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Trails & Traditions of the Picos de Europa
Northern Spain
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
8 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Explore charming Picos towns: Potes, Riano & Cangas de Onis
- Stay a night in the heart of the mountains, in comfortable refuge accomodation
- Unspoilt national park with bear, wolf, chamois & more
- Varied & stunning day trails: Cares Gorge, Majadas, Horcados Rojos summit & Fuente De
Enjoy hiking in Northern Spain in this small group walking holiday
In this tour, you’ll enjoy hiking in Northern Spain through the stunning Picos de Europa mountains.
The limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa mountains form a jagged skyline whilst the deep valleys and green pastures support abundant wildlife including bears, wolves, chamois, golden eagle, lammergeier vultures, the alpine newt and yellow-flashing salamanders.
This intermediate-level hiking adventure takes place from spring to autumn, taking you on foot to explore the wild and exciting landscapes of the central and eastern massifs, where local culture and gastronomy are delightfully preserved within its charming mountain villages. You also will enjoy the stunning coastline, staying in the beautiful medieval coastal town of Llanes, with its superb range of restaurants and delightful beaches
ABOUT THE PICOS DE EUROPA
A little-known gem of a mountain range in Northern Spain, the Picos de Europa (‘Peaks of Europe’) spread for 20km across the stunning autonomous regions of Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León, leading down to the emerald green coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. They offer some of the best hiking in Spain.
One of the first National Parks to be founded in Europe, the limestone peaks reach up to 2,600m where eagles and lammergeiers soar, from deep valleys and verdant pastures dotted with delightful rural villages and grazing animals. A widely accepted origin for the name is that they were the first sight of Europe for ships arriving from the Americas, and they remain deeply impressive as ever, yet somehow overlooked by mainstream tourism.
If you would like to learn more, you can watch our Northern Spain webinar here.
Whilst hiking through the Picos de Europa, you’ll appreciate how the area is also steeped in history; ancient man lived here as did the Romans, Celts and others, and it is here at the Royal site of Covadonga deep in the mountains in 722 when the Christian Spanish began to fight back against the Moorish invaders to establish the Kingdom of Asturias, the first Christian realm founded after the Muslim conquest.
Day 1: Arrival into Bilbao
Transfer
Dinner
Arrive into Bilbao and be met and transferred to our hotel in Arenas de Cabrales, Asturias. A small town, nestled into the mountains, it is the perfect place to start your adventure.
Depending on your arrival time, freshen up, relax or explore independently before meeting your English speaking Spanish guide in the evening, and enjoying a briefing and traditional Spanish welcome dinner.
If you need some ideas on structuring your first afternoon, don't hesitate to let us know.
Day 2: Route of the 'Majadas'
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Hike: 12km, +400m, -400m
We start our adventure with a classic warm up hike, heading out from just beyond Lake Enol; one of the stunning Covadonga Lakes, up to the top of La Reblagas and on to the beautiful Toyeyo Majada. We will pass through several of these scenic ‘Majada’ today; high mountain pastures. The route continues towards Las Bobias Majada and on to Vega de Ario, pausing at a lunch spot with spectacular views of the Cantabrian sea and peaks of Las Penas Santas.
After lunch, our circular route takes us up to the Belbin Majada, famous for Gamonedo cheese and back to Lake Enol. With some free time this afternoon we will visit Cangas de Onis, considered to be the first city of Spain after the Covadonaga battle against the Arabs in 722, and the Sanctuary of Covadonga with its beautiful Cathedral (Basilica de Santa Maria la Real de Covadonga).
Day 3: Hike to Naranjo de Bulnes
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Hike: 12km, +800m, -800m
The Naranjo de Bulness (Pico Urriellu 2519m) is the iconic peak of the Picos Mountains, instantly recognisable on the skyline. The mountain refuge at its base (2000m altitude) is our goal today.
Driving a short distance to the tiny hamlet of Pandebano, we walk up to Collado Vallejo (1500m) where the huge monolith of the Naranjo de Bulnes comes into view. Reaching the refuge at its base in time to rest and enjoy lunch with an incredible view, we turn and retrace our steps to Pandebano for transport back to Arenas de Cabrales.
Day 4: Cares Gorge Path
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Hike: 12km, +250m, -250m
Today we enjoy a walk on easier terrain, with plenty of time to stop and absorb the incredible views of the National Park (and to take photos!). The Cares Gorge, with its narrow passes and gullies, is right in the heart of the Picos de Europa Mountains
The Cares River flows along the valley floor - the sound of water offering a very pleasing background to our walk. Every now and again the trail takes us through small tunnels, carved out of the rock, or across bridges, impossibly positioned, spanning the narrow and deep abyss of the gorge.
Following our walk, we transfer to Boca de Huergano, where we stay tonight, first stopping off in the town of Riano, encircled by limestone mountains. A gentle boat trip offers us a new perspective on the serene, majestic views.
Day 5: Valcabao to Collado Jermoso Refuge
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Mountain refuge
Hike: 8km, +700m, -400m
Tonight we stay high in the mountains (2064m) to sleep in a stunningly situated mountain refuge with modern facilities; restaurant, bar, and hot shower. To give us a good start on our ascent, we transfer to Pandetrave mountain pass and onwards, on the track to Horcados de Valcabao for the start of our fabulously scenic walk.
Following trails along the Canal de Pedabejo, beneath a large smooth rock wall, we climb up for spectacular views of the Massif of Llambrion, near the Vega de Liordes (which we explore tomorrow) and along the cliffs of Colladinas (5 small hills hanging towards an abyss) till we reach the Collado Jermoso Refuge. The sunset from here will be fantastic with far reaching views over the Valdéon valley & the Western Massif.
Day 6: Fuente De & Vega de Liordes
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Hike: 11km, +200m, -970m
Retracing our steps to explore Vega de Liordes, we take a high trail towards the glacial cirque of Fuente Dé. Our progress from the valley to the high mountains is marked by the oak and beech forests giving way to alpine grasslands at the foot of the rocks of ‘Peñas de Cifuentes’. Our route this morning runs through one of the most ecologically valued areas of the National park, home to the Cantabrian brown bear, wolf, deer, wild boar & chamois.
This afternoon, we explore the small medieval mountain town of Potes, famous for its bridges & towers, and idyllically situated.
Day 7: Horcados Rojos Summit & Cabana Veronica Hut
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Hike: 12km, +800m, -800m
Leaving the charming ambiance of Potes behind us, we transfer 30mins to Fuente Dé cable car to ride to the summit (ticket included) - a truly fabulous way to gain some altitude.
Starting at 1800m, today is all about experiencing the very essence of the highest mountains of the Picos de Europa, with jagged summits, clear air & alpine plants and wildlife. The summit of the Horcados Rojos is a magnificent balcony inside the Central Massif with breathtaking views. This is an out and back route - we return to Fuente Dé before transferring to Llanes, a charming Asturian coastal town, in time to enjoy a cider factory visit (we get to sample the wares with our evening meal) and a traditional Asturias dinner.
Day 8: Visit to Oviedo and FAPAS conservation project
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
In response to our clients asking how they can offer something back to the local area they have so enjoyed on their holiday with Yellowwood, where possible we link up to an appropriate organisation that we feel is doing its best to support either the ecology and environment or local communities within an area.
FAPAS (Fund for the Protection of Wild Animals) is a small non-profit association that run a number of practical and innovative projects in the Picos de Europa. They study and work with local communities to protect some of the most emblematic Cantabrian species: the Iberian wolf, the griffon vulture, and the brown bear.
With their HQ based outside of Oviedo, before we leave the beauty of N.Spain, FAPAS offer us the opportunity to hear in more detail about the conservation challenges in the Picos de Europa and to contribute for a few hours, to one of their worthy projects. It is a wonderful way to end our time in the area putting into perspective our travel experience.
Day 9: Travel home
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast, you take your airport or port transfer to Bilbao to travel home. Time to plan your next escape!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis, however, on one night of this adventure you are staying in a mountain refuge, in dormitories, so the supplement price reflects this. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is not available to book for part of the trip where it would have been possible.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International flights or ferry & taxes
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Tipping (allow approx £100)
- Lunches, snacks & drinks
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventurs is primarily comfortable and welcoming hotel accommodation offering rooms with ensuite facilities. For one exciting night, you head high into the mountains to the stunningly situated refuge of Collado Jermoso where you experience escapism and a total immersion into the ambiance of the Picos.
We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip;
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.
The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
3 nights at Hotel Picos de Europa (2024 itinerary) or Hotel Villa de Cabrales (2025 itinerary) in Arenas de Cabrales.
1 night at Hotel Tierra de la Reina in Boca de Huergano.
1 night at Hostal Remoña in Espinama-Potes.
1 night at Collado Jermoso Mountain Hut
2 nights at ApartHotel Paraisoin Llanes
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be a local, English speaking Spanish guide who is qualified to lead walkers in the mountains and knows the Picos like the back of his hand! This ensures you are in excellent hands and that you have access to local knowledge.
We work jointly with our Spanish Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Should we get bookings for more than 7 clients then also accompanying you for the duration of the trip will be a qualified International Mountain Leader from YellowWood Adventures. This ensures the right ratio of leaders to clients with a slightly larger group.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
Your itinerary involves hiking at altitude (up to 2500m), over passes and traversing mountain slopes. You will encounter rough terrain, steep gradients and some scree at varying times. The paths are generally defined but will be narrow and rocky at times. You will be walking for extended periods of time and on consecutive days.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be a regular walker with experience of walking in the mountains, and be in good physical condition.
Any hiking is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops for photos, snacks etc. Walking boots that have already been worn in are essential on this adventure.
You will be carrying just a day pack with camera, spare layers and a bottle of water. All other equipment is carried on horses.
For convenience, peace of mind, and to reduce the purchase of single use plastic water bottles, we highly recommend a filtration water bottle such as Aquapure Traveller (offer available - see section on Water)
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
You are advised to get into a regular walking & or running pattern before the trip as convenient.
Travel
For those of you who choose to fly into Northern Spain, Bilbao airport is a fully functioning, international airport welcoming domestic flights and those from Europe. Airport services include Duty Free, ATMs and Currency Exchange. On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
Included in the cost of your adventure is a group transfer to and from the airport.
Group transfers are only available on the official start and end dates of the trip. Arriving or departing on any other days means group transfers will not be included. If you plan to arrive before or after the adventure dates and need assistance with transfers or accommodation, please add these services when booking, or contact us directly to make the arrangements.
Once you have made a booking, you will be prompted to complete a travel information form where you can provide us with your exact flight times and details. This will enable us to organise your private transfers accordingly. Please note that private transfers may be subject to availability.
You are also welcome to book your travel independently, and we will provide clear instructions on how to meet the group at the designated time and location at the start of your trip.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, the responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as Skyscanner or Momondo.
We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Travel by Ferry
Although the most timely way to get to the Picos is to use a low cost airline, there is much joy to be found in incorporating your travel into your adventure and choosing the lower carbon footprint option of the ferry. You can travel to Bilbao from Portsmouth (23hrs 45mins), with Brittany Ferries. An added bonus to this form of travel is the opportunity to spot whales and dolphins in the Bay of Biscay!
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure.
We also receive notifications direct from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Arrival
For those of you who choose to fly into Northern Spain, Bilbao airport is a fully functioning, international airport welcoming domestic flights and those from Europe. Airport services include Duty Free, ATMs and Currency Exchange. On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
For those choosing to arrive by ferry, you will also be met by a driver/ guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign, in the ferry Arrivals Terminal.
All group specific, final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Spain
For information on Northern Spain, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specificinformation.
Reviews
YellowWood Adventures
This is a new itinerary for YellowWood and as such, we do not yet have any reviews. We would love you to be the first to review the adventure!
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- € currency, or US$ or £GB to exchange
- Passport & insurance documents
- Credit / debit card for ATM use
- Prescription medication & antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable & 10 disposable face coverings
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- 'On the go' Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out. Biodegradable wet wipe brands: Canny Mum, Close Pop & Travel Buddy
Items for walking / sightseeing
- 20-30L daypack for hiking / sightseeing, with waist and ideally, chest strap
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Waterproof walking boots- already broken in...
- Torch with spare batteries / charger
- Sunglasses and high factor suncream
- Sun hat / baseball cap
- Water-to-Go filtration water-bottle & additional storage water-bottle - ideally 2 litres per person
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners to keep kit dry.
- Sleeping bag liner for the night in the Refugio
Clothing
- General socks / underwear, including hiking socks
- Suitable clothes / pjs for sleeping in at night
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops. NB technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather when hiking.
- Lightweight walking trousers and shorts for hiking
- Sandals / trainers
- Warm jacket & fleece - Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended.
- Warm hat & gloves
Optional
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection. Light scarf useful for church visits
- Purification tablets as alternative to Aquapure Traveller Water Purification Bottle
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- EU plug adaptor
- EU plug adaptor
- Walking poles
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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