Your travels take you into the heart of the Pyrenees today and to your comfortable base over the Ara River. The hotel has an inviting swimming pool, a good restaurant and even its own 17th-century chapel. It has also recently been taken back into local ownership, so it has a greater sense of place than ever. The mountains of Ordesa National Park feel close here.

Staying here, you are also just a five-minute drive from the atmospheric and lively medieval old town of Aínsa, a member of the most beautiful towns in Spain club.

Later today our lovely local host will come to meet you and go over all the details of your trip with you. They then remain a call away for any support you need that cannot be resolved with your hotel and guides.

To help you settle in, we include dinner at your hotel tonight.

The Ordesa National Park is divided into four valleys: Ordesa, Pineta, Añisclo and Escuaín. The former two are dramatic and wide glacial valleys, the latter are river canyons, much narrower but equally beautiful.  

There are many options for walking today and your guide will help you choose the best one for your family. One great option is to visit the glacial valley of Pineta with its forests surrounded by vertical walls and plunging waterfalls. The Añisclo Gorge is another dramatic landscape ideal for an introduction to the area. While walking with your guide you are likely to see the local wildlife of birds of prey, chamois and the always noisy marmots.

Having your own private guide with you for the day helps get you off the beaten track and really understand the human history of the landscapes surrounding you as well as the dramatic geology. Walking distances can be varied to suit you and your family but today will most likely be more about walking and talking than hiking long distances.

Today is all about birds. And wonder, and learning and passionate conservation. It's time spent seeing the natural world through the lens of people who love and want to protect it, feeling inspired and optimistic. So it's not really all about birds...

But what magnificent birds they are... The Bearded vulture is a spectacular creature in danger of extinction. But happily it is being brought back into these mountains through the efforts of a dedicated organisation which is close to our hearts. 

Your guide, who worked for years with the conservation project, will take you on a hiking day oriented to seeing the vultures in the wild. Walking in the National Park in the Escuaín Gorge area, you have an excellent chance to see them as well as to learn about the efforts to conserve both the birds and the traditional rural lifestyles of the mountains which support them.

After that, it's back to base for a dip in the pool and time to hang out before dinner.

Today is yours to use as you wish. No need to plan things in, just take it as it comes and see what you're in the mood for this morning. You have two cars, so if you want to split up and head off in different directions, you can do just that.

One option is simply to slow down. Your hotel has lots of space to spread out, swim, play games, read a book and just hang out together in the middle of the mountains.

If you want to get back into your boots, there is always more of the Pyrenees to explore. Typically, trailheads are a 30-45 minute drive from your hotel. Though of course, the landscapes are nearly always dramatic, so the passengers should enjoy the ride even if the driver is paying attention to the road!

Where the Ordesa Valley is off to the western side of the park, the three other valleys are all on the east and much more accessible from Aínsa. Pineta is the national park's other grand glacial valley, but has a road all the way along so you can enjoy a scenic drive punctuated by short walks. The lesser-known Chistau, also known as Gistain, retains strong rural traditions and they have their own dialect. For something more challenging, you can hike into the Añisclo gorge.

Don't worry, we'll provide all the guidance you need should you choose to head out hiking again. Equally, if you want more activity, then we can always add some more watery fun to proceedings - just let me know.

Today is free for you to set your own course, but if you want to get out and about again then you really should head for the Ordesa Valley, truly one of the Pyrenees' most iconic day walks.

The route starts gently as you follow the valley floor through beech forests, gently climbing up past a series of waterfalls. Once you pass the Soaso cascades, the trail pushes up to emerge into the wide glacial basin at the head of the valley, in the shadow of the peak of Monte Perdido. At the very far end of the basin is the horse's tail waterfall - Cola de Caballo.

The easy option is to walk a fairly flat route, 3km each way, as far as the first waterfalls and back again. If you want to upgrade this to a full-day walk, then keep going all the way to the Cola de Caballo and back again along largely the same path. There's also a way of getting up high onto the valley sides and then descending to the waterfall if you are feeling particularly energetic!

You shouldn’t leave the Pyrenees without exploring the area on a mountain bike. In recent years, it has become one of the top areas worldwide with routes for all levels. 

With the help of electric mountain bikes and our expert guide, you can find the route that fits your family best, depending on age and experience. There are routes ranging from easy rides along a river to descents for adrenaline seekers.

One great option is to explore the rural paths of the Chistau Valley into the Posets Natural Park. The landscape is beautiful and different from Ordesa and there is a great local restaurant to reacharge your own batteries after.

This afternoon and evening you can relax at base - everyone should be happily tired after your day's exertions!

You're heading out to the water today for a memorable day exploring the Mediano Reservoir by kayak.

Your guide will come to collect you at your hotel for the short transfer to the water's edge, where you'll be provided all the equipment, safety guidance and encouragement you'll need to get out and paddle together. The views all around are beautiful, the surroundings so peaceful. 

The idea is to reach the bell tower of the church from the original Mediano village, now almost completely submerged beneath the water. When water levels are at their normal rate, the only part of the village visible is the church tower.

When the paddling is done you can all drop into the water for a refreshing swim and bathe before eventually heading back to base for a relaxing afternoon.

It's time for your Pyrenees adventure to draw to a close today.

As before, you have lots of options to make your 'escape'. Keep in mind that if you return your car to a different point from where you picked it up, a one-way fee of around €30-50 is usually payable locally.

If you are headed to Bilbao or Barcelona and want some time to enjoy the cities or the nearby coastlines, just let us know and we can share ways to extend your travels by a few days.