4.9

Hut-to-Hut Trekking in the Picos de Europa

  • Spain
  • 6 nights

A wild trek amongst the high peaks of this hidden gem of a mountain range in Northern Spain

What's Included?

  • Activities & Certified GuidesAll itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking mountain guides
  • All accommodation4 nights in mountain refuges, 2 nights in rural guesthouses
  • Meals6 breakfasts and 6 dinners
  • TransfersAirport transfers and everything in between
  • EquipmentHiking poles, if you need them
  • Small Like-minded GroupsSolo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people

From…excluding flights

Highlights

  • Tackle an epic route through rugged limestone peaks in one of Europe's quietest mountainous corners, a world away from the crowds of Spain's south

  • Bag the summits of Jario (1913m), Cotalba (2026m) and La Padiorna (2319m) as you go, with fun scrambles to reach epic vistas

  • Bunk down in mountain huts deep in the Picos, sip local cider at sunset and fuel up on hearty Spanish food as you soak up the good life in Asturias and Cantabria

  • Prefer day hikes and a lighter load? Check out our alternative adventure Hike the Picos de Europa: The Hotels Edition (opens in new tab)

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Welcome to Asturias

    Guesthouse
    Twin share
    Dinner included
    Show Day 1 detail

    Your host will meet you on arrival at Bilbao Airport and drive you to the picturesque Asturian town of Cangas de Onis. Meet up with your guides for a chat about the challenge ahead and tuck into a traditional meal.

    Day 2

    The trek begins

    Hiking
    7hrs · 13km · 1000m up · 550m down
    Mountain refuge
    Mixed dorm
    Breakfast and dinner included
    Show Day 2 detail

    Head off early to the Covadonga Lakes to kick off the trek in the west of the Picos. Hit the trailhead at Pan de Carmen and after an hour or so of hiking, the towering peaks of the western massif reveal themselves. The trail gets a bit rockier and you might spot chamois as you approach the Mirador de Ordiales, an epic viewpoint with a 1000-metre drop to the Angon Valley below. This spot is the final resting place of the founder of the Picos de Europa National Park, Pedro Pidal. Trek up to the Cotalba peak at 2026m, enjoying a cool little scramble just before you hit the top. Once you're up there, the high peaks of the western massif seem so close, and you can spot the lakes in the distance, plus the stunning Ponga Mountains. Descend to the Vegarredonda Refuge for dinner and your first night in the Picos' network of welcoming mountain huts.

    Day 3

    Vegarredonda to Vegabaño

    Hiking
    10hrs · 16.5km · 1150m up · 1300m down
    Mountain refuge
    Mixed dorm
    Breakfast and dinner included
    Show Day 3 detail

    Today is the most challenging day of the trip, so fuel up at the refuge before kicking things of with an ascent to Collado Les Merines at 2100m, entering a huge limestone area through the Pozas Jou. Take a rest at the Prieta spring before continuing past the enormous peak of Vega Huerta and heading south down the Canal del Perro. Descend among the beech trees that surround the Vegabaño shelter, a welcome refuge after a killer day. Soak up this beautiful spot – next to the source of the Dobra River and by the thousand-year-old oak tree of Vegabaño – with sundowners, dinner and an overnight stay at the refuge.

    Day 4

    Vegabaño to Santa Marina de Valdeon, via Jario peak

    Hiking
    6hrs · 17.5km · 950m up · 950m down
    Village refuge
    Multi share
    Breakfast and dinner included
    Show Day 4 detail

    Bid farewell to the Vegabaño shelter and enter a beech grove, going up a gentle slope and passing the habitat of capercaillie birds. Time for another summit: hike steadily up to the peak of Jario at 1913m. Separated from the rest of the massif by large meadows, you'll find an extraordinary viewpoint here, from which you'll see the summits of the Picos de Europa. Continue through the virgin woodland up to Dobres Rock, before starting your descent into the Valdeon Valley all the way to the village of Caldevilla. Follow the course of the Cares River to the village of Posada de Valdeón for a late lunch back in civilisation, before carrying on to the small village of Santa Marina de Valdeon to settle into the auberge here for dinner and another well-earned sleep.

    Day 5

    Valcavao to Collado Jermoso refuge

    Hiking
    5hrs · 9km · 750m up · 350m down
    Mountain refuge
    Mixed dorm
    Breakfast and dinner included
    Show Day 5 detail

    Soak up the views from one of the Picos' most stunningly situated refuges this morning with a coffee and breakfast before taking a short transfer to the Pandetrave mountain pass and on by farm track to Valcavao. Today's section is a wonderful route from Valcabao to Collado Jermoso mountain hut via the Canal de Pedabejo, trekking through the spectacular Vega de Liordes and along the cliffs of Colladinas until arriving at Collado Jermoso. The refuge here is blessed with sweeping views of the Valdeón valley and the Western Massif, and sunsets here are often spectacular.

    Day 6

    Collado Jermoso to Fuente Dé

    Hiking
    6hrs · 12km · 600m up · 800m down
    Guesthouse
    Twin share
    Breakfast and dinner included
    Show Day 6 detail

    One last epic day of trekking in the Picos awaits today as you head towards the finish line. Set off from Collado Jermoso mountain hut and retrace your steps until Las Colladinas, which marks the start point of an ascent to the fabulous summit of La Padiorna (2319m) with stunning views of the whole Central Massif and Liebana Valley. Descend via the Canal de San Luis traversing a lunar landscape in this high part of the massif, all the way to the cable car station. Hop in the cable car and enjoy a brisk 750m descent in a matter of minutes down to Fuente Dé at the foot of the mountain range. Take a short drive to Espinama to settle into your guesthouse back in civilisation after a wild week in the mountains. Late in the afternoon, you can visit the picturesque medieval town of Potes before heading back to Espinama for a farewell dinner and some drinks to toast the culmination of an epic trek in the north of Spain.

  7. Day 7

    Adios Asturias

    Breakfast included
    Show Day 7 detail

    The adventure comes to an end today as your host drives you back to Bilbao Airport in time for your onward flight home. If you are lingering longer in Spain, the Asturian coastline has some incredible beaches, good surf and laid back bars and cafes to discover.

Practical Stuff

Getting There

Nearest airport
Bilbao Airport (BIO)
Pick up
Bilbao Airport
12:30 on Day 1
Drop off
Bilbao Airport
12:00 on Day 7

Detailed Logistics

Transfers

Please arrive at Bilbao airport by 12:30 on Day 1 in order to join the group transfer to Cangas de Onis for your first night. On Day 7, your host will provide a group transfer from Espinama back to Bilbao airport, dropping you off at approximately 12:00 (midday).

If you are arriving/departing at different times, on different days or flying to/from alternative airports (Asturias Airport or Santander Airport) your host can arrange private airport transfers for an additional charge, subject to availability. Please see Optional Extras for prices.

Travel options

Bilbao Airport is accessible via various direct flights from the UK and mainland Europe. Flights from outside of Europe are typically indirect. If you're looking to make your own way to Cangas de Onis and not use the group transfer at Bilbao Airport, you may wish to look into combining flight options into/out of Asturias, Santander & Bilbao airports, all of which are only an hour or two's drive away from Cangas de Onis, with public transport options between them.

Rail travellers can get to the start of this trip via Bilbao's main railway station, Bilbao Abando, which is well connected to various major cities in Spain and France. From Bilbao you can get as far as Arriondas by train, and from there it's a short bus ride to Cangas de Onis.

If you would like to book extra nights' accommodation – in Cangas de Onis before the tour, or in Espinama after the tour – please contact your host for availability and prices (which tends to vary throughout the season).

Trip level explained

Level 5

Challenging

This is a significant trek, comparable to the famous trails like the Tour du Mont Blanc in terms of distance and elevation gain and the general level of fitness needed. You'll be doing five consecutive days of hiking between 6-9 hours hours per day with up to 1100m elevation gain and loss to achieve each day, so you'll need to be comfortable with doing this on a mixture of terrain from easygoing dirt trails and pastures, to the tougher-going limestone rock areas in the higher mountain areas. You won't need any technical mountaineering knowledge but some experience of multi-day trekking will be useful, however as long as you are fit and determined with good hiking boots and a comfortable pack to trek with, this trip can be done by anyone just with some experience of long day hikes. There are some light scrambles to reach the summits long the route, no experience is needed for these and an expert guide is there to help if there are any sections where you feel you need a hand. You will also need to factor in carrying your belongings in a backpack - see below.

What will I need to carry?

From Day 2 to Day 6 you will need to carry all of your necessary gear for five trekking days and four overnights in the mountain and village refuges. In addition to clothes and toiletries, you will also need to carry drinking water and a packed lunch each day.

Remote environment: factors to consider

Some parts of this trip take place in areas where access to medical facilities and emergency services may be limited. This may mean that reaching medical care takes longer than you might normally expect, or that local medical facilities have fewer resources than those you may be used to at home.

If someone becomes unwell or injured, initial treatment may be provided locally before onward travel to a larger hospital or city for further care. Evacuation could involve changing the planned route or using different forms of transport to reach appropriate medical facilities. Mobile phone coverage may also be intermittent in some locations.

Your guide is trained to manage situations in remote environments and will monitor the group and respond appropriately if any issues arise. However, it’s important that you let your guide know straight away if you feel unwell or experience any health concerns during the trip.

Before booking, consider your personal health and ability to travel in locations where access to medical care may be delayed. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns, we recommend seeking advice from a medical professional and discussing them with your host before travelling.

All travellers must have suitable travel insurance that covers the activities included in the trip and emergency medical evacuation if required.

What is and isn't Included?

What's included

  • Guided hike in the Picos' western massif, via Cotalba peak (2026m)
  • Guided hike from Vegarredonda to Vegabaño
  • Guided hike from Vegabaño to Santa Marina de Valdeon, via Jario peak (1913m)
  • Guided hike from Valcavao to Collado Jermoso refuge
  • Guided hike from Collado Jermoso to Fuente Dé
  • Short ride in the Fuente Dé cable car

  • Expert, local, English-speaking mountain guides

  • 4 nights in mountain refuges
  • 2 nights in rural guesthouses

  • All (6) tasty breakfasts
  • All (6) Spanish-style dinners

  • Group arrival transfer from Bilbao Airport on Day 1
  • Group departure transfer to Bilbao Airport on Day 7
  • Transfers during the trip

  • Hiking poles, if you need them

Where You'll Stay

Looking for a private room? See Optional Extras for details and pricing.

  • Cangas de Onis

    Stay

    Cangas de Onis

    Your first night of the trip is spent at Hotel Los Lagos Nature in the centre of the picturesque town of Cangas de Onis, which sits at the foot of the Picos and on the banks of the Sella River. Housed in a historic building with a characterful bar and restaurant, you'll stay in twin-share rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

  • Collado-Jermoso-01

    Mountain and Village Refuges

    Stay

    Mountain and Village Refuges

    You'll spend three nights at different mountain refuges within the Picos de Europa National Park – namely Refugios Vegarredonda, Collado Jermoso and Vegabaño – staying in mixed dorm-style bunk rooms which are shared by 8-12 people. You should be aware that the mountain refuges offer only basic facilities for trekkers, both in terms of home comforts and food options. The refuges have an electricity supply, but bringing a personal power bank is recommended. There are shared toilet facilities and showers available to use, although be aware that some refuges charge a small amount for hot water showers. The refuges will serve your evening meal and breakfast, and you'll also be able to buy your lunch from them each day before setting off. Card payments are not always accepted, so you should bring cash.

    You'll also spend one night in a village refuge – the Refugio La Ardilla Real in Santa Marina de Valdeón. As it's a little less remote, this refuge is of a higher comfort level, more like a B&B with smaller dorms and a cute restaurant and bar. Your host will try to arrange a same-sex sharing basis for this night, depending on availability.

  • Espinama

    Stay

    Espinama

    After the more rustic stays at the mountain refuges, you'll stay at Hostal Remoña in Espinama, a charming guesthouse in a quaint village nestled beneath the Picos – not far from where the road comes to end, as it meets the impassable mountains. The guesthouse is well known for its homemade, traditional Cantabrian food and extensive wine list, which you'll enjoy while taking in the views of the Picos. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with private bathrooms.

What You'll Eat

Catering in the mountain huts is a simple affair, with limited options available for travellers who have dietary requirements (due to the mountainous locations of the refuges, supplies are flown in by helicopter just twice a season and fresh produce…

Food and Dietary info

Catering in the mountain huts is a simple affair, with limited options available for travellers who have dietary requirements (due to the mountainous locations of the refuges, supplies are flown in by helicopter just twice a season and fresh produce is not practical for storage). Breakfasts in the refuges can be basic, so you may wish to stock up before the trek begins on supplementary items such as fruit, nuts or cheese. In the evenings, you'll keep fuelled with simple but very hearty dinners that typically consist of pasta, lentils, chickpeas, soups and meat-based dishes. Lunches are not included in the trip price, but you can buy your own each morning before the day's trekking either from local bakeries and shops in Arenas de Cabrales (for Day 2) and Espinama (for Day 6), or directly from the mountain refuges. You should budget around €15-20 per day for lunches and snacks, and it is best to have this in cash (Euros). If you like to eat a lot of snacks whilst hiking then it is recommended to bring your own stash – but factor this in to your packing weight. On the first and final days of the trip, your evening meals will be local specialities in restaurants selected by your guide. You'll enjoy a variety of tapas and pintxos (small traditional snacks popular across northern Spain), a main course usually with fish or meat, dessert and local wines.

Asturias is famous for its milk, so there are plenty of cheeses to sample throughout the trip. Another local Asturian speciality is cider; your final meal of the trip is at a local cider factory where you can toast the climax of the trek in style and attempt the traditional pouring method - raising the bottle above your head and pouring into the glass from a height, so as to carbonate the cider while holding the glass low in your other hand. This is more challenging than the locals make it look!

Vegetarians, vegans and most other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for with advance notice and planning – please just request this on your passenger info form – however, please be aware that you may find the meal options to be repetitive.

Optional Extras

Upgrades

Optional Private Room Upgrade (July & August trips)
…/per person
Optional Private Room Upgrade (Jun, Sept & Oct trips)
…/per person

A limited number of optional solo room upgrades are available on some nights of the tour (not available in the mountain refuges) - please see Optional Extras for Prices.

Transfers

Private Transfer Asturias or Santander Airport to Llanes (1-8 people) from
…
Private Transfer Bilbao Airport to Cangas de Onis (1-8 people)
…
Private Transfer Espinama to Bilbao Airport (1-8 people)
…

To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.

All extras must be paid before your trip starts.

Ratings & Reviews

4.9118 reviews
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)

Category rating

Food
4.0
Guides & crew
5.0
Accommodation
4.0
Itinerary
5.0

Latest Reviews

  • Taylor S.

    Highly recommend this trip! Our guides, Jaime and Doro, were lovely people who were cheerful, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The Picos are stunning and I’m sure anyone would have an amazing time there.

  • Yves G.

    First time joining an organized trip and it met all our expectations. Our group was the best and our guides, top notch! Planning to travel with Much Better again in the future. Can not say enough about Picos de Europa!!

  • Janice G.

    We had an incredible experience in the Picos de Europa. The trip was as reflected by MBA…challenging, rugged, gorgeous and geographically and culturally interesting. Our guide Jaime, was excellent. He was clearly experienced and skilled at pacing, building collaboration and being attuned to the different levels of group members. Sharing the trip with others amplified the experience. This was our first guided adventure and an awesome experience. Well do it again for sure!! Thank you Much Better Adventures!

  • Daniel J.

    An amazing five day adventure through a stunning mountain landscape. Covered all sorts of terrain and couldn’t have asked for a better itinerary. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable, company communication was clear, timely and helpful. Would recommend Much Better to anyone and will almost certainly book a trip with them again.

  • Timothy A.

    Great region, great walking, great pacing, great guides, great group - what's not to like! I first visited the Picos sort of by accident a couple of years ago when passing through with my family for a couple of day, and immediately wanted to go back. The hut-to-hut tour was exactly what I had in mind for a revisit and the trip didn't disappoint. Beautiful mountains, gorgeous meadows and old forests, atmospheric huts and hostels with quirky touches, carpets of wild flowers etc etc. You get the drift. To cap it all off, a fantastic group dynamic of open-minded, friendly and diverse people brought together for a week of exploring and trying something new. We all felt a bit bereft come the end, going our separate ways. A big thanks to Jaime and Doro our guides, who were everything you'd ask for - friendly, knowledgeable, clear, considerate and kind. The logistics were impeccable too. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip or the Picos as a place to explore :o)

  • Alasdair

    A wonderful hiking trip. The Picos are a stunning mixture of jagged crags, very steep slopes of scree and limestone, and lush meadows and forests in the lower reaches, all of which the trip takes in. The views are breathtaking in places. There is also plenty of wildlife to see: we encountered eagles, vultures, lizards, chamois, grazing cattle and goats, and even evidence of nearby bears. Our guides, Jaime and Doro, were fantastic. The walking is very manageable, but involves some minor scrambling and plenty of steep ascents and descents. A head for heights is needed! The hotels are very comfy. The mountain huts are not, and you need to be prepared to sleep in dormitories with 16 other people, often right next to them, as the beds have been pushed together. Bring earplugs. But this is part of the adventure, and there is a wonderful feeling of remoteness in the huts, along with friendly encounters with other hikers. Of course, this remoteness also means that the food is very basic, although the portions in the evening meals are massive! The Picos seem to be relatively unvisited, and other than in the huts, we encountered almost no one else on the trails, adding to the sense of adventure and wilderness. The few villages that you pass through are picturesque. All in all, I'd highly recommend this trip!

  • Conor

    I was so pleased with how this week went. I expected the actual landscape of the trip to be breathtaking, but we were also exceptionally lucky to have 2 fantastic guides in Jaime and Doro as well as a fantastic group of fellow hikers. Jaime has a fantastic knowledge of the local history, culture and the fauna of the Picos, is a very competent group leader that, along with Doro, knew when to push the group hard and when to rest, while never diminishing or belittling anyone who needed a hand, and are also great craic and seemed to enjoy this just as much as us on holidays. 10/10

  • Andrew S.

    This is a special place. Go, before everyone finds out! Thanks so much to Jaime and team, our Rumbo a Picos guide, who so charmingly shared his amazing homeland with us. We will be back….

  • Nathalie S.

    Incredible experience from start to finish with a fabulous group and two incredible guides. The whole trip was perfectly organised.

  • Jeremy R.

    Great trek through amazing landscapes. Be prepared for very rustic accommodation but for me that was part of the appeal.

Customer Photos

4.9118 reviews
  • 5 stars (110)
  • 4 stars (7)
  • 3 stars (1)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)
Showing all 118 reviews

  • Amazing Trip

    Taylor S. June 2026
    Highly recommend this trip! Our guides, Jaime and Doro, were lovely people who were cheerful, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The Picos are stunning and I’m sure anyone would have an amazing time there.

  • Simply Awesome!

    Yves G. June 2026
    First time joining an organized trip and it met all our expectations. Our group was the best and our guides, top notch! Planning to travel with Much Better again in the future. Can not say enough about Picos de Europa!!

  • We had an incredible experience

    Janice G. June 2026
    We had an incredible experience in the Picos de Europa. The trip was as reflected by MBA…challenging, rugged, gorgeous and geographically and culturally interesting. Our guide Jaime, was excellent. He was clearly experienced and skilled at pacing, building collaboration and being attuned to the different levels of group members. Sharing the trip with others amplified the experience. This was our first guided adventure and an awesome experience. Well do it again for sure!! Thank you Much Better Adventures!

  • Incredible trip

    Daniel J. June 2026
    An amazing five day adventure through a stunning mountain landscape. Covered all sorts of terrain and couldn’t have asked for a better itinerary. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable, company communication was clear, timely and helpful. Would recommend Much Better to anyone and will almost certainly book a trip with them again.

  • An all-round fantastic trip

    Timothy A. June 2026
    Great region, great walking, great pacing, great guides, great group - what's not to like! I first visited the Picos sort of by accident a couple of years ago when passing through with my family for a couple of day, and immediately wanted to go back. The hut-to-hut tour was exactly what I had in mind for a revisit and the trip didn't disappoint. Beautiful mountains, gorgeous meadows and old forests, atmospheric huts and hostels with quirky touches, carpets of wild flowers etc etc. You get the drift. To cap it all off, a fantastic group dynamic of open-minded, friendly and diverse people brought together for a week of exploring and trying something new. We all felt a bit bereft come the end, going our separate ways. A big thanks to Jaime and Doro our guides, who were everything you'd ask for - friendly, knowledgeable, clear, considerate and kind. The logistics were impeccable too. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip or the Picos as a place to explore :o)

  • A wonderful hiking trip. The

    Alasdair June 2026
    A wonderful hiking trip. The Picos are a stunning mixture of jagged crags, very steep slopes of scree and limestone, and lush meadows and forests in the lower reaches, all of which the trip takes in. The views are breathtaking in places. There is also plenty of wildlife to see: we encountered eagles, vultures, lizards, chamois, grazing cattle and goats, and even evidence of nearby bears. Our guides, Jaime and Doro, were fantastic. The walking is very manageable, but involves some minor scrambling and plenty of steep ascents and descents. A head for heights is needed! The hotels are very comfy. The mountain huts are not, and you need to be prepared to sleep in dormitories with 16 other people, often right next to them, as the beds have been pushed together. Bring earplugs. But this is part of the adventure, and there is a wonderful feeling of remoteness in the huts, along with friendly encounters with other hikers. Of course, this remoteness also means that the food is very basic, although the portions in the evening meals are massive! The Picos seem to be relatively unvisited, and other than in the huts, we encountered almost no one else on the trails, adding to the sense of adventure and wilderness. The few villages that you pass through are picturesque. All in all, I'd highly recommend this trip!

  • Exceptional guides, beautiful landscape, a great week!

    Conor June 2026
    I was so pleased with how this week went. I expected the actual landscape of the trip to be breathtaking, but we were also exceptionally lucky to have 2 fantastic guides in Jaime and Doro as well as a fantastic group of fellow hikers. Jaime has a fantastic knowledge of the local history, culture and the fauna of the Picos, is a very competent group leader that, along with Doro, knew when to push the group hard and when to rest, while never diminishing or belittling anyone who needed a hand, and are also great craic and seemed to enjoy this just as much as us on holidays. 10/10

  • Power to the Picos

    Andrew S. June 2026
    This is a special place. Go, before everyone finds out! Thanks so much to Jaime and team, our Rumbo a Picos guide, who so charmingly shared his amazing homeland with us. We will be back….

  • Magical magnificent mountains!

    Nathalie S. June 2026
    Incredible experience from start to finish with a fabulous group and two incredible guides. The whole trip was perfectly organised.

  • Excellent

    Jeremy R. June 2026
    Great trek through amazing landscapes. Be prepared for very rustic accommodation but for me that was part of the appeal.

  • Amazing Adventure

    Rebecca M. October 2025
    Trekking in the Picos was a great experience. Tough climbs that were rewarded with amazing view! Our guides, Alberto and Irene, were wonderful and knowledgeable people. Foraging with Alberto as we walked was a bonus! Definitely pack as light as possible. The guides recommend a 35-45l pack, rather than the 40-60l on the kit list so plan for that.

  • Amazing!!

    Jose C. October 2025
    This trip was better than I expected. The route is challenging with lots of elevation, which I like. Views are amazing all the time. The guides were fantastic, Irene and Alberto were very good, friendly, informative and very very nice. The food at the huts surprised me, locations are amazing, food is good and you can repeat as much as you can. On top of it, you can take a shower every night. Highly recommended!

  • Increíble Experiencia

    Michael K. October 2025
    Attended the last Picos de Europa trek of the year. The guides, huts/hotels, food and even weather exceeded all my expectations, and the Picos de Europa park itself is stunning. Gracias Irene y Alberto por hacer de esta una experiencia increíble. All logistics, transfers and communications were impeccably arranged and there were no surprises. I met and shared the experience with great fellow travelers as well, and I look forward to my next adventure!

  • The best days in the Picos!

    Amaya H. October 2025
    We had a great time during this hike. Exceeded our expectations!! Mostly thanks to our amazing guides (Irene and Alberto) who made the trip a memorable experience!! Great group of people and very beautiful landscape and mountain refuges. Thank you!!

  • An absolute dream trip!

    James R. October 2025
    A wonderful time trekking through a gorgeous underrated part of the world! The guides, Sergio & Txexu, were so helpful and supportive along the way. There was clear information for each day and good options for various levels of experience! Also shout-out to the huts for having an excellent variety of vegetarian food!

  • Great Trip

    Alexander W. October 2025
    Really good guides (Irene & Alberto), nice bunch of people on the trip, the route was fun and interesting and gave some good challenge. Accommodation was mixed as you would expect, really simple in the most remote locations and nice at each end. We had perfect weather, lucky given it was mid October! Would recommend it.

  • Epic!

    Naomi C. October 2025
    My 11th MBA trip and my new favourite. This trip exceeded my expectations . Beautiful mountains , cloud inversions, stunning sunsets , fun scrambles and lots of wildlife . Our group was lovely and our guides Irene and albertico were exceptional and so passionate about the area and the wildlife , they really made this trip one to remember. The huts were great with surprisingly good food , we were never hungry . If you're thinking of booking I 100% recommend this trip but pack light . This trip definitely lives up to its challenging rating . loved every minute.

  • Much Better than described

    Antonia M. October 2025
    Really enjoyable trip although disappointing the early snow put paid to 2 sections of the walk. The huts were of a higher quality than expected with hot showers and good food. The guides were great as was the company. The kit list is out of date ( no need to bring hut shoes they all provide crocs, no need for a swimsuit) pack superlight into a 40l bag if you can. The lunches were generous so no need for lots of extra snacks. The terrain is rough like Scotland, if you are used to that it'll be fine. Could have done with more info about being able to leave a bag at the start earlier and also about being able to get a transfer back to Santander as well as Bilbao, this would have been helpful at time of booking.

  • Spectacular week of hiking

    Nathan H. October 2025
    This was my first multi day hiking trip, having only done day hikes previously. Food provided at the huts was lovely and very substantial for getting you through days of hiking (the sandwiches provided in the picnics were regularly the biggest thing in my back). Both Sergio and Txetxu were fantastic guides and the group dynamic was really good fun!

  • Simply Perfect

    Christopher M. October 2025
    Carlos & Jaime have deep knowledge and a proud love of the Picos, which combined with their gentle humour and excellent mountain skills made for a trip that will live long in the memory.

  • Hasta luego, Picos de Europa!!

    JISUK R. October 2025
    Picos de Europa also met my high expectations. It marked another wonderful milestone in my life. This was possible because I was with wonderful people. They were never behind the scenery given by Picos de Euroma. Here are two guides, Carlos and Haime. I didn't expect to hang out with British, Irish, Australian, and Belgian who are unfamiliar to me as a Korean, but they were all very nice. People who like mountains, were there bad people? This was common all over the world. There was a lot of snow on the top of the mountain, so even if we changed the scheduled schedule, the satisfaction did not change. It was only when I finished the hike that I knew this place was a famous place for Europeans. I laughed naturally :). My greetings to everyone I met in the hike. I wish you happiness all the time. I want to invite you to Seoul sometime. There are mountains in Seoul even downtown. It gives the taste of hiking with humans, not with nature ha ha!

  • Fantastic trip , the guides

    John F. October 2025
    Fantastic trip , the guides Carlos and Jimenez were superb, professional and knowledgeable the huts and food were clean and what was needed after a an exhausting hike

  • Great Experience

    Peter R. September 2025
    Many thanks for a great adventure in the stunning Picos de Europa. The two guides , Carlos and Jaime were excellent in ensuring we coped with changes to our itinerary due to adverse weather , introducing us to the natural wonders of the mountains and creating a wonderful team spirit amongst the group.

  • PERFECT trip

    Antje F. September 2025
    Stupendous week hiking in the Picos de Europa with a great bunch of people, very knowledgeable and friendly guides, wonderful weather, and the most amazing landscape! Simply breathtaking views! They did not lie when they said it would be challenging, but it was very well managed and we were looked after so well that it was an entirely enjoyable experience despite the considerable physical effort. Everything was organised perfectly and went completely smoothly, from the first pick-up to the accommodation and meals to the last airport transfer. An absolutely wonderful week.

  • Challenging. But so good.

    David S. September 2025
    Follow your guide & just enjoy an epic trail.

  • Exceeded all expectations.

    Richard A. September 2025
    What an amazing trip! Thank you so much.

  • The Special Picos

    John K. September 2025
    I struggled a bit whether to give a 4 or 5 star review. I settled on a five because my reasons for providing a four were more on the observations on the organiztional aspects. The route, the area, the quality of our guides, the mountain huts were all top notch. I especially want to highlight our two guides, Irene and Clara, who are highly competent, thoughtful, fun, smart, skilled, etc. And highly responsive to client needs. We had a mix of weather from the glorious sunshine to days which we spent in continuous, but variable rain intensity, with low cloud/fog that made trail conditions more challenging. Our guides led expertly, confidently and all the while were aware of a responsive to everyone’s skill set and comfort. I have trekked many of the planet’s mountain ranges. The Picos hold their own in terms of beauty, splendour, grandeur, effort (without the greater extremes in elevation) and variety. The main improvement I can recommend to MBA and our local guide company (which overall was top notch) is to send out your pre-hike preparation and reminders a few days earlier. Receiving an email on the travel day of what to do if you miss your flight or kit reminders are of little value. For an experienced traveller these are not big issues but for first timers or less experienced these can be upsetting or useless.

  • Picos

    paul H. September 2025
    Fun multi day trip hiking through the Picos. Magnificent scenery and guides who were very competent and personable.

  • Wonderful

    Heather B. September 2025
    Varied hiking, different terrains each day. The second day is particularly beautiful. Great guides- super knowledgeable- thank you Irene and Clara.

  • Wonderful Picos in all weathers

    Danial F. September 2025
    Hugely successful trip. The group really bonded over 5 days of challenging hiking. 1 1/2 days of wet musty weather but other days a mixture of sun and cloud, with stunning cloud inversions. Our guides, Irene and Clara were fun, informative and safety conscious. The scenery was breathtaking, all the more so because of the ever changing light due to the coastal cloud, and variety of landscapes from almost lunar limestone to alpine meadows (almost no wildflowers in September) to deciduous wooded valleys. The hotels and hostels were very comfortable. The refuges were challenging in terms of cramped sleeping areas (particularly the second, Vegabaño). Refuge food was plentiful - very basic in the first refuge, simple but tasty in the second, and excellent in the third. The hostel in Santa Marina was like an oasis in the desert after 2 nights in refuges! Make no mistake, the hiking was tough - 5600m ascent in about 75 km, although there are options to take taxis or split the group to shorten several of the days. Jose Miguel and Irene’s emphasis on packing light should be taken seriously. Pack carefully! Hiking poles are strongly recommended. I hiked in grippy trail shoes without goretex. My feet got wet but shoes dried quickly. Many used boots, but lightweight and grippy is recommended. A few scrambles are fun and not too challenging. A bit of a head for heights is helpful (I was fresh form a fear of heights weekend). Some training hilly hikes with a laden rucksack is recommended. The Picos are as good for hiking as the Alps or Pyrenees, and I would recommend this trip without reservation!

Before You Travel

What to Pack

Backpack with hiking gear laid out

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.

Kit List

What's included?
  • Hiking poles (optional)
What do I need to bring?

BAGS
Trekking backpack (approx. 40-60 litres) for carrying all belongings during trek on Days 2-6 Waterproof liner or drybag for backpack

CLOTHES
Lightweight down or synthetic jacket
Lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket
Breathable wicking layers
Fleece jacket or similar
Buff or neck scarf
Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts for hiking
T-shirts
Underwear and socks
Swimwear for hotel
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Gloves
Something to sleep in
Hiking boots (worn-in)
Lightweight shoes for refuges

SLEEPING
Sleeping bag (2/3 season)
Pillowcase

OTHER
Universal travel plug adapter
Power bank or solar charger
Passports (and visas)
Travel insurance documents
High factor suncream and lip salve
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
Quick-dry towel
Alcohol hand-gel
Face mask
Headtorch or torch
2 x reusable water bottles of 1-litre capacity, or at least 1 x 1.5-litre bottle

OPTIONAL
Earplugs
Energy bars and snacks
Trekking poles (your host can provide these if desired)

FAQs

Yes, you can leave your luggage in Cangas de Onis. This can be collected on the way back to the airport on Day 7.

The water in the Picos is safe to drink and you are able to fill up freely at each of the refuges and guesthouses that you stay at. Make sure to bring a couple of 1-litre reusable drinking bottles or a bladder.

This trip visits locations at or above 2500m, where some people may experience symptoms of Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Previous experience at altitude doesn’t guarantee the same response again – your body can react differently on each trip. However, having been at altitude before is still valuable: it gives you a better understanding of how your body might respond, what symptoms to look out for, and how to manage your pace and energy levels.

Your guide is trained to manage the risk of altitude sickness by controlling the rate of ascent, monitoring group wellbeing, and responding appropriately if anyone feels unwell.

Before booking, we recommend considering your personal health, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions, and consulting a medical professional if you’re unsure. Arriving early to allow your body to acclimatise can also make a big difference.

Your travel insurance must cover the maximum altitude reached on this trip and include emergency evacuation.

This trip operates in areas where daytime temperatures can reach extreme highs, where limited shade and high humidity can also be a factor. These conditions can affect physical performance and increase the risk of dehydration or heat-related illness. Your guide will adjust the pace and monitor the group closely, but hydration, proper clothing, and sun protection are essential.

Before travelling, consider your ability to be active in high temperatures and consult a medical professional if you have concerns – especially if you have any cardiovascular or heat-sensitive conditions. Arriving a day or two prior to the trip may help you adjust gradually to the heat.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The weather in the Picos can be very changeable, so be sure to pack for all weathers. Mainly it tends to be dry and sunny on the south face of the Picos and at high altitudes over 1,500m. Lower altitudes and on the north face of the Picos is more humid and sometimes rainy. The maximum temperature is around 20 degrees and the minimum around 8-12 degrees. Perfect trekking temperatures!

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 150kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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Departure dates

  • Sunday 21st June 2026

    to Saturday 27th June 2026

    Last minute - Host approval required

    …

  • Sunday 28th June 2026

    to Saturday 4th July 2026

    Last minute - Host approval required

    …

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