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Holidays

High Pastures of the Picos

Spain, Picos
2 reviews
Available Departures: May, Jun, Sep

8 days from

US$1,750

without flights
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

Discover the limestone pinnacles and verdant pastures of Spain's Picos de Europa in a week of guided walks

Trip Code: SPP
Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

High Pastures of the Picos

Highlights
  • Follow the spectacular man-made cliff-side path through the 1500m deep Cares Gorge
  • Ride the Fuente De Cable car over the Pico's dominating limestone pinnacles
  • Walks hand picked by our local expert to showcase the Pico's flora and geology
  • Hike to the base of Naranjo de Bulnes, the most iconic limestone peak in the Picos
  • Comfortable hotel bases in Cangas de Onis, Fuente De and Arenas de Cabrales

At a Glance
  • Group Size 5 to 15
  • 6 days walking
  • Max altitude - 1900 metres
  • Join In Bilbao

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 7 nights Hotel
Overview

The Picos de Europa, in northern Spain, is one of the most stunning mountain areas in Europe, with its dominating limestone pinnacles, verdant green valleys, crystal clear rivers, beautiful meadowlands and vibrant forests, it is a paradise for lovers of the outdoors. Created by our expert local guides, and Picos  aficiaonados, this holiday is designed to not only showcase the region’s best walks, but its natural wonders, geology, abundant flora, and its traditional mountain culture. Beginning near Cangas de Onis, our series of guided day walks will see us exploring for 5 - 7hrs each day and will include a traverse of the spectacular man-made cliff-side path cut through the 1500m deep Cares Gorge, a hike over the Las Horcadinas Pass following an exhilarating ride on the Fuente De cable car, a circuit of the stunning Covadonga Lakes, and a hike up to the base of Naranjo de Bulnes (Pico Urriellu) one of the most iconic sights in the Picos.


By using 3 different comfortable hotels bases in the pretty mountain areas of Cangas de Onis, Arenas de Cabrales and Fuente De, we will be able to cover as much of this magnificent National Park as possible within a week’s holiday. If you choose to travel on our spring departures you’ll witness the high pastures explode with spring flowers and rare orchids. Those travelling later in the year will see autumn transform the forests into an opulent tapestry of gold, red, russet and yellow. Whichever time of year you choose to travel our guide will be on hand to talk to you about the flora, fauna and geology you’ll encounter (and advise the best places to sample delicious local cheese!). This is a showcase of some of the finest walking country in the world.

This holiday is a series of guided day walks, any of which can be considered as optional, and we will average 5 to 7 hours walking each day. The amount of ascent and descent is varying, but averages out at around 700 metres per day, though on some days it is as little as 250m and on others up to 1000m. The underfoot conditions are  good, following tracks and trails and long sections of well-maintained pathway. However, we will also encounter some sections of scree, rocky terrain and meadow with no discernable track. You will only be required to walk with a day pack each day and we will sleep in comfortable, well appointed, hotels each night. This is a really enjoyable walking holiday and suitable for weekend walkers, especially those with an interest in geology and botany

Why KE?

Hand Picked Picos at Outstanding Value

Our 6 walks have been specially selected by our expert local guides to showcase the iconic sites, fascinating geology, and wonderful flora and fauna of this stunning national park. With guided walks everyday and all meals included this holiday is fantastic value for money.

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Itinerary

Meet at the group hotel just 4km from Cangas de Onis. The farming town of Cangas de Onis is our gateway to the Picos de Europa. Tonight over dinner with our Tour Leader we can ask questions about the coming week. Drive time: 2.5hrs.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

D

A nice gentle walk to ease us in to our week's holiday. After taking breakfast at our hotel, a transfer takes us to the beautifully located Covadonga Lakes, in the north west of the Picos de Europa National Park. From here we begin our classic circular walk, which takes us through high altitude pastures and beautiful beech forests. We'll pass many abandoned stone huts, which once served as summer homes to farming families when they headed into the mountains to tend their livestock; this will also be our first introduction to the regions old traditions. Returning to our vehicle we transfer on to our next accommodation in Arenas de Cabrales, which will be our base for the next three nights. This small town marks the entrance to the Central Massif of the Picos de Europa. Drive time: 1hr.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

400 M

Descent

400 M

Time

5 - 6 hrs walking

Distance

15 KM

Today we start out directly from our hotel, ascending on an old cobbled roman road which leads us up into a dense forest of sweet chestnuts, where we can hope to also find some other native species. A long and reasonably challenging ascent takes us up into higher open pastures full of colourful alpine flowers and scattered with boulders and the remains of old mountain hamlets. Weather allowing we will have an incredible view into the valley of the Rio Duje and over to the central massif of the Picos, and its impressive column of tall, jagged, limestone pinnacles that dominate the horizon. Our route takes us into the National Park and down to the pretty little village of Tielve, one of the most traditional mountain towns in the Picos, or on to Sotres where we'll find a local cheese dairy. Our guide will decide the best place to end today's walk based on the prevailing conditions. We have it on very good authority from our local guides that these two villages are some of the best places to aquire the finest local Cabrales blue cheese. Perhaps we'll have a chance to stop and try some! Our vehicle will be waiting to meet us at the end of today's walk and we will transfer back to the hotel.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1300 M

Descent

800 M

Time

6 hrs walking

Distance

14 KM

A short transfer takes us to Ponchebos, where we will begin our walk up the magnificent Cares Gorge or Garganta del Cares. The Cares gorge forms a natural dividing line between the Occidental and Central massifs. In some places the walls of the gorge soar precipitously almost 2000 metres above us and we will be amazed to be able to navigate the gorge on a path hewn out of solid rock, through this outrageously difficult terrain. First built in the 1920's as part of a hydro-electric scheme, this man made path now provides, without doubt, one of the most outstanding walks in the Picos de Europa. During today's walk, as we walk above the deep gullies forged by the clear blue waters of the Rio Cares, we will learn all about the geological history of the of the area and how this has conditioned the vegetation belts and fauna that exists in the gorge. Returning to our vehicle we drive the short distance back to our hotel in Arenas de Cabrales.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

260 M

Descent

260 M

Time

6 hrs walking

Today we follow an old shepherd’s and mountaineer’s trail to reach the base of Naranjo de Bulnes (Pico Urriellu), a huge limestone peak dating from the Paleozoic era. A hike that will take us right into the heart of the Picos. We begin with a short transfer to Pandebano Coll (1218m), from here we wind up towards the peak through open pastures and meadows. This is a great route for spotting flower species unique to this area. We ascend gradually to the Vallejo Pass, where we make a sharp turn and descend briefly amongst the cliffs before a short steep ascent takes us up beneath Naranjo de Bulnes. We will have our lunch at the Vega de Urriello Refuge, where we can have some well-deserved drinks and enjoy the lively atmosphere, as well as the stunning views of the peaks and the coastline. We will return down to Pandebano where we will meet our transfer to our next hotel, near Fuente de.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

740 M

Descent

740 M

Time

6 hrs walking

Distance

9 KM

Today we jump out of the hotel and walk the short distance to the cable car station. We'll enjoy a scenic cable car ride, where we will ascend from around 1100m to 1800m in about 7 minutes! Leaving the cable car at the upper station at Mirador del Cable, we find ourselves in a spectacular moon-like landscape, where we can hope to catch sight of some chamois hiding amongst the rocks. We should also keep our eyes peeled for unusual flora species in this high rocky terrain as we hike to Las Horcadinas pass (1900m), from where we will descend all the way back down to the valley floor and into the dense Mediterranean forest, a great contrast to the start of today's walk! We return to our hotel near Fuente De for a second night.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

200 M

Descent

1000 M

Time

5 - 6 hrs walking

Distance

8 KM

For our last day we will do a challenging, but very rewarding, route. We follow an old mining trail that takes us on a steep ascent to the upper pastures of Liordes, a beautiful floral scene awaits for us! It is not uncommon to see vultures soaring overhead and we should have fantastic views of the impressive central and western massif. We descend back to Fuente Dé, in the early afternoon, allowing enough time to enjoy a relaxed afternoon with the option to add a visit to the medieval town of Potes (additional cost).

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

925 M

Descent

925 M

Time

7 hrs walking

The holiday ends after breakfast. A single timed transfer to Bilbao Airport is provided.

Meals

B
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Point Point
Direction Direction
Transfer
Trek
Cable Car

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • A professional and qualified tour leader
  • Single timed group airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • All accommodation as described
  • All meals
  • All land transport required by the itinerary

  • Travel insurance
  • Airport transfers (other than group transfers)
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.


TRAVEL TO YOUR DESTINATION

If flying from the UK there are low cost airlines available to the start and from the end of your holiday.

To benefit from full financial protection, ease your holiday planning, and avoid dealing with airlines, we can book scheduled flights from the UK as part of a flight inclusive package. Scheduled flights are usually more expensive that low cost alternatives, however potentially less stressful if your flight is cancelled or delayed. If you book flights through KE Adventure Travel we will offset the carbon of your flight.

The group will meet at the group hotel in Soto de Cangas.

A single timed transfer from Bilbao Airport to the group hotel is provided on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary. This transfer will usually leave the airport in the late morning..

On the last day of the itinerary, there will be a single transfer back to Bilbao Airport timed for the check in of flights leaving at 1000 at the earliest.

Anyone may join the group transfers by prior arrangement. Travelling as a group or on public transport saves energy. If your flight schedules do not fit with these airport transfers, you will need to make your own way to the group hotel/back to the airport. A one-way taxi from Santander airport to Soto de Cangas will take around 1.5hrs and cost about €160. A taxi from Bilbao Airport will take around 2.5hrs and will cost around €260.

Hotel contact details and a contact number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals are included in the holiday price.

Breakfasts are continental in style with coffee, tea, cereals, cheese, bread or toast and jam with fruit or yogurt. Dinners are usually a home cooked three course meal, which will usually consist of a first course of soup, pasta/rice or a  vegetable dish, a main course of meat or fish, and a homemade desert. Packed lunches are usually picnic in style and you will be asked to carry your own picnic bag each day. This could be a selection of meats/cheeses, pasta salad, fruit, cereal bars and bread. You may want to supplement the lunches with some favourite snacks of your own to keep you going along the way.

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

During this walking holiday we will use 3 different comfortable hotel bases, spending 1 night in Cangas de Onis, 3 nights in Arenas de Cabrales and 3 nights in Fuente De. All rooms are en suite.

All accommodation is twin share. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. A limited number of single hotel rooms are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning to extend your holiday, additional nights are available on request.

The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader.

This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip.

We estimate that €100-€150 should be sufficient to cover miscellaneous expenses, including bar bills and snack items, chocolate bars etc. This will also allow you to pay reasonable tips to the local guide and driver. Money can be withdrawn form ATMs in Santander and Cangas. If you prefer to bring all your travel money with you, we recommend that you carry this in the form of euros cash. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect).

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

  • less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

The currency for part or all of this holiday is the Euro.

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking up to 6 hours a day for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

This region is known for its changeable weather associated with its mountains and its coastal location. Although most of the region's precipitation occurs between November and February, it can rain at any time of the year. From late May until early October the weather is generally  good for wallking, with clear and sunny days predominating. We can expect daytime valley temperatures of between 15-25°C in May/June/October, dropping to around 10°C overnight. Temperatures will be rather cooler than this at altitude, with daytime temperatures of between 10°C and 15°C above 1500 metres. At night the temperature could fall as low as 5°C. In May/June/Oct we may encounter some snow on some of the higher sections of the walks. As with any mountain area there is the risk of some poor weather, with rain and even fog.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

  • Walks and Climbs in Picos de Europa. Cicerone.

  • Northern Spain - Picos de Europa. Sunflower Books.

Picos de Europa 1:25,000. Adrados (2 sheets)

The Picos on two detailed maps, each available either on paper or in a waterproof and tear-resistant edition. Contour interval is 10m (50m for cliff faces), and bold shading and graphic relief, provide an excellent representation of the terrain. Overlay shows hiking routes, mountain huts and refuges. The. map legend is in Spanish and English. Further information on the reverse is in Spanish only.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You SHOULD bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots
  • Walking socks
  • Trekking trousers
  • Lightweight waterproof overtrousers
  • Underwear
  • Shorts
  • Thermal baselayer shirts
  • Casual shirts and/or T-shirts
  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper
  • Lightweight waterproof jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun cream (including for lips)
  • Antibacterial hand wash
  • Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
  • Daypack c.20-30 litres
  • Washbag and toiletries
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Sunhat
  • Dry bags
  • Basic First Aid Kit including: headache tablets, treatment for upset stomach (e.g. Imodium or Pepto Bismol), antiseptic cream, plasters (Band aids) and blister treatment.

The following items are optional:

  • Spare laces
  • Trainers/sandals for use in refuges (crocs are provided in most)
  • Swimwear
  • Headtorch and spare batteries
  • Small towel (for swimming)
  • Camera
  • Penkife (remember to pack all sharp objects in hold baggage)
  • Trekking poles
  • Insect repellent
  • Travel clothes
  • Small padlock (to lock luggage)
  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

Reviews

5 out of 5 from 2 reviews

Brilliant walks in an amazing moutain landscape ★★★★★

This is a full-on walking holiday with some quite long days. The Picos can be rather rainy and cloudy- four seasons in one day- not what you might expect of Spain in June! Highlights for me were reaching the high Vega de Liordes grassy meadow surrounded by a ring of high peaks, climbing to the Cabana Veronica at 2325m (in a change to the planned programme), and an exhilarating taxi jeep ride across the centre of the mountain range.

By Sheila Abingdon | 08 June 2022

Once again: KE Rocks ★★★★★

What more can you ask for? The hospitable Spain, spectacular vistas, long but rewarding hikes, and a wonderful guide. Accommodations on this trip were very comfortable, with excellent meals every day. The local wine did not disappoint. Our guide Rosana couldn't have been more supportive, knowledgeable, and good-natured. I would gladly trek with her again. This is not an easy holiday, with some long days and long hikes featuring significant elevation gains. But the scenery rewards the effort. Thi s was my third KE trip and each has been a five star experience. A tip: we arrived a few days early, rented a car, and visited Rioja wineries on our way to San Sebastian, which was a great city to spend a few days (with first class restaurants for the foodies). On the way back to Bilbao to start the trek we stopped at Guernica and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Great itinerary; I felt like we had a mini-vacation before we had even started our hike. Enjoy!
By Donald New York | 13 October 2019

Traveller Reviews
5 out of 5 from 2 reviews

Brilliant walks in an amazing moutain landscape
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is a full-on walking holiday with some quite long days. The Picos can be rather rainy and cloudy- four seasons in one day- not what you might expect of Spain in June! Highlights for me were reaching the high Vega de Liordes grassy meadow surrounded by a ring of high peaks, climbing to the Cabana Veronica at 2325m (in a change to the planned programme), and an exhilarating taxi jeep ride across the centre of the mountain range.

By Sheila Abingdon | 08 June 2022

Once again: KE Rocks
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
What more can you ask for? The hospitable Spain, spectacular vistas, long but rewarding hikes, and a wonderful guide. Accommodations on this trip were very comfortable, with excellent meals every day. The local wine did not disappoint. Our guide Rosana couldn't have been more supportive, knowledgeable, and good-natured. I would gladly trek with her again. This is not an easy holiday, with some long days and long hikes featuring significant elevation gains. But the scenery rewards the effort. Thi s was my third KE trip and each has been a five star experience. A tip: we arrived a few days early, rented a car, and visited Rioja wineries on our way to San Sebastian, which was a great city to spend a few days (with first class restaurants for the foodies). On the way back to Bilbao to start the trek we stopped at Guernica and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Great itinerary; I felt like we had a mini-vacation before we had even started our hike. Enjoy!
By Donald New York | 13 October 2019

DATES & PRICES

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

2024

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • High Pastures of the Picos
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: SPP /02/24/
  • This trip begins on Sun 26 May and ends on Sun 2 Jun
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$350
  • Single Supplement Price: US$140
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • High Pastures of the Picos
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: SPP /04/24/
  • This trip begins on Sun 22 Sep and ends on Sun 29 Sep
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$350
  • Single Supplement Price: US$140
  • Download Trip Notes

Land Only Information

We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you. The holiday starts at the hotel near Cangas de Onis and ends in Fuente De. Single timed transfers to/from Bilbao Airport are provided at the start/end of the holiday.

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE


Changes to flights

Please be aware that the flight industry is experiencing a high level of service fluctuation and changes to your flights may occur. This may also require amends to the transfers and joining arrangements. Thank you all for continuing your patience and understanding.

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


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