Walking in Andorra

Begin your adventure in the mountain town of Canillo, our gateway to the Pyrenean trails of Andorra. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Andorran welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Canillo or Barcelona? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Linking three glacial lakes near the Ordino-Arcalís ski resort, the Lagos de Tristaina circuit is a wonderfully scenic start to our hiking adventure. It’s a relatively gentle day, a great warm up for the hikes ahead and the ideal opportunity to get to know each other better. Along the way, we see all three lakes – Estany Primer, with its deep blue waters; the hill-wrapped Estany del Mig; and Estany de Més Amunt, the largest of the trio – and, if we’re lucky, the free-roaming Percheron horses that live here. Maximum altitude: 7,749ft (2,326m)

The Valle de Incles, a glacial valley where shepherd huts and meadows sit beneath high ridges, is our host for today’s adventure. Our circular trail showcases the beauty of the region, passing cascades, rippling peaks and dense pine forests. We also do a lap of the Estany de Siscaró, an alpine lake surrounded by meadows and peaks. While you’re taking in the beauty, make sure to mine your tour leader’s knowledge on the Valle de Incles, which was used as a clandestine crossing into France by smugglers and refugees during the Second World War. Maximum altitude: 7,578ft (2,310m)

Today is free to rest or join optional activities. Options include trying a via ferrata and crossing the Tibetan Bridge at Canillo, visiting the Caldea thermal baths in Escaldes-Engordany, lacing up skates at the Palau de Gel ice rink, or heading into Andorra la Vella for shopping (the principality remains tax-free).

We set our sights on Casamanya today. The peak is an icon of the central Pyrenees and a firm favourite for local hikers. Our route takes us up some steep sections, but the views from the top, over virtually the whole country, are well worth the effort. On our descent, we stop at the Roc del Quer viewpoint, a cantilevered platform jutting 40ft (12m) from the mountainside, offering a bird’s-eye view of Canillo village. Maximum altitude: 8,956ft (2,730m)

Cross from east to west today, tracking a spectacular linear route between two valleys. From the peaceful village of Ransol, we ascend through a dramatic glacial valley, passing a series of pristine alpine lakes before we climb toward the high mountain pass of Collada dels Meners, each turn reveals sweeping views and wild, unspoiled landscapes. We then descend to Sorteny Valley, a protected nature park renowned for its meadows of wildflowers, endemic alpine species, and one of the richest floral reserves in the Pyrenees. Maximum altitude: 9,094ft (2,772m)

A 30-minute transfer brings us to Grau Roig. It may be a renowned ski resort, but it’s the gateway to the Circ de Pessons for us, a glorious glacial amphitheatre dotted with a series of mountain lakes. A fitting finale to our week of hiking. We follow a circular route linking several of the lakes, surrounded by glorious Andorran peaks throughout. Maximum altitude: 8,504ft (2,592m)