Overview
On our Andorra walking holidays you have access to some of the most spectacular Pyrenean trails. This week of walking is no exception, except that we make things a little bit more chilled for you, as you stay in two spa hotels. The first is in Canillo and the second in Escaldes-Engordany. And you have plenty of time to bask in their facilities too, with trails of between 7-14km on your walking days. We have also built in a rest day mid-tour. You still get to hike some of Andorra’s top trails, however. Highlights include the Iron Route through the historic mining area, Incles Valley, Lake Engolasters (1,616m) and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley.
- Tibetan bridge
- Roc del Quer viewpoint
- Incles and Madriu Valleys
- Camí de les Pardines
- Lake Engolasters
- Iron Route
- La Massana Royal Road
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Canillo
Arrive in Canillo, one of Andorra’s seven parishes. The town is home to several romanesque churches, including Sant Joan de Caselles, Sant Miquel de Prats and the hermitage of Santa Creu. Spend time exploring the historic centre or walking some of the local trails that link the surrounding valleys and villages.
- Accommodation: Hotel Roc Meler or similar in Canillo
Day 2: Tibetan Bridge – Roc del Quer – Toll Bullidor waterfall | 9km
Take a bus from Canillo to the Tibetan Bridge, a 603m suspension bridge spanning the Vall del Riu. Continue to the Roc del Quer viewpoint before returning to Canillo by bus. From Canillo, walk to the Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Meritxell and follow riverside paths to Toll Bullidor waterfall. Follow the same route back to return to the hotel.
Please note: tickets to the Tibetan Bridge and Roc del Quer viewpoint include the bus to/from Canillo. Depending on the ticket availability, you may do the visit in the afternoon and the walk to the Toll Bullidor in the morning.
- Walking for the day: 9km, 3-4h, ↑439m ↓439m
- Accommodation: Hotel Roc Meler or similar in Canillo
Day 3: Camí del Gall – Camí de l’Obac – Incles Valley | 14km
Start by following the Camí del Gall towards Soldeu. An easy route lined with interpretive signs highlighting the area’s nature and scenic views before joining the Camí de l’Obac in the Incles Valley. Continue alongside the Incles River to the head of the valley before returning to Soldeu, where you take a local bus (payable locally) back to Canillo.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 5h, ↑363m ↓223m
- Accommodation: Hotel Roc Meler or similar in Canillo
Day 4: Canillo – Sant Miquel d’Engolasters | 10km
Take the Inter-parish path through the parishes of Canillo, Encamp and Escaldes-Engordany, linking the romanesque churches of Sant Miquel de Prats and Sant Miquel d’Engolasters. Part of the route follows the Camí de les Pardines to Lake Engolasters, one of the most popular lakes in Andorra as it is accessible and also very beautiful, located beneath the forested slopes above Escaldes-Engordany. From Sant Miquel d’Engolasters, take a short bus ride (payable locally) to Escaldes-Engordany and round off the day with a spa experience at your hotel.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 4h, ↑252m ↓402m
- Accommodation: Roc Blanc Hotel & Spa or similar in Escaldes-Engordany
Day 5: Rest day or optional walk to Madriu Perafita-Claror Valley | 7.7km
This is a rest day, so we recommend enjoying some spa time at your hotel, or heading to the capital of Andorra la Vella, which is just 5mins walk from your hotel, to visit its historic centre, museums, shops or Caldea, a superb thermal centre. Alternatively, you can walk into Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, following a historic stone-paved path to Bordes d’Entremesaigües and Ràmio, traditional stone shepherd huts which are part of the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Walking for the day: 7.7km, 3-4h, ↑643m ↓643m
- Accommodation: Roc Blanc Hotel & Spa or similar in Escaldes-Engordany
Day 6: The Iron Route and La Massana Royal Road | 14.4km
You are transferred to Llorts where the Iron Route begins in Mina de Llorts, a 30m deep mine that can only be visited in the summer months. The Iron Route is a very popular trail, dotted with iron sculptures throughout to mark the historic importance of the iron industry here. Before reaching Ordino, we recommend visiting Sant Martí de la Cortinada Church, known for its Romanesque architecture and the metalwork of its side chapels. Continue along La Massana Royal Road, a historic path linking villages between La Massana and Andorra la Vella, and finish the day’s walk in Escaldes-Engordany.
- Walking for the day: 14.4km, 4-5h, ↑78m ↓459m
- Accommodation: Roc Blanc Hotel & Spa or similar in Escaldes-Engordany
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast. Take a direct bus from Escaldes-Engordany to Barcelona Airport or extend your stay in Andorra.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in comfort four-star hotels with spa and wellness facilities. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Roc Meler (Canillo)
- Roc Blanc Hotel & Spa (Escaldes-Engordany)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your accommodation the night before. For dinner, you can visit one of the restaurants in the villages or order from the à la carte menu in your accommodation.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is suitable for walkers with average levels of fitness and in general good health. Walks are mostly easy but may include longer hikes on some days with some moderate uphill or downhill elevations. While the routes are relatively short, they may feel more difficult than they would at a lower elevation (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available on any date from May until mid-November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season, so please indicate desired beginning date when booking.
The best months for hiking in high-altitude trails in Andorra are July to September since snow melts and temperatures are higher. However, trails on this holiday are in lower altitudes along the valleys, so they are perfect to walk during spring and autumn as well.
Please note that availability may be limited or supplements may apply during big events. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to Andorra.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on Andorra.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this holiday is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona – El Prat (BCN). The alternative airport is Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS).
By bus
- By own/rental car: guarded parking at hotels in Canillo. At the end of the tour, to go from Escaldes to Canillo, take the L3 Andorra Local Bus or a local taxi.
- By bus from Barcelona: Andorra Bus – direct bus to Canillo, about 4h 15mins. Or Andorra Directbus to Andorra La Vella – about 3h 45mins.
- By bus from Toulouse: Andorra Bus – direct bus to Canillo, about 3h 15mins.
- At the end of the tour, take the direct bus Andorra Bus from Escaldes-Engordany to either Barcelona or Toulouse Airport (3h 45mins).
- Private transfer services can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights in 4-star hotels with spa facilities (private en-suite rooms)
- 6 breakfasts
- Entrance and bus tickets for the Tibetan bridge and Roc del Quer viewpoint
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel (one piece of luggage per person, max. 20kg)
- Private transfer to Llorts on day six
- Detailed digital holiday information pack, including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Access to the spa center (some hotels may charge extra for access to the thermal center)
- Any transfers not listed as included
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights are available upon request.
