Xabi Etxarri, one of our founders, lives and guides in the Pyrenees. This product is the result of his personal selection of hotels, walks, activities and restaurants.

Tailor made to suit you: add days as necessary and enjoy the flexibility to walk at your own pace.’

In creating this holiday we have been very careful to give you a proper insight into the landscapes and culture of the Pyrenees.

What is a Pura Self Drive Holiday?

What Pura do is book your cars and hotels so that you have the basic structure of your holiday set out. We then give you the information to fill the days in a way that suits you best. That means that you travel with detailed information about the areas you are visiting. This ranges from advice on the best beaches, market days, our favourite restaurants, what to do on a rainy day, etc.

You also have a series of walking scale maps with our own walking notes. You will invariably have more walking notes than days to walk so you can choose which ones to do and which ones to save for a return visit.

How tailored is it?

Here in the UK we tailor the itinerary to your needs as closely as possible. Of course, once you are actually on holiday you can choose to stick to the letter of the itinerary or change it as you go along.

What about the cars?

The cars we book for you are good sized cars. Because you are generally going into mountain environments, we make sure that the cars are suitably powerful.

And hotels?

The hotels we use are generally small and family run. On this holiday we assume premium small country hotels in villages. Rooms are always en suite.

We always believe that when you wake up you should know where in the world you are so we place character, location and comfort at the top of the list. If you want uniformed staff, look elsewhere!

When should I go?
The Pyrenees are high mountains. In spring expect some snow on the high ground as well as full and fast flowing rivers. The vegetation is at its prettiest at this time of year.

Summer days are long and generally weather is warm/hot and sunny.

Autumn weather is the most stable with pleasantly warm days and cool evenings. In the late summer/autumn storms can build up over the mountains so if one of those breaks then you can get bursts of heavy rain.

How active?
Entirely up to you. Since you have the freedom of your own car, you can take the holiday at your own pace.

We assume that you want to walk on most days but you can of course take time to relax.

There are also options for other activities such as mountain biking and watersports.

We provide you with walking notes and maps.

How comfortable?
Three extremely comfortable, friendly rural hotels chosen for their quality, location and atmosphere.

The hotels are all four star standard, two with spa facilities.

The largest has 30 rooms, the smallest just 10.

How independent?
With your own car, you’re completely independent and flexible but with support available if you need it. We provide you with all the maps, walking notes and local information you will need.

How responsible?
Pura Aventura is passionate about the places it visits. To help preserve the integrity of these destinations we:

• Keep groups small to minimise environmental impact.

• Work directly with local businesses and organisations to directly benefit local economies. We use small, locally owned hotels and restaurants.

• Work with local guides so that our holidays are more interesting for clients and more beneficial locally.

Pura Aventura actively supports the Spanish mountain conservation charity www.quebrantahuesos.org

Useful Links

As you already know, Pura Aventura is dedicated to safe and responsible travel. The links below provide useful content and more information about Spain. Please call us of any special requirements on 01273 676 712.

Country Information

FCO

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides useful travel advices on Spain.

BBC News

BBC News provides useful information about Spain. Read more about it.

Official Government website

Find out more about Spain, by visiting its official government website.

Prepare for your holiday

Health

Before you go on your holiday to Spain, please ensure you have the correct vaccinations. Check out the NHS website for advice, visit your GP or a travel clinic.

Currency Exchange

For the latest information on the €uro currency, visit the ICE website.

Weather

To see the forecast in Spain, visit wunderground.

Pura’s Amazon shop

Browse our own Spain selection in Amazon.co.uk for a wide range of travel essentials, such as books, gadgets, clothing, etc. in preparation for your upcoming holiday.

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals for your holiday to Spain with Sky Scanner