Tuixent - La Vansa - A Haven for Nordic Skiing and Mountain Adventures

In the northern part of the Port del Comte massif, at Pla d'Arp, isolated from everything. A fantastic area, still quite wild and not overcrowded, that is adapting to life without snow for most of the year.

• Playing with huskies
• Hiking with snowshoes to Tossa Pelada
• Practicing Nordic skiing at the Tuixent-la Vansa station
• L'Arp refuge and restaurant
• Coll de Port refuge and restaurant

Cau de Llops - Mushing

Without a doubt, huskies are one of the main attractions of this valley. While mushing seems much more exciting, taking a snowshoeing route accompanied by one of these fantastic animals is both incredible and exhausting.

Cau de Llops Website

Dog-pulled scooter

Introduction to wheeled sledding

Cani-rando

Visits to the kennel

Their activity board

La Tossa Pelada - 2379 m

Snowshoeing and ski mountaineering routes in Tuixent - La Vansa. And if there’s no snow, it’s a great place for mountain hiking.

A la izquierda Montserrat

El Pedraforca

The Montsecs

L'Arp Refuge and Restaurant

It’s neither a conventional refuge nor a traditional restaurant.

L'Arp Refuge Website

Tuixent-la Vansa Nordic Ski Station

It’s a peaceful station for those looking to have fun without large crowds. There isn’t much parking space, so you need to arrive early or later in the day. It has a restaurant, a picnic area, and you can rent equipment such as snowshoes and skis...

Ski Station Website

Equipment Rental

Picnic Area

Coll de Port Refuge

Coll de Port Refuge and Restaurant Website

More Information

Cau de Llops Nordic Skiing, Snowshoes, and Sleds Arp Refuge Arp Refuge Restaurant Coll de Port Refuge and Restaurant

El Molí Geolocated

Nearby

• Port del Comte

Uelhs deth Joeu - Plan dera Artiga - Refuge dera Artiga de Lin

Uelhs deth Joeu

Eyes of the Devil or Jupiter, a quite beautiful waterfall that gives rise to the Joeu River. The grace is that these waters come from the Aneto glacier which is in a southern valley of the Pyrenees and pass 4 km below the mountains to reappear near the Artiga de Lin.

Plan dera Artiga

La Artiga de Lin is the starting point of great ascents towards the Aneto and Maladeta area, as well as the mythical hills such as Aranesi, Picada and Hòro, places deeply related to the history of the Pyrenees.

Gentiana lutea

Gentian is a medicinal plant that is used as an appetite stimulant. One of the most bitter substances known is extracted from its root.

Aconitum napellus - wolfsbane

The aconite family are very poisonous plants. There are many flowers that give color to the meadows of Artiga de Lin. Artigas are forests that have been cut down to obtain pasture for flocks.

Artiga de Lin Refuge

The refuge is 9 km from the town of Es Bordes along a paved track. Access by private car is restricted in the summer months with greater influx of tourists. The track is also closed in winter due to avalanches.

Guardader dera aigua - Hònt deth Gresilhon

Both the water guard and the Gresilhon sling are very good. And the route to go between fir and beech trees is fantastic.

Small excursions around Uelhs deth Joeu

The arrow marks the second parking lot, which is where we must leave the car, it is a few meters from Uelhs deth Joeu. Then we must go up to Pla dera Artiga and then towards the Refuge where we can have a Coca Cola. From here we can go to the Pish de Pomèro and then return to the starting point. The entire tour lasts a little more than an hour.

We can make a second excursion to the Guardian of the water and the Gresilhon sling, and continue descending to the hermitage of the Mader de Dios de la Artiga de Lin. About an hour, and then you have to go back up.

More information

Artiga de Lin Refuge Artiga de Lin y Uelhs deth Joèu Versió en Catatà Versión en Español

English version

Excursions

• Colomers Refuge

Colomèrs Refuge - Banhs de Tredòs - Salardú

We wanted to go to one of the shelters in the Aigüestortes i Estany Sant Maurici National Park. Since we were traveling with our young daughters, we opted for the Colomers refuge. It's easily accessible, requiring only a 40-minute walk after reaching the nearest point by car along a paved track that runs from Salardú to Arties, passing through Banhs de Tredòs.

There are 60 sleeping spots, distributed across 5 rooms. Each room has a bunk bed with two levels. That means there are six people side by side on each level, without any separation.

The food is simple and plentiful, and it's quite good. Be careful when ordering lunch as the portions are generous but quite expensive since everything is delivered by helicopter.

Like in all the shelters, there's a great atmosphere, and people come from all over. We shared an excursion with a family from the Netherlands.

From the refuge, you can embark on the circular hike of the Colomers circus and lakes. The short version takes about two hours, while the long one takes approximately six hours. For more details, you can check out these resources: link to Senditur's route and link to Wikiloc's trail.

Lara i Kali

At the Colomers shelter, Lara and Kali were working, who have a show on SX3, the Catalan channel for children. We ran into some kids from Olost who were fans of their show and had gone to see them.

Salardú, a Picture-Perfect Village

From Salardú to Banhs de Tredòs, you can go by your own car, then you need to take a taxi that drops us off about 40 minutes from the shelter on foot.

More information

Web of the refuge The shelter center Versió en català Versión en español

English version

Excursions

• The lakes of Colomers Glacier Cirque
• Circ de Colomers
• GR11