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info@caminsvius.comAs said Henry Brulle, French Pyrenean: “The Pyrenees aren’t known, when the Encantats aren’t known”
VIELHA, Val d’Aran (Google Map)
1 Hour Before Start Time
ENCANTATS is a self-guided route on foot that proposes to travel across the National Park Aigüestortes & Sant Maurici Lake across of the Val d’Aran, Pallars Sobirà and the Alta Ribagorça by historic paths that cross the best areas, and of great beauty of the Parc.
Valleys, hills, villages and historic paths in a circular itinerary of 5 stages that starts and ends in Vielha with a distance 92 Km. and 9.480 m. of height difference accumulated. The 2nd and 3rd stages take place in the Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici Lake National Park.
The lodging is in Hotels of the Villages late stage: Vielha, Baqueira 1500, Espot, Boí, Erill la Vall, Aneto that allow us to know better the culture, heritage and gastronomy of these valleys. The services forfait includes the transfer of luggage in each stage. This system is very used by other similar routes of Europe (hiking without luggage) and allow us enjoy of all itinerary.
A significant part of the Encantats route follows the Gran Recorrido (great route) GR-211 – GR-11, thus it is marked with the rectangular white and red signs. In the 1st stage, in some points, especially in crossings, you will find wooden posts with signs in a burgundy color with corresponding indications. The 4th and 5th stage is marked with the Camins Vius signal.
Check-in at Hotel from 14.00H.
Collected of vouchers at the CAMINS office (Avda. Pas d’Arrò, 5 – Galerías Giles) in Vielha.
Opening hours:
From Monday to Friday: from 9.00H to 13.00H | from 17.00H to 20.00H.
Saturday and Sunday: from 17.00H to 20.00H.
Hiking route from Vielha to Baqueira by GR211.
Itinerary: Vielha (974m), Betren, Escunhau, Garòs, Arties, Gessa, Unha, Bagergue, Peira Roja (1.880m), Baqueira 1.500.
The first part follows a path called “Camin Reau” (GR211), which for centuries has communicated the villages and shows the cultural heritage of area. At highlight the village by where goes path, their Churches and your Cultural Heritage. The birth of the Garona River in the Pla de Beret.
You’ll find fountains to replace water in all villages.
If you don’t have picnic lunch you can buy it at Vielha or Arties.
NOTE: During the months of June, September and October the hotels are closed in Baqueira and the accommodation will be in Salardú. From Baqueira to Salardú by bus or walking by the Camin Reiau path (2,5 km).
Hiking route from Baqueira to St. Maurici Lake of the National Park of Aigüestortes by GR211 and GR11.
Itinerary: Baqueira 1500, Saboredo, Port de Ratera (2.543 m), Estany de Sant Maurici (1.910 m).
Stage of Middle Mountain goes through the National Park of Aigüestortes and St. Maurici Lake. It’s a detour of Camins Vius.
At highlight the Valley of Ruda is an extraordinary example of a glacial valley, its bank crowded by black pine forests. Many people believe that the top part of this valley, the cirque of Saboredo (2,300 m), is the real source of the Garona River. Here, numerous lakes are closed off by sheer summits that fade into the cirque, and already inside the limits of el Pallars. A spectacular landscape where you will find some of the best-known mountains in the park, including the Tuc de Ratera, Els Encantats, El Gran Tuc de Colomèrs and Les Agulles d’Amitges.
We recommend the ascention of the Tuc de Ratera. Between going up and down about 2H/2H30’.
It’s important to arrive before 18 PM during the months June, September and October and before 19 PM during the months July and August. If you don’t arrive at this time, you must go down on foot to Espot by the GR11, about 2 hours walking from St, Maurici lake to Espot (7,33 km).
You can replace the water in the Saboredo shelter (hut). We don’t recommend drinking the water of the river or lake.
NOTE: This stage can be shortened the itinerary with a taxi from Salardú or Baqueira to Hònt de Lo Campo.
Itinerary known as the CENTENARY ROUTE.
Itinerary: Estany de Sant Maurici, Portarró d’Espot (2.430 m), Aigüestortes (1.800 m), Boi (1.236 m).
This one-day itinerary takes you to two of the most emblematic places in the park, the Aigüestortes Plain and Lake Sant Maurici. The footpath passes through El Portarró d’Espot (2,430 m) one of the best-known mountain passes in the Pyrenees, a natural pass between the counties of Alta Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà. Peaks, valleys, woods, meadows and many lakes make up this spectacular and captivating landscape.
A spectacular landscape where you will find lakes such as Sant Maurici, El Llong and El Redó. A Glacial morphology: glacial cirques, U-shaped valleys and lakes tell us of the erosive action of the ancient glaciers that occupied these valleys 50,000 years ago. Meadows and pastures where you can see species of flora and fauna adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of the high mountains. A monumental tree: the mountain pine of Peixerani. A unique site, the Aigüestortes Plain where the Sant Nicolau River traces a series of meanders with silently flowing water. The Romanesque churches of the Boí Valley, declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
NOTE: This stage can be shortened the itinerary with a taxi from Aigüestortes to Boí. Price: 5,25 €/pax.
Itinerary of Camins Vius.
Itinerary: Boí, Coll de Basco, Port de la Gelada (2.069m), Senet (1.205 m), Aneto (1.380 m)
At highlight the Collado de the best views of the Boí valet and the mountains of Aigüestortes National Park. The Port de la Gelada where you will find the Barravés valley and its surrounding mountains: Pico de la Tallada, Vallibierna, Rusell and Aneto peak. Granite mountains over three thousand meters high, beech forests and nearly 40 lakes distributed throughout the different valleys, together with the traditional torchlight processions held on the night of St. John’s day all combine in an example of natural and cultural heritage that is well worth discovering. The Information Centre of the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is in the village of Senet.
This stage goes through of the GR11 and GR211 and is one of the itineraries of Camins Vius: the Port de Vielha.
The Pòrt de Vielha is one of the great classics in the Val d’Aran. Transit point for people, livestock and goods, Pòrt de Vielha is steeped in history. Throughout the centuries, and more so after the opening of the tunnel, it has been one of the most important crossover points between the north and south sides of the central Pyrenees. A point where the waters divide towards the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, and where the views towards Feixans, Molières, Aneto and Maladeta are truly privileged.
At highlight the old “Vielha Hospital” with its sanctuary is building full of history. The high mountain feel and Pass with its splendid views. Direct arrival by the Plaza Mayor (town square) of Vielha with the Romanesque Church of San Miguel.
We recommend the ascention of the Tuc deth Pòrt de Vielha. Between going up and down about 2 Hours. A fantastic views of the Aneto peak and Maladetas.
NOTE: This stage can be shortened the itinerary with a taxi from Aneto to South mouth of Tunnel of Vielha.
