Guided Pyrenees

Trail Running Vacation

Summer 2024

Head to the European mountain range less traveled on our new Pyrenees Val d'Aran Runcation. This Runcation is for runners that LOVE the adventure of mountain trails and the beauty they offer, from technical singletrack trails with jaw-dropping views of forests, granite, and waterfalls, to runnable rolling green valleys bursting with wildflowers. We combine our favorite trails and corners of the French and Spanish Pyrenees, combining sections of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in the Catalan Pyrenees, views of Aneto, and other gems of the Val d'Aran. The beauty of the natural landscape pairs nicely with charming villages, including one voted as one of the most beautiful in Spain. On this special Runcation we run point to point each day and stay in comfortable hotels throughout the trip as well as one night at curated mountain huts (called refugi) where you can fall asleep next to an alpine lake, drink local wine, and learn more about the mountain culture in this special region. We like to think this trip is perfect for those that want to challenge themselves on long back to back days in the mountains while also having the luxury of sleeping in a nice hotel room and indulging in a spa or two.

On this guided trail running tour of the Pyrenees, you'll discover uncrowded trails and French/Spanish/Catalan/Occitan culture with runs and views not often found in just one week-long tour of the region. With food so delicious and people so friendly paired with views so beautiful and trails that feel so remarkably wild, you might find yourself scratching your head and wondering, "Where is everyone?" Discover the gems of the Val d'Aran Pyrenees for yourself on our guided and self-guided Pyrenees running vacations.

Trip Difficulty: Level 2-3 (click to learn more about trip difficulty levels). Please note: while this trip gets a level 3 for the amount of elevation gain and technicality of trails, the mileage and the comfortable hotel accommodation also gives it a level 2 rating.

We also offer this trip self-guided with the option to customize more/less miles or different styles of accommodation! Learn more below or visit this page.

Overview

• Trail running the best of the French and Spanish Pyrenees in the Val d’Aran

• Guided runs up lesser known mountain ranges including ridge runs, green hillsides covered in wildflowers, and rivers flowing through granite trails

• Sunrises and sunsets from one night in a mountain huts, or Pyrenees refugi, with baggage transfer included!

• Double accommodation in private hotel rooms in charming villages, included one voted as one of the most beautiful in Spain

• Special bonus adventures with cascade swim spots and thermal hot springs and spa access in some 4-star hotels

• Enjoy half board (breakfast and dinner included) each day of local cuisine, wine, and coffee in mountain refugi and local hotels and mountain lodges in charming towns and villages

• Never retrace your steps on this point-to-point adventure through the mountains and villages of the Pyrenees

• Baggage transport included and private transfers to trailheads

Sample Trip Itinerary Summer 2024

Day 1

Welcome to Vielha!

Our trip will start in the late afternoon/evening in the charming village of Vielha, Spain in the Val d’ Aran with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! Enjoy an optional shakeout run, unpack, and explore the many cafes, restaurants, shops, and views from town.

Double accommodation in 4-star hotel with breakfast and dinner included

Spa access included

DAY 2

Setting Off On the Route

We'll enjoy a breakfast with an incredible spread of foods and coffees/teas from the region before a short 20-minute private transfer to the start of our trail. For our first day on the trail we'll head straight into some of the best wilderness in the area, starting a climb up the famous Montardo mountain summit before descending into a hidden basin of lakes. Our final destination is the one of the largest lakes of the group before descending down from the mountains to our comfortable boutique hotel in a small mountain village.

Private transfer to/from trailhead included and baggage transfer included

Double accommodation in 3/4-star hotel with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 8 miles/+3,600 feet ascent/-3,200 feet descent**

**Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change, but this is a good guideline**

Explore the wild landscape of the Pyrenees as we run point-to-point in the Val d’Aran

DAY 3

Exploring the Circ de Colomers

After fueling up at our hotel, we'll start a longer and even more spectacular day on the trails. Today we have the unique opportunity to tour the Circ de Colomers and we’ll pass by the Sant Mauricio Viewpoint, Ratera Lakes and Colomers Lakes. As we descend from the alpine we'll enter a lush drainage with a few miles to go before reaching our remote mountain hotel at the base of the mountains. At a total of 12 hilly miles, today will be one of our longest days on more technical trails, but we'll still arrive with plenty of time to take advantage of our charming hotel.

Double accommodation at a boutique 3-star hotel with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Baggage transport included

Roughly 12.5 miles/+3,660 feet ascent/-3,122 feet descent.

DAY 4

Run Through Beautiful Villages

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll enjoy a change of pace and scenery on today's route. We'll continue our descent from the mountains to tour some of the most beautiful villages in Spain (one even voted as so)! We'll give our legs a break from technical mountain climbs and trails to enjoy a mainly downhill day with a moderate grade downhill through rolling green valleys. After a stop in Bagergue for a snack and tour, we'll continue to enjoy a trail alongside the Arriu Garona river running all the way to our destination of Vielha. We'll enjoy another night in a comfortable hotel in the charming town of Vielha with spa access included.

Double accommodation in 4-star hotel in town with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Spa access included

Baggage transfer included

Roughly 12 miles/+1,400 feet ascent/-2,000 feet descent

DAY 5

Over the Rivers and Through the Wildflowers

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we'll leave the village at an altitude of 3,000 feet behind to head back up into the mountains. Today will be one of our bigger climbing days as we continue our point-to-point run from the town up into the mountains. Part of our course today overlaps with the famous vertical kilometer from Vielha as well as UTMB's Val d'Aran race. After making our way up steep mountain climbs punctuated with runnable singletrack, we'll enjoy ridge running for several miles of views before dropping into the valley of our mountain hut. You have the option of extending on a few minutes further down the trail to enjoy an idyllic spot for a dip or snack alongside cascades of blue pools of water.

We'll be reunited with our larger luggage at the refugi, so all we need to carry today is our normal running pack. With a terrace that invites you to sip a a coffee or beer and enjoy the view of craggy mountains covered by green hillsides, you'll wish you could stay for just more than one evening.

Shared dormitory in mountain refugi with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Baggage transfer included

Roughly 8 miles/+5,500 feet ascent/-4,000 feet descent

DAY 6

Gran Finale

We'll enjoy a hearty breakfast before our longest day of the trip. On this gran finale run, we'll put together all the skills we've learned during the week, from technical trail running to power hiking mountain passes to flowy ridge running. We start with a big climb up to a pass before some of the most spectacular ridge running in the area. We'll have views from the Spanish to French pyrenees as we cross over temporarily into France with wildflowers and green grassy hillsides. After rolling terrain we'll make our final descent of the trip down into the town of Bossost for our final evening to enjoy and celebrate our point-to-point adventure in the Pyrenees!

Double accommodation in private rooms in 3-star hotel in town with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Baggage transfer included

Roughly 14.5 miles/+5,600 feet ascent/-6,500 feet descent

DAY 7

Transfer and Departure from Vielha

For our final morning, we'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at our charming hotel before departing the village for private transfer to Vielha. We'll reach Vielha by mid-morning, where we'll say goodbye with tons of new memories and photos from an epic week in the Pyrenees.

Private transfer from our hotel in town to Vielha

Please do not book any flights until later in the day. We will arrive to Vielha by mid-morning, and you are free to make travel plans after that.

Enjoy a meal and sunset at the end of your day at a refugi here. This Pyrenees guided trail running tour includes 5 nights in hotels and one at a mountain huts on this point-to-point trail running tour of the Pyrenees.

this trip includes staying at a mountain hut. to learn more about the mountain hut experience, visit this page

What’s included

Roundtrip transportation starting from Vielha, Spain on Day 1 and ending in Vielha, Spain on Day 7

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of guide to participants

Half board (breakfast and dinner) included for 7 days, 6 nights

Baggage transport from accommodations (all you carry is a hydration pack!) all days

Knowledgable guide and running coach along the entire route

Communal accommodation in dorms for one night in Pyrenees mountain refugi and double accommodation in private 3/4-star hotel rooms for five nights (some with spa access)

Special bonus adventures, including cascade pool swims and thermal hot springs

SPA in Hotel Vielha and entrance in Arties Hot springs

Taxi transfers of the program

A technical route t-shirt

Trip packet with detailed itinerary including packing lists, weather resources, and how to reach the start by public and private transportation

Access to a personal trip WhatsApp group and community

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks during the day

Travel Insurance

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to the airport/next destination/etc.)

Tourist tax to be paid in cash at accommodations (usually ~1 euro per person)

Before You Go

Passport: Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.

Travel Insurance: Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip.

Who should attend?

You do not need to be an expert trail runner! However, please note, this is a LEVEL 2-3 trip. This Pyrenees Runcation involves more technical trails (including rocks, roots, and tricky footing) in mountainous climates. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (7-15 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (1,500-5,500 feet per day) in mountainous environments, on technical trails, and at times in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains. It is expected that all participants will hike the long and strenuous uphill climbs at altitude, and also run whenever the guide determines is feasible (including downhill and flat sections). We cannot accommodate walkers or hikers on this running trip. If you’re psyched about visiting the Pyrenees and can meet this trip requirements, you should attend!

Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!

WEATHER

Although the weather in late summer is often ideal, weather in the mountains is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Route subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Our trail running tour begins in the charming mountain village of Vielha, Spain in the Val d’Aran. Vielha is one of the main hubs for trail running in the Pyrenees and hosts numerous races, including Val d’Aran UTMB.

Vielha is reached by car, train, plane, or bus. The closest major international airports are Barcelona, Spain (350km away) and Toulouse, France (166km away). If you’re arriving from the U.S., the cheapest airfare tends to be into Barcelona, Spain with more flights and opportunities for connections from different cities. From Barcelona, it’s easy to rent a car or take an ALSA bus. Timetables and prices are available online. For more details on how to arrive to Vielha, Spain, visit this page.