Although the snow leaves, in the Aran Valley there is still a lot of activity during the rest of the year.
Any season is good to approach you and enjoy an exceptional natural site in the Catalan Pyrenees.
Many of the people who rent our apartments and exclusive houses in the Aran Valley are lovers of hiking, among other mountain sports.
Therefore, in Toti Arán we have prepared a small guide with the hiking trails that you should not miss if you want to fully enjoy nature in its purest form.
The waterfall of Saut deth Pish
From the Plan de Artiguetes excursion that you can also do in spring and autumn, it will only always depend on the snow, because the forest track does not open in winter season.
It is one of the most visited waterfalls in the Val d'Aran, a very easy and ideal excursion to go with children.
Travel: 1.2Km. Difficulty: Low
At the height of the town of Pont d’Arròs, we take the track that will take us to the Plan des Artiguetes by car, from where we will start the route. The most lively, you can start the hike from this same point, which will extend your itinerary to 12 kilometers.
Once in the Plan of Artiguetes, we begin the ascent towards the waterfall of Saut deth Pish through the beautiful and narrow valley of Varradòs, populated by leafy forests of beech and fir trees. After crossing the Varradòs bridge, we will face a sign that we should continue to the left towards the waterfall.
The Saut deth Pish is the most representative waterfall in the Aran Valley and consists of two waterfalls. The main and the most spectacular throws water from about 20 meters high, while the smallest does it from just 5 meters.
This tour will not take more than an hour; It is perfect to go with children or older people not too walkers. It is not necessary to be equipped more than with comfortable clothes and footwear for the mountain.
Artiga de Lin and Uelhs deth Joèu
In summer season (from July 20 to September 10) access with vehicles is restricted from 9 to 18 h, only authorized vehicles can access, a parking area has been enabled and if you do not want to walk the approx 3 km to Pla de la Artiga you can take the tourist train.
In 2018, the Artiga de Lin interpretation center was inaugurated, which you can visit during the summer season (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
The Interpretation Center of the Artiga de Lin makes a tour of different areas of the area from the glaciations that modeled the Ribera de la Artiga 50,000 years ago, to the native fauna and flora, through the birth and the Uelhs deth Joeu, the history of the Hermitage of the Artiga de Lin and the old Hospital, the route of Es Bordes, of shepherds, traffickers, hikers and refugees, since it was one of the routes used by people who managed to escape from the Nazis during the Second World War, the curiosities of insects and family hiking trails that can be done.
The Interpretation Center of the Artiga de Lin offers the user an interactive visit that uses audiovisual and new technologies to transmit every detail of the visit. ”
Route: 3km - Difficulty: Low
Artiga de Lin is a natural site of the most spectacular in the Aran Valley, full of hazelnuts, oaks, firs and beech. The route that we propose to you in the area is a circular excursion of an hour or an hour and a half that will take us next to the Joèu river (Uelhs deth Joèu), to the refuge of the Artiga de Lin and to the waterfall of Pomèro.
To get to the starting point, we will take the paved road to the Joèu river valley from the town of Es Bòrdes. 7 kilometers later, we will leave our vehicle in the parking lot of the Uelhs deth Joèu. You can also reach the Artiga from Gausach but the most comfortable way is from Es Bòrdes
On the way we can enjoy the spectacular waterfall of the Uelhs deth Joèu, we will cross a metal bridge ascending a path with trunk steps, we will pass next to the shelter of the Artiga de Lin and end with the waterfall of Pomèro. Being a circular route, we will end at the same starting point.
This route is a bit longer, but there will be no problem in being able to enjoy it with the family.
From the Artiga de Lin you can make other high mountain routes for the mountaineers, including the Aneto Aranese Route along the Còth deth Hòro (approx 9 hours).
Bassa d'Oles and Varicauba Forest
Route: 0.7km - Difficulty: Low
Easy and short route suitable for all ages and surrounding the small lake of Bassa d'Oles through the thick forest of firs and red pines of Varicauba. Even suitable for mountain biking, as it joins with two circuits widely used by lovers of two wheels. Ideal families excursion, it is very close to Vielha, and if you go early do not discard seeing some roe deer, it will delight the little ones because you will see ducks in the same lake
To reach the Bassa d'Oles by vehicle, we take the paved road that crosses the Varicauba forest, starting from the town of Gausac. This track also leads to the Artiga de Lin, passing through the Batalher Plan and the Guardadèr de Betlan.
In addition to walking, you can take advantage of this environment to spend the day with the family, play or have a picnic as entertaining
SANTUARIO DE MONTGARRI
It is an easy route for the whole family, which can be done all year.
It is an old sanctuary surrounded by a spectacular landscape, it is beautiful (postcard landscape), it can be done at any time of the year, and it will depend on what you like to walk you can do the approx 13 km (round trip) from the parking lot Beret along the path that begins to the left of the parking lot, or you can go with the car (that is not too low) along the forest track (it is unpaved but before July they always fix it) and you will reach an area where you can park the car and go down the path to Montgarri, if your car is 4 * 4 you can reach the same sanctuary.
For bicycle lovers this route is fantastic, (medium difficulty) and you could continue to Isil, Esterri d'Aneu and return through Puerto de la Bonaigua (I advise that someone pick you up in Esterri or Valencia d'Aneu that the rise of the Puerto de la Bonaigua is quite hard)
MTB routes of the Val d'Aran
In winter you can reach Montgarri practicing cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding or snowshoeing
You can do a snowshoe excursion on full moon nights, fantastic (racket theme there are companies that organize outings with a guide, but you can rent rackets yourself and do the excursion without problem)
In Montgarri there are two mountain shelters where you can eat, have a drink…. Are;
- Amics de Montgarri (located next to the Church) (these organize excursions with snowmobiles, dog sledding, snowshoes… ..)
- Vall de Montgarri House
Horse trails:
It is one of the most demanded activities in recent years by visitors who come to the Aran Valley.
The routes take paths to the forests, lengthening throughout the valley. This activity is highly recommended for families or couples who want to enjoy the landscapes and nature of Baqueira Beret in a quieter way.
