The Spanish Pyrenees are the least visited part of the dramatic Pyrenean Mountains guarding the border between France and Spain.
The whole region is immensely beautiful - thickly forested foothills, secret plunging valleys and soaring snow capped mountains make for some of the best mountain driving in Europe. Home to Western Europe’s last bears and wolves, it is a forgotten area of Spain - villages still speak their own dialects, an ancient mixture of Spanish and Catalan.
We spend our days driving from the Atlantic towards the Mediterranean through some of the best scenery the Pyrenees offer, with the peaks still mantled in snow and making for challenging driving on steep tracks and tight hairpins bends alongside vertigo inducing drops. We climb into the High Pyrenees, twisting through steep gorges carved by torrential snow fed steams as they rush south to the Spanish Plains, leaving us behind in the remote, peaceful valleys of Anso and Hecho.
We skirt the Odessa National Park, home to condors and bears, before climbing to over 2500 metres, into the high peaks around the landlocked principality of Andorra.
If you are coming to Spain for the first time, this expedition will show you a side of Spain far from any preconceptions you may have – a wild, remote and timeless Spain.
The relaxed and slow pace of this popular expedition, with plenty of time to stop and explore, is ideal for those who wish to travel with young families. You’ll stay in good quality organised camp sites, often with restaurants and play areas. All your ferry costs are included, under 16’s travel free and there will be a maximum of 6 vehicles – perfect for a relaxing, stress free holiday.
Summary
Start point |
French/Spanish border near Ronscavalles (via ferry from Dover to Calais).
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Finish point |
French/Spanish border near Andorra.
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Number of days |
7 days, 7 nights.
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Approx. distance |
800 kilometres (not including travelling between ferry ports and start point for the expedition).
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Road conditions |
Mixture of gravel, rock tracks and local roads. .
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No’ of vehicles |
Maximum of 6 guest vehicles plus support vehicles.
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Accommodation
used |
Accommodation will be in campsites with toilet/shower facilities where available. Occasionally sites will be wild sites set in the incomparable wild Pyrenean countryside.
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Specialist equipment - vehicle |
A well maintained and serviced 4x4 vehicle fitted with underbody protection. A CB radio must be fitted. Tyres of All Terrain or Mud Terrain tread patterns are most suitable. A full set of recovery equipment (strops and shackles) is essential along with a spade. A winch is not essential and additional fuel cans are not needed. A vehicle fridge/coolbox is useful for cold drinks and keeping food fresh.
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Specialist equipment - camping |
Either roof (preferable) or ground tents are suitable. You will need good quality sleeping mats if using ground tents, along with sleeping bags. You should bring your own chairs, table, stove, pans, cutlery and utensils. Clothing can be light as the days will be hot, in the sheltered valleys, however you should bring some warm and windproof outer wear as there will still be snow on the peaks.. Protection from the sun and UV is needed.
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Passport |
Required.
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Visa |
Not needed for citizens of the EEU.
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| Health |
No special requirements beyond small first aid kit and EHIC – European Health Entitlement Certificate (available from UK Post Offices).
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Cost of living |
Comparable or slightly less than the UK. You will be able to withdraw Euros from ATM’s and credit cards are widely accepted. |
Weather
Warm and sheltered in the valleys but it can be cool up on the mountains, snow will still be present on the high peaks. Occasional storms in the Bay of Biscay can bring cloud and rain.
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Average daily temp
Max O C
Min O C
Rainfall mm
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|
2
-2
89 |
3
-2
64 |
8
4
62 |
12
5
56 |
17
10
42 |
20
14
42 |
25
15
50 |
18
12
56 |
14
8
67 |
7
5
94 |
4
1
78 |
2
-2
79 |
Food and Shopping
Food is readily available even in small villages, traditional dishes and superb ingredients make this a real gastronomic explorer as well! Meals can be cooked individually or communally, the choice is yours but at times during the expedition OneLife Adventure will host group meals, with everyone helping on an informal basis. We co-ordinate and assist you with food purchasing while in country.
Schedule and Pace
The route and timings are not fixed, we will be free to break journey, stop and explore, as you desire. I aim to be in the campsite by 16.00 on most days to allow us to relax and enjoy the experiences of the day. The daily distances driven vary due to the terrain and ground conditions but a typical day will be 2-3 hours driving in the morning, 1 hour for lunch and then a further 2-3 hours driving.
Outbound shipping
The crossing from Dover to Calais is made by ferry and is included in the expedition price. You are free to specify your own preferred dates and times. The drive from Calais to Biarritz will take about 12-14 hours, mainly on the French autoroutes. Roncesvalles is approximatley 50 miles soulth of Biarritz. You may choose to take 2 days for the journey; we are able to advise on accommodation options and alternative routes to avoid the autoroute and enjoy France on the way down.
Note – This section of the expedition is unsupported by OneLife Adventure, the above information is to aid planning your arrivals and departures. The booking is made on your behalf and cost of the ferry is included in the expedition price. Accommodation, meals and refreshments you take during this transit stage are not included.
Inbound Shipping
The return crossing from Calais to Dover is made by ferry and is included in the expedition price. Again you are free to break the return journey and specify the ferry dates and times allowing you to extend your holiday as you choose.
Note – As for the outbound journey, this section of the expedition is also unsupported by OneLife Adventure. Accommodation, meals and refreshments you take during this transit stage are not included.
Cost
- £650 per person based on 2 adults sharing 1 vehicle, inclusive of ALL ferry crossings.
- For each additional adult up to a maximum of 4 per vehicle add £95.
- Under 16’s go free - OneLife Adventure does not charge its young guests.
The expedition price includes flexible return ferry crossing from Dover to Calais, all campsite/accommodation costs, full backup and guiding from the support team.
It does not include your fuel, food, snacks, drinks and personal spending.
OneLife Adventure Expedition Rating System
PYRENNEAN EXPLORER  
 Easy, short driving days, suitable for families and drivers with basic off road driving skills.
 Easy camping with occasional wild sites interspersed by sites with facilities, no technical needs, suitable for families and young children.
 Higher off road content, moderate driving days, suitable for families and medium
off road driving skills.
50% wild camping, some technical needs, suitable for families and young children used to camping.
 Longer days occasionally and high content of off road driving, recoveries likely and moderate levels of off road skills needed.
 80% wild camping +, weather or environment requires some technical clothing/equipment, suitable for experienced families with older children.
 Long days and long distances are the norm, likely to encounter severe hazards and will require teamwork to succeed, experienced drivers.
Extreme weather (hot, wet or cold), will require extensive technical equipment, irregular meals and physical discomfort will be the norm! Success is achieving the destination – Camel Trophy style.
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