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france | pyrenees active adventure

Pyrenees Active Adventure        pulse rating 9 stars        nights: 7
adults from £745
children from £715

what's included:

  • Return flights from London Gatwick to Barcelona (regional departures and flexible durations on request)
  • Return airport transfers
  • 7 nights apartment
  • Welcome food pack . 2 dinners
  • As many activities as preferred from: gorge walk and thermal baths . white water rafting . hydrospeeding . mountain biking . adventure park . canyoning
  • Transfers to and from all the activities
  • All equipment, tuition and supervision from fully qualified instructors
  • Services of our representative or local guide
 

overview

The Pyrenees Orientales is a stunningly beautiful area with a huge diversity of landscapes providing the perfect backdrop for what is probably our most challenging family holidays. These activity holidays allow you to experience the best this region has to offer.

The region is one of France's lesser known regions and yet it provides the perfect setting for some incredible activities.

Sitting between Andorra and the Mediterranean coast this area has the best sunshine record in France - 310 days a year.  Its situation also provides a vibrant combination of French, Spanish and Catalan culture which adds to the appeal of this area.

The base for our holiday is the small town of Font Romeu.  It is a popular ski resort in winter and in summer it provides a convenient base with easy access to a host of adventure sports and some great restaurants for the all important 'apres activity'!

Your host Simon, originally from the UK fell in love with the area and the vast array of activities which it provides and we are sure you will do too.

You fly into Barcelona, providing the ideal opportunity to extend your stay either on the delightful coast or in this vibrant city - we can help arrange it.

suitable for

Families with children aged 11 years and over (please note: under 12 years may not participate in hydrospeeding and may be taken out of the raft for a short period during the white water rafting)

our opinion

"This has been our best selling holiday for the past two years and is an especially popular choice for families with older children.  It's undoubtedly one of our most energetic trips tackling some remarkable Pyrenean landscapes.  An added bonus is that this is the sunniest part of France with over 300 days of sunshine annually.  So, if you want to keep your teenage children happy whilst actively exploring a beautiful corner of France, you really need look no further."   Alistair McLean

agenda

Saturday

Flights, arrivals and transfers

You will be met at Barcelona Airport from where the transfer takes you to your accommodation in Font Romeu. In the evening there will be a welcome meal and an introductory meeting hosted by our head guide for the week, Simon Evans.

Sunday

Gorge walking and thermal baths

We head to the jaw dropping Gorges de la Caranca for a circular 5km trek. The reward for our endeavours is a series of truly spectacular views. As we follow the path which has been cut directly through the rock face it soon becomes evident that this is anything but an everyday walk. In the afternoon we visit the Thermal Baths of St Thomas for a chance to relax.

Monday

AM Rafting PM Hydrospeeding

In the moring we will experience rapids of up to Grade 4 as we plunge down the River Aude in our white water rafts. In the afternoon those who are 12 years old and over can take to the river for an adrenaline filled hydrospeed descent of the same stretch of water.

Tuesday

Mountain biking into Spain

We drive up to 2100m before starting a 17km descent through varied terrain into the pretty Spanish town of Llivia, where cold sangria and beer will await you. There will be a couple of hours to explore the town or enjoy a leisurely lunch before transport is porvided back up the hill!

Wednesday

Adventure park

We will visit 'Parcours Adventure' where the whole family can enjoy high ropes course, tyrolean crossings and zip slides of up to 100m! If you've visited 'Go Ape' back home and thought that was good, then you're in for a real treat today. The afternoon is free to relax at Lake Matemale where sailing, windsurfing, archery and horse riding are all available (pay locally).

Thursday

Free day

You can choose from a wide range of additional activities (payable locally) such as paragliing, via ferrata, bouldering or climbing. Alternatively, simle relax or take the 'Train Jaune' to the historic village of Villefranche.

Friday

Canyoning

We've been building up to this all week!  The canyon at Porte Puymorens offers a fantastic mix of slides, abseils and jumps into deep, clear pools and all with a stunning backdrop. Every year this is the most popular activity of the week and the final 11m (optional) jump is a great way to finish the holiday.  In the evening we all head into town for our farewell dinner.

Saturday

Depart or extend your stay

If you just can't bear to go home yet then why not extend your stay.  We can arrange extensions in Barcelona and on the northern Spanish coastline.

   

   Barcelona extension

It would be a shame to fly in and out of Barcelona Airport and miss out on a faulous extension in this vibrant and family friendly city.  We can arrange for you to be picked up from Barcelona Airport either after or before your activity holiday and transferred to a central hotel.  You can then choose to explore on your own or take advantage of our bike tour.

Our basic package includes return airport transfers and 2 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis.  Please see pricing box below.

We have two modern hotels to choose from:

Ayre Rosellon

This is a brand new 4 star hotel near to Gaudi's world famous Sagrada Familia and is easily accessed by all public transport.

There are 105 rooms in this modern and new hotel.  The en suite rooms are equipped with air conditioning, telephone, TV, hairdryer, safe and wifi.

There is a restaurant and coffee shop with terrace overlooking the Sagrada Familia.

The hotel provides easy access to some of the cultural delights of this vibrant city.

Ayre Caspe

There are 145 rooms at this modern 4 star hotel.  The hotel is within 15 minutes walk of Plaza Catalunya (the old town) and its 5 minutes by excellent public transport to the city beaches.

The en suite rooms are equipped with air conditioning, telephone, TV, hairdryer, safe and wifi.  Some interconnecting rooms are available.

The hotel's central location is ideal for those who want to get out and about in this fantastic city.

 

   Optional activity - Barcelona by bike

Classic tour

On our Classic-Tour we explore the most important sites of Barcelona in the medieval Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), the Art Nouveau neighbourhood, with its famous modernist buildings, the 1992's Olympic Village and the seaside and beach areas.  Duration: 3hrs, easy cycling on the flat.

 

   Coastal extension

After and active week in the mountains of Spain or France we find that many people like to relax at the coast for a week and explore the Catalan coastline on their own.  We can arrange week long hotel stays and car hire for you so that on your return to Barcelona you can pick up your car and head to one of two delightful coastal hotels in Calella de Palafrugell.

Calella de Palafrugell is a small fishing town and popular holiday destination in the summer.  It must not however be confused with Calella which is a much larger resort.  Calella de Palafrugell has escaped the mass tourism and large hotel complexes which are features of many other regions of the Costa Brava.  The scenery here is spectacular and the town's coastline stretches 2 kilometres from Golfet Beach to a headline where some stunning botanical gardens are situated.  There are some beautiful small sandy coves and a delightful coastal walk to Llafranc.

We have been lucky enough to secure very limited allocations at two very well known and desirable hotels in the beautiful town of Calella de Palafrugell.  These extensions are based on 2 people sharing a room for a minimum of seven nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Hotel Garbi

This is a family run hotel set amidst beautiful pine trees and boasting an impressive outdoor swimming pool.  The hotel has 52 rooms each with satellite television, balcony, air conditioning, hair dryer and phone.

The hotel is in the town of Calella de Palafrugell, noted as one of the most scenic in this region and it is just a 10 minute walk to the town centre and the beach.  There are many activities available locally such as hiking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Hotel San Roc

This family run hotel boasts one of the best locations in Calella de Palafrugell, situated on the cliffs and just 300m from the centre of town.  It is a quiet location and has built an excellent reputation.

The hotel has 47 rooms which are en suite and equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and balconies or terraces.  There are two restaurants serving a variety of local and international cuisine.

accommodation

Pic de L'Ours apartments

For 2010 we are featuring some fantastic new apartments in Font Romeu, ideal for active families and providing the opportunity to self cater.  The three star Pic de L'Ours apartments are situated in the heart of town, close to the shops, bars and restaurants.

Each apartment has one bedroom and two pull out beds in the lounge area.  The apartments have a kitchenette (ideal for cooking up some local produce), a ceramic hob, dishwasher and oven.  There's a dining and living area with TV.  Two bedroom apartments are available on request but are subject to availability.

The piece de resistance at the apartments is the heated indoor pool - the perfect place to unwind.

prices & availability

To discuss your options with someone who’s been to the destination, or to check availability before you book your flights please contact us on 01670 789 991.

Available     Limited places     Unavailable

Adult (15 and over) price per person based on 4 people sharing a 1 bedroom apartment.  Child (11 - 14) price based on sharing with 2 adults.

depart0 activities1 activity2 activities3 activities4 activities5 activities6 activitiesavailability
17/07/2010£745£795£845£895£945£995£1,045
24/07/2010£745£795£845£895£945£995£1,045
31/07/2010£765£815£865£915£965£1,015£1,065
07/08/2010£765£815£865£915£965£1,015£1,065
14/08/2010£765£815£865£915£965£1,015£1,065
21/08/2010£765£815£865£915£965£1,015£1,065

child price

depart 0 activities 1 activity2 activities3 activities4 activities5 activities6 activitiesavailability
17/07/2010 £715 £765£815£865£915£965£1,015
24/07/2010 £715 £765£815£865£915£965£1,015
31/07/2010 £735 £785£835£885£935£985£1,035
07/08/2010 £735 £785£835£885£935£985£1,035
14/08/2010 £735 £785£835£885£935£985£1,035
21/08/2010 £735 £785£835£885£935£985£1,035

Supplements:

2 people share 1 bedroom apartment please add pppw
£125
2 people sharing studio apartment please add pppw
£95
3 people share 1 bedroomed apartment please add pppw
£45
4 people share 2 bedroomed apartment please add pppw
£30
5 people share 2 bedroomed apartment - no supplement
6 people share 2 bedroom apartment please deduct pppw
£15

Extending your stay in Barcelona or on the Northern Spanish Coastline

Ayre Rosellon

&

 Ayre Caspe

Price per person based on a family of 4 sharing 2 rooms on bed and breakfast basis
All dates £100
Classic Bike tour £33 per person based on min 4 participants

       Hotel Garbi            Price per person based on 2 people sharing a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis for 7 nights
All dates  £495

      Hotel San Roc         Price per person based on 2 people sharing a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis for 7 nights.
25 July 2010 £485
All other dates £650

getting there:

Flexible durations and extending your stay:  Many of our clients extend their holiday in France or Spain and particularly Barcelona.

Self-drive discounts:  Some of our clients prefer to reduce their carbon footprint by driving to France.  If this is your preferred mode of travel please contact our reservations staff to discuss the discounts available.

responsible travel

Our holidays are based in the newly formed Parc Natural which is made up of thousands of acres of existing conservation area. It is home to a number of rare and endangered fauna species including Lynx, Brown bears and the tiny Desman.

To promote responsible tourism we try to keep to small sized groups, as we believe that the growth of adventure tourism can lead to the over commercialism and over crowding of these sensitive areas. With small groups participating in carefully chosen locations, or walking on established marked out trails, we can introduce our clients to this spectacular area without compromising the environment and the finely balanced eco system.

When out on a walk we will always discuss the impact that the increased footpath traffic is having on the environment, and our guides will lead by example in collecting litter left by less well informed parties along the way, and our clients are encouraged to do the same. We also try, wherever possible, to avoid tourist bottlenecks at peak times and a trip with us gets you away from the main GR hordes.

During the holiday all clients are briefed fully on the correct procedures for taking their ablutions whilst in the wilderness, and are educated in the devastating implications of the incorrect disposal of waste.

Our hotel is privately owned with as much purchasing as possible from local suppliers and where possible local agricultural produce and local market stall holders rather than supermarket chains. The majority of cheese used comes from the excellent local fromagerie. All house hold waste that can be re-cycled, is, through the local commune scheme.

In introducing this area to the UK market we can help local economies that normally would not have a chance to benefit from this sector, in what has traditionally been a subsistence level farming community. This has allowed for greater opportunities and increased wages for younger people who now do not need to leave the mountains to search for careers, which means that the population of the villages are now actually increasing for the first time in over 100 years and the future of local schools and medical services are safe guarded.