Your first night of the trip is spent at Hotel Villa de Cabrales, nestled in the centre of Arenas de Cabrales at the base of the Picos de Europa. The River Cares runs through here, famous for its trout and salmon which you'll find on the menu throughout summer. The hotel is a renovated country home with wooden beams, stone walls, antique furniture, a cosy bar and an open fireplace. You'll stay in twin-share rooms.

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Arenas de Cabrales

Before heading into the mountains on day 3 to more basic quarters at the refuges, you'll stay at Hostal Nevandi in Espinama. This rustic guesthouse in a historic building has a pool to soak in after your first day of trekking. The guesthouse is well regarded for its homemade traditional Cantabrian food which you'll enjoy on the terrace taking in the views of the Picos.

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Espinama

You'll spend 3 nights at different refuges within the Picos de Europa National Park, namely Refugio Collado Jermoso, Refugio De Urriellu and Refugio Cabrones. You'll stay in mixed dorm-style bunk rooms. Since Covid, the refuges have stopped providing bedding and pillows, so you'll need to bring a lightweight sleeping bag and travel pillow. The refuges will serve your evening meal and breakfast, and you'll also be able to buy your lunch for each day from the refuges before setting off. There are shared toilet facilities and showers available to use.

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Mountain Refuges

Your final night of the trip is at Hotel Paraiso, next door to a chocolatería and a few minutes stroll from the seafront and the centre of Llanes on the Bay of Biscay. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with air conditioning.

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Llanes

Your first night of the trip is spent at Hotel Villa de Cabrales, nestled in the centre of Arenas de Cabrales at the base of the Picos de Europa. The River Cares runs through here, famous for its trout and salmon which you'll find on the menu throughout summer. The hotel is a renovated country home with wooden beams, stone walls, antique furniture, a cosy bar and an open fireplace. You'll stay in twin-share rooms. 

Before heading into the mountains on day 3 to more basic quarters at the refuges, you'll stay at Hostal Nevandi in Espinama. This rustic guesthouse in a historic building has a pool to soak in after your first day of trekking. The guesthouse is well regarded for its homemade traditional Cantabrian food which you'll enjoy on the terrace taking in the views of the Picos.  

You'll spend 3 nights at different refuges within the Picos de Europa National Park, namely Refugio Collado Jermoso, Refugio De Urriellu and Refugio Cabrones. You'll stay in mixed dorm-style bunk rooms. Since Covid, the refuges have stopped providing bedding and pillows, so you'll need to bring a lightweight sleeping bag and travel pillow. The refuges will serve your evening meal and breakfast, and you'll also be able to buy your lunch for each day from the refuges before setting off. There are shared toilet facilities and showers available to use.  


Your final night of the trip is at Hotel Paraiso, next door to a chocolatería and a few minutes stroll from the seafront and the centre of Llanes on the Bay of Biscay. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with air conditioning. 

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A steady hike with some big ascents and descents and some summit scrambles. You'll need good fitness and a head for heights

For the first, second and final day of the trip, your evening meals will be local specialities in restaurants selected by your guide. You'll enjoy a variety of tapas and 'pinchos' (small traditional snacks popular across northern Spain), a main course usually with fish or meat, dessert and local wines. In the mountain huts, you'll keep fuelled up with various dinners of pasta, lentils, chickpeas, soups and meat-based dishes. Lunches are not included, you can buy your own each morning before the day's trekking either from local bakeries and shops in Arenas de Cabrales and Espinama on days 2 and 3, or from the mountain refuges on days 4, 5 and 6. You should budget around €10-15 per day for your lunches and any snacks.
Asturias is famous for its milk, so there are plenty of cheeses to sample throughout the trip. Another local Asturian speciality is cider; your final meal of the trip is at a local cider factory where you can toast the climax of the trek in style and attempt the traditional pouring method - raising the bottle above your head and pouring into the glass from a height, so as to carbonate the cider while holding the glass low in your other hand. This becomes more challenging after your 3rd, 4th and 5th glass!
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.

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364 Valley track to Naranjo de Bulnes rock

238 Single file beneath Cifuentes crags

350 Track from Veronica cabin

Your host will meet you at Bilbao Airport and transfer you to Arenas de Cabrales - your start point for the trek in the principality of Asturias. On the final day, your host will transfer you from Llanes on the Asturian coast back to Bilbao Airport, arriving at around 16:30 in time for any evening flights.
Your host is able to arrange private airport transfers from Bilbao Airport or from Santander Airport if you are arriving before day 1 or departing after day 7, please see Optional Extras for more details.

Expert, English speaking mountain guides

Guides

3 nights in mountain refuges, 3 nights in guesthouses

Accommodation

Meals

Airport transfers and everything in between

Transfers

Equipment

3 nights in mountain refuges, 3 nights in guesthouses

Airport transfers and everything in between

Your host will meet you on arrival at Bilbao Airport and transfer you to Arenas de Cabrales, a charming rural village at the foot of the Picos de Europa. Meet up with the rest of your group for a dinner and chat through the trek with your guide.

207 Roman bridge over Sella River

Arrival

Day 1

Kickstart your adventure with a hike through the beautiful Aliva Glacier Valley. Set off from Sotres and follow the Duje River which divides the Central and Eastern Massifs of the Picos and acts as the border between Asturias and Cantabria. Continue along the Aliva Glacier moraine and grab a snack at the refuge with views of the Peña Vieja and Peña Olvidada peaks. Then there's a gentle descent to your guesthouse at Espinima where a well earned dinner and bed are waiting.

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The trek begins

Day 2

Hop in the van for a scenic ride to Pandetrave mountain pass and then on by dirt road to the trailhead at Valcabao. Today's hike is a wonderful waltz, moving past the spectacular Vega de Liordes and along the cliffs of Colladinas, arriving at Collado Jermoso Refuge, your home for the night in the mountains. Enjoy sunset with views of the Valdeón valley and the Western Massif before dinner and bunking down in the refuge.

244 Climbing to Pedabejo saddle

432 Toothy backdrop to JR Lueje refuge

302 Sunset on the Picos de Europa

Deeper into the Picos

Day 3

Wake up in the heart of the Picos, fuel up on breakfast at the refuge before hitting the trail again along the Torre de la Collada Ancha. Descend to Horcados Rojos, a peak offering up incredible views of Naranjo de Bulnes - an iconic wedge of limestone. Descend to the Jou de Los Boches via a steep and exposed slope with a fixed rope to help you along. This section will be a challenge for anyone with vertigo but is otherwise a straightforward descent with your guide on hand to assist at any point. Cross the lunar landscape of the Jou of Los Boches and Jou sin Tierre, arriving at the Urriellu Refuge in the late afternoon where a beer and well-earned mountain refuge meal awaits.

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371 Uriellu track to refuge

306 Chamois group

Hut to hut through the peaks

Day 4

Hike away from the west face of the iconic Picu Urriellu and ascend up Corona del Raso before tackling a short scramble through Brecha de los Cazadores en route to Horcada Arenera at 2283m. Another scramble to a peak nearby and continue on to the Cabrones Refuge in one of the wildest and most spectacular locations of the Picos de Europa.

272 Sidling along

Hike and scramble over to Cabrones Refuge

Day 5

The action isn't over yet as you have a tough section to navigate this morning, descending a long slope via some technical sections with fixed ropes to help. Again your guide is on hand to help. You'll reach the village of Bulnes where you can grab a beer and some lunch before the final descent down the Canal del Tejo valley to Poncebos. Bid farewell to the high mountains as you are driven over to Llanes, a small town on Asturias's coast - the perfect base to celebrate the end of the trek with some sea air, an Asturian feast and a chance to sample the famous cider.

471 Bulnes village scene

356 Steep descent on cables

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The final stretch to Poncebos

Day 6

The adventure comes to an end today as your host drives you back to Bilbao Airport in time for your onward flight home. If you are lingering longer in Spain, the Asturian coastline has some incredible beaches, good surf and laid back bars and cafes to discover.

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Adios Asturias

Day 7

Your host will meet you on arrival at Bilbao Airport and transfer you to Arenas de Cabrales, a charming rural village at the foot of the Picos de Europa. Meet up with the rest of your group for a dinner and chat through the trek with your guide.  

Kickstart your adventure with a hike through the beautiful Aliva Glacier Valley. Set off from Sotres and follow the Duje River which divides the Central and Eastern Massifs of the Picos and acts as the border between Asturias and Cantabria. Continue along the Aliva Glacier moraine and grab a snack at the refuge with views of the Peña Vieja and Peña Olvidada peaks. Then there's a gentle descent to your guesthouse at Espinima where a well earned dinner and bed are waiting. 


Hop in the van for a scenic ride to Pandetrave mountain pass and then on by dirt road to the trailhead at Valcabao. Today's hike is a wonderful waltz, moving past the spectacular Vega de Liordes and along the cliffs of Colladinas, arriving at Collado Jermoso Refuge, your home for the night in the mountains. Enjoy sunset with views of the Valdeón valley and the Western Massif before dinner and bunking down in the refuge.  


Wake up in the heart of the Picos, fuel up on breakfast at the refuge before hitting the trail again along the Torre de la Collada Ancha. Descend to Horcados Rojos, a peak offering up incredible views of Naranjo de Bulnes - an iconic wedge of limestone. Descend to the Jou de Los Boches via a steep and exposed slope with a fixed rope to help you along. This section will be a challenge for anyone with vertigo but is otherwise a straightforward descent with your guide on hand to assist at any point. Cross the lunar landscape of the Jou of Los Boches and Jou sin Tierre, arriving at the Urriellu Refuge in the late afternoon where a beer and well-earned mountain refuge meal awaits. 

Hike away from the west face of the iconic Picu Urriellu and ascend up Corona del Raso before tackling a short scramble through Brecha de los Cazadores en route to Horcada Arenera at 2283m. Another scramble to a peak nearby and continue on to the Cabrones Refuge in one of the wildest and most spectacular locations of the Picos de Europa.  


The action isn't over yet as you have a tough section to navigate this morning, descending a long slope via some technical sections with fixed ropes to help. Again your guide is on hand to help. You'll reach the village of Bulnes where you can grab a beer and some lunch before the final descent down the Canal del Tejo valley to Poncebos. Bid farewell to the high mountains as you are driven over to Llanes, a small town on Asturias's coast - the perfect base to celebrate the end of the trek with some sea air, an Asturian feast and a chance to sample the famous cider.   

The adventure comes to an end today as your host drives you back to Bilbao Airport in time for your onward flight home. If you are lingering longer in Spain, the Asturian coastline has some incredible beaches, good surf and laid back bars and cafes to discover.  

Euro

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation in Arenas de Cabrales or Llanes

Twin/Double room 

Single room

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Private transfer Bilbao or Santander Airport to accommodation

Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.

A wild hike through Northern Spain's hidden gem of a mountain range, with added scramble

Hut to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa 

Trailblazer Price - 4 spots left at 5% off

Trailblazer Price - 2 spots left at 5% off

Tackle an epic route through limestone peaks, deep valleys and green pastures in one of Europe's quieter mountainous corners

Soak up the good life in Asturias and Cantabria provinces, Spain's best kept secret far away from the crowds in the South

Bunk down in rustic rural villages and hiker refuges deep in the Picos and fuel up on delicious Spanish food

Tackle an epic route through limestone peaks, deep valleys and green pastures in one of Europe's quieter mountainous corners

Soak up the good life in Asturias and Cantabria provinces, Spain's best kept secret far away from the crowds in the South

Bunk down in rustic rural villages and hiker refuges deep in the Picos and fuel up on delicious Spanish food   

Hut to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa

Hut to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

PROPER
ADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

HASSLE
FREE

SMALL GROUPS
OF GOOD PEOPLE

Hut to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa

Hut to Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

PROPERADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCALGUIDES

HASSLEFREE

SMALL GROUPSOF GOOD PEOPLE

PROPER
ADVENTURES

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

HASSLE
FREE

SMALL GROUPS
OF GOOD PEOPLE