Pyrenees Day Trip from Barcelona

Pyrenees Day Trip from Barcelona. Hike through the stunning Pyrenees mountains in Spain with an expert guide for a memorable day trip. The Pyrenees’ foothills are yours to explore by minivan, and the Nuria Valley, with its lush pastures and towering peaks overlooking a jewel-like lake, is just around the corner.

Enjoy the scenery and crisp air, and take time to hike, go horseback riding, or go boating. You can also stop by a local restaurant for a traditional meal. This small-group tour has a limited number of participants to ensure a more personalized experience.

Highlights

• Full-day small group tour by minivan to the Pyrenees
• Visiting the historic town of Vic and its cathedral and market square
• Personalized small group and commentary
• Riding the rack railway from Queralbs to a stunning mountain valley
• Hiking, horse riding, boating, and other activities
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Transport by comfortable air-conditioned minivan

Pyrenees Day Trip from Barcelona

Assemble your small group and meet in central Barcelona. Be sure to wear layers of clothing and sturdy walking shoes. Take a trip to the Pyrenees in the comfort of your air-conditioned minivan. Your guide will tell you stories about the area’s past as you travel through Montseny Natural Park, which is a protected area of mountains, forests, and high moors.

After about an hour’s drive, you’ll arrive in Vic, a charming market town. Enjoy a self-serve breakfast or explore the medieval city center, which features a picturesque market square, a cathedral, and Romanesque and Neoclassical architectural styles. Free time after breakfast. Return to your minivan and drive to Queralbs, a stone-built mountain village at the end of your route.

Leave the minivan and take the rack railway to the Nuria Valley with your guide. This picture-perfect valley in the Pyrenees features a lake and lush green pastures surrounded by towering mountains.

Take in the views from the train as you travel, and then have a few hours to yourself once you arrive. For instance, you could hike up to Valley Coma de Vaca, which has a number of different trails for different fitness levels.

While physical fitness is not required for this tour, the Coma de Vaca trails require a reasonable level of fitness. Alternately, go horseback riding or boating (at your own expense) or have a meal at a traditional Catalan restaurant (at your own expense). For a complete listing of available activities, consult the Trip Itinerary. When the time comes, make your way back to Barcelona to complete your journey.

Please be aware that from November 1 to November 30, the rack railway from Queralbs will be closed between Mondays and Fridays for annual track maintenance. On these days, the tour will take a different route, one that will allow visitors to reach the mountain valleys via road or hike at a lower elevation. Your Pyrenean adventure will not be harmed as a result of these modifications.

Itinerary

Explore Catalunya

Your day will begin in our main office, which is located just steps from Barcelona’s world-renowned Palau de la Musica. After you’ve met your guide and used the restroom, you may want to grab a quick cup of coffee before the tour starts. While you’re waiting for your tour to depart, your guide will fill you in on what to expect for the rest of the day.

The Eixample

The Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona is where you’ll be heading when you depart the city. A brief history of Barcelona will be presented to you by your guide before the 60-minute drive to Vic can begin.

Montseny

You’ll quickly leave the bustle of a busy Mediterranean city behind as you travel north from Barcelona. In 1978, UNESCO designated Montseny, a 30,000-hectare natural park in Catalonia, Spain, as a world biosphere reserve. It is still home to a variety of wildlife, including red squirrels, badgers, hares, falcons, and a variety of other birds that live in the park’s beech, pine, and oak forests.

Vic

You’ll begin your journey in Vic, a quaint old market town. Visit the cathedral, the town’s magnificent renaissance, and baroque buildings, and the ancient Roman Temple, which is hidden between the old quarter’s buildings, as well as the old medieval town. The cathedral features a mix of styles, ranging from Romanesque to neo-classical. Coffee or breakfast in the town center near the beautiful arched square where the market is still held and other major events are still held will be available to you after the tour.

Queralbs

Queralbs, a stone-built mountain village, is the next stop after Vic, and it’s the last one on your route that can be reached by road. Leave the minivan and take the rack railway to the Nuria Valley with your guide. This picture-perfect valley in the Pyrenees features a lake and lush green pastures surrounded by towering mountains. Take in the views from the train as you travel, and then have a few hours to yourself once you arrive.

For instance, you could hike up to Valley Coma de Vaca, which has a number of different trails for different fitness levels. While physical fitness is not required for this tour, the Coma de Vaca trails require a reasonable level of fitness. Alternately, go horseback riding or boating (at your own expense) or have a meal at a traditional Catalan restaurant (at your own expense). For a complete listing of available activities, consult the Trip Itinerary. When the time comes, make your way back to Barcelona to complete your journey.

Vall de Nuria

Beautiful green pastures surround a serene lake in the Nuria Valley, which is known as Vall de Nuria. One of the Pyrenees’ most picturesque valleys, this one looks like something out of a picture book. Take in the views from the train as you travel, and then have a few hours to yourself once you arrive.

For instance, you could hike up to Valley Coma de Vaca, which has a number of different trails for different fitness levels. While physical fitness is not required for this tour, the Coma de Vaca trails require a reasonable level of fitness. Alternately, go horseback riding or boating (at your own expense) or have a meal at a traditional Catalan restaurant (at your own expense).

Queralbs

Back to Queralbs. There are only 200 permanent residents in this sleepy mountain town, and they live in a jumble of old stone buildings. Located on a mountainside, this quaint, picture-postcard-perfect hamlet is one of the highlights of the trip. Visit the Church of Sant Sadurn de Fustanyá, which was constructed from stones so precisely hewn, legend has it that it was constructed by the fairies and witches who are said to live in the nearby caves. We’ll return to the bus in an hour or so and make our way back to Barcelona.

Plaza de Cataluna

You’ll be back in time for dinner when you return to Barcelona. To get to the metro or a taxi, ask your guide, who will be happy to point you in the right direction. If you’re planning on staying in town, he can recommend some good restaurants.

Departure & Return

Departure Point: Carrer del Palau de la Música , C/ Palau de la Música, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

All of our tours meet at our office, which is direct across from the outside cafe area of the Palau de la Musica. We advise that you arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts.

Departure Time 8:30 AM

Return Details: Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça de Catalunya, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Depending on the size of the group and the traffic restrictions on the day of the tour, your tour will finish back at the office, or in Placa Catalunya, which is an easy 3-5 minute walk from the office.

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