Western Pyrenees Tour

Ten nights, self-guided, through Navarra and Aragon, described by Caminos as the essence of the Pyrenees. The company arranges hotels and an economy hire car, and a ferry-drive version for two people is quoted from GBP1,550 per person for travellers bringing their own car.

The mountains are the star, with walking and scenery throughout, but the page also stresses regional dishes, local wines and a surprisingly rich architectural heritage full of Romanesque gems. The route passes through eastern Navarra’s dramatic gorges and woodlands, then the desert landscapes of Las Bardenas, before reaching Ordesa and Monte Perdido and the Posets-Maladeta national park area. Villages such as Urdax, Ochagavia, Uncastillo, Ainsa and Alquezar punctuate it.

Two nights in north-west Navarra cover the Baztan and Bidasoa valleys, the French Basque villages, San Sebastian and the train up La Rhune. Two nights in north-east Navarra include the Irati forest, the gorges of Lumbier and Arbayun, Ochagavia and Roncesvalles. Two nights around Zaragoza province and Las Bardenas follow, with Uncastillo, Sos del Rey Catolico, Loarre castle and the Mallos de Riglos. Two nights in Huesca and the Tena Valley cover glacial scenery and the monastery of San Juan de la Pena, and the final two nights are around Ordesa, Monte Perdido and the Sierra de Guara, with Ainsa and Alquezar.

The price covers hotels on a bed and breakfast basis for two sharing a double room, an economy four-door hire car for those flying, or Brittany Ferries crossings for travellers bringing their own car, a regional guide book and a personal travel app with restaurant suggestions and weather forecasts, and instructions for finding every hotel. Flights, one-way and cross-border car hire charges, extras such as a second driver, garage parking and local tourist taxes are not included. Caminos quotes about £1,350 per person as an indicative mid-season figure for 10 nights, and adapts the route, hotels and airports to each traveller.