5-Day Hike of the Freedom Trail in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park

Spend five days with UIMLA-certified mountain leader Miguel trekking through the historic Freedom trail in the Pyrenees of Spain and France.

Group

Pyrénées

5 Days

Jul - Oct

High

Intermediate

Highlights

* Follow the historic path travelled by 2 Jewish families escaping the Nazis

* Learn about the region's rich history in the company of an expert in the area

* Enjoy the Pyrenees' magnificent scenery: its mountains, lakes and beech forests

Description

Delve into the rich culture of the Pyrenees by hiking the Freedom Trail with me! Come to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park and learn about the role this region played in WWII while also having the hike of your life!

The Freedom Trail across the Pyrenees was a path used by Jewish families fleeing the Nazis in December of 1942. Escaping from occupied France, Holland, and Poland, families formed in two different groups met while crossing the mountain range on their way to Spain.

This perilous journey was quite a feat, and ultimately led to one of the people assisting the families, Jeanne Agouau (who lived on the French side of the Pyrenees and led one of the groups) receiving the French Legion d'Honneur. She even met her future husband on this trail!

You will be able to follow in their footsteps for a duration of their route, exploring the beautiful countryside of the Pyrenees. Along mountain ridges and through valleys, you will learn about the history of the region and the role it played during WWII.

There are few ways to better understand and appreciate history, particularly one as compelling as that of the Jewish experience during WWII. I will show you the beauty of a landscape that is as incredible aesthetically as it is culturally important.

Book this rare five-day opportunity to put yourself into an enriching hands-on experience of history and scenery unlike any other in the world!

If you are interested in a longer trek of the region, I have the perfect 7-day program of Pica d´Estats and the Alt Pirineu Natural Park! Or we can head to Catalan wine country for a special 3-day hike and tour of Montsant!

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

- Transportation start and back

- Permit and entrance fees

- Luggage transfer

Price details

Price does NOT include flights, travel insurance, personal equipment, personal food and drink(s). Lunches on the first day and the last day are both NOT included.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Barcelona

We will fly to Barcelona to meet and organize our group. We will leave Barcelona BY 3:00PM as to arrive promptly in Tavascan (4-5 hours drive), where we will stay our first night.

Day 2: Tavascan Pass

Our journey today will take us past the Estany del Port and through the Tavascan Pass (2,216m) into France. This was a critical path during the Spanish Civil War, as well, used by Republican soldiers and citizens fleeing from General Franco.

After descending roughly 1,620 meters to Bidous, we will stay the night. We will cover 17.3km today, with a total increase in elevation of 1,025 meters and a duration of 9.5 hours.

Day 3: Aulus-Les-Bains

This is a moderate day, and it includes a charming walk through the deciduous forest of the Parc Naturel Regional des Pyrenees Ariegoises in France.

Aulus-les-Bains will provide us an opportunity to visit the Memoire et Histoire Vivante d´Aulus-les-Bains and further learn about and discuss the circumstances of WWII, the fates of the Jewish families in Aulus who attempted to flee to Spain, and the German impact on the isolated village.

We will remain in Aulus-les-Bains for the night after a 16.6km journey over about 8 hours.

Day 4: Trek to Catalonia

This is the most challenging part of the trip. We won´t walk all the way to Tavascan like the Henle family did because there is nowhere to stay overnight before getting to Tavascan.

During the first part of the day, we will cross an awesome beech forest and then arrive to the Ars Cascade at 1340m. The cascada has 3 waterfalls (the highest is 110m high!). From there, we will reach Catalonia at the Port de Guilló pass and enjoy the stunning views of mountain and lakes.

After a 45 minute drive we will reach Tavascan where we will stay for the night.

Day 5: Return to Barcelona

After eating breakfast, we will head back to Barcelona and go our separate ways after an incredible trip!

Details

More info

There is a minimum of five (5) participants to guarantee a program departure.

If necessary, I will advise you on what personal items / gear that you should prepare and have with you for the trip.

Meeting point

Barcelona.

FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Hotel Parador Canaro Incles Andorra

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Hotel Himalaia Soldeu Soldeu Andorra

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Sport Hotel Village Soldeu Andorra

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About the guide

Miguel

5.0

(2)

Mountain Leader

As professional mountain guide (UIMLA and AEGM-certified), I am passionate about helping you discover the majestic Pyrenees range that are off the beaten track. From small towns, valleys and mountain ranges to the GR 11 Pyrenees trekking route.

Through my programmes of walking and snowshoeing holidays, I’ll reveal all I know about these awe-inspiring mountains. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, I can offer a tailor-made mountain experience to suit your requirements. I also have tours for solo travellers or large corporate groups.

Languages

French | English | Catalan

Certificates

UIMLA

Request more information

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

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Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8