Route 1 - Artiga de Lin
Enter the town of Es Bòrdes 2 km. from the campsite, heading towards France. Once there, take the main road to Artiga de Lin. This stunning valley leads to the foot of Mount Aneto. On the way, you can admire the "Es Uelhs deth Joeu", the resurgence of the Joeu, a river that has its source in the Aneto Glacier and is filtered, appearing again in the form of this stunning waterfall.
It is worth stopping in the Plà de l'Artiga (the Artiga Plain), where at this time of year we can see numerous animals, especially horses. Descending now towards the town of Es Bòrdes, we recommend you take a well-kept forest track that leads to the "Bosque de Baricauba" (Baricauba Wood). This wood has the widest variety of flora in the Vall d'Aran (beech, ash, firs, and pine-trees). If you have made it as far as Baricauba, we suggest you continue until "Bassa de Oies" (Oles Lake) and then return to the campsite via Vielha.
Duration: 1/2 day if you only reach the Plà de l'Artiga and 1 full day if you do the whole trip.
Route 2 - Vilamòs and Arres
The road to these towns can be found 500 m. from the campsite. The road has incredible views of the Aneto Glacier.
First you will arrive at Vilamòs, one of the towns in the Aran area that has best conserved its original architecture and layout. Here you will find one of the buildings that belong to the Aran Valley Museum (Museu d'era Vall d'Aran), Casa Joanchiquet. This is a typical Aranese house that dates back to the beginning of the century, and has conserved its original state, down to its furniture and household chattels.
Afterwards, head towards Arres, a town divided by St. John's (St Joan) Church into Arres de Jús and Arres de Sús (Upper and Lower Arres).
Museum Opening Hours: 1.30am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Duration: 1/2 dia
Route 3 - Colomers Lakes
Leave the campsite in the direction of Salardú. Once in the town, take the road to Aiguamoix. You can easily reach the "Banys de Tredòs" (a hotel with thermal baths) by car. From this point on, the trip must continue on foot until you reach the "Refugio de Colomers" (Colomers Refuge) 30 meters away. Up to 12 of the 48 mountain lakes can be seen from this viewing point at "Lagos de Colomers" (Colomers Lakes).
We recommend that you go to see some of the lakes: Long, Tort, Obago and Mort. If you are lucky, you will see izards (wild Pyrenean chamois) drinking from the lakes.
Duration: 1 day
Route 4 - Ribera de Barrados
500 metres to the right of the campsite you will find the turn-off to Barradòs. Along the way (14km.) you can see the Aneto Glacier until you reach one of the most typical places in the area: "Eth Sauth delh Pish", a small waterfall surrounded by a beech-tree wood where, on a clear day, you can see a rainbow and herds of wild chamois.
Once there, if you drive a 4x4, or ride a motorbike or a mountain-bike, follow the forest track that runs the length of the Barradòs Valley (Vall de Barradòs) (20km.). Without realising, you will have crossed almost the whole Aran Valley by mountain. You will reach the North Aran (Naut Aran) area, arriving in Bagergue (1410m). If you have completed the entire excursion, you will be hungry, and the towns in Naut Aran offer a wide variety of typical Aranese dishes.
Duration: 1/2 day
Route 5 - Walk through Vielha
As the afternoon is long, you will have plenty of time to take a walk through our capital, Vielha, and perhaps do a little shopping.
Or visit the "Torre Martínhon" (Martínhon House), the main building of the Aran Valley Museum that was built in 1983 in order to investigate, conserve and promote Aranese natural and cultural heritage. It is founded on philosophical principles and on the model of the so-called "Eco-Museums" and proposes creating a network of places of local interest within the Aran Valley.
And if you fancy ice-skating, head towards our "Ice Palace" (Palau de Gèu).
Route 6 - Aigüestortes - Vall de Boí National Park
Today we recommend you go to one of the valleys adjacent to the Aran Valley, the Vall de Boí. You can reach it by going through the Vielha Tunnel (Túnel de Vielha), exiting at Boí. The Aigües Tortes National Park is found here, and is one of the most important National Parks in the country.
It is wise to go early in the morning, as cars are not allowed into the park, and the taxis are often busy.
After walking through the park, it is well worth going as far as Taüll to visit the most emblematic Romanesque church in the Pyrenees - Sant Climent de Taüll.
Duration: 1 day
Route 7 - Ribera de Valarties - Estanh de Mar
This is a trip to another of the numerous valleys in the Vall d'Aran area - the Ribera de Valanties.
Make your way to Arties, and once there take the road to Valarties until the forest track finishes, and continue on foot towards the Restanca Refuge, where you can have a snack if you're hungry.
Once you are there, we recommend you carry on until you arrive at Estanh Mar and Tort de Rius, both high mountain lakes.?On the way back down there is a stop in the same town.
Visit Bears: On the outskirts of the town there is a bear reserve. You can experience your first contact with these animals that were introduced into our mountains a couple of years ago.
Duration: 1 day
Route 8 - Liat mines
The quickest way to reach these mines is going through Sant Joan de Torán Valley in the Baish Aran area. Take the road towards France and exit at Canejan.
Once you have visited these villages, you should follow the forest track in the direction of the dam (if you think it looks tricky, leave the car as it does not take many hours on foot), and little by little you will approach "Estanh de Liat" (Liat Lake), another of the innumerable mountain lakes in our valley. Once there, it is well worth going to the mines, which have been in disuse for many years. Something interesting... the rocks in the river appear dyed by the red of the iron in the mines.
Durada: 1/2 day (2,5 hrs. walking)
Route 9 - Montgarri
First, visit the Winter Ski Station at Baqueira-Beret, famous for its slopes and visitors.
If you feel like it, you can go up to the highest areas in the ski lift... if not, take the road from there in the direction of Pla de Beret. On the way, we recommend you stop at the source of the river Garona.
In the Pla de Beret (Beret Plain) you will see hundreds of animals, and if you choose to continue the trip there is a forest track that we recommend following on foot or in a 4x4 towards Montgarrí, a village that has been abandoned for the last 50 years.
It is a good idea to have lunch in the shelter "Amics de Montgarrí" (Friends of Montgarrí).
After you have reached Montgarrí, the road continues on to Vall d'Anéu (Anéu Valley).
Duration: 1/2 day - 1 day if you go as far as Montgarri (2 hours walk)
