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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateSpain
Jan - Mar
Snowshoe high into the Pyrenees where France meets Spain. Three days of guided winter routes through national parks, past glacier lakes and up to remote peaks.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£1,300
(USD $2,041.00)
Snow Without the Alpine Crowds
Strap on snowshoes and trek into the Pyrenees, skirting the edge of France and Spain on mountain paths most people never see. Three days of guided winter routes take you through national parks, past glacier lakes, and up to remote peaks where the panoramas are worth every uphill burn.
It’s hiking with a winter upgrade. No fancy skills needed, but you’ll tackle steep ascents and long days that’ll absolutely work your legs. Evenings? Unwind in a mountain village with delicious dinners at local restaurants we’ve handpicked. Soak your tired muscles in thermal pools with mountain views, sauna session sorted.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Snowshoe through national parks and remote mountain paths. All equipment provided
Thermal pools, sauna and steam rooms in the mountains
Family-run hotel with panoramic mountain views
Breakfasts, packed lunches and three-course dinners at village restaurants
Local mountain guides and your Gutsy Girls host
Pick-up and drop-off at Zaragoza airport or train station
Activity Overview
Trek into the Pyrenees, crossing between France and Spain while crunching through deep winter snow on ridgelines that most people never reach.
New to winter sports? There’s nothing technical to learn. Strap on snowshoes and you’re walking on top of knee-deep powder, reaching snow-covered peaks that are off-limits in regular hiking boots.
Our guides know exactly where to take you for the best mountain panoramas and how to keep moving when weather rolls in fast.
Uphill climbs will work your legs hard, but ridge-top views make you forget about the burning calves.
Activity Overview
Snow conditions vary year to year in the Pyrenees. When the snow is patchy, our guides switch you to hiking boots for the same mountain routes. You’ll still get the climbs and ridge-top views, just with different gear on your feet.
Activity Overview
For one afternoon you can soak in thermal pools with mountain views while your legs recover from the day’s climbs. Plus there’s a sauna and steam room for some real heat therapy.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Land in Zaragoza mid-morning and we'll pick you up for the drive up into the Pyrenees to your base for the trip.
Arrive and have a short briefing from our guide about the week ahead. Then get to know your group over dinner in a local restaurant.
After breakfast we drive up to Portalet, where you'll get your snowshoes on and find your feet on flat ground before the route starts. It's a gentle beginning with no steep ascents, so there's time to get used to walking in them.
The route carries on along the Spanish side, passing under Foratata, the peak you'll have been looking at all morning.
Back to the hotel to warm up and rest your legs, then out to a village restaurant for dinner.
Drive north to Valle de Aragón and cross through the Somport tunnel into France. The Aspe peaks are ahead of you the whole way, iced over and deep in snow.
Climb through beech woods into the open valley that leads to Ibon de Estanes. The lake sits frozen under towering cliffs, and in winter you'll likely have it to yourselves.
Down to the village thermal spa to recover. Thermal pools, a sauna and a steam room sort out two days of tired legs, then dinner in the village.
Explore a peak on the French side, next to the magnificent Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
Picnic lunch on the mountain, then back down to the hotel.
Final dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the week.
One last short snowshoe if you're up for it or take it easy, wander the village and have a slow morning. We leave for Zaragoza around midday, in time for your afternoon flight home.
Rest & Refuel
Stay in Sallent de Gállego, a mountain village with towering peaks and views everywhere you look. Our family-run stone hotel has 11 rooms, all ensuite, with twins and private rooms available, and a cosy living room with fireplace for post-hike wind-downs.
1 of 2
Hearty breakfasts fuel your day, picnic lunches keep you going on the trails, and three-course dinners at top local restaurants every evening. Think proper regional cuisine.
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The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Home Comforts We’ll be staying in a friendly family-run hotel in the village of Sallent de Gállego, nestled beneath towering peaks, with panoramic mountain views at every turn. Choose a twin room or a private room to yourself.
|
|---|---|
| Food |
All meals are included, from lunch on arrival day to breakfast before your journey home. If you have a severe food allergy, please get in touch before you book.
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| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Climbing a mountain is hard work, and doing it in snow is harder again. The ascents are steep and sustained, every step takes more effort than it would on dry ground, and the cold and the altitude both take something out of you on top of that. Expect this to feel significantly tougher than a regular hike over the same distance. You’ll be out for six to seven hours daily, five to six of those on snowshoes, covering 8-12km across three consecutive days with no rest day in between. Some sections have narrow paths and exposed drops, so a head for heights matters as much as physical fitness. You need to arrive fit. If you’re doing medium to high-intensity cardio three or more times a week, like running, cycling, hill walking or gym work, you’ll handle this well. If you’re not, this trip will be a slog rather than a pleasure. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No snowshoeing experience needed – if you can hike, you can do this. The snowshoes do the technical work, your fitness does the rest. |
| Packing List |
Below are a few specialist items you will need or might have to invest in before your adventure! For a full list of what you’ll need to bring, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You’ll Need
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| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Zaragoza airport or Zaragoza train station. For alternative routes and travel information, please see the trip guide. |
| Not Included |
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| Trip Code |
PYRHPYSNW |
The Answers
No previous experience is required. Your guides will run through the basics on the first morning and build your confidence as the terrain changes through the week.
You’ll be active 5-6 hours daily for three consecutive days, covering 8-12km in mountainous terrain. You need good stamina for steep ascents and descents. Regular running, cycling, or hiking three times weekly will prepare you well.
Pyrenees temperatures vary hugely – it can be sunny and warm or cold with snowfall. While snowshoeing, your body generates enough heat to stay warm. The key is layering so you can adjust as needed and having a warm jacket for rest stops.
We provide snowshoes, hiking poles, and gaiters. You need to bring warm, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support (not lightweight summer boots), plus all clothing layers. A full kit list can be found in the trip guide.
Snow conditions in the Pyrenees are generally reliable and our guides prioritise finding the best snow-covered routes. In rare cases of sparse snow, you’ll still enjoy fantastic winter hiking with epic mountain views.
Most people fly into Zaragoza (ZAZ) using Ryanair’s regular route from London Stansted. Then from Zaragoza it’s around 1 hour 45 minutes transfer by minibus to our base.
If you’d rather not fly, you can take a high-speed train from Madrid or Barcelona to Zaragoza Delicias station. We provide a group transfer from both the airport and the train station at fixed times.
We run one shared transfer each way that collects guests from both Zaragoza Airport and Zaragoza Delicias train station.
Airport
Wednesday pick up: [TIME TBC]
Sunday drop off: [TIME TBC]
Train station
Wednesday pick up: [TIME TBC]
Sunday drop off: [TIME TBC]
Transfers run to a fixed schedule, so it’s worth booking one of our suggested flights where you can. Those are the ones we’ll wait for. If you’re travelling by train, we can’t hold the transfer, so give yourself plenty of time either side.
Our transfers run to a fixed schedule, but we do wait for the flights we suggest. If you’re booked on one of those and it lands late, we’ll be there when you get in.
If you’ve booked a different flight or train and it’s delayed or cancelled, you may need to make your own way to meet the group. We’ll help with local information, though private transfers to remote areas are expensive, which is why comprehensive travel insurance matters.
Mountain weather is unpredictable. Expect anything from sunny and warm (i.e. above freezing) to below freezing with snowfall and wind. Daily temperatures vary hugely. Check the forecast before travelling and pack for all conditions.
Absolutely. Mountain weather can be unpredictable, so our guides adjust daily plans to ensure the best (and safest) experience. We might swap routes or timing based on conditions, but you’ll still get your full adventure.
Our trips include full board, but bring euros for drinks and extras. Many places take cards with minimum spend requirements, so cash is advisable. There are ATMs in the village.
Only if you want to. Twin rooms have two single beds, and private rooms are for solo occupancy. All rooms are ensuite. Let us know which you’d prefer when you book.
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