This adventure is hosted by WhyWeRun – built around shared challenge, connection and an environment where people can show up as themselves, without judgement.

We'll be joined throughout by experienced local mountain guides, bringing the route knowledge, technical expertise and mountain safety needed to lead us through the Pyrenees.

WhyWeRun shapes the experience. Our local guides know the mountains. Together, we'll take on La Ruta dels 3 Valls as one team.

We share one route, one destination and one experience.

Depending on the terrain and how the group naturally moves, we may spread into smaller guide-supported groups during parts of the day. But this isn't about being first to the refuge.

We'll regroup, share the big moments and look after one another from Ribes de Freser to Núria.

The numbers matter because they help you prepare: expect 13–19km and around 5–6 hours moving each day.

But once we're out there, pace isn't the point. We'll run what feels runnable, power-hike the climbs and move carefully through the higher mountain terrain.

There isn't a pace target to chase. The goal is simply to have a good mountain day, together.

The miles are only half the story.

The shared climbs, refuge dinners, tired legs, bad jokes and the quiet moments in between are what turn a route into a WhyWeRun experience.

Come solo or come with friends – you're part of the group from day one.

There are no vehicle-accessible luggage transfers between our remote mountain refuges.

You'll carry your own kit between each mountain stay in a lightweight running pack, with an expected pack weight of approximately 6–8kg.

Your main travel luggage can be left at Hotel Sant Antoni in Ribes de Freser before we head into the mountains. This will be transported separately to Alberg Pic de l'Àliga in Núria, where you'll find it waiting for you on Day 4.

On the final mountain day, you'll be able to run with a much lighter pack, leaving your overnight kit and main luggage at the hostel.

If the conditions, timings and your legs all say yes, there may be opportunities to add a short optional summit or extension along the way, including Pic de la Fossa del Gegant (2,808m) above Coll de Noucreus.

Completely optional. The main journey is already a big one.

Distance: 15.9km
Elevation: +1,360m / -280m
Estimated Moving Time: Approximately 5–6 hours

Our first day on the trail begins with a long climb out of Ribes de Freser and into the Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser.

We'll climb through the valley towards Queralbs before following the Gorges del Freser, steadily gaining altitude as we move deeper into the mountains.

Along the way we'll pass Salt del Grill waterfall, with opportunities to cool off in the Freser River, before continuing towards Pla de les Eugues. Here, the Freser and Coma de Vaca rivers meet, with our first mountain refuge sitting beneath the surrounding peaks.

The terrain is mostly well-marked mountain trail, with a rockier final section and the possibility of some residual winter snow on the approach to the refuge.

Tonight we'll settle into our first proper mountain refuge and get our first taste of the more remote, stripped-back side of the adventure.

Accommodation: Refugi Coma de Vaca – 1,995m
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Expected Departure: 08:00
Expected Arrival: Approximately 14:00

Refugi Coma de Vaca is a staffed mountain refuge in a spectacular setting at the confluence of two mountain rivers. Accommodation is in shared dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds, with blankets and duvets provided. Hot showers are available subject to availability, alongside a communal dining room and bar serving home-style mountain food.

It's a simple and sociable mountain stay, with the remote location and shared refuge experience all part of the journey.

Distance: 19.3km
Elevation: +1,160m / -1,320m
Estimated Moving Time: Approximately 5 hours

Today takes us into the highest and most demanding mountain terrain of the journey as we cross from Spain into France.

Leaving Coma de Vaca, we'll follow the Vall del Freser before climbing towards Coll de la Marrana and on to the summit of Bastiments (2,881m).

From here, we'll follow the border ridge towards Pica de la Dona (2,702m). This is one of the defining moments of the route – walking along the natural line separating Spain and France, with incredible views stretching across the headwaters of the Ter and Freser and out towards the wider eastern Pyrenees.

We'll then descend into France through the Bacivers cirque, passing Estany de Bacivers before continuing down towards the Carançà Valley and our refuge beside the river.

The terrain is predominantly high-mountain trail, with rocky and exposed sections and the possibility of residual snow. This is the most demanding stage of the journey, requiring confidence moving through sustained high-mountain terrain.

Accommodation: Refuge Ras de la Carançà – 1,831m, France
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Expected Departure: 08:00
Expected Arrival: Approximately 13:00

Tonight is the most rustic and off-the-beaten-track stay of the adventure. Ras de la Carançà is a remote former shepherds' refuge beside the Carançà River, with just 13 beds in a shared mountain dormitory and a camping area alongside the refuge. Depending on group size and availability, some of us may spend the night camping beside the refuge, with blankets provided for both the dormitory and tents. Showers and washrooms are available during the staffed season.

Far from the comforts of the valley, this is a night to fully embrace the wild, stripped-back nature of the journey – sharing dinner together at the refuge and spending the night surrounded by the mountains before heading back onto the trail the following morning.

Distance: 13.2km
Elevation: +980m / -690m
Estimated Moving Time: Approximately 5 hours

Today we'll continue through the Carançà Valley, following the GR11 deeper into the high mountains and past a spectacular chain of alpine lakes.

We'll pass Estany de Carançà, Estany Blau and Estany Negre before climbing towards Coll de Noucreus, sitting at around 2,800m. The pass is marked by nine iron crosses and opens up views across the Carançà cirque and towards the Vall de Núria.

From here, there's the option of a short climb to Pic de la Fossa del Gegant (2,808m) before we begin our descent into the Vall de Núria, with the final 5km providing one of the longer runnable sections of the journey.

The terrain remains high-mountain trail, with a scree climb towards the pass, some steeper sections and the possibility of residual snow around Coll de Noucreus.

Tonight we'll stay at Alberg Pic de l'Àliga, a mountain hostel sitting high above the Vall de Núria. After two nights in more remote refuges, we'll have a little more comfort tonight and our main luggage waiting for us ahead of the final day.

Accommodation: Alberg Pic de l'Àliga – approximately 2,120m
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Expected Departure: 08:00
Expected Arrival: Approximately 13:00

Alberg Pic de l'Àliga is a larger mountain hostel with rooms of 3–8 beds, each with a private bathroom and hot shower. Bed linen is included, with charging facilities, spacious communal areas, a bar and restaurant.

Distance: 14.5km
Elevation: +1,160m / -1,160m
Estimated Moving Time: Approximately 5 hours

Today we'll be able to travel much lighter. Our main luggage will be transferred separately to Alberg Pic de l'Àliga, allowing us to head out with just a small running vest or pack for the day. Those who want to can carry as little as 5–12L, giving us a chance to move a little faster, although the elevation and mountain terrain will still make this a challenging final day.

Starting and finishing directly from the hostel, we'll head towards Coll del Finestrelles before joining the France–Spain border ridge once again.

We'll follow the ridge towards Pic del Segre (2,843m) before making our final climb to Puigmal (2,910m) – the highest mountain in the Ripollès and the highest point of our journey. From the summit, we'll have panoramic views stretching across the surrounding Pyrenees before beginning our final descent.

We'll descend through Coma de l'Embut, passing a series of mountain cascades and the Coma de l'Embut waterfall on our way back towards Núria and Alberg Pic de l'Àliga.

When we return to the hostel, our main luggage will be waiting for us, having been transferred up by the local team that day. We'll have time for a shower and change before collecting our belongings and beginning the journey back to Barcelona.

From Alberg Pic de l'Àliga, we'll take the Coma del Clot cable car down to the Núria Valley floor, before boarding the Cremallera de Núria rack railway with our luggage for the journey back to Ribes de Freser. A private bus will be waiting for us in Ribes de Freser for our onward transfer to Barcelona, bringing our journey through the Pyrenees to an end.

Choose between a transfer to Barcelona Airport or an optional add-on overnight stay in Barcelona for the final night.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Expected Return to Núria: Approximately 13:00
Rack Railway: Approximately 15:00
Transfer to Barcelona: Approximately 16:30
Estimated Arrival in Barcelona: Approximately 19:30

• Hosted by the WhyWeRun team

• 4 days of guided fastpacking through the Pyrenees

• Experienced local mountain guides throughout

• 4 nights' accommodation – 1 hotel, 2 staffed mountain refuges and 1 mountain hostel

• 8 meals – 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners as specified in the itinerary

• Group transfers between Barcelona and Ribes de Freser on the designated arrival and departure days

• Núria rack railway on Day 5

• Transfer of main travel luggage from Ribes de Freser to Núria

• All transport required as part of the itinerary

• Pre-departure information, joining instructions and packing guidance

• Support from the WhyWeRun and Inspired Ventures teams before and during your adventure

• Optional add-on: Extra hotel night in Barcelona following the trip, available at checkout

• International flights to and from Barcelona

• Accommodation in Barcelona before or after the adventure

• Travel insurance – required for participation

• Lunches and food on the trail unless specified

• Alcoholic drinks and additional snacks

• Personal expenses

• Trail running shoes, clothing and personal mountain equipment

• Personal porter services

• Tips for local guides and drivers

This isn't a beginner mountain trip – but it isn't about being fast either.

You'll need a good level of fitness, previous trail-running or mountain experience, and confidence spending around 5–6 hours on your feet across steep and rocky mountain terrain while carrying your own pack.

You should be comfortable with long climbs, sustained descents and doing it again the following day.

If you're looking for a challenge you can prepare for, rather than a race you need to qualify for, you'll be in the right place.

Come ready to be challenged. Never judged.

For two nights we'll stay in traditional staffed mountain refuges, followed by a final night at the larger Alberg Pic de l'Àliga in Núria.

Life in the refuges is part of the adventure. Accommodation is shared dormitory-style, often alongside other hikers and groups, with simple facilities and a sociable mountain atmosphere. Blankets or duvets are provided, although a lightweight sleeping bag liner is recommended for additional comfort.

Facilities vary between each stay.

Refugi Coma de Vaca has shared dormitories with bunk-style sleeping, hot showers subject to availability, a dining room and bar, and limited device charging in the common areas until 22:00.

Refuge Ras de la Carançà is our most rustic and remote stay. The refuge has just 13 beds in a shared dormitory, with a camping area beside the refuge that may also be used depending on group size and availability. Blankets are provided for both the dormitory and tents, with showers and washrooms available during the staffed season and a communal room inside the refuge. There is no device charging.

Alberg Pic de l'Àliga offers a little more comfort for our final mountain night, with rooms of 3–8 beds, private bathrooms, hot showers, mains electricity and larger communal spaces.

Refuge life starts and finishes early, with dinner generally around 19:00 and breakfast around 06:00–07:00. We recommend bringing a small amount of cash in euros for drinks and other extras, as some mountain refuges prefer or only accept cash.

A Night Under the Stars

With only 13 beds inside Ras de la Carançà, some of us may spend the night camping beside the refuge depending on our final group size and availability.

This is the most stripped-back night of the journey and all part of experiencing a more remote side of the Pyrenees – swapping some of the usual comforts for a night surrounded by mountains, away from the roads and deep in the Carançà Valley.

Whether you're sleeping inside the refuge or camping alongside it, we'll come together for dinner before settling in for the night and continuing our journey through the mountains the following morning.

As this is a fastpacking adventure, you'll carry everything you need between the mountain refuges in your own running pack.

We recommend a 20–30L trail running pack, with an expected total pack weight of approximately 6–8kg.

You'll need capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water, along with enough food and energy for each day on the trail.

Your essential mountain kit will include:

• Base layer

• Fleece or similar mid-layer

• Waterproof jacket – minimum 10k waterproof rating

• Down jacket

• Buff

• Gloves

• Running shorts

• Long tights

• Lightweight waterproof trousers

• Trail running shoes with good grip

• Light crampons compatible with your trail shoes

• Running pack of at least 20L

• 2–3 soft flasks providing at least 1.5L water capacity

• Food and energy for each day

• Headtorch

• Whistle

• Emergency bivvy bag

• Charged mobile phone

Poles, waterproof gloves, spare socks, a spare running top, cap and sunscreen are also recommended.

The local team recommends allowing approximately 2,000 kcal of carried food/energy per mountain day.

Bedding is provided at the refuges, so you won't need to carry a full sleeping bag. You may wish to bring an ultralight sleeping bag or silk liner for additional comfort.

A full mandatory kit list and packing guidance will be provided before departure.

Breakfast and dinner are provided at the mountain accommodation as specified in the itinerary.

Lunches, snacks and energy for the trail are not included.

Packed lunches can be purchased at some of the mountain refuges, and you'll need to carry enough food and energy to stay fuelled throughout each day's approximately five hours of moving time.

The local team recommends planning for around 2,000 kcal of food and energy per mountain day.

Further guidance on what to bring and opportunities to purchase packed lunches will be provided in your pre-departure information.

You'll need capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water each day.

Drinking water is available at each refuge and hostel, with additional water sources available along the route:

Day 2: Freser River / Gorges del Freser
Day 3: Vall del Freser / Freser River
Day 4: Carançà River
Day 5: Torrent del Finestrelles / Torrent de la Coma de l'Embut

Our guides will advise on water availability and appropriate refill points each day.

The route travels through serious high-mountain terrain, including rocky trails, scree, steep climbs and descents and sections of mountain ridgeline, reaching elevations above 2,900m.

Residual winter snow may remain on some of the higher passes and summits. For this reason, appropriate mountain clothing and equipment are essential, including waterproof layers, warm clothing and light crampons compatible with trail running shoes.

The exact route, timings and any optional summit extensions will always remain subject to weather, mountain conditions and the judgement of our local guides.

The nearest major airport is Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN).

A group transfer will depart from Barcelona at approximately 14:00 on Day 1, arriving in Ribes de Freser at approximately 16:30.

Full joining instructions, including the exact Barcelona meeting point, transfer details, packing list and final itinerary information, will be shared closer to departure.

Please ensure your flight arrives with enough time to collect your luggage and reach the designated meeting point before the group transfer.

Please do not book your flights until you have received confirmation that the trip has reached the minimum group size and is confirmed to go ahead.

On Day 5, we'll complete our final mountain stage before returning to Núria at approximately 13:00.

There'll be time to shower, change and collect our luggage before taking the rack railway down from Núria at approximately 15:00.

From Ribes de Freser, our group transfer will depart at approximately 16:30, with an estimated arrival into Barcelona at 19:30.

We strongly recommend staying overnight in Barcelona and booking your return flight for the following day rather than relying on a same-day flight after completing the route.

Accommodation in Barcelona on the final night is not currently included.

Please note that travel insurance is compulsory for this trip.

All participants are required to obtain adequate travel insurance covering appropriate activity cover, medical expenses, personal belongings, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation or repatriation from the date of departure until the day of return.

Your insurance must provide appropriate cover for the trail running, mountain terrain and elevations included within this itinerary.

Proof of valid travel insurance may be requested prior to departure.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, to ensure you're covered in the event of any unforeseen cancellations or changes before departure.

£1,395 per person

£300 deposit to secure your place

The remaining balance is split into monthly payments between booking and the adventure. The earlier you book, the lower those monthly payments will be.

Maximum 18 places.

Booking closes when places are filled or on 23 March 2027 whichever comes first.

Please click the link below to view the Terms & Conditions for booking this trip. These will also be presented to you for review and acceptance during the booking process.

Inspired Ventures are the behind-the-scenes travel specialists who help bring community-led adventures like this to life.

Working alongside WhyWeRun, Inspired Ventures provide trip planning, logistics, booking support, and guest communications, helping ensure a smooth and seamless experience from the moment you book until you return home.

If you have any questions before booking, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Inspired Ventures team at:

info@inspiredventures.co.uk

We'd be delighted to help.