Summer Pyrenees Family Holiday with teenagers

Itinerary

Day 1: Soldeu

Welcome to Andorra! Your adventure begins with a greeting from your leader upon arrival at the hotel. There are no activities planned for today.

Situated on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, nestled between France and Spain, the principality of Andorra measures a mere 25 kilometres by 30 kilometres, with an average elevation of 1996 metres. Although small, Andorra is blessed with some of the finest scenery in the Pyrenees and is a great place for an active week in the mountains. Once you arrive at your base for the week, you will have time to explore or relax until the evening.

Day 2: Walking to Salamandres Lake

This morning you will join your fellow travellers for welcome meeting before heading off on the first of many activities. Be sure to check with the hotel check-in staff to check the exact time of this meeting.

Venture out for your first excursion into Andorra's mountains today. It's a short (10 minute) drive to Entorn at the base of the stunning Ransol Valley Ridge. Starting at 2000 metres above sea level, climb 250 metres to Salamandres Lake. Here lives the small yellow dotted amphibian, the Salamander which gives the lake it’s name. For the more energetic you can challenge yourself to continue the hike up to the Ransol Ridge at 2,500m. At this height, spectacular views can be enjoyed across the Andorran peaks. The rest of the day is a gradual descent back down going past the Roca del Home Dret, the rock of the straight man. This is a great way to ease yourself into trekking and to acclimatise to the altitude. Keep your eyes open for native flora and fauna, such as the griffon vulture, which can often be seen soaring overhead. Arrive in the beautiful Incles Valley where you'll cross the Incles river and take a gentle path back to the hotel. You'll arrive back at the hotel between 3 and 4 pm, giving you a chance to relax in the sun, explore the village or visit a neighbouring hotel’s spa centre.

Day 3: Cycling in Cortals Valley

Drive to the stunning Cortals Valley (approximately 30 minutes). Here you and the family will enjoy a full day of activities. Half-way up the valley you will jump on bikes for a ride along a flat track to Engolasters Lake, glimpsing some beautiful scenery along the way. There are plenty of fun tracks around the lake for all skill levels, and we visit a beautiful viewpoint with a birdseye view of Andorra la Vella, the Principality’s capital city (population 22,000).

For lunch you’ll stop for your picnic in an alpine woodland (you'll have time to buy this picnic before setting off today), before trying some newly learnt mountain bike skills in the ‘skill-park’. You’ll then cycle back around the far side of Engolasters Lake to the scenic lakeside bar, before returning to the vehicles along the flat track. Here there is the option to ride an exhilarating on-road switch-back descent to Encamp (a total descent of 600 m). Today's routes can be walked if you'd rather not cycle, and there may be an optional gondola ride – this is the largest ski lift in Europe.


Return to Soldeu in the vehicle at the end of the day.

Day 4: Free day

Today has been left free for you to choose from the many activities that are on offer in Andorra. You may decide to go horse riding, or perhaps visit the thermal baths of La Caldea. The more adventurous members of your family might like to take to the trees for some zip-lining adventures through the tree-tops. Canyoning is also a great option. If you have a head for heights and a good level of fitness, you can try your hand at via ferrata climbing. This is a style of climbing that uses handy equipment such as rungs and a steel cable to traverse tricky and rugged terrain. Further cycling – perhaps mountain biking – is a solid option also. Otherwise, simply relax and enjoy the sunshine, or do a spot of duty-free shopping.

Day 5: White-water rafting on Noguera River

Crossing the border into Spain, take the high mountain pass over the Port de Canto through very some Mediterranean scenery, still at 1,000 metres high. You can stop at the Port de Canto lookout point to take in the lovely foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. Continue down to the village of Sort (Catalan for 'luck') where at the rafting centre you and the family will be kitted out with wetsuits, helmets, life jackets and a paddle. From the top of the Noguera River, enjoy 14 kilometres of exhilirating white water rafting. Noguera River is renowned as one of the top five rivers for rafting in Europe, thanks to nice stretches of continuous but not too rough water, and many exit points. After a fun ride over a weir and through the Olympic kayaking course, arrive back at the rafting centre to take a shower. The centre has a beautiful garden with a swimming pool and a bar, so you can spend some time here before heading back to Soldeu.

Notes: There is a support vehicle that follows the rafting. Those who don't want to, or are too young to raft, can follow along in the vehicle or relax and unwind at the centre. Children must be at least 8 years old to participate, and 8–12 year-olds will be able to raft grades I & II only.

Day 6: Mountain biking to Abelletes Lake

Head out today on a mountain biking adventure the whole family will enjoy. You will be provided with a helmet and fitted to your bike before taking a short drive (20 minutes) to Port d’Envalira at 2408m the highest road pass in the Pyrenees, a climb that has featured several times in the Tour de France.
A road descent then an off road track to the Abelletes lake which is the official border between Andorra and France, a chance to have a foot in both countries. A quick transfer back to 2400m then descending to Grau Roig valley to enjoy your pack lunch surrounded by mountains, pine trees and source of the Valira river. After lunch it is off road all the way back to Soldeu following the Valira river on 4x4 tracks.
You finish up the ride below Soldeu at the local Caves Manacor market, where you can purchase souvenirs or taste a variety of local products such as hams, cheeses and spirits. Then a quick transfer back to the hotel.

Day 7: Walking in Incles Valley

Walk from the hotel to the nearby Incles Valley for today's walk. Set off along forested mountain slopes and along a single track through the woods where there are beautiful flowers, rhododendrons (in June), wild fruit (midsummer) and wild mushrooms (in September). The gently climbing path zig-zags up to the stunning Cabana Sorda Lake, which sits below an impressive semi-circular amphitheatre of rock – an ideal stop for lunch.
If the weather allows, you can take a refreshing dip in the cold mountain water. At the beginning of the Summer it is likely there will be snow around the lake, and later in the Summer it is possible to walk around the lake or perhaps watch the fishermen catching mountain trout. After lunch, descend through beautiful meadows and woodland to the valley floor, where you head back to the hotel.

Day 8: Departure Day

Your trip ends after breakfast, with no further activities planned. See the Essential Trip Information for checkout times and luggage storage options. Those who have booked an airport transfer will be taken to the airport in time for the group flight.

Departure Dates