HIGHLIGHTS
Snowshoeing Holiday: Embark on a unique, women-only adventure across the stunning landscapes of the French-Spanish border, perfect for beginners.
Breathtaking Mountain Views: Trek to awe-inspiring mountain peaks, enjoying spectacular views away from crowded trails.
Guided Expertise: Enhance your snowshoeing skills with daily guided tours, gaining confidence as you navigate the majestic mountains.
Dual-Region Exploration: Stay in two picturesque regions, experiencing the charm of a family-run B&B and the luxury of a 4-star spa hotel.
Food and Culture: Discover local flavors, including a special tapas evening in Jaca, showcasing the region's culinary specialties.
Relaxation: Unwind with rejuvenating spa visits
THE HOLIDAY
Discover the magic of snowshoeing in the Pyrenees, a journey across the captivating landscapes of Spain and France. Led by local mountain guides, we'll navigate a variety of terrains, from tranquil national parks to pristine glacier lakes and remote mountain peaks, well away from crowded paths.
Snowshoeing is a great winter sport for anyone, no matter your experience level. It's essentially hiking in snow, allowing us to access stunning, snow-covered wilderness areas. If you're new to winter sports or haven't skied before, snowshoeing is a fantastic way to enjoy a winter adventure!
Our accommodations blend local charm with comfort. We'll spend three nights in a welcoming local B&B and four nights in a 4-star spa hotel, each in a picturesque mountain village.
In the evenings, we'll explore local flavours at carefully chosen restaurants, enjoying 3-course dining experiences and a special tapas evening in the vibrant town of Jaca. All these culinary experiences are included in your holiday package.
Relaxation complements our active days, with two spa sessions, including one at a historic mountain spa with outdoor heated pool with mountain views!
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is the winter equivalent of hiking! By using a pair of snowshoes and mastering some basic techniques, you can easily navigate through remote, snowy terrains.
It's a fantastic activity for beginners as it doesn't require the same level of technical skills as skiing or snowboarding, while still allowing you to enjoy the vast expanse of untouched, snowy landscapes.
Guided by local mountain experts, we'll explore wild terrains, gradually enhancing our skills and confidence in winter hiking, all while enjoying the pristine beauty of untouched snowy expanses.
Location
The Pyrenees mountain range, spanning across Spain and France, is one of Europe’s top snowshoeing and hiking destinations. With its lofty peaks, snow-covered forests, expansive valleys, and frozen lakes, this awe-inspiring landscape provides endless opportunities for adventure and exploration.
During our week-long holiday, we will explore both sides of the border, immersing ourselves fully in the breathtaking beauty of this majestic mountain range and discovering a variety of terrains and panoramic vistas.
DUaL BASE HOLIDAY
In the evenings, we'll explore the authentic local life of two enchanting villages. Sallent de Gállego, with its cobblestone streets and majestic mountain vistas, and Canfranc, a captivating village in the Aragon region known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich history.
Our dinners in local restaurants will provide a perfect opportunity to experience the vibrancy of these mountain communities.
TAPAS EVENING IN JACA
Jaca is a beautiful historic city with a remarkable 11th-century cathedral and a unique pentagonal-shaped Citadel. Beyond its historical landmarks and natural attractions, Jaca is known for its vibrant local cuisine, in particular its tapas scene!
On Friday night, we'll immerse ourselves in the local culture, sampling delicious tapas and exploring the city sights
Spa Sessions
Indulge in a 75-minute circuit of thermal springs, steam rooms, and saunas during your week with us, as well as another spa session at our 4-star spa hotel. If you'd like more spa sessions or a massage, simply let us know in advance and we can make the arrangements for you.
TRIP LEVEL
This trip is rated moderate
This active adventure offers the opportunity to experience the beauty of snow-covered landscapes. While no prior snowshoeing experience is needed, you will need to have good fitness level to tackle some mountain climbs!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Duration: Expect long, active days in the fresh mountain air. Daily tours will last 6 hours, with an actual physical activity time of around 5 hours.
Intensity: The hikes will include steep ascents and descents, requiring a good level of fitness. Remember, you'll be climbing mountains, which is hard work!
Head for heights: There may be sections with narrow paths and steeper drops either side.
Consecutive Activity: This trip involves 6 consecutive days of physical activity which can be tiring!
Accommodation
Our adventure begins with a 3-night stay in the scenic village of Sallent de Gallego in Valle de Tena, where we'll be lodged in a charming B&B nestled within the village's winding streets.
For the remaining 4 nights, we'll reside in a 4-star hotel in the picturesque mountain village of Canfranc. This hotel boasts bright, modern rooms, a restaurant bar, and a small spa equipped with a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.
FOOD
One of the most enriching ways to immerse yourself in a new culture and build genuine connections is by exploring its local cuisine. As evening approaches, you can look forward to sampling an array of Spanish delicacies at some of the fantastic eateries.
Our local team has handpicked restaurants for their exceptional food quality, ensuring that your dining experiences all week will be nothing short of unforgettable.
The Adventure
Here’s a little taster of how your week will look!
Please see it as a rough guide as we may make changes to suit the weather and snow conditions.
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Meeting Points:
• Zaragoza Airport (10:30am)
• Zaragoza Train Station (10:50am)
Travel Info: Direct flights available from London Stansted with Ryanair.
Alternatively, fly to Barcelona or Madrid and take a train to Zaragoza.
Transfer: Travel 1h45 to Sallent and check into the hotel.
Lunch: Eat at a local café.
Spa Session: Spend 45 minutes at the Roman Spa, which offers thermal baths, steam rooms, and a sauna.
Briefing: Meet with our guide in the evening to go over the weekend’s schedule, equipment and gear information, and answer any questions.
Dinner: A 3-course meal at a local restaurant.
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Learning to snowshoe: Our journey begins at Portalet’s border area. Here, we'll familiarise ourselves with our snowshoes on beginner-friendly flat terrain. The day’s trail, situated on the Spanish side, unfolds with panoramic views, culminating beneath the imposing silhouette of Mount Foratata.
Distance: 12 km; Ascent: 470 metres.
Dinner: A 3-course meal at a restaurant in the village.
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The Ascent: Today’s trail opens up the grandeur of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau. As we navigate the varied terrains, we'll be greeted by steeper sections, each offering a rewarding view of the French Pyrenees.
Details: Altitude: 2214 metres
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 550 metres.
Dinner: A 3-course meal at a restaurant in the village.
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Breakfast and check out of hotel
Morning Route: From our village starting point, we’ll weave our way through picturesque landscapes leading to the serene Lake Sarra.
Distance: 8 km; Ascent: 320m.
Transfer: Move to a new hotel in Canfranc.
Walking Tour: Take an hour to learn about the village's history, including the Canfranc train station.
Spa Session: Relax for an hour at the hotel spa, which includes a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam rooms.
Dinner: A 3-course meal at a local restaurant.
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Route: Using the Astun ski lift, we'll journey from the heights of Pene Blanque in France and mark our descent back into Spain for a memorable cross-border snowshoeing experience!
Distance: 8 km;
Ascent: 400m
Descent: 700m.
Dinner: A 3-course meal at the hotel.
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Route: The Valley of Canal Roya awaits, where each step takes us deeper into this captivating valley, revealing nature in its undisturbed form.
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 400m.
Jaca Night: As the evening approaches, we transition to the historic ambiance of Jaca. We’ll get a real taste of Spain as we dive into its vibrant tapas culture, sampling delicious dishes across two bars.
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Route: Through trails flanked by majestic peaks, our path culminates at Ibon de Estanes Lake. Here, the lake, ensconced in snow and ice, reflects the grandeur of the cliffs and mountains surrounding it.
Distance: 8 km; Ascent: 660m.
Dinner: A final 3-course meal together at the hotel restaurant.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer back to Zaragoza airport and train station.
Dates
Sun 11 February - Sun 18 February
PRICE
Twin room ensuite £1500 - We will pair you up with another guest!
Private room ensuite £1750
WHAT'S INCLUDED
6 days of guided snowshoeing
7 nights accommodation
Snowshoes and poles
Expert local mountain guides
Gutsy Girls host
7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 6 three-course dinners
Evening in Jaca and Tapas dinner
2 Spa Sessions (1h)
Airport transfers for our recommended flight times
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Drinks
Travel Insurance
Personal clothing
Check out our packing list below our FAQs here
PAYMENT
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit, your remaining balance is due 45 days before your trip start date.
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The snowshoeing on this trip is rated moderate.
What to Expect:
Duration: Expect long, active days in the fresh mountain air. Daily tours will last 6-7 hours, with an actual physical activity time of around 5 hours.
Intensity: The hikes will include steep ascents and descents, requiring a good level of fitness. Remember, you'll be climbing mountains, which is hard work!
Head for heights: There may be sections with narrow paths and steeper drops either side.
Consecutive Activity: This trip involves 6 consecutive days of physical activity which can be tiring!
Preparation: We recommend guests engage in some hill walking and longer days of hiking to adequately prepare for this adventure.
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We offer a single timed transfer from both Zaragoza airport and Zaragoza train station to accommodate various travel options.
Flights
This trip is design to work with Ryanair’s direct flights from London Stansted to Zaragoza.
Ryanair (London Stansted - STN to Zaragoza - ZAZ):
Outbound: STN 07:30 → ZAZ 10:45 | FR2565
Return: ZAZ 11:20 → STN 12:30 | FR2566
Train
For those considering flying to Madrid or Barcelona, you have the option to catch a train to Zaragoza. You may need to have an overnight stay in either city to meet the transfer.
• Madrid → Zaragoza 1h20
• Barcelona → Zaragoza 1h40
Further details on train travel in Spain
Further details on train travel from the UK to Spain.
Train tickets are released 90 days in advance.
Transfer Schedule
Airport:
• Pick-up: 11:15am
• Drop-off: 9:30am
Train Station:
• Pick-up: 11:30 am
• Drop-off: 9:50am
We aren’t able to provide transfers outside of this time, you are welcome to arrange your own private transfers or make use of local buses.
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Hotel for 3 Nights
Our hotel is a wonderful stone building set in the winding streets of Sallent de Gállego. María José is your host in this friendly family-run hotel with just 11 rooms. The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with en-suite bathrooms. The bedrooms have mountain views.
There is a living room and reading area with sofas and a stone fireplace where you can have a coffee and relax.
Hotel 4 Nights
We’ll be staying in a 4 star spa hotel in Canfranc-Estacion. The rooms are light and modern. The hotel has a spa, restaurant, bar and lounge area.
The hotel has a small spa with jacuzzi, sauna, steam room. 1 hour visit to the spa is included, if you’d like additional sessions these can be booked in advance for around £25. The itinerary is quite busy, so there isn’t too much time to fit in an extra session!
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All your meals are provided and the food on this trip is fantastic!
A hearty buffet breakfast is served at the hotel.
Lunches are picnic lunches packed by the hotel and eaten on our snowshoeing route, including a bocadillo (French bread sandwich), fruit, cake, chocolate bar or muesli bar, and nut mix.
In the evening we will have a three course meal, sampling new restaurant in the village each night. These three course dinners are a real highlight! Drinks with dinner are not included.
Please bring your own snacks (energy / muesli bars, nuts, raisins etc) if you might need these for snowshoeing during the week - though there is also a shop in the village for extra supplies!
We can cater for most dietary requirements. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
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Our experiences are created with solo female travellers in mind, connecting like-minded women through sports, nature and adventure. The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-65 years old, we never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years old, with around 60% in their 30s-40s.
After a day snowshoeing in the wild, age becomes irrelevant, as we are all connected by our experiences.
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You will need personal travel insurance that covers you for snow shoeing - this is a requirement.
We highly recommend you buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your spot to cover yourself should you fall ill or injure yourself before your trip.
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The cancellation will only be effective from the date that the cancellation is received in writing by email. Cancellation charges will be payable as follows:
• Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 44 days or less before the trip
• Cancellation fee of 30% is charged if cancelled 45 days or more before the trip
BOOKINGS TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By paying your deposit you agree to the terms and conditions of Gutsy Girls and our provider.
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Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides, however, we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available!
Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.
Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male.
We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the number of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.
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This trip has a maximum of 7 spots, early booking is advised!
Pyrenees Snowshoeing Packing List
Specialist ski gear is not required for this adventure!
Ski jackets and ski trousers will be too warm for snowshoeing.
You’ll need winter walking trousers, warm gloves or mittens, insulated jacket, thermal base layers. Full packing list below, any questions we’re happy to help!
Layers are the way to go as you could find yourself hiking in a t-shirt for part of the day and end up being wrapped up in everything you’ve got if the weather turns. The weather in the mountains can be very changeable.
BOOTS
You will need hiking boots with firm ankle support, these don’t need to be winter specific but should be warm!
Very light summer fabric boots won’t keep your feet warm. Snowboots, barefoot hiking boots or more trainer style hiking boots are not suitable for this trip.
WE PROVIDE
Snowshoes (that attach to your boots!)
Trekking poles
Gaiters
YOU WILL NEED
Snowshoeing kit:
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support. (Preferably something not too lightweight. You don't need stiff soled winter hiking or mountaineering boots, but snow boots that are a bit like soft wellies with fluffy liners aren’t supportive enough).
20 - 30 litre backpack
Base layer thermal tops (a selection which you can layer up) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Long johns (thermal) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Fleece or wool jumper
A breathable, waterproof/water resistant and windproof shell jacket
Soft shell type winter hiking trousers or leggings (windproof, water repellent, breathable)
A warm packable insulated / down jacket
A selection of warm socks of different thicknesses to help you get the best fit in your boots (wool is best)
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Warm hat
Buff (you might want two - one for your neck, one as a headband), scarf or balaclava
Ski gloves
Thinner less warm gloves (if it’s not cold hands can get hot quickly!)
Glove liners and/or disposable hand warmers if you suffer from cold hands
Waterproof trousers
Off the Snow:
Casual evening clothes
Night wear
Toiletries
Any prescription medication
Compeed or moleskin for blisters, just in case!
Slippers / shoes for the hotel
Spa:
Swimsuit
Flip flops or sandals (mandatory)
Swimming cap (mandatory)
Towel (optional: the spa will provide these if you’d rather not bring one)
Other Stuff:
Sunscreen (high factor) and lip salve
Camera
Dry bags for inside your day pack to keep stuff dry
Waterproof case for your phone might be handy
Snacks
Water bottle (not a hydration pack as the water can freeze in the tube)
Small/Medium thermos flask for hot drinks