We present one of the tours characteristic of our style which cannot be found in any other catalogue. We will take you to the most unexpected places where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and the most spectacular views of the Central Pyrenees. A deep visit to some unknown Pyrenean valleys where the abundance of flowers is just unbelievable (we found 16 different orchids in 2004). The areas visited are a veritable wonderland for botanist and Eva Penn Smith our expert guide in alpine flowers is a restless enthusiastic who will fulfil all your expectations. High up in the mountains the spring flowers such as Alpine snowbell, Soldanella, White Parnassus-leaved buttercup, Alpine Pasque flower, Dog´s tooth violet, Pyrenean squill, Alpine aster and many others are still in flower. The damp-rock faces shelter Long-leaved butterwort , up on the cliff faces are Ramonda and the white cascades of Pyrenean saxifrage. The meadows contain drifts of delicate Pyrenean hyacinth, Alpine forget-me-not and many orchids. On the road side verges you can see another interesting amount of flowers including Alpine and Sticky flax, Pyrenean bellflower, Blue grass lily or the beautiful Alpine toadflax. Bird life is not abundant but interesting, some birds we can see are the most sough-after in the Pyrenees including a visit to a Lammergeier feeding station and a Wallcreeper nesting spot. There are also numerous species of fauna including a good number of butterflies and some of the most emblematic birds of the Pyrenees; Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, Citril Finch or Black Woodpecker, many Chamoix and Alpine Marmots live in these high mountains.
If you need any information about flowers you can phone to our expert Mrs. Eva-Penn Smith 01530 242504.
Itinerary
Day 1.- Meet you at Zaragoza Airport. Drive to Benasque valley , overnight in the Hotel Pirineos.
Day 2.- We spend the whole day in the ‘ Valle de Benasque ‘ where the forests are the best conserved of the Spanish Pyrenees. We will visit an ethnological museum and many villages, which have been restored with the good intention of welcoming the new ecological tourism. We can ascend a long a track to an altitude of 2,50o mts. allowing impressive views of Aneto the highest massif of the Pyrenees. Overnight at Hotel Pirineos.
Day 3.- Driving excursion through the Valle de Ballibierna , which in local language means valley of winter giving us an idea about its flora and fauna. A peculiarity of this walk is the altitude of the track above the river from where we will enjoy the beauty of the sombre forest , the wonderful vistas of Posets peak and the red colour of the old pyrite mine is something of a surprise. The characteristic geological formation gives to this valley a magnetic atmosphere. Overnight at Hotel Pirineos.
Day 4.- Our journey along an impressive route of 22kms. on a track which links the two most inaccessible valleys of the Pyrenees reaches an altitude of 2,000mtrs.from where one may enjoy magnificent panoramas of the two most important Pyrenean massifs, Monte Perdido – Ordesa and Aneto – Maladeta. In Autumn, the abundance of wild mushrooms presents an opportunity to collect some for dinner. Overnight in Escalona at Casa Carpintero.
Day 5.- The Añisclo Canyon with a longitude of 22kms. is the longest, the deepest and most beautiful of not only the Ordesa Park but also of the entire Pyrenees . One may travel 11kms. by car along an impressive narrow road of single direction, to discover that the canon turns northwards to the foot of the ‘ Monte Perdido.' After our excursion by car we will take a short walk to the river to marvel at the numerous waterfalls whilst enjoying a welcome shady spot. In the evening, we will visit the medieval village of Ainsa with its famous square and Romanesque church. Overnight in Escalona at Casa Carpintero.
Day 6.- To complement the previous day we take a narrow track to the boundary of the restricted Ordesa Park situated at an altitude of 2000mtrs. A short excursion will take us to the foot of ‘ El Monte Perdido ‘ where from above we can admire the Añisclo Canyon with a drop of 1,000mtrs. We will visit various almost abandoned villages surrounded by spectacular rocky countryside, which lacked the service of a road until a few years ago. Overnight at Casa Carpintero.
Day 7.- We will begin our drive early to the Ordesa Valley which is actually recognised as the most important National Park of Spain . After our trip in the 4WD. vehicle we will take a steady walk to enjoy the wonderful landscape and best views of this famous valley, here there will be ample opportunity to observe alpine birds. We will visit a bone-breaking site of the Lammergeier and with luck might see these impressive birds in awesome flight of dexterity as they manoeuvre to collect pieces of broken bone for nourishment. Overnight at Casa Carpintero.
Day 8.- Return to Zaragoza airport.
Air company RYANAIR is offering a cheap flight from Stanstead to Zaragoza , please visit www.ryanair.com. If you are unable to flight to Zaragoza please contact us for alternatives.
LIST OF PYRENEAN FLOWERS 2002 ,2003, 2004 & 2006
