The Spanish Pyrenees

Tour Code: ESP16

An 8-day holiday of birdwatching and botanical walks in the Spanish Pyrenees.

8 days from
£1,995 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£1,845

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Highlights

Wilder and less manicured than the Alps, the Pyrenees is a naturalist’s paradise. Based for the week in very comfortable, refurbished accommodation around a courtyard setting in the quaint and historic village of Berdun, we explore the region on daily wildlife walks, enjoying the scrub, maquis, cliffs, canyons and stunning limestone formations which are home to a wealth of birds, flowers, butterflies and mammals. At the time of our visit, in late May, the high peaks are still snow-capped and the uncut hay meadows are filled with flowers and butterflies. We’ll explore, on foot, the spectacular Aisa and Hecho Valleys, looking skywards for Lammergeier and at our feet for carpets of gentians, Pyrenean Buttercups and other wildflowers.

An ideal mountain holiday for the all-round naturalist
Birds, butterflies & alpine flowers galore!
Spectacular Pyrenean scenery & delicious picnics in flower-filled meadows
Look out for Marmots & Chamois
Golden Eagles, Lammergeiers & Griffon Vultures
Wallcreeper, Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor & Citril Finch
A wealth of butterfly species (50+), including Pyrenean specialities
Guided by British Naturetrek ornithologist & botanist leaders

Grading

Grade B. Day walks only.

This week-long holiday complements our ‘French Pyrenees’s week which has proved so popular and successful over the years. In a similar manner, it is our aim to enjoy the rich variety of birds and plants in the Spanish Pyrenees during a series of gentle walks from our base. We will be staying in a delightful 300-year-old property situated in the pretty hilltop village of Berdun, with its fine views of the Pyrenees, surrounding foothills, and valleys of the Veral and Aragon Rivers. Here, our hosts make us most welcome, keeping us well fed on wholesome local cuisine, and providing a mine of information that would not be available on a hotel stay in the region. This holiday focuses on both birds and botany, and we will also endeavour to look at and identify some of the wonderful butterflies and moths of this region.

The Spanish Pyrenees, the southern slopes of the spectacular 450-kilometre barrier between France and Spain, could not be more different from their northern, French, counterparts. Whilst the French Pyrenees are wet, green and thickly forested, the Spanish side is dry, arid and generally more Mediterranean, as clearly indicated by its very different list of plant and bird species. Whilst the Spanish side also supports good beech and conifer forests, it is the variety of scrub, maquis, arable farmland, wide river valleys, and the sheer spectacle of the cliffs, canyons and stunning limestone erosions, that so characterise these sunny southern slopes.

This will be a single-centre holiday based at Berdun, the most spectacular and traditional of villages, situated between the Aragon and Veral Valleys, in the southern foothills of the central Pyrenees. Just to the east is the small, historic town of Jaca with its 15th century fort and an interesting 11th century Romanesque cathedral — the first, indeed, to be built in that style. Berdun occupies a truly prime position, for it is so close to so many wonderful and varied birding and botanical sites, many of them within walking distance. During our stay, we will explore the area around Berdun, where the Aragon and Veral Valleys, and the spectacular Binies Gorge, are home to an excellent variety of low-level birds and plants. Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles, Woodchat Shrikes, Crested Larks, Tawny Pipits, Penduline Tits, Spotless Starlings, Rock Sparrows and Ortolan Buntings may all be seen, whilst birds of prey may include Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Red and Black Kites, and Booted and Short-toed Eagles. We will visit the beautiful Hecho Valley, enjoying the displays of flowers and their attendant butterflies, and hopefully birds such as Alpine and Red-billed Chough, Lammergeier and Citril Finch will be seen; there is even a chance of the elusive Wallcreeper here! We will also explore the hills and limestone outcrops to the south, looking for vultures, Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush at the spectacular red pinnacles at Riglos, and for Crested Tit, Rock Bunting and Hoopoe amongst the wonderful scenery around the Castillo de Loarre. We will head to the French border and visit the flower-rich meadows around Portalet, an area good for raptors, Water Pipit and Rock Thrush too. At all these sites we will also be enjoying the wealth of flowers and butterflies that this area provides.

We will end our holiday with a visit to the beautiful Aisa Valley, situated to the north-west of Jaca. On a gentle walk up the valley amongst some of the finest Pyrenean scenery, we will concentrate on the birds and plants. Lammergeier, Golden Eagle and Rock Bunting are amongst the bird species most typical of the area, and the botanists in our party will additionally find carpets of gentians and Pyrenean Buttercups in the valley bottom, and numerous saxifrages and other rock-dwelling plants on the scree slopes above. The Pyrenean race of Chamois also occurs here, together with Alpine Marmot and Wild Boar, though being rather shy the latter are only seen with a little luck.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Bilbao or Zaragoza and transfer to Berdún

Day 2/7

Berdún

Day 8

Fly London

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
A charming guesthouse situated beneath the pretty hilltop village of Berdun. All rooms have private facilities except for two singles.
Food:
All included in the price.

Reviews

A week in the Spanish Pyrenees packed with wildlife of all sorts which anyone could enjoy. The pace was quite gentle but with beautiful views and an outstanding guide there were plenty of thrills. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a refreshing break full of wild wonders. Naturetrek were really well organised and everything went according to plan. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
B.R. Hampshire, May 24
The small Spanish hotel as our base was an excellent choice with great meals etc. The added bonus was the owner is a very keen birder and butterflies and plants and knows the surrounding area very well. He came on our daily trips as a co leader so we got see the best areas for plants, etc, at that time. We got to walk in some amazing high valleys in the Spanish Pyrenees. Philip Thompson has an amazing knowledge of all the flora and fauna and is very good at pointing out what you see on the walks. He is very organised and always explained what the next days walks would be like so you were well prepared. He is also very good at attending to any customers needs.
P.C. New Zealand, May 23
I had a long awaited trip to the Spanish Pyrenees with Naturetrek. The booking had been rolled over twice from 2020 because of the Covid epidemic. The highlight of the trip was seeing Eurasian Wildcat on the first afternoon. We had spectacular views of this magnificent cat. The accommodation was lovely in Casa Sarasa which set against the backdrop of Berdun a picturesque town in the Aragon Region of Spain. There was fantastic scenery and wildlife-many birds and butterflies together with lots of wild flowers. It was a truly memorable trip, my first to mainland Spain. Naturetrek run fantastic holidays for those who are interested in wildlife and nature. They are extremely knowledgeable and very efficient in terms of handling the bookings for their trips. The tour leaders and guides are excellent. This was my 5th trip with them.
R.B. Nottinghamshire, May 22

A weeks holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees looking at the wildlife and flora of the area. The accommodation in Berdun was a comfortable and charming guest house, set in a magnificent location. The owners were friendly and welcoming and could not do enough to ensure that their guests were well looked after. The food was superb, buffet breakfasts, picnic lunches and a three course meal at night. All the produce was fresh, and the dishes local. The tour leaders Phil and Peter complemented each other with their knowledge, and made a formidable team. They were enthusiastic and friendly, and altered the itinerary in line with the weather, making sure our party got the most out of the stay.
C.B. Norfolk, May 19

This Naturetrek holiday was an introduction, for me, to the Spanish Pyrenees. The flight was met by our Local Spanish Guide and we were accompanied by the tour guide from London. The family run hotel was delightful and we travelled in two new minibuses, driven by our guides. We had a good living room to hold meetings in and a friendly atmosphere was immediately established with all guests adding to the knowledge of the guides. As a beginner, I really appreciated the immense amount of knowledge that was available. As a single traveller, I enjoyed the communal meals and made some good friends.
K.E. West Glamorgan, May 18

Dawn and Toby made an excellent team, because Toby's more extrovert and lighthearted approach blended well with Dawn's more serious attitude.
M.E. West Sussex

The two leaders complemented each other extremely well - a mix of lightheartedness and purposeful organisation ensured that a varied clientele were always well catered for.
B.D. Hertfordshire

Gerald was superb and held the tour together with his strong personality and excellent knowledge.
P.C. South Yorkshire

Both Gerald and Philip appeared confident, very approachable and provided excellent advice on identification of birds, butterflies and plants - both are obviously experts in their fields and fully complemented each other. Although I am not particularly interested in plants, Philip's obvious enthusiasm did rub off occasionally on me! Traditional Spanish meals at Emilio's were very good, with pleasant, helpful staff and waitresses.
B.F. Buckinghamshire

The accommodation, food and hospitality were outstanding!
Mr D. Norfolk

The trip leaders, Phil and Byron, worked extremely well together. Their driving was excellent at all times, in addition to their good awareness, patience, knowledge and ability to enthuse in all different spheres. They both have a great sense on humour which makes all the difference to this sort of holiday with such a mixed bag of punters! Accommodation was great too - Melanie and Peter are excellent hosts and made sure we were comfortable and well catered for at every meal, with a great variety of fresh food with a good Spanish/English mix.
Miss S. Norfolk

I came on this birds and flowers holiday with only a basic knowledge of European birds and little more on flora. The interest grew and grew with the excellence of our guides. The whole trip was way above my expectations. I will definitely do another Naturetrek holiday in the future. The accommodation was extremely good and going out each day through beautiful valleys and gorges was a most enjoyable experience in great company. Thanks a lot.
Mrs G. Norfolk

This is the third nature holiday I have taken with Naturetrek and have nothing but praise for their professionalism in organising a truly wonderful experience every time. We travelled through northern Spain to the Spanish Pyrenees and enjoyed the various areas shown to us. The accommodation was first class, and the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. I look forward to receiving the [next] Naturetrek brochure so that I can book my next excellent holiday with them. Thanks to all the people behind the scenes who organise these remarkable holidays.
R.M. Leicestershire

Knowledgeable leaders - Phil knew the area and where to go for good spotting. Lovely, friendly hotel, it was particularly nice that the group filled the hotel and the owners supported us well. Fantastic landscape, scenery and flowers etc.
E.P. Hertfordshire

Thank you once again Naturetrek for providing an excellent holiday. I know that as a person travelling alone, I can book with total confidence - you provide the rare combination of efficiency and fun. A perfect holiday for anyone who wants to experience being 7 years old again and enjoying a treat. From the moment I see the Naturetrek guide, I know that everything will be taken care of - no worries about driving, accommodation, eating, etc. - all I have to do is enjoy myself. Also, a holiday which can be enjoyed by all levels of knowledge and everyone is encouraged to participate. Both guides showed great knowledge, love and respect for all wildlife.
Mrs B. Hampshire

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Sat 17th May – Sat 24th May SPACES £1,995

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,845

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£285

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Peter Rich

Tour Leader: Peter Rich

Sun 25th May – Sun 1st Jun SPACES £1,995

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,845

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£265

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Peter Rich

Tour Leader: Peter Rich

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There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.  
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?

All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife

What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?

Travel with a group of like-minded people
Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora

In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.  

Our specialist recommends...


"I'd recommend 'Wengen – Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps', 'Crete' and 'The French Pyrenees', which all offer some fascinating European botany, along with plenty of wider natural history and some stunning scenery. If you’re keen to travel a little further afield, I’d suggest joining us in South Africa for our 'Wild Flowers of the Cape & Namaqualand' tour” 

David Tattersfield - Tour Leader

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Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Tour report - May 2017

Tour report - May 2016

Tour report - May 2015

Tour report - May 2014

Tour report - May 2013

Tour report - May 2012

Tour report - May 2011

Tour report - May 2009

Tour report - May 2008

Tour report - May 2007

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!