The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering nearly a tenth of Andorra, is the wild, unspoilt heart of the principality, a pristine glacial valley accessible only on foot. Recognised as a cultural landscape, it preserves a way of mountain life shaped over centuries, its slopes threaded with ancient paths, terraced fields, dry-stone shepherds' huts and iron-working remains, set amid dramatic scenery of high peaks, glacial lakes, streams and pastures. Hiking its trails, far from the roads and resorts, offers a serene and beautiful immersion in the traditional, timeless Pyrenean high country.

What you actually see

• The glacial valley - the pristine, roadless mountain landscape.
• The ancient trails - the centuries-old paths and stone bridges.
• The shepherds' huts - the dry-stone bordes and terraces.
• The high lakes and pastures - the tarns, streams and meadows.

When to go

June to September, the mountain summer, for the best hiking weather, wildflowers and access, when the high trails are clear of snow; even in summer, mountain weather can change quickly and nights are cold. Outside these months, snow makes the higher routes difficult. Trails range from day walks to longer treks with mountain refuges.

Honest expectations

The valley is accessible only on foot, so experiencing it requires a hike of at least a few hours, and while trails are well marked, the terrain is genuine mountain country demanding reasonable fitness and preparation; there are no roads, shops or facilities beyond simple refuges, which is precisely its unspoilt appeal. As a pristine, UNESCO-listed glacial valley and living cultural landscape, a serene contrast to Andorra's busy resorts, though, it is a beautiful and rewarding highlight.

Nearby

The town of Escaldes-Engordany and the main Andorran valleys are close by.