Spanish Pyrenees Family Adventure

If you are flying, then Bilbao (BIO) is four hours away by car, Barcelona (BCN) about three. Zaragoza (ZAZ) is closest - about two hours - but flights are less frequent (though fast trains connect with Madrid).

Keep in mind that if you pick up a car at one place and drop it off at another, you will be charged a one-way fee on collection, usually around €30-€75.

For international train travel, you can take a direct train to Girona or Barcelona from Paris. To Bilbao, you would change trains at Bayonne.

If you are bringing your own car then driving through France and over the Pyrenees is the obvious way, or ferry to Bilbao from Portsmouth.

We can run this trip any time from May through to October, although we do assume the best time for most families is July and August to tie in with the school break.

These are the warmest and driest months but as you are in the mountains it isn't too hot to enjoy the activities. You can expect temperatures in the mid-20s°c (75°f) during the day on average.

We work with small hotels and apartments so booking ahead for July and August is essential. If you have fixed departure dates we suggest at least nine months ahead. If you can be flexible, six months should be fine, but we do advise early booking on this trip to avoid disappointment.

Your base on this trip is rather beautiful and the views stretch across to the mountains. The hotel has a pool to enjoy before or after your active days and you can choose to enjoy dinner there as well if you prefer to have some chilled evenings. Rooms are traditionally decorated, with touches of local character and lots of space to spread out. For families, we tend to prefer a villa suite so that you have your own space, but with two separate bedrooms and bathrooms. In March 2024 the hotel was taken back into local ownership, so your stay here really brings a benefit to the community and helps to keep more of your spend local.

The itinerary described includes a mix of guided activities: kayaking, mountain biking/e-bikes, guided hikes and a visit to a conservation centre. These can all be adapted to suit your particular family depending on the age of the children and what activities you enjoy.

We also provide you with routes for a variety of self-guided hikes in each area, from half-day strolls to full-day hikes so you can choose to fill the remainder of your time as actively as you choose.

Absolutely, this would be a great trip for an extended family or two families to travel together. It also works fine for different shaped families - one child, four children, single parents, all are possible.

We love driving in Spain because of the freedom it gives you. That could mean changing plans over breakfast, or simply pulling over at the side of the road to soak in a view you might otherwise have sailed straight past.

As the roads are generally quiet, smooth and scenic, it's designed to be a pleasurable part of the experience, rather than a price to pay for said freedom.

You can expect a family-sized vehicle, though we can’t guarantee specific make or model.

Some vehicles have sat nav built in, but we find the best way to navigate is simply to use Waze or Google Maps on your smartphone. These can both be used offline to avoid data charges and your phone can easily sync with your car's Bluetooth so that it talks to you through the radio. All in all, it's not really much different to navigating in a part of your own country you've not been to before.

That's very much the idea yes. Beyond the time you spend with your local hosts and guides, the spirit of this trip is very much one of discovery and so we assume you'll enjoy striking up conversations with the locals as you go, even if it's with a bit of 'Spanglish' to get by. It's all good fun and all very authentic in our experience.

No, your hosts speak English perfectly well. In busier areas of the main tourist places, English will be widely spoken. In the countryside, in smaller restaurants and villages, English is less frequently spoken. Aside from the occasional pointing and gesturing, you'll have no problems. Part of the charm is going to places where English is not the dominant language in our experience. It's a great excuse to get the kids practicing the lingo!

We can tailor the trip in certain ways, making sure that we retain its essence through the pacing and content. We're always happy to work within your timeframes, so if you have two weeks for your travels, we can add time along the Basque coast for example.