KTA Hiking Trip to Barcelona & Andorra
October 8-19, 2020
DAILY ITINERARY (subject to change)
October 8: Group flight departs Newark Airport at 7:30 pm. For those interested, limousine service at shared cost from Harrisburg available with free parking. Contact KTA for more information.
October 9: Group arrives in Barcelona at 9:00 am. We board a private bus for a three hour trip to the tiny country of Andorra, tucked into the Pyrenees between Spain and France. Our destination is the village of Soldeu. After hotel check-in, you may want to rest before exploring the village. Access to hiking trails is right out the door of the hotel. Group dinner in the evening.
October 10: After breakfast, we ease into Andorran hiking with the Valira Nature Trail, a fairly easy 7 mile hike through the Valira Valley from Soldeu to Encamp. Highlights include a swaying suspension bridge, the marvellous waterfall plunging from the hanging coire of Vall Riu, and the famous shrine to the Virgin at Meritxell. From Encamp, we take a bus back to Soldeu. Meals provided: B, L.
October 11: Estanys de Siscaró hike, 8.5 miles. Today’s hike is a moderate loop to gorgeous mountain lakes above Soldeu. Meals provided: B, L.
October 12: Estanys de Fontargent hike, 9.7 miles. Another moderate loop hike in the beautiful Incles Valley that crosses over a pass to the French border before reaching Estanys de Fontargent (the Fontargent Lakes). Until the late 1800’s, this was the primary trading route into France. Meals provided: B, L.
October 13: Estanys de Juclar hike, 9.7 miles. Today’s moderate to strenuous hike takes us through the Incles Valley and continues on to the spectacular Cirque of Juclar, overlooking Andorra’s largest lake. Meals provided: B, L.
October 14: Upper Soldeu Circuit, 6.8 miles. This moderate loop hike follows a river out of Soldeu, then ascends to a ridgeline with great views of Soldeu and surrounding mountains. Meals provided: B, L.
October 15: We take a morning bus to Barcelona where we arrive at our hotel near La Rambla in the early afternoon. Optional walk through nearby Barri Gòtic, the medieval heart of Barcelona with narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants that open to picturesque plazas. Meal provided: B.
October 16: The Gaudí walk. We will walk up La Rambla, the great pedestrian boulevard, and beyond, looking for outstanding examples of Gaudí architecture including the amazing apartment building, La Pedrera, with its iconic roof. Our walk leads to Gaudí’s masterpiece, the world-famous cathedral, La Segrada Família. This is truly one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Meal provided: B.
October 17: We will visit the bustling Mercat de la Boqueria, where there is an incredible array of fresh foods on display. We then walk to the Picasso Museum, one of the largest collections of Picasso’s work in the world. Afterwards, we have an optional walk to the beach where we can stroll along the boardwalk and dip our toes in the Mediterranean before heading back to our hotel. Meal provided: B.
October 18: We will hop on the Bus Túristic for the ride to Parc Güell, a city park that is another Gaudí masterpiece, full of fanciful designs and interesting trails with wonderful views of the city. Back on the bus, we have the freedom to hop on and off wherever we wish, providing great opportunities to visit areas such as Montjuic that are too far to walk. Meal provided: B.
October 19: Taxi to the airport and depart for home at 11:15 am. Meal provided: B. Arrive in Newark at 1:55 pm.
October 8-19, 2020
DAILY ITINERARY (subject to change)
October 8: Group flight departs Newark Airport at 7:30 pm. For those interested, limousine service at shared cost from Harrisburg available with free parking. Contact KTA for more information.
October 9: Group arrives in Barcelona at 9:00 am. We board a private bus for a three hour trip to the tiny country of Andorra, tucked into the Pyrenees between Spain and France. Our destination is the village of Soldeu. After hotel check-in, you may want to rest before exploring the village. Access to hiking trails is right out the door of the hotel. Group dinner in the evening.
October 10: After breakfast, we ease into Andorran hiking with the Valira Nature Trail, a fairly easy 7 mile hike through the Valira Valley from Soldeu to Encamp. Highlights include a swaying suspension bridge, the marvellous waterfall plunging from the hanging coire of Vall Riu, and the famous shrine to the Virgin at Meritxell. From Encamp, we take a bus back to Soldeu. Meals provided: B, L.
October 11: Estanys de Siscaró hike, 8.5 miles. Today’s hike is a moderate loop to gorgeous mountain lakes above Soldeu. Meals provided: B, L.
October 12: Estanys de Fontargent hike, 9.7 miles. Another moderate loop hike in the beautiful Incles Valley that crosses over a pass to the French border before reaching Estanys de Fontargent (the Fontargent Lakes). Until the late 1800’s, this was the primary trading route into France. Meals provided: B, L.
October 13: Estanys de Juclar hike, 9.7 miles. Today’s moderate to strenuous hike takes us through the Incles Valley and continues on to the spectacular Cirque of Juclar, overlooking Andorra’s largest lake. Meals provided: B, L.
October 14: Upper Soldeu Circuit, 6.8 miles. This moderate loop hike follows a river out of Soldeu, then ascends to a ridgeline with great views of Soldeu and surrounding mountains. Meals provided: B, L.
October 15: We take a morning bus to Barcelona where we arrive at our hotel near La Rambla in the early afternoon. Optional walk through nearby Barri Gòtic, the medieval heart of Barcelona with narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants that open to picturesque plazas. Meal provided: B.
October 16: The Gaudí walk. We will walk up La Rambla, the great pedestrian boulevard, and beyond, looking for outstanding examples of Gaudí architecture including the amazing apartment building, La Pedrera, with its iconic roof. Our walk leads to Gaudí’s masterpiece, the world-famous cathedral, La Segrada Família. This is truly one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Meal provided: B.
October 17: We will visit the bustling Mercat de la Boqueria, where there is an incredible array of fresh foods on display. We then walk to the Picasso Museum, one of the largest collections of Picasso’s work in the world. Afterwards, we have an optional walk to the beach where we can stroll along the boardwalk and dip our toes in the Mediterranean before heading back to our hotel. Meal provided: B.
October 18: We will hop on the Bus Túristic for the ride to Parc Güell, a city park that is another Gaudí masterpiece, full of fanciful designs and interesting trails with wonderful views of the city. Back on the bus, we have the freedom to hop on and off wherever we wish, providing great opportunities to visit areas such as Montjuic that are too far to walk. Meal provided: B.
October 19: Taxi to the airport and depart for home at 11:15 am. Meal provided: B. Arrive in Newark at 1:55 pm.