Immerse yourself in the alpine heart of the Eastern Pyrenees on a cross-border traverse linking the Ripollès (Spain) and Conflent (France) via their three most iconic mountain huts — Coma de Vaca, Ras de la Carança and Ulldeter. Far from comfortable forest tracks, this itinerary seeks the skyline: glacial bowls, sharp ridges and deep valleys where the silence is broken only by the whistle of marmots. Over five days you summit ten peaks above 2,500m — including Pic de Bastiments (2,881m) — traversing the very roof of the Eastern Pyrenees.
Views from the trail.
COVER · EASTERN PYRENEESUnderstand the grade.
Well-marked paths, gentle gradients and short days. Comfortable for anyone with everyday fitness.
Longer days on good trails with some sustained climbs. Fine for regular weekend walkers.
Full walking days with real ascent and the odd steep or rocky stretch. Solid hill fitness pays off.
Long, demanding days, big climbs and exposed or uneven ground. Strong fitness and hiking experience needed.
Sustained high-mountain terrain — scrambling, exposure and very long days. For experienced mountain walkers.
Arrival & check-in
Arrival at the historic stone village of Queralbs. Check in to your hotel and ready your kit for the climb ahead.
The vertical ascent
A sustained, vertical ascent over the summit of Balandrau (2,585m), rewarded with sweeping views, ending in the secluded amphitheatre of the Coma de Vaca refuge.
Walking the skyline
Walk the spine of the Pyrenees, crossing into France over the Coll de Nou Creus and descending past the glacial lakes of Estany Blau and Estany Negre to the Ras de la Carança refuge.
The high frontier
Push up the steep slopes of the Coll de la Geganta (2,607m) back into Spain, finishing at Refugi de Ulldeter — the historic cradle of Catalan mountaineering.
The queen stage
Climb Pic de Bastiments (2,881m) and navigate the aerial ridge linking Pic del Freser and Pic de l'Infern, before descending to Coma de Vaca for a final celebratory refuge dinner.
Extra day: Núria via the Camí dels Enginyers
Rather than drop straight back to Queralbs, add a day from Coma de Vaca to the Vall de Núria along the Camí dels Enginyers — one of the most famous balcony paths in the Pyrenees, threading the steep flanks of the Torreneules high above the Freser gorges, with a short cable-protected section at the Clot del Malinfern. Night at the Alberg Núria (Xanascat). +98 € per person (breakfast included; dinner not included).
A spectacular balcony path from Coma de Vaca to the sanctuary of the Vall de Núria — about 10 km, 3.5 h, +368 m / −410 m, with a short cable-protected step at the Clot del Malinfern. Night at the Alberg Núria (Xanascat); breakfast included, dinner not included. Optional summit from Núria: Puigmal (2,910 m) as a half-day round trip. 98 € per person.
The gorges & departure
Descend the Gorges del Freser and the Salt del Grill waterfall back to Queralbs, where operations end.
- 5 nights' accommodation — 1 night in Queralbs and 4 nights in high-mountain refuges
- Meals as marked in the day-by-day board matrix
- Detailed digital roadbook and curated GPS tracks
- 24/7 English-speaking local phone assistance
- A guide on the trail — these treks are self-guided (we plan your route and back you up remotely, 24/7)
- Flights and travel to the start point — trailhead transfer bookable on request
- Meals not marked in the board matrix (local options at the start and end of the route)
- Luggage transfer between stages
- High-altitude trekking insurance (mandatory)
- Local tourist taxes (~€1 per person / night at hotels)
- Personal mountain equipment
The meals included each night are marked above. Where a meal isn't ticked, we point you to the best shop, bakery or refuge kitchen to stock up.
Take the Rodalies R3 train from Barcelona-Sants to Ribes de Freser (about 2 h, roughly hourly), then the Cremallera rack railway up to Queralbs — your first night and the start of the walk. It's an easy, scenic connection you make on your own; we send the timings with your roadbook.
From Barcelona it's about 1 h 45 north on the C-17 to Ribes de Freser, then a short hill road up to Queralbs. Your hotel there has parking where you can leave the car for the week.
Rather not drive or change trains? We can book a private door-to-trailhead transfer at both ends from the nearest station or airport — just ask and we'll add it to your trip.
Pick a start date when you book.
How booking works.
We authorize 20% on your card to lock your spot. Nothing is charged yet — the hold is only captured once your huts are confirmed.
A guide then calls every refuge and inn by hand to lock your nights, usually within 48h. Only when they're all confirmed do we capture the deposit. If one's full we propose alternative dates — and if nothing fits, the hold is released in full, never charged.
The remaining balance falls due 60 days before you set off. We send a reminder.
Card at checkout, or pay by bank transfer for a 5% discount on the total.
Once your huts are confirmed the deposit secures real logistics and is non-refundable — but in force majeure we rebook you onto alternate dates at minimal cost.
Every booking comes with a real human on call.
A morning message with the actual forecast for your col and what's ahead.
If the weather turns, we book the alternate and push a new track to your phone.
One tap sends a driver from the nearest village, billed to your card.