Hiking in Andorra - Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

Hiking course where Tomo & Chouchou walked

Country: Andorra

Area: Escaldes-Engordany

Course: Fontverd Route [Trails of Andorra、No.52]

Hiking hours: 3 hours 45 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate

 

We need to climb rocky route at the beginning.

[UNESCO] The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

(Catalan: Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror, 

French: Vallée du Madriu-Perafita-Claror, 

Spanish: Valle de Madriu-Perafita-Claror)

 

 

We could see the valley.

 

 

 

Here is the steepest rocky slope in this hiking course.

 

 

Altitude 1840m; Less rocks and flat area. 

We can enjoy more green plants. 

We start to walk along the stream.

Easy to walk around here.

We can also enjoy a big nature while walking. 

 

 

Fontverd Refuge (Refugi de Fontverd).

It was our turning point.

In front of Fontverd Refuge. 

There were the stream and the bridge. 

 

We could see a butterfly of Pyrenees.

We had to pass the rocky cliff.  It was scary.

At the end, we came back to the departure point.

Here is the hiking map of Fontverd Route.

Episode of Fontverd Route

We really liked the course walking along the stream until the Refuge. We could enjoy this hiking at different angles; looking down the valley from high altitude, looking up the mountain while walking along the stream, and walking thrilling rocky route. 

We wanted to go to refuge to take a rest. However some people live at the refuge. So we couldn't enter there. Around the refuge, we also found a cow carcass. We felt uncomfortable. So we took our lunch at the different place. Anyway around the refuge was the beautiful spot of this hiking course. 

We could enjoy many faces of the Pyrenees through Fontverd Route of Escaldes-Engordany. Scenery of the Pyrenees mountain was very beautiful. It's worth  visiting!
 

Tomo & Chouochou's Advices

1)You had better not take a rest at refuge.
2)You had better not take your lunch at refuge.
3)If you want to enjoy hiking in Andorra, you can get a hiking book "Trails of Andorra" at tourist information. This book explains 54 hiking courses with hiking maps. It is very useful.  

Relating articles

・　Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo

・　Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

・　Andorra la Vella

Delicious meals and wine in Andorra

restaurant "Cal Tonet"
recommended by the guide working at tourist information in Sorteny Natural Park

The colour of Catalan rose wine was beautiful rosy pink.

 

 

broad beans salad

[Catalan: amanida de faves]
 

Goat cheese salad 

[Catalan: amanida formatge de cabra]

Big portion of goat cheese was on the salad.

Mountain Rice

[Catalan: Arròs de muntanya, French: Riz de Montagne]
They use lots of ingredients from the mountain such as mashrooms, vegetables, meat of the animal living in the mountain.
Attention!! It was big volume!

Episode of restaurant in Sorteny

Tomo & Chouchou went to the restaurant called "Cal Tonet" where the guide working in the information of Sorteny Natural Park recommended.
The guide said to us, "You MUST eat Arròs de muntanya !!"
He also said to us, "The salads are very good ! You should try the salad too !".
So Tomo & Chouchou ordered, as he recommended, Arròs de muntanya for two people, two kinds of Salad, Catalan rose wine and Catalan mineral water.
The colour of Catalan rose wine was beautiful rosy pink.  It was just right sweetness and fresh taste. It was very good. It was so good, so we looked for the same rose wine in the shop in Andorra and bought some as our souvenir.
Catalan mineral water was good too.
First, the salads were served. The quantity of Salad was not small. The salads were visually simple, but when we ate the salad, it was surprisingly delicious !
The ingredients were very fresh and good. Small broad beans were super good.
Goat cheese salad [amanida formatge de cabra] was also tasty. Big portion of goat cheese was on the salad.
Next, Arròs de muntanya were surved to our table. We were very surprised to see the quantity of it. It was big volume ! First bite brought us to the paradise and we couldn't stop eating it. They use lots of ingredients from the mountain such as mashrooms, vegetables, meat of the animal living in the mountain. So it was very rich flavour. Arròs de muntanya was extremely tasty. We were so happy and satisfied to eat at Cal Tonet. We appreciated the guide.  If possible, we really wanna go to Cal Tonet to eat again.

If you have an opportunity to go to Andorra, please try Arròs de muntanya !


Information
Restaurant Cal Tonet
Address: Avinguda de la Cortinada, AD300 Ordino, Ordino, Andorra


Relating articles

* Andorra la Vella

* Hiking - Lake Juclar

* Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

* Hiking - Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny, Andorra

3rd day of Pyrenees hiking in Andorra

Location: Sorteny Natural Park [Catalan: Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny]

Area in Andorra: in Ordino

Hiking course: Information ⇒ Boanical Garden ⇒ Information 

Hiking level: Easy hiking,  For beginner

Tourist Information in Sorteny Natural Park 

Information is the starting point of any hiking course in Sorteny.
The skilled guide is there.

↓

We walked along the Sorteny river [riu de Sorteny].

We hiked through the forest.
We could see many kinds of flowers on the trail.

We could have nice view of mountains from the hill.

- In Botanical Garden - 

We could see so many varieties of flowers.

 

Cariofillata Montana (Geum Montanum), Geum Muntanyenc

Colombine Meadow-Rue (ThalictrumAquilegifolium)

Pyrenean Lily (Lilium Pyrenacium)

White Masterwort (Astrantia Major)

↓

On the way to go back down

We could see the waterfall.

 

↓

Go back to the information.

↓

Go to have lunch at good restaurant.

Episode of hiking in Sorteny Natural Park

Tomo & Chouchou decided to hike in Sorteny Natural Park [Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny] in Ordino because we can see the beautiful nature and flowers of the Pyrenees there. However we were so tired because we had hiked for two days and it was the third day. So we decided to go to easy-short hiking course for the beginners.
Firstly, we went to the information in Sorteny Natural Park which is the starting point of any hiking course in Sorteny. The guide who was in the information was super kind!! He explained the detail of hiking course or hiking trails.
After his advice, we decided to hike Botanical Garden course. We walked along the Sorteny river [riu de Sorteny], we hiked through the forest, and we could see many kinds of flowers on the trail. We could also see mountains from the hill close to the Botanical Garden. We could enjoy many varieties of flowers that we have never seen in Botanical Garden. At the end of hiking, we enjoyed to see the waterfall.
After finishing hiking, we went back to the information to thank to the guide.
Then we asked if the guide knows good restaurant near the Sorteny Natural Park.
He kindly told the address of the good restaurant and meals. He was very cheerful and super kind. Tomo & Chouchou were very happy to meet such a nice person in Andorra! It was a wonderful encounter!!


Relating articles

* Andorra la Vella

* Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo

* Hiking - Fontverd Route in Escardes-Engordany

* Delicious meals and wine in Andorra

Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo, Andorra (2)

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we could arrive at the Lake Juclar.
Tomo & Chouchou ate lunch in front of the lake.

There were a mountain hut [=Juclar refuge] and toilettes.

↓

yellow flowers called "Genista Plant (Genista Balansae)"

 They grow in the Pyrenees mountain.

 

↓

We found two signs showing the direction around the foots of the mountain.

↓

We could see many horses around the car parking.

 

Chouchou could see many beautiful horses very close.

go back to the previous page 'part 1'

Episode of Lake Juclar hiking

Tomo & Chouchou start to see the part of the lake, but it didn't match with our hiking map. Then we realized that we mistook the hiking trail. Anyway, we could arrive at our destination: the Lake Juclar. Juclar Lake was very beautiful. So we ate lunch in front of the lake.
Near the Lake Juclar, there was a mountain hut [=Juclar refuge]. There were toilettes there.
We could see many yellow flowers called Genista Plant (Genista Balansae), which grow in the Pyrenees mountain, on the hiking trail.
When we arrived around the foot of the mountain, we found two signs showing the direction. We realized that we made a mistake at this point.... anyway we were satisfied that we succeeded to reach the Lake Juclar.
When we arrived around the car parking, we could see many horses close. Tomo & Chouchou approached a horse quietly. We could see many beautiful horses very close.
We could enjoy the flowers, mountains, lakes, snow and horses with this hike.
It was very enjoyable and fantastic hike!



Relating articles

* Andorra la Vella in the Principality of Andorra

* Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

* Hiking- Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo, Andorra (1)

Andorra is a small country located on the border of France and Spain and in the middle of the Pyrenees mountain.

Canillo is in the north-east of Andorra.

Hiking course: to go to Lake Juclar

Our hiking date: Mid-June

At the starting point of hiking, 

we could see the horses on the hill & lots of yellow flowers of the Pyrenees.

At the starting point, there were also a stream beside.

 It was around the Bridge Baladosa.

↓

At the beginning of hiking, we had to climb up the rocks.

It was tiring but it was not so difficult.

↓

After walking for a while, we found the waterfalls.
We felt so good with staying beside the waterfall.

↓

After keep going up, we found the snow.
 It was in the mid-June but there were still a few snow remaining.

↓

Some flowers that we found in the Pyrenees mountains.

Alpine Pasqueflower

Autumn crocus flower

to be continuted to next page 'part 2'

Episode of Lake Juclar hiking 

Tomo & Chouchou went to Andorra for hiking. Because Andorra is located in the middle of the Pyrenees mountain, so it's like a paradise for hikers!
We bought a hiking book of Andorra at the tourist information in Andorra la Vella. We chose a course to go until Juclar Lake.
At the starting point, we could see the horses on the hill and lots of yellow flowers of the Pyrenees. There were also a stream beside. We already felt that this hike would be great.
At the beginning, we walked on the flat area. But quickly we had to climb up the rocks. It was tiring but it was not so difficult to climb.
After walking for a while, we found the waterfalls. It was a nice surprise.
After keep going up, we found the snow. Another good surprise! We went to the Pyrenees in the mid. June but there were still a few snow remaining. We could enjoy the snow in summer!
During the hike, we could also enjoy the flowers which grow in the Pyrenees mountains. They were colorful and beautiful. 

to be continuted to next page 'part 2'

Relating articles

* Andorra la Vella in the Principality of Andorra

* Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

* Hiking - Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

Andorra la Vella in the Principality of Andorra

Andorra [officially the Principality of Andorra, Principat d'Andorra in Catalan] is a microstate located in the Pyrenees mountains and bordered by France and Spain.

Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra, located in the south west of the Principality of Andorra, and it's the commercial centre of the country.
Andorra la Vella is located at the altitude of 1409m and the highest altitude capital city in Europe.

Downtown in Andorra la Vella.
We can see the Pyrenees mountains around.

This is the thermal spa "Caldea" in Andorra la Vella.
It's a unique building with glasses. 

Tomo & Chouchou's advices for Andorra la Vella

1) Andorra is famous for duty-free status. In Andorra la Vella, you can enjoy shopping such as liquors, brand-name goods, tobaccos/cigarettes and perfumes. We could also find colorful leather bags and shoes etc. Take an opportunity of tax free in Andorra la vella! 

2) If you are interested in hiking in Andorra, you can buy a hiking map book in tourist information in Andorra la Vella. This hiking book introduces many hiking courses in Andorra.

3) There is a thermal spa called "Caldea" in Andorra la Vella. There are many types of spa in Caldea. On the top of this building, there is an observatory. We can enjoy the Pyrenees mountains and scenery of Andorra la vella. 

 

Episode of "Caldea" thermal spa

Tomo & Chouchou went to the spa to remove our tiredness after hiking. We bought general admission tickets, so we could enjoy the spa at Caldea for 3 hours.
There are two floors for the spa. Second floor is for the people who book massage.
So the people who just pay the general admission of the thermal spa cannot access second floor. People who pay general admission can only access the first floor. 

On the first floor, there is main big thermal spa. The temperature of this thermal spa was not so high. There're jacuzzis. The temperature of jacuzzi was a bit higher than the main thermal spa. In the back of the first floor, there are some Roman baths. The temperature of Roman baths was higher than others. Therefore there were less people in Roman baths. Tomo & Chouchou could feel more relaxed there. There is an outdoor thermal spa too. It is connected with indoor spa. There were sauna rooms too. As a result, 3 hours were a little bit short to enjoy all the spa in Caldea.
There is an observatory on the top of building of Caldea. So after the spa, we went up and we could enjoy the landscape of Andorra la Vella!

Information
Caldea (Thermal Spa)
Open: 10:00 - 22:00 (10:00-24:00 on Sundays)
Genaral Admission 180min. (3h) :  Adult 34.50 euros


Relating articles

* Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo

* Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

* Hiking in Andorra - Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

* Delicious meals and wine in Andorra

Enjoyable activities in Europe

TOMO&CHOUCHOU's recommending interesting activities ! 

<in Europe>

＜ICELAND＞
★★　Blue Lagoon (Geothermal Spa)
Blue Lagoon is the largest outdoor spa in the world.

Blue Lagoon is located near Reykjavik. The color of Blue Lagoon is Emerald green and it is beautiful. At the bottom of the spa water, we could feel mud with feet.
This spa is very large, so some areas are not so hot. Also depending on the area, the depth changes, so please try to find your comfortable place. We recommend you to put white mud on your face ! It's free, so profit it !


＜FRANCE フランス＞
★★　Puy de Sancy hiking 
Puy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the massif central in Auvergne. There are many wild animals living in Puy de Sancy. When we hiked there, we could see a chamois and a marmot. It is the wonderful hiking course to see many mountains of massif central and to walk on the top of the mountains. It is excellent for day-hike !

★★　Walking tour Mont-Saint-Michel
Long time ago, pilgrims used to cross the sea to go to Mont-Saint-Michel. There is a group tour to retrace the foot steps of ancient pilgrims to Mont-Saint-Michel. Experienced guide who knows tidal current will take you at low tide. While crossing of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, you will discover amazing landscape. You had better wear short pants for this tour.

★　Marché de Noël de Strasbourg

Marché de Noël de Strasbourg is very big and famous Christmas market. In the afternoon, the atmosphere is like a fairy tale and it's very pretty. At night, many stores were lit up, so it's very romantic and beaufitul. Vin Chaud (Mulled wine) is famous there. It makes you warm.


★　Hiking in Pyrénées
Pyrenees are very wide and large so the scenery is totally different depending on the place, also the difficulty is wide from beginner to advanced. You can cross several mountains while staying in mountain huts.
You can try several day hike at several places too. Tomo&Chouchou stayed in the hotel in Andorra and hiked in Canillo, in Ordino and in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra is located in high altitude, so there are lots of mountains, you can enjoy many hikings with nice landscape.

      Read "Enjoyable activities in North America" too

Recommended foods & drinks in West Europe

Foods & Drinks recommended by TOMO&CHOUCHOU

< in West Europe >

 <Germany>

German Wine
Talking of wine, people tend to imagine France.
But German wines are mostly sweet and tasty.
So if you like sweet wine, Tomo&Chouchou recommend German wine.


Non-alcohol Black beer
Germany is famous for beer.
You may think that beer without alcohol is not good.
But even without alcohol, non-alcohol German beer has rich taste.
Non-alcohol beer is a bit sweet but anyway has strong beer taste.



 <Andorra>

Arròs de muntanya (riz de montagne)
Arròs de muntanya (Riz de montagne) is a dish like a paella or a risotto
cooked with the ingredients from mountains.
Riz de montagne had big quantity.
It was delicious because all the taste of mountain ingredients was together in it.


Amanida de favas (Salade de fèves/ bload beans salad)
Amanida de favas (Salade de fèves) is a salad with small fava beans.
Salade de fèves had real rich vegetable taste.


Wine of Andorra
Andorra has no tax for the alcohols,
so many people come from Spain or France to buy alcohols a lot.
Tomo&Chouchou drank pink wine (wine rosé). It was very tasty.
The color of pink was thicker.



 <Belgium>

Carbonnade (Belgian beef and beer stew)
Carbonnade is a Belgian speciality.
Belgium is famous for beer.
Carbonnade is a beef stew boiled with beer for a long time.
So beer taste penetrate to the beef well.
Beef is very tender. It's like melting in the mouth.
We strongly recommend to eat Carbonnade when you go to Belgium !


Croquette de Crevettes
Croquette de crevettes is a croquette made with small gray shrimps.
This croquette has strong shrimp taste.


Belgian beer
Belgium has so many varieties of beer.
There are fruit beer such as raspberry beer, peach beer or apple beer.
Tomo&Chouchou liked "chimay" which is brune (dark brown colour) beer.
Brune beer has rich and sweet flavour. It was very good.


 <France>

Moules-frites (Mussel & French fries)
We cannot easily find such a big quantity of Mussel in the restaurant in Japan.
Mussels are full of the pot !
Please try Mussel & French fries while you are in France !
There are many flavours such as simple standard sauce: white wine and salt,
tomato sauce, or cream sauce.


crevettes à la crème
The dish looked like steamed shrimps in fresh cream.
It was so tasty.
Tomo&Chouchou ate this meal at the restaurant in Hotel de Paris in Moulins.
Moulins is located in Auvergne.
All dishes of that restaurant in Hotel de Paris were delicious.

soupe de melon et de pastèque (Melon & watermelon soup)
It is popular to eat cold soup like Gazpacho in Summer in France.
Tomo&Chouchou were suprised at the soup made with melon and watermelon.
So we tried it. Melon & watermelon soup refreshed us a lot. It was very good.
Tomo&Chouchou ate that soup at the restaurant which is called "La couronne".
Restaurant "La couronne" is the oldest restaurant in France.
This restaurant is located in Rouen in Normandy.
They have high service, beautiful decoration.
Many celebrities have visited this restaurant.



Relating articles

* Recommended foods & drinks in North & South America

* Recommended foods & drinks in England & Iceland