Hiking week in the Pyrenees on the "Carros de Foc"
Hiking week through the Aigüestortes National Park
An incredibly beautiful mountain landscape, rugged rocks, lovely valleys with countless "Estanys", mountain lakes, which remain as witnesses of the Ice Age, mark our way over the "Carros de Foc", the fire wagon, from mountain hut to mountain hut.
The 69.2 km long mountain tour is easy to master for trained hikers in five and a half day routes. Surefootedness and mountain experience is required.
Starting point is the valley "Vall de Boí", a beautiful, green valley with impressive mountain ranges on both sides. At the end of the valley there is a hotel with a thermal spring, which is the perfect starting point and arrival point, a bath in the hot spring after a week of hiking is the best relaxation for stressed muscles. Shortly after the hotel begins the Aigües Tortes National Park (winding waters), which, with its countless, crystal-clear streams and lakes, lives up to its name.
During the hike we stay in mountain huts, with full board, breakfast, packed lunch and dinner. All cabins have dormitory / bunk beds with good mattresses and sufficient blankets, WC and (sometimes only cold) showers.
Difficulty:
high, it is a high mountain tour that requires fitness and some mountain experience
Total distance:
69,2 km - Circular route in 6 daily sections
Total elevations:
↑↓ 4.147m
DESCRIPTION OF ROUTES
1st day: Ascent to the Ventosa hut
Meeting and tour dicussion at 13:00 at Hotel Caldas. Then we drive in the minibus in the national park to the starting point of our hike.
The hike begins in the early afternoon of the first day with a three hour climb from Cavallers Reservoir to the first shelter at 2220m above sea level, where we spend the night and acclimatize. Below the hut, the first "Estany" (mountain lake) invites you to take a refreshing dip.
distance: 6,2 km
elevations: ↑688 ↓213
walking time: 3:00
2nd day: From Ventosa to the lodge of Estany Llong
After a hearty breakfast we start walking towards the pass "Collet de Contraix". Our path leads first downhill to the river, but later on a steep path up to the Contraix-pass, the highest point of this day's stage with 2749m. The route is not very long, but exhausting, we walk over huge boulders up to the impressive pass with a fantastic view that pays off all the effort. After a well-deserved break we hike down into a beautiful valley and finally through a forest to the refuge Estany Llong, on 1985m.
distance: 10,1 km 
elevations: ↑851 ↓1050
walking time: 6:40
3rd day: Estany Llong - Colomina
As always, the day starts with breakfast at 7:30. From the Estany Llong mountain refuge the path leads between pines up to the Dellui plain, over a field of huge stones and up again on a beautiful path along many small mountain lakes that invite brave hikers to a rather cool bath. The last part of the hike continues along the remains of an unused railway line, used to transport material, and after a final short climb we reach the Colomina refuge. It is located at 2420m in a fantastic location on the reservoir with spectacular views over the valley in front.
distance: 11,3 km
elevations: ↑1009 ↓649
walking time: 5:00
4rd day: Colomina - Amitges
The longest day of our hiking week leads us again over a steep pass to shorten an even longer section of the refuge Josep Maria Blanc. After overcoming the Peguera Pass, our path takes us down a wonderful path to the Mallafre Hut, where we can fortify ourselves before taking the last climb up to the Amitges Hut at 2365m. A very nice, modern and spacious cabin with fantastic views.
distance: 17 km
elevations: ↑800 ↓1210
walking time: 7:00
5th day: Amitges - Colomers
distance: 10,3 km 
elevations: ↑963 ↓756
walking time: 5:00
6th day: Colomers - Ventosa and back to the carpark
Our last day! Apart from the fact that this route offers no shade, it is not a too hard tour, after a first ascent our way leads only downhill. We take a last coffee break at the Ventosa hut where we spent our first night and then go back to the parking lot.
distance: 12,2 km
elevations: ↑657 ↓1048
walking time: 6:15
Price: 650€
Included:
5 overnight stays in the mountain huts, catering consisting of breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, hiking guide, transport from Pont de Suert to Hotel Caldas, or a hotel in the area on the day before the hike (Saturday). Transport from the hotel to the starting point of the hike in the National Park and back on the last day.
Not included:
Getting to Pont the Suert, nights before and after the tour, drinks
If booked in advance, we can assist you with booking other accommodation in the area of the Val de Boí. These two nights are not included in the price. Early room reservation is very important, the hotels are often fully booked. It is also recommended for the last day of the tour to book a hotel, we come back late and mostly tired, a good bed and a nice last dinner together is always appreciated.
Getting there:
The nearest airport is Barcelona, there is a bus from Barcelona to Pont de Suert (about 4 hours) but also the possibility of an organized transport by minibus in the afternoon.
PACKING LIST
Good equipment is important! Keeping the weight down is just as important, do not lug around useless things! What do I really need?
Necessarily:
- Waterproof trekking boots (Goretex) with good profile
- Hut sleeping bag (is mandatory!), best if made of silk, they weigh very little
- Trekking backpack (25-40 liters)
- Hiking / touring pants / Zip-off pants
- Functional shirt / Merino Shirt
- Fleece sweater / fleece jacket
- Hard Shell / rain jacket
- Sport underwear
- hiking socks
- change of shirt
- rain pants
- warm hat and gloves
- hut shoes
- Sports towel
- Water bottles to refill
- suncream
Recommended:
- Walking sticks / trekking poles
- Rain cover for the backpack
- headlamp
- headband
- sunglasses
- waterproof dry bag for dry laundry in a backpack
Your personal first aid box:
- blister plaster
- Magnesium helps against muscle spasms
- Earplugs (in huts someone always snores!)
