5-days Val d'Aran and Aigües Tortes Mountain Trek

Arties is a village in the Catalonian part of the Pyrenees and close to the French border. It benefits from both summer and winter tourism, but there are no ski lifts in view and the village has still this authentic atmosphere of a pyrenees mountain village. There are a few cozy cafes and restaurants plus a single supermarket where you can stock up on lunch items for tomorrow.

After breakfast you will get in the taxi with your luggage for the next 2 nights packed in your rugsack. The adventure starts at the end of the Ruda valley with a steady but gradual ascent through pine forests. Soon you get above tree level and follow the meandering river Saboredo through alpine meadows up to the mountain hut on the banks of a glacier lake with the same name. Stop for a coffee before covering the last altimeters to the Pas Port de Ratera (at 2592m). The descent to the Refugi d'Amitges is easy and very enjoyable, walking from lake to lake. Soon enough you will sit down for dinner with tonight's sleeping buddies.

Challenge 9.5 km / 6 mi, 850 m ascent and 350 m descent, duration 5h

When you reach today the Ratera pass via a different route, we highly recommend making a detour to the summit of the peak Tuc de Ratera (2862m) and admire the 50 glacier lakes that lie within the mountain basin "Circ de Colomèrs", before continuing along the well-marked GR-11 long-distance trail to the door of the Refugi Colomèrs. With clear skies do not forget to peep out after dinner to see the stars reflected in the Lac Major de Colomèrs.

Challenge: 9 km / 5,6 mi, 500m ascent, 725m descent, duration 4,5 hours

The optional ascent to the Tuc de Ratera adds up 1.5 km; and 270m of ascent and descent to the standard route

The last hiking day of this mini-trek through the National Park of Aigües Tortes, you will follow again the GR 11, but a less frequented trail via the Coll de Ribereta, giving you a higher chance to see deer, chamois or marmot. The descent is long, but -with the exception of a short part after the Montcasau reservoir- gradual. Plenty of time to contemplate the many flowers, too, as you descend from the alpine zone via the fenced meadows on the Plan de Nera to the taxi rank at the Pont de  Ressec. The prospect of a hot shower and a soft bed at the hotel in Arties will keep you going.

Challenge: 10 km / 6,2 mi, 350 m ascent and 1080 m descent, duration 5 hours 

After breakfast, the mini trek ends. If you do not travel by car, you can take the bus or a taxi to Vielha and travel from there by bus to Barcelona. If you need to go to France, you take a taxi directly to the Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan train station (1 hour drive) or a taxi to Bagnères-de-Luchon and from there continue by bus.