Spain pyrenees catalonia aiguestortes summer lake hiking 2c diego pura


A journey into the alpine heart of the Spanish Pyrenees reveals a precious landscape of high peaks, glacial lakes and great forests, where the power of nature is untamed by the human hand.

To traverse the entire range is to link those same mountains with the contrasting cultural texture of Navarre, Aragón and Catalonia, along roads less travelled from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, Bilbao to Barcelona.

Whether you want to do it all, or focus on walking in the high valleys, our job is to put it all together and share it in a way that makes it all personal to you. For walkers, adventurous families and the adventurous at heart, we have myriad ways to do so.

Platinum Trusted Service Award 2023 Whiteout Landscape

September to November

Spain huesca pyrenees ordesa forest autumn c lunamarina
Autumnal spectacle in Ordesa National Park

Wonderful walking

Late August through September

The walking season picks up again as early as late August, with temperatures receding from their summer peaks. September can bring short, sharp showers in the high parts of the valleys, but the landscapes can be at their most beautiful, with reliable sun for the most part. The medieval town of Ainsa, your likely base for a few days, will feel calm and quiet again after a busy couple of months.

It’s always worth remembering that the Spanish Pyrenees have a big contrast of climates between the more humid western hills in Navarre, the higher valleys close to the French border and the very dry Mediterranean foothills in the south. This gives you the flexibility of finding better weather for hiking and touring by heading south on days when the clouds are covering the higher summits.

Spain pyrenees ordesa valley chris bladon 21
The forests of Ordesa National Park in September
Spain pyrenees ordesa ainsa sunset
After the busy summer months, Ainsa will be quiet again


Autumn forests

October to early November

October into November can be a beautiful and peaceful time in the mountains, with good stable weather being the norm. What makes this time of the year special though is the colours which fill the forests of Navarre, Ordesa and Aigüestortes with beautiful hues of reds, golds and yellows. It’s perhaps the Iberian Peninsula’s finest autumnal display.

Snow begins to build up in the high mountains from the end of October, so we do need to plan carefully and pick our spots if you’re going to be out walking.

Trip idea: Walking Trails of the High Pyrenees
Trip idea: Bilbao to Barcelona: Pyrenees Drive & Explore Holiday

Spain navarre pyrenees foz de arbayun autumn leaves
Fall finery in the Arbayún gorge in Navarre
Spain Catalonia Aiguestortes chris bladon 105
Autumn in Aigüestortes in the Catalan Pyrenees

Travel with Pura Aventura

Exceptional Holidays

Best in class holidays, service, characterful hotels, lovely locals, food and beautiful walks - that's what our clients tell us they love about our holidays, as noted in the highest possible 5* Feefo Platinum Award.

ATOL and ABTOT protected.

Certified B Corp

We are one of the first UK travel companies to be certified B Corp – regarded by The Independent as the premier sustainability certification, and described by Which? as "meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance".

Meeting a shepherd, Picos de Europa

Award-winning Travel Positive

We are proud to have been recipients of awards from both Wanderlust and LUXLife for our sustainable Travel Positive initiative, that includes balancing carbon by 160%, and providing 1% of our revenue to the planet.