NEW TRIP
Craggy Peaks, Glacial Valleys & Stone-Built Villages
Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees Post-Eclipse
NEW TRIP! This itinerary is part of Total Solar Eclipse of 2026: Northern Spain, an eclipse program followed by a choice of six different adventures in Spain, Portugal & France:
Overview
After the thrill of witnessing the total solar eclipse in Lerma, we venture to the snow-dusted peaks, plunging valleys, and centuries-old alpine villages of the Spanish Pyrenees, an irresistible place for a WT hiking adventure. We explore from the limestone peaks of Ordesa National Park, nestled along the French border, to Catalonia's Aigüestortes National Park, with its crystal-clear lakes. We'll hike to craggy ridges where mountain goats scramble, explore valleys where the ancient Aragonese dialect is spoken, and ramble the back lanes of stone-built Pyrenean towns. Along the way, our expert Trip Leaders introduce us to Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan cuisine and culture. Our final hikes cross the high lakes of Andorra and the Catalan Pyrenees, and our journey ends in Barcelona.
Arrive: Bilbao, Spain
Depart: Barcelona, Spain
Highlights
- Witness the dramatic phenomena of a total solar eclipse with renowned astrophysicist Alex Filippenko, PhD (veteran of 14 eclipse events with WT!)
- Enjoy the fabulous Parador de Lerma and our private eclipse-viewing site at a hilltop winery
- Hike in breathtaking Ordesa National Park, with its sheer limestone canyons and waterfalls
- Explore the wild alpine beauty of Aigüestortes National Park
- Discover ancient stone-built towns where mountain traditions thrive
- Stay in charming and historic mountain inns
- Savor northern Spain’s culinary treats, from jamón serrano to grilled Pyrenees lamb
Itinerary
Our eclipse program begins in Bilbao, with a tour of the world famous Guggenheim Museum, a cruise along the Nervión River, and a walking tour of the Old City. We then continue south to charming Burgos, where we'll have a tour of its imposing Gothic cathedral, a World Heritage Site. A short drive from Burgos brings us to the medieval town of Lerma and our private eclipse-viewing site at an expansive winery on a hill—virtually on the centerline of the eclipse. Our Bilbao accommodation on Days 1-2 is the Carlton Hotel. On Days 3-4, we stay at the fabulous Parador de Lerma, a ducal palace originally built for King Felipe III. En route to Lerma during the first few days of the trip, we enjoy lively talks on eclipses and other celestial topics by our esteemed eclipse expert Dr. Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley.
From the Pyrenean mountain town of Siresa, we hike into the Hecho Valley and through sublime green meadows in the Aragonese Pyrenees, where glacier-carved terrain, crystalline rivers, and forests stretch all the way to the French border. One hike brings us to the Cola de Caballo (“Horse's Tail”) waterfall, just below the face of Monte Perdido (11,000'), where mountain goats scramble beneath vertical cliffs.
From Torla, a village of traditional slate houses, we hike the trails of Ordesa National Park, Spain's answer to Yosemite, a spectacular valley crowned by steep 10,000-foot mountains festooned with hundreds of waterfalls. After a visit to the medieval town of Aínsa, we hike along meandering streams in Aigüestortes, Catalonia's only national park. Two overnights are in Caldes de Boi, a mountain town famed since Roman times for its thermal waters.
We hike over the Portarró d'Espot (7,326'), the highest point on our trip, to reach the stunning glacial lake of Sant Maurici, and follow a trail among the high lakes of Andorra, the tiny independent principality between France and Spain. Our last day is in lively Barcelona, with its artistic and architectural heritage from Art Nouveau to Gaudí. Depart on Day 13.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 12 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 7 hours a day. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, you will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,200 feet gain/loss
Challenge Day
- Day 7 - 10 miles, 7 hours, 1,600 feet gain/loss
The terrain can be rugged with steep ascents and descents and rough, rocky trails with uneven surfaces including downhill over loose scree. While we are not rock climbing, there are sections where you will need to use your hands to traverse over large stones, so good balance and prior hiking experience are necessary.
Temperatures are likely to be in the 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. In general, we expect mild conditions, but cold weather and rain can occur at any time, so it is necessary to bring raingear and warm layers with you on every hike.
We’ll stay in a collection of charming and historic mountain inns and hotels. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunches will be at local taverns and restaurants or picnic-style along the trail, with cheese, fresh vegetables, salami, copa, ham, fresh fruit, Spanish chocolate, and local breads. Dinners will be in taverns and restaurants which offer plenty of opportunity to sample the best local dishes and wines. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.