Foc: a trek through the landscapes of Aigüestortes

  • 5 to 7 days, depending on pace
  • Level Challenging

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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Mountain hut lit up at night under a starry sky with the Milky Way overheadFrom €175

Val d'Aran / Pyrenees

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

  • 2 days, 1 night
  • Level Moderate

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.

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Path through the Salenques beech forest, with light filtering through the treetopsFrom €55

Aneto (Ribagorza) and Val d'Aran, Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Salenques and Conangles beech forests: the woodlands of the Pyrenees

  • Half day
  • Level Easy

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.

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Baciver lake reflecting the mountains, with a dead tree on the shoreFrom €60

Pla de Beret, Val d'Aran (on the border with Pallars Sobirà)

Baciver Lakes: hiking and nature in Val d'Aran

  • Half day
  • Level Easy

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.

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Lake in the Colomers cirque, with pine-dotted granite crags and late-lying snow reflected in the waterFrom €55

Tredòs, Val d'Aran (Aiguamòg valley)

Colomèrs Lakes: a hike through a glacial landscape

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

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).

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Snow-covered summit of Montcorbison seen from the valley, with the town of Vielha in the backgroundFrom €75

Vielha e Mijaran, Val d'Aran

Montcorbison: ascent and landscapes of Val d'Aran

  • Full day
  • Level Moderate

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.

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The Montgarri sanctuary, starting point of the Pass'Aran trek, with the mountains of the Val d'Aran behindFrom €206

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

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

  • 5 days, 4 nights in mountain refuges
  • Level Challenging

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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Mountain path through yellow wildflowers, with Pyrenean peaks in the backgroundFrom €35

Val d'Aran

Botanical Walk in the Val d'Aran

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

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The snow-covered north face of the Vignemale, with the Gaube couloirFrom €124

Bujaruelo (Torla) and the French side of the Vignemale

Vignemale Circuit: a trek around the giant of the Pyrenees

  • 3-4 days, with an optional ascent
  • Level Advanced

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 belowFrom €100

Llauset, Ribagorza

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

  • 2 days, 1 night in a mountain refuge
  • Level Moderate

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 massifFrom €124

Benasque, Aragonese Pyrenees

Aneto Circuit: a three-day circular trek

  • 3 days, 2 nights in mountain refuges
  • Level Advanced

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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Nature and wildlife

Pyrenean wildlife watching, nature photography and tracking with a naturalist guide.

Two red deer stags locking antlers during the autumn rutFrom €40

Val d'Aran

The red deer rut in the Val d'Aran

  • About 3 h, at dawn or dusk
  • Level Easy

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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Photographer with a tripod beside a high-mountain lake in Aigüestortes under the Milky WayFrom €65

Aigüestortes and Val d'Aran, depending on what you want to photograph

Nature Photography in the Pyrenees

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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

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Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) among the leaf litter of a Pyrenean forestFrom €35

Around Vielha, Val d'Aran

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

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

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Bat in full flight at night, wing outstretched against a dark backgroundFrom €30

Val d'Aran

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

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

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Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) standing on the ground, PyreneesFrom €55

Val d'Aran, Upper Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà

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

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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-ringFrom €55

Val d'Aran, Aigüestortes and the Pyrenees

Wildlife watching in the Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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

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E-bike

Guided electric bike rides to the viewpoints, forests and villages of the valley.

Family with e-bikes, arms raised, at a high-mountain viewpoint above a sea of cloudsFrom €65

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

Electric bike rental in Val d'Aran

  • Morning, afternoon or full day
  • Level To be confirmed

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).

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Snow and snowshoeing

Snowshoe outings in the Val d'Aran during the winter season.

Hiker walking up a snow-covered track between snow-laden pinesFrom €15

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

Snowshoe rental in Val d'Aran

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

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.

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Two people making their way on snowshoes across a winter landscapeFrom €55

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

Snowshoeing in Val d'Aran: forests and nature

  • 4 to 6 hours
  • Level Moderate

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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Family activities

Outings of low to moderate physical demand, designed for going with children.

Two red deer stags locking antlers during the autumn rutFrom €40

Val d'Aran

The red deer rut in the Val d'Aran

  • About 3 h, at dawn or dusk
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Meadow and stream at Estany Llong, in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National ParkPrice on request

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Guided hikes in Aigüestortes: from forest to high mountain

  • Depends on the route you choose
  • Level To be confirmed

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.

See activity
Person sliding down a natural water chute in the Bausen canyon, Val d'AranFrom €47

Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees

Canyoning in Val d'Aran and the Pyrenees

  • 1 h 30 to 3 h 30, depending on the canyon
  • Level Easy

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

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Path through the Salenques beech forest, with light filtering through the treetopsFrom €55

Aneto (Ribagorza) and Val d'Aran, Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Salenques and Conangles beech forests: the woodlands of the Pyrenees

  • Half day
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) among the leaf litter of a Pyrenean forestFrom €35

Around Vielha, Val d'Aran

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

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Baciver lake reflecting the mountains, with a dead tree on the shoreFrom €60

Pla de Beret, Val d'Aran (on the border with Pallars Sobirà)

Baciver Lakes: hiking and nature in Val d'Aran

  • Half day
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Full moon breaking through the clouds above the silhouette of a conifer forest at nightFrom €38

Val d'Aran

Full Moon Night Walk in the Val d'Aran

  • 2 to 2.5 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Bat in full flight at night, wing outstretched against a dark backgroundFrom €30

Val d'Aran

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

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Isard (Pyrenean chamois) rubbing its head against a tree trunk in mountain woodlandFrom €35

Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

Animal tracks and wildlife of the Pyrenees

  • 2 h 30 to 3 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Mountain path through yellow wildflowers, with Pyrenean peaks in the backgroundFrom €35

Val d'Aran

Botanical Walk in the Val d'Aran

  • 2 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
4x4 vehicle on a mountain track in the Val d'Aran in summer, with Pyrenean peaks behindFrom €66

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

4x4 tour of the Val d'Aran

  • 4, 6 or 8 hours, depending on the option
  • Level Easy

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

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Adventure

Canyoning and via ferrata in the canyons of the Aran.

Person sliding down a natural water chute in the Bausen canyon, Val d'AranFrom €47

Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees

Canyoning in Val d'Aran and the Pyrenees

  • 1 h 30 to 3 h 30, depending on the canyon
  • Level Easy

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

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Authentic view of Poi d'Unha from the valleyFrom €55

Les, Naut Aran, Arties, Pont de Suert and Vall de Boí (Val d'Aran and Alta Ribagorça)

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

  • 30 min to 3 h, depending on the route
  • Level Advanced

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

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4x4 vehicle on a mountain track in the Val d'Aran in summer, with Pyrenean peaks behindFrom €66

Val d'Aran · Pyrenees

4x4 tour of the Val d'Aran

  • 4, 6 or 8 hours, depending on the option
  • Level Easy

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

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Private experiences

Outings and trips tailor-made for your group, family or company.

See tailor-made trips

Aigüestortes National Park

Guided days inside the national park, with interpretation of the glacial landscape.

Glacial lake set beneath peaks still streaked with snow in Aigüestortes National ParkFrom €60

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici: hiking and nature interpretation

  • 6-7 hours
  • Level Moderate

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

See activity
Photographer with a tripod beside a high-mountain lake in Aigüestortes under the Milky WayFrom €65

Aigüestortes and Val d'Aran, depending on what you want to photograph

Nature Photography in the Pyrenees

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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

See activity
The Milky Way over the silhouette of a mountain range in a starry night skyFrom €45

Port de la Bonaigua, Val d'Aran (next to Aigüestortes, a certified Starlight Destination)

Stargazing in the Pyrenees

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Meadow and stream at Estany Llong, in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National ParkPrice on request

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Guided hikes in Aigüestortes: from forest to high mountain

  • Depends on the route you choose
  • Level To be confirmed

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.

See activity
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 ParkFrom €248

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Carros de Foc: a trek through the landscapes of Aigüestortes

  • 5 to 7 days, depending on pace
  • Level Challenging

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.

See activity
Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) standing on the ground, showing its distinctive ochre plumage and red eye-ringFrom €55

Val d'Aran, Aigüestortes and the Pyrenees

Wildlife watching in the Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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

See activity
Isard (Pyrenean chamois) rubbing its head against a tree trunk in mountain woodlandFrom €35

Val d'Aran and Aigüestortes

Animal tracks and wildlife of the Pyrenees

  • 2 h 30 to 3 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity

Astronomy

Stargazing in the Starlight-certified area of the Val d'Aran.

The Milky Way over the silhouette of a mountain range in a starry night skyFrom €45

Port de la Bonaigua, Val d'Aran (next to Aigüestortes, a certified Starlight Destination)

Stargazing in the Pyrenees

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
Full moon breaking through the clouds above the silhouette of a conifer forest at nightFrom €38

Val d'Aran

Full Moon Night Walk in the Val d'Aran

  • 2 to 2.5 hours
  • Level Easy

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.

See activity
See the full activity catalogue

Frequently asked questions

Before you book an activity

Why hire a local guide instead of doing the route on your own?

A guide who lives and works in the Val d'Aran knows the real state of the terrain, the day's weather and the corners that don't appear in route apps. They also interpret the landscape, flora and fauna as you go, something no signpost can explain.

How do Ecotour's small groups work?

Each activity has a maximum number of people per guide (shown on its page) so that we can adapt the pace, answer questions and ensure real safety, not just on paper.

Can I book an activity as a private outing, just for my group?

Yes, most Val d'Aran activities are arranged on request and can run as a private outing for your group, family or company. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will be clear about what works.

Which activities are suitable for children?

Several low to moderate-effort routes in the catalogue are designed for families, such as the Bausen/Arlos canyon, the Salenques beech forest or the Baciver cirque. Each page gives a guideline minimum age.

Ecotour group crossing a snowy valley on a multi-day trek

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