Summer Pyrenees Family Holiday with teenagers

This is an active trip packed with cycling, white-water rafting, zip-lining and trekking activities. To fully enjoy all activities, you'll need a moderate level of fitness. To participate in the rafting experience, you'll need to be a confident swimmer. Please read the Special Info within your daily itinerary for details about hiking and cycling distances and terrain.

The group may be split into two or three smaller groups, based on fitness levels and ability. This way you and your family get the most fun out of the activities.

Soldeu is the base for this trip and is located in a rural area in Andorra's high mountains. Most of our customers fly into Toulouse, France, or Barcelona, Spain, and then transfer to Soldeu. The transfer journey can take up to 3.5 hours from Toulouse and 4 hours from Barcelona. However, the breathtaking scenery along the way makes the trip an unforgettable experience. For more detailed information, please see our "Important Notes" section.

The average age of children who travelled on this trip in the last year is 14 years old. Most children on Intrepid Family trips are between 10 and 14 years old

1. FAMILY TRIPS: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

2. CHILD AGE: Minimum age for children to travel on this trip is 10 years old unless otherwise arranged and approved by Intrepid.

3. DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

4. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available if you’d prefer to have your own room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

5. ITINERARY: The trip is graded as active and requires no previous experience although an ability to cycle is essential for the mountain biking. Days of mountain biking, walking and rafting can be a rigorous test of stamina, but with full vehicle support we believe anyone in good health should be capable of participating. The difficulty of the walks and rides will depend on the ability of the group and will be adjusted accordingly. Please note - all the activities will take place in mountainous terrain where weather is rather temperamental. Some adjustments to the walks or cycling routes may be done on the day, depending on the weather forecast, and will depend on our experienced leader’s good judgement.

6. PACKING: Most people buy packed lunches; you might find a sealable plastic box useful for storing it in your daypack. Although not essential, gloves for cycling make it more comfortable - especially if you grip hard. Wetsuits provided for rafting come with booties. Shoes are not provided for biking, so please bring comfortable shoes suitable for cycling.

7.  TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SOLDEU: We offer pre-bookable transfers from/to Barcelona airport (BCN) for an additional fee. The arrival transfer is only available for flights that arrive before 11:30 am on Day 1. The departure transfer is in the early morning on the last day and arrives at the airport at approximatey 9 am. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 7 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organized.

If you prefer to travel to Soldeu independently, there are public buses that operate several times a day from either Barcelona or Toulouse airports. Transfers are provided by Andbus and stop directly in front of Hotel Roc de Sant Miquel in Soldeu. For more information on timetables please visit https://www.andorrabybus.com/en.
Alternatively, some families prefer to hire a car and make their own way to the hotel. Car parking space is plentiful and available free of charge for the duration of your time at the Hotel Roc de Sant Miquel. Please advise us of your estimated arrival time.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take it in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.

As well as your main piece of luggage, you will need to bring a small to medium backpack for day activities (20-25 litres). One with waist strap would be most comfortable for walking around Pessons Lakes, Incles Valley and cycling the Iron Route.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS:
· Day pack: for carrying essentials during activities
· Lightweight clothing: A mixture covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers is recommended. Your activities will take place in the mountains where weather may change quickly. It is best to check the weather and seasonal information before travelling. Lightweight, comfortable and quick drying clothes for the activities are best. Laundry facilities may not be available on everyday basis, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes.
· Warm jacket/fleece
· Wind and rain jacket
· Hiking boots or trainers with a good grip that are comfortable to walk for an entire day are recommended for trekking, and closed toe shoes are required for hiking and biking
· Cycling gloves will make cycling more comfortable but also come handy for other activities such zip-wiring and water rafting.
· Water bottle: you will need water during activities and it’s best to avoid buying unnecessary plastic. Tap water is drinkable in Andorra
· Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
· Toiletries

RECOMMENDED ITEMS:
- Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, antihistamine tablets and any personal medication you may need
- Insect repellent
- Camera with spare batteries/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items daily
- Electrical adapter plug
- Travel wipes/hand sanitizer
- Swimwear
- Small outdoor towel

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
- Torch/flashlight/headtorch
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- A good book, a journal and music player

VALUABLES
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. It’s a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. It’s also recommended to bring a copy of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list.

WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.

These trips are setup to involve and include all the family so no real physical preparation is necessary. The trips all have some degree of physical activity but nothing that is too strenuous. Please check the physical rating on the trip notes and if you need further explanation please contact one of our sales consultants who will provide you with more detailed information.

Hotel Roc de Sant Miquel, Carretera General, Soldeu, ANDORRA, Phone: +376 346791

Hotel Roc is located in heart of the Pyrenees Mountains. The building is a charming stone chalet with a modern and warm feel. The hotel has 12 rooms offering triple and family rooms. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, telephone, TV, and tea & coffee making facilities. The hotel has it's own restaurant and bar. There is also WiFi access available throughout the hotel.

Alternate Joining Point

PRE-BOOKABLE TRANSFERS: We offer group arrival transfers from Barcelona airport (BCN) for an additional fee. Transfers are available on this trip for flights landing before 11:30am on Day 1. Transfers MUST be booked in advance and are on request only if booking fewer than 7 days prior to departure.

If you are not taking the group transfers, please advise us of your planned arrival time so that your host knows when to expect you.

BARCELONA (BCN):
If you have prebooked this service, a transfer guide will meet you at Terminal 2, outside, between building A & B by the mural on the building wall, at 11:30am with the clipboard sign so be sure to look out for it. Customers should proceed immediately to the meeting point. The group transfer departs the airport no later than 12:30pm.

TRANSFERRING INDEPENDENTLY
If you are arriving a few days prior the start of the trip or have not prebooked transfers in time, the most convenient way to reach Soldeu is to travel by public bus from either Toulouse or Barcelona airports. Transfers are provided by Andbus and stop directly in front of Hotel Roc de Sant Miquel in Soldeu. To book with Andbus please visit https://andbus.net/en

If you have any questions about your transfers, or are aware of any delays in your flights, please contact our local operator Nick on +376 346791. (Also on WhatsApp)

Hotel Roc de Sant Miquel, Carretera General, Soldeu, ANDORRA, Phone: +376 346791

Hotel Roc is located in heart of the Pyrenees Mountains. The building is a charming stone chalet with a modern and warm feel. The hotel has 12 rooms offering triple and family rooms. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, telephone, TV, and tea & coffee making facilities. The hotel has it's own restaurant and bar. There is also WiFi access available throughout the hotel.

Alternate Finish Point

Intrepid offers a group transfer back to Barcelona (BCN) airport on Day 8 for an additional fee. If you have prebooked this service, you will depart early in the morning on Day 8 and arrive at Barcelona Airport (BCN), Terminal 2, at approximately 9 am.

Transfers MUST be booked in advance and are on request only if booking fewer than 7 days prior to departure. Please speak to your sales consultant for timings or check the Important Notes section of your Essential Trip Information.

If you are transferring independently, you can book transfers directly with Andbus which offers service to both Toulouse and Barcelona. For more information on timetables and to book, please visit https://andbus.net/en

Breakfasts included: 7

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 4

This centre based trip have all the breakfast and most of the dinners included in the cost of the trip, however, you will have some flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, on those days where meals are not included. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. We find that families generally love to eat together to enjoy each others company but there's no obligation to do this though.

Vegetarians might find the menu selection less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.

There are some basic breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).

SUMMER
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C/104°F), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

SHOULDER SEASON
In contrast, weather in shoulder season can be unpredictable, and snow is not unheard of at higher altitudes. If you travel at the start or towards the end of the European season please pack accordingly with warm and/or waterproof clothes (preferably layers). The advantage of travelling during this time is that there are less tourists around.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In the case of genuine crisis or emergency please call our partner High Trax on their 24 hour emergency number
Tel: 00376 346791

Intrepid local operator : Available for phone call on +00376 346791

The Hotel Roc de St Miquel is a small and friendly, family run chalet hotel. The Roc has a total of 12 rooms with a range of singles, doubles, twins and family rooms. It offers clean and comfortable rooms that all have en-suite facilities, fresh linen, a daily maid service, telephone, television and tea & coffee making facilities. The restaurant caters all diets with a wide range of tasty menus. Breakfast is a buffet continental style with some hot options also available. The bar lounge is the perfect place to relax after an active outdoor day.

On this trip we are travelling in our own private minibus, as this allows us to reach some more off the beaten track destinations and give us flexibility which would not be possible by public transport. Please note that traveling is not particularly long, but you will experience some rough stretches on gravelly and windy roads. On some days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time for included activities.