The Aragon Pyrenees

The Romance of Hidden Spain

his beautiful region of northeast Spain is one of history, tradition and untouched landscapes. The Aragon Pyrenees is home to a huge variety of interest from stunning glacial valleys and verdant forests to medieval villages, megalithic monuments and beautiful Romanesque churches and monasteries. Our base for the week is the picturesque and historic village of Berdn, situated in the foothills of the Central Pyrenees and one of the most photographed villages in the Pyrenees. During our week well explore all the variety that the Aragon Pyrenees offers with a mixture of easy walking and sightseeing to get the most out of our time here.

Loarre Castle __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Proposed Daily Itinerary

ur itinerary is expected to follow the daily schedule below but please bear in mind that the order of the days may be amended or walks substituted due to weather conditions or changes beyond our control. Changes may also be made if we or our Adagio Specialist feels it enhances the itinerary. 50m; 1 hours) and have lunch in Murillo before visiting the spectacular fortress of Loarre and a local vineyard.

Day 1 We fly to Bilbao and transfer by road to Berdn. The journey normally takes about 2 hours and we pass through some beautiful scenery en route. We arrive in Berdn for dinner and your Adagio Specialist will take you through the itinerary for the week. Day 2 Well have a morning guided walk in the valleys (2 miles; 100m; 2 hours) surrounding Jaca, taking in some Romanesque churches and abandoned villages before having lunch in Jaca itself. We then spend the afternoon exploring Jaca and will include a visit to the 10th century Cathedral and museum with some time for shopping. Day 3 We have a 2 hour walk in the magnificient high altitude glacial plain of Aguas Tuertas (3 miles; 30m; 2 hours). We take 4x4 transport by special permit which allows us to walk on the flat in an area not normally reached without a climb. Well have lunch in an area known locally as the Selva de Oza. In the afternoon we stroll around the village of Hecho with local guide. Day 4 We visit the breathtaking monastery of San Juan de la Pena built under a cliff overhang. Known locally as the Cradle of Aragon, it has reportedly been the home of the Holy Grail and has a beautiful Romanesque cloister and walls scrawled with medieval graffiti. In the afternoon we explore the picturesque village of Santa Cruz de la Seros. Day 5 Today we visit the white villages of Agero and Murillo. Well walk the ancient walled pathway between the villages (3 miles;

Hilltop view of Loarre Castle

Day 6 Our morning will be spent exploring the valley of the Aragon-Subordan River, home to the greatest number of megalithic monuments in the Pyrenean range. Well have a 2 hour leisurely guided walk (1 miles, flat terrain, 2 hours). taking in the stone circles, dolmens and menhirs. We will also visit the Megalithic museum before returning to Hecho to walk along the Roman road (2 miles; 100m; 1 hours).

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Beautifully renovated and furnished to a very high standard, the guesthouse also has a lovely garden with views over the stunning landscape.

Mallos de Riglos Day 7 We take to the high mountains for a 2 hour ridge walk (3 miles; 300m; 2 hours). Here, golden eagles, marmots and chamois are to be found amidst the spectacular alpine views of the Tacheras range. We have lunch in the village of Anso and spend the afternoon sightseeing. Day 8 We say our goodbyes and return to Bilbao airport for our flight home. _________________________________________________

Casa Sarasa Facilities at the hotel include a dining room, large living room with, reference library and fridge/honesty bar stocked with drinks (payable locally).

We stay in twin and single bedded rooms with bath or shower and wc. Room facilities include under floor heating, electric fans, hairdryer, TV, tea/coffee making facilities, mineral water, shower gel and wi-fi.

BERDN
he medieval village of Berdn is a traditional hilltop village that dates back to the Celtic-Iberian period. Its a delightful place to stroll around and explore - wonderful architecture, picturesque cobbled streets and alleyways and beautiful scenic views across the surrounding landscape.

Typical room at Casa Sarasa

This holiday is on a full board basis. Breakfasts and dinners will be taken at the hotel. Lunches will be taken as picnics or in local restaurants. _________________________________________________________ Berdn in Autumn There is a good selection of shops, restaurants and bars in the village as well as banks and chemists. ___________________________________________________

Adagio Specialists
n Adagio Specialist will accompany you throughout the holiday. They are all experienced travellers with a love and knowledge of the places you will visit. They are well-organised, pay great attention to detail and enjoy being with people. They are there to help make your holiday as enjoyable and stress free as possible.

CASA SARASA
22770 Berdn, Huesca, Spain Tel: +34 609 341 460 info@casasarasa.com www.casasarasa.com

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Local Sightseeing
Local transport costs and entrance fees are included in the holiday cost. We have our own driver and guide with us all week in addition to our Adagio Specialist.

asa Sarasa is a small and friendly guesthouse located at the foot of the village of Berdn.

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What to bring.

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Maps, Books and Websites

The following maps cover the walks/villages that we feature in this holiday : 1:300,000 Mapas Autonomic Map Aragon 1:50,000 maps: 144 Anso, 176 Jaca, 209 Agero

e recommend you bring the following items with you:

Walking boots with a good sole and waterproof uppers. A good pair of walking shoes is ok if you know you have strong ankles. Waterproof jacket and trousers. It does rain sometimes! A sunhat and sun cream. A water bottle. A picnic knife, fork and spoon, as required. A simple basic first aid kit. A daypack to hold all the above. __________________________________________________

A useful book is: Spanish Pyrenees & Steppes of Huesca by Dirk Hilbers

Passports, Visas & Insurance

and other important information
lease make sure you are insured for guided walking below 2500m. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you - it will help in the event of an emergency. Please note that the EHIC has an expiry date and check that your card is still valid for the duration of your holiday.

If you are in London, you may find a visit to the Spanish Tourist Office useful. The office is currently open from 09.15-16.15hrs Monday to Friday. Please note that visits are strictly by appointment only. Spanish National Tourist Office, 64 North Row, London, W1K 7DE Tel: 00800 1010 5050 www.spain.info

You will need a full passport to visit Spain. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Please also see our General Information booklet for more important information and advice regarding your holiday arrangements. ______________________________________________________

If you cannot find the maps or books locally we recommend: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs WR8 0HJ England Tel: 01684 593 146

Fax: 01684 594 559

Website: www.themapshop.co.uk E-mail: themapshop@btinternet.com

Travel Information

Holiday Dates 2014

Holiday: The Aragon Pyrenees Tour Code: 56300 Departures for one week on: 3rd May 13th September 17th October

e fly from London Heathrow to Bilbao and return with Vueling. The flight takes about 2 hours.

Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. We include return airport transfers to and from Casa Sarasa. Please note that there is only one transfer vehicle to the hotel. The transfer time by road from Bilbao Airport to the hotel is approximately 2 hours. During the week well travel on foot and by road. If you intend joining and leaving the party in Berdn, we assume, unless you have advised us otherwise, that you will meet and leave the party at the Casa Sarasa. If this is not your intention, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure.

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Booking and Further information

Please call us on 01707 386700 or email us at info@adagio.co.uk

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Notes

This document issued: 17 September 2013

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