Peace among the peaks: journey through Spain’s sustainable mountains
Peace among the peaks: journey through Spain’s sustainable mountains
2025
The Pyrenees of Catalonia are arguably one of Spain’s best-kept secrets. The blissfully crowd-free region, at the country’s far north-eastern corner, stretches 250km across Catalonia from the Val d’Aran to the Mediterranean Sea, and sets the benchmark for sustainable, low-impact tourism.
Sustainability is not merely a buzzword here, it’s a way of life, and the hiking route El Cinquè Llac perfectly showcases this responsible ethos. This signposted, five-day, 100km circular route weaves along mountain paths, revealing sweeping views of mirror-like lakes and deep, Unesco-listed valleys. In amongst the picturesque peaks, the route offers a window into the biodiversity of the region – you can spot golden eagles up above and roe deer grazing in meadows dotted with wildflowers.