SPANISH PYRENEES

GUIDED SKI & SPLITBOARD EXPEDITION

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With the Alps stealing the attention of most Europe-bound riders, the Pyrenees remains one of the continent’s best-kept secrets—a range that remains largely empty, even with Barcelona just 4 hours away. That means the vibe is relaxed, as it tends to be in Spain. Centuries-old villages with narrow cobblestone streets and stone-built houses and steeples dot the valleys. Due to its isolation from the rest of the country on the northern side of the mountains, the “valley of valleys”—Val d’Aran—has its own folklore, traditions, cuisine and even dialect, Aranese, which is one of four languages spoken locally alongside Catalan, Spanish and French. France, after all, is not far to the north. These days, most winter visits to Aran are to Baqueira-Beret, Spain’s largest ski resort which now hosts one of the Freeride World Tour stops. Skiing and a rich local history characterized by isolation…it’s our kind of place!

But we’re not here to ride lifts. Beyond the resort boundaries is Spain’s most beautiful national park, Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes: 140 square kilometers of rivers, lakes (the name translates as “twisted waters” from Catalan) and rugged, rocky peaks. The magnitude of skiing possibilities is impossible to comprehend with endless couloirs, faces and playful, undulating terrain. Scattered throughout the park are 10 mountain refuges, each of which our guides are intimately familiar with. We’ve got two in particular picked out which we’ll spend our week between, chosen for the best terrain and, of course, best vibes.

AVAILABILITY & REQUIREMENTS

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AVAILABILITY

Max 6

EXPERIENCE

Participants must be advanced to expert level skiers or snowboarders, with at least 1 year touring experience. Participation does not require formal avalanche safety certification. Basic ski mountaineering experience—such as climbing in boot crampons and using an ice axe—is recommended but not required.

GEAR

Splitboards are required for snowboarders. All participants must provide personal touring gear and avalanche safety tools (transceiver, probe, shovel), as well as mountaineering tools such as a harness, crampons and ice axe. We will distribute a mandatory gear list closer to the expedition start date.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Participants must be in excellent physical condition, and comfortable touring for long distances carrying their own backcountry packs.

VISAS

Most visitors to the Schengen Area (which includes France and Spain) do not require a visa for short-term stays. See here for additional details on Schengen visa requirements.

2024 DATES

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TBA FEBRUARY-MARCH

7 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

DETAILS

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Our Pyrenees expedition begins and ends in the French city, Toulouse, a short 2.5-hour drive from Val d’Aran. Not far out of the city, the 430km-long range that separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe dominates the skyline. Many of the two hundred 3,000m summits of the Pyrenees can be seen from here. The mountains act as a natural border, and it really isn’t until you enter them that you’ll notice a change in architecture signaling your arrival in Spain.

Passing through Vielha, you’ll get your first taste of the “ski town” atmosphere that has developed around Baqueira-Beret. Our destination is Salardú, a small village near the mouth of the valley we’ll use for accessing Aigüestortes, where we’ll have a table reserved for us at the legendary restaurant, Eth Bot. Think local cuisine—meat and maybe blood sausage as well—served up in an ancient Aranese building. The scene is very unique and very local, with French ski tourists adding into the mix.

The next morning we’ll take advantage of a heli drop planned at the first of our chosen refuges and have our bags transported by chopper. We’ll go as light as possible for the approach, which will start with a snowmobile tow up the Aiguamòg Valley until we reach the boundary of the national park. From there it’s up and over our first pass (2,450m) before dropping into the broad Ruda Valley and climbing up into the cirque to finally reach Refugi de Saboredo.

Saboredo was the sole destination for our 2023 Pyrenees expedition (mystery edition), recommended by our local guides both because of the surrounding terrain and also the quaint, charming feel and wonderful caretakers. The food was excellent as well. To say we’re stoked to be going back is an understatement. However this time we’ve devised a plan to explore even more of the park via a few nights at another refuge, Refugi Ventosa i Calvell. We’ll leave our bags behind at Saboredo, head off to check out what are said to be some incredible couloirs accessible from Ventosa, and return a few nights later before descending via the Ruda Valley back into the heart of Baqueira.

By nightfall on the last day we’ll be back in Toulouse, checking in to a nice hotel near Le Capitole, the historical heart of the city. 7 days skiing in Spain and a night in France to close it out? That’s just one of the things that makes this trip so incredible!

Required Reading:

“Feast, Famine, and Record Snowfall in the Spanish Pyrenees,” Powder.com, October 2017.

GUIDES

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Our 2024 Pyrenees expedition will be guided the same amazing locals who guided for us in 2023: IFMGA guide David Pujol (now based in Chamonix) and the legendary Javi Barro. Meet our guides.

BOOKINGS

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USD $3,175/PERSON

7 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

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ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS

Participants will need to arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (airport code TLS) on or before TBA. We’ll arrange your return to Toulouse by evening on TBA for departures on TBA.

PRICE INCLUDES

40 Tribes Lead and Tail Guides; Transfers between Toulouse and Val d’Aran (pickup at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on TBA, drop off at Toulouse hotel on TBA); 1 night hotel accommodation in Salardú/Baqueira, night of TBA; Heli drop and pickup of baggage from Saboredo refuge; Transport to the trailhead and snowmobile support to reach boundary of the national park; 6 nights accommodation at Saboredo and Ventosa refuges, all meals included; 1 night hotel accommodation in Toulouse, night of TBA; 7 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare and baggage fees; Medical/evacuation insurance; Meals in Val d’Aran and Toulouse; Alcohol (beer and wine available for purchase at the refuges); Tips for guides.

BOOKING POLICY

A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due 4 months prior to the expedition start date. Our cancellation/refund policies can be found here.