Snowshoeing in the Pyrenees

We offer everything from a day snowshoeing with your personal guide to week long snowshoe expeditions. On this page you will find all the information you need.

Far from the hussle and bussle of the pistes we offer you the chance of a pure wilderness experience. Discover the real mountains, the wildlife and the adventure of exploring away from the trodden paths with an experienced and qualified guide.

As a guide I believe that my job is to provide you with an insight to the flora and fauna of the winter mountains, to journey where you would hesitate to venture yourself and to experience the beauty of the winter wilderness in the security that a guide brings with them.

Our trips are not about peak bagging (although we will visit some summits) they are about taking our time to appreciate a magical wilderness alien to most people. We will have the chance to see the life of the wildlife through sightings of the animals and birds as well as understanding their life through looking at their tracks and traces left visible in the snow. If we are lucky we should see sign from wolves, wild boar, deer, Isard (Pyrenean Chamois), fox, squirrels, pine martin and many others. The bird life includes eagles, vultures, woodpeckers, crossbills, finches and more. We venture deep into the snowcovered forests, cross mountain plateaus dotted with frozen lakes and visit easily accessible summits to take in the incredible panoramas.

We visit a selection of areas in the local Pyrenees Orientales mountains making the most of our knowledge to get the best out of each days walk and to keep each day a little different in terms of terrain, environment and views. Depending on the trip you choose we spend one or more nights of the trip in a remote mountain refuge (optional) where the guardiens will cater for our evening meals surrounded by the beauty of the winter wonderland and giving us the time to appreciate it, before returning to civilisation. On the last day of the week we can visit one of the local hot springs where you can soak up the healing benefits of the thermal waters before heading back to base in our vehicles.

The walking is not very strenuous as the pace is kept very steady to ensure that you don't overheat or get too cold, however, to get the most enjoyment out of this trip we recommend that you should be comfortable walking for 4-5 hours a day carrying a small daypack. 

The Altitude Adventure Three Countries Snowshoe Adventure

1150 euros per person

Date- 9th March 2018 to 16th March 2018 guaranteed to run

The ultimate snowshoe adventure.... One week 3 countries and an adventure not to be missed!!

If you have a group and would like other dates please don't hesitate to get in touch and discuss your plans/ wishes with us.

Maximum number of participants is limited to 7 clients to ensure a very high level of service and client care.

For an idea of the clothing and equipment needed please see the "Kit List" at the bottom of this page.

Dates:

For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.

Come and experience the extraordinary beauty of this winter wilderness in the hands of an experienced guide.

Itinery for the week (subject to weather conditions)

Saturday

Arrival day 

Sunday

Orientation & preparation day. Introduction to snowshoeing and walk with picnic

Monday

A transfer to the start of our walk. Start of our trek in Spain heading up for our first night in mountain refuge (option for a summit attempt) in a stunning remote location.

Tuesday

Spain to Andorra day. A fantastic day out up and over the cols and border, crossing on snowshoes to Andorra to another incredible spot hidden in the backcountry. Night in the refuge.

Wednesday

Another amazing backcountry day up and over and finishing at Grau Roig in Andorra. A little touch of comfort tonight with a night in a hotel after two nights in refuges.

Thursday

A short vehicle transfer and then we head up to the Pic de Pedrons before crossing the border into France for our third country. Spectacular views assured.

Friday

Walk to one ot the local hot springs. A good soak in the thermal waters followed by lunch. Bliss. Evening celebrarory dinner at the "Table de Saveurs"

Saturday

Departure

Price for the week- 1150 euros per person

Send Enquiry

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The Altitude Adventure Introduction to Snowshoeing long weekends.

480 euros per person

For available dates please contact us....

This is an introduction to Snowshoeing and will give you a fantastic experience, getting you out into the backcountry of the Pyrenees while learning how to snowshoe. 

Your trip will be based at the Mouli del Riu guest house with Altitude Adventure, with Full-board accommodation based on twin or double en-suite rooms and with one night being spent at a mountain refuge.

The trip will be lead by fully qualified and experienced local English guides (us), who have extensive knowledge of the area to make sure you get the most of your time there.

Thursday – Arrive at Barcelona Airport where you will be collected and transferred to Mouli del Riu

Friday – Day trek introducing you to walking on snowshoes and the beauty of the winter wilderness.

Saturday – Day trekking heading for the Camporells lakes and Refuge, looking out for wolf tracks on the way. Roughly 11km depending on the exact route chosen.

Sunday – Climb the "Sierra de Mauri" on our way back out of the mountains to the ski station of Formigueres for our afternoon pickup. Trip to the hot springs and night back at the Mouli. Roughly 8km depending on the exact route chosen.

Monday – Return to Barcelona for you flight home.

You don’t even need to buy lots of kit, It can be hired from Outdoorhire at a discounted rate…

http://www.outdoorhire.co.uk/kitlist/landing_page.php?id=Altitude-Adventure

Dates:

For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.

Send Enquiry

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The Altitude Adventure Snowshoeing Hut to Hut long weekends

550 euros per person

For available dates please contact us....

This is an introduction to Snowshoeing and will give you a fantastic experience, getting you out into the backcountry of the Pyrenees while learning how to snowshoe. 

Your trip will be based at the Mouli del Riu guest house with Altitude Adventure, with Full-board accommodation based on twin or triple en-suite rooms and with one night being spent at a mountain refuge.

The trip will be lead by fully qualified and experienced local English guides (us), who have extensive knowledge of the area to make sure you get the most of your time there.

Thursday – Arrive at Barcelona Airport where you will be collected and transferred to Mouli del Riu

Friday – Trek up the stunningly beautiful "Accordion" valley heading for Lake Bouilliouses and the Club Alpine Francaise Refuge. Roughly 6km depending on the exact route chosen.

Saturday – Follow the shores of the frozen Lake Bouilliouses heading for the Camporells lakes and Refuge, looking out for wolf tracks on the way. Roughly 11km depending on the exact route chosen.

Sunday – Climb the "Muntanyeta" (2400m) and then the "Sierra de Mauri" on our way back out of the mountains to the ski station of Formigueres for our afternoon pickup. Trip to the hot springs and night back at the Mouli. Roughly 8km depending on the exact route chosen.

Monday – Return to Barcelona for you flight home.

You don’t even need to buy lots of kit, It can be hired from Outdoorhire at a discounted rate…

http://www.outdoorhire.co.uk/kitlist/landing_page.php?id=Altitude-Adventure

Dates:

For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.

Send Enquiry

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Come and experience the extraordinary beauty of this winter wilderness in the hands of an experienced guide.

Day guiding individual or with a group

Throughout the season we can offer day guiding for those who wish to experience the winter wilderness with a guide.

You can reserve as an individual onto one of our programmed outings or choose a day that suits you and reserve your exclusive day experience.

Individual or group price with personal guide- 180 euros (max 8 clients)

These private days are planned individually with the clients matching their wishes with our extensive knowledge of the region to ensure a memorable day out.

Snowshoe rental 10 euros per day.

Contact us to reserve your day or with any other questions.

Kit List for the Altitude Adventure Snowshoe trips

Suitcase or Duffel bag 90 – 100ltr

Backpack for day use 30ltr even better if it has ways to attach your snowshoes

Waterproof Shell Jacket

Lightweight waterproof shell trousers

2 or 3 long sleeve thermal tops

1 pair thermal bottoms

2 or 3 pairs of warm hiking socks

Winter hiking trousers

Mid layer insulated jacket

Warm Down or similar duvet jacket

Thermal liner gloves

Insulated outer gloves / Ski gloves. I poss 2 pairs

Warm beanie hat

Sunglasses

Goggles

A Buff is good

Good quality walking boots. Not shoes, trainers or moonboots.

Gaiters to keep the snow out

Thermos and water bottle

Suncream Factor 40/50 (one between 2 is enough)

Lip salve Spf

Gel hand wash (one between 2 is enough)

Sheet sleeping bag liner or light weight sleeping bag for the night in the refuge. Blankets to keep you warm are provided by the refuge.

Casual wear for the holiday

Casual shoes/ trainers

Slippers for inside

Swimmers for the Jacuzzi and Hot Springs

Small pack towel

Normal wash kit and personal medical supplies

To help you with your packing we have teamed up with Outdoorhire, the specialists in renting outdoor equipment and clothing for expeditions and holidays.

Click "here" to follow the link to a list of products that they can rent to you for this trip.

We can offer training and consolidation for those working towards their Internation Mountain Leader qualification.

Please contact us to discuss what is possible.

We were climbing, still climbing. It felt like we had been climbing all day.

It was now 6:30pm and we had been riding since 8:30am.

People always ask us what we do with our time off. We explore, we answer. We test trails and ideas. As guides you are only as good as the trails you offer. So there we were still heading up at 6:30pm into the mountains on a new trail, heading for a pass through the ridge facing us and hoping to find a classic descent.

We started the morning at the foot of Canigou, day two of a three day test ride. Our aim was to ride from the summits of the Pyrenees to the sea. Since then we had climbed for three and a half hours to the Col de Cortalets, half descended one path to re-climb and descend another, half on the bike half carrying (not good after all the effort), been amazed by the kindness of the peoples house we had knocked on in the desperate search for water, climbed some more, discovered an amazing abandoned iron ore railway high in the mountains and an incredible single-track descent into Amelie le Bains.

Now we were en-route to a tiny hamlet on the French Spanish border famous as the crossing point of the last remaining Presidents of the Spanish Republic escaping at the end of the civil war in 1939. Las Illas was our destination and it was proving elusive and distant. Firstly we had to get over this Col and it was breaking us. The day was turning into a true epic.

Our group was small, always best on exploration trips. It consisted of two great friends of ours, Ian Mills and Manolo Herencia. Millsy is a guide and trail whippet, a friend from way back and over for a holiday. Having had his own guiding company in Chamonix for five years he knows the value of exploration and like a true trail junkie he can't get enough. Manolo is a local. Born and bred in the Pyrenees Orientales he is a true mountain man and a good friend. Wiry, tough and always smiling, a good guy for an epic. Angela and I live here permanently. We run our business based on the quality of our trails and our knowledge of the area. This is our life, love and business. We are passionate about the mountains and with our two girls safely in the hands of their grand parents we had the time for more exploring. So, when people ask us what we do with our time off, we smile.

We had started the journey from our base at Saint Pierre dels Forcats the day before. Sitting at a height of 1550m in the Pyrenees we have a view down the Tet valley to the sea. It had always seemed like a good idea to try to link a bunch of epic trails from the summits to the sea. A route was planned and the gites booked. Three days of trail riding and we should arrive at the coast.

Day one was no picnic. An early start and some fantastic flowing and technical single-track lead us down to St Thomas. The welcoming hot springs were passed and we climbed for the first time in the morning cool to pick up the sinuous path descending through the scrub to Olette. A quick coffee and chat with the friendly bar owners saw us heading up again with the memory of them shaking their heads at our plan and refusing our money for the coffees. They really did think we had lost the plot this time. A two hour grinding climb in 35degree heat saw us up onto the valley ridge again and lunch was taken facing a magnificent view of Canigou and next to a refreshing spring fed cattle trough. The afternoon passed in a blur of twisting rocky single-track and a huge descent which delivered us to Villefranche de Conflent nestled at the foot of two valleys. A cool beer was followed by a last road climb to our first overnight stop in the pretty mountain village of Fillols. Day one was done and the trip already had the makings of a classic with 52km ridden, 1520m climbed and 2310m descended. Not a bad days work.

So here we were at 6:30pm and still climbing on a seemingly never ending mountain pass. The problem was that we needed to get to Las Illas to keep our places in the gite and in time to eat in the restaurant. Small mountain restaurants are notorious for closing early on the French side of the border.

Ange and Manolo had cracked. They were all out on their feet, so Millsy and I were dispatched to get there and order food. We rode into the evening, through the changing forest. Pine was replaced by oak and beech, but we barely noticed in our fatigued state. The descent to Las Illas was cruel. False flats ground us down, but we had arrived at last. Some quick begging gained the others enough time to arrive and shower and so two very tired bodies rolled in at 8:30pm knowing they would at least be fed. Banter at the meal was minimal, questions referring to who's stupid idea the days stage was softened with the realisation of achievement after a few glasses of the local red had eased the muscle ache. We would sleep well.

Stats of an epic day- 83km of new trail discovered and ridden, nearly 3500m of climbing and descending including one partial descent re-climbed as it became evident it was impossible with bikes!

And so, on to the last day.

Another scorcher. Tired muscles were warmed up with a steep climb into the beech forest and on towards the border crossing town of Le Perthus. We rolled on, past the Roman and Napoleonic forts into the border town, showing how important this passage was and still is. Leaving the town behind our last major obstacle faced us like a wall. In the growing heat of the day we wound our way up through oak scrub and back into beech and pine to the Col de Ullat and onto the Alberes ridge. The Alberes ridge marks not only the border between France and Spain, but also the final projection of the Pyrenees into the Mediterranean sea. With a spectacular path running along the ridge at 1000m it offers views over the plain of Perpignan and for a vast distance up the curving coastline. This path leads you onwards until you seem to be out over the sea and it lends itself to offering a number of spectacular final descents to the coast. We had elected to test the path down a long ridge, past the "Tour de Macana" and down to exit at a spectacular chateau and vineyard at Valmy. This final two hour plunge had us twisting and turning on superb technical single-track until it deposited us at the chateau and only 500m from the beach.

After a leisurely swim amongst the slightly bemused beachgoers we retired to the shade of a beachside bar for a well earned cold beer and the inevitable questions from the inquisitive barman. The French really do love their cycling!

You can follow in the efforts of our exploration. Altitude Adventure offers the "Summit to Sea" adventure trip as part of a week long holiday. The trip now take 5 days allowing a bit more time to discover the magnificent scenery and enjoy the amazing singletrack.