The Catalan Pyrenees holds a special place in the memories of everyone in the office who has been lucky enough to visit. The activities are enough to set your pulse racing and give you a real sense of accomplishment, but all the while you are surrounded by the most serene alpine scenery – you would hardly believe you were in Spain (well, Catalonia!) if it were not for the sunshine. Sort is also a perfect place to be based with lots of family-friendly dining an easy walk from the hotel, which also has a great pool for the kids and a spa for the adults.
Overview
Key facts
- Duration:7 nights
- Suitable for: Children aged 8 years and over
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What's included?
- Transfers: Group airport and activity transfers. The airport transfers operate at set times and are arranged for the day of arrival at 3pm and 9:30am on the day of departure (private airport transfers will incur a supplement). Transfer time is approximately 3 hours
- Accommodation: 7 nights' hotel accommodation in a standard double/twin room or triple room
- Meals: 7 buffet breakfasts
- Activities: Jeep tour and hike in a national park, white-water rafting, canyoning, via ferrata family route, open kayaking and canopy circuit (the order of activities is subject to change)
- All equipment, tuition and supervision from fully qualified instructors
*Please note there is a local tax for visitors of up to €1.32 per person (over 16) per night, this can only be paid locally through your hotel
Your holiday base here is the town of Sort, a place which remains largely undiscovered outside of Spain. You will find that many Spanish holidaymakers take the journey here to enjoy the activities, stunning scenery and great culture that can be found in this vibrant town. The annual fiesta takes place towards the end of July and is an added bonus for families who happen to be visiting.
Sort is the capital of the Pallars Sobirà region of Catalonia. The people here are extremely proud of their Catalan culture and this is reflected particularly in their cuisine – there is a wide range of restaurants in the town of Sort, ranging from fine dining to traditional tapas and grill options.
The combination of the river and mountains make for an adventure playground on an unprecedented scale, but as well as the dramatic landscape the Pyrenees receive over 300 days of sunshine each year, making this the perfect place to visit to indulge your adventurous side.
We have put together a fantastic itinerary here, so you can climb, hike, raft and splash your way around this marvellous region.
©Viajes Velero
Agenda
Agenda
Show full agenda-
Day 1 Arrival and Welcome
Upon arrival at Barcelona Airport, you will be met and transferred to the town of Sort. We include a group transfer with a set departure time for both the arrival and departure day for this trip. On arrival, this leaves at 3pm.
After settling into your accommodation you can explore the compact town of Sort which has a variety of dining options within a short walk of the hotel – these include tapas bars, pizzeria and even a Michelin Star restaurant.
Included Meals: None -
Day 2 White-Water Rafting
Today you will take to the water for a thrilling morning of white-water rafting; You will be given a full safety briefing and paddling instructions on the river bank prior to boarding your raft. Your expert guide will be at the helm and working in teams of up to eight people you will enjoy the delights of the river together. This is always an activity highlight for families.
You will enjoy between one and one and a half hours of exhilaration on the river.
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 3 Canyoning
Canyoning is an unforgettable activity, offering challenges, thrills and delight in equal measure. In groups of around ten people, you head to the top of the canyon (the 30-minute uphill is definitely well rewarded) in order to descend in a variety of ways; heading downstream via a series of slides, jumps, abseils and swims. This area of the Pyrenees is known as a canyoning hotspot and with good reason, these mountains provide the perfect activity playground.
The activity itself lasts for around an hour and a half from top to bottom, which will leave the rest of the day free for you to explore independently.
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 4 Forest High Ropes Course and Open Water Kayaking
Today you will visit Pirineu Natural Park to take part in a family-friendly (8 years and above for children) high ropes course set in a beautiful alpine forest and overlooking a tranquil lake. The platforms and ropes are between 1.5 and 2.5 metres from the ground and full safety equipment and guides supervise your participation.
After you have completed your circuit (approximately 45 minutes) you will also be able to explore the lake by taking a kayak out from one of the nearby beaches. Your guide will teach you the correct paddling technique and you can then explore the lake or simply relax out on the water. There is also a bar at the park where you can take lunch (not included).
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 5 Jeep Tour and Hike in National Park
This morning you will be picked up in 4x4 jeeps and driven up into the stunning Aigüestortes National Park – a perfect introduction to the beautiful peaks and lakes of the Pyrenean landscapes and plentiful wildlife such as eagles and crossbills.
You will then enjoy a short hike covering approximately six kilometres. Our guides have found a lovely, gentle route that offers stunning views of the scenery.
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 6 Free Day
Today has been left free for you to tailor your time and either book some additional activities (payable locally) or perhaps relax by the pool. We highly recommend exploring the town of Sort as the old town enjoys a rich history and there are some great local restaurants to enjoy.
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 7 Guided Via Ferrata
If you have not heard of a via ferrata before, they are a network of anchors, cables, rungs and ladders (usually metal – hence the name, iron path) to make traversing steep slopes easier. You will still have all the relevant safety equipment, including a harness to secure yourself to the cable, but under the guide’s instruction, it is the confidence that they give you that will get you to viewpoints that might otherwise be out of reach. The whole experience is really a fusion of hiking and climbing. This is a family-friendly route you can all enjoy together and the experience lasts around two hours.
Following your activity you will have some free time in the picturesque village of Alins to take lunch (not included) before returning to the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast -
Day 8 Departure
Today you will be transferred back to Barcelona for your return flights home. The transfer departs from your hotel at 9:30am.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation
Accommodation
Included in price
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Hotel Pessets
Nights: 1-7
The Hotel Pessets is a family focussed hotel in the Pyrenean town of Sort, with an enviable location close to the centre and next to the Noguera Pallaresa river. Children will love the large outdoor pool and parents the welcoming spa offering a range of treatments and complete with an indoor pool and sauna. The onsite restaurant has a reputation for showcasing the best of regional and seasonal produce.
Read more about this accommodation Read less about this accommodationHotel facilities
- This is a four-star hotel with a wide variety of ensuite, outdoor-themed rooms designed to meet the needs of adventure-seeking travellers
- Make the most of the outdoor and indoor pools, together with the spa, sauna and fitness centre
- There is an onsite restaurant serving local dishes and a café bar and terrace area
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
Room options
Standard double and twin rooms
Standard rooms offer either twin beds or double beds according to your needs. All also have the option of becoming triple rooms. They have exterior views of the garden or the village of Sort. All have a minibar and some are air-conditioned.
Family rooms and suites
If you would like more space or have a younger family and would like to stay in one room, there are a variety of upgraded room options to explore, which can accommodate between 3 and 5 people (subject to availability). Please contact a Travel Expert for a quote based on your requirements.
Dates & Prices
We include more, no hidden costs
Family rooms and suites: if you have a larger or younger family and would like to stay all in one room this is possible in triple and quad rooms or even a suite. Please contact one of our Travel Experts for a quote.
Pricing note: prices are per person based on two people sharing a standard double or twin room or three people sharing a standard room with an extra bed.
⭐Save 10% Off Brochure Price⭐
Offer applies to bookings made from the 14th November 2024 to 15th March 2025 for travel in July and August 2025.
This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not at a later date.
Please quote CATALANPYRENEES10%
Find the full T&C'S here
Dates
Terms
For our full booking terms and conditions please click here
The Specifics
Holiday group size (approximate)
Minimum 4 and maximum 16 persons (approximately)
Group Size
We always try to provide an approximation of the group size you can expect to be with for the duration of each of our holidays. It may be that you are joined by others for parts of your holiday (such as transfers and particular activities) but the above number reflects those you can normally expect to be with from beginning to end. If group size is something which is particularly important to you, please speak to our Travel Experts and they can suggest the best holidays for you.
Tailor-made holiday group sizes will vary for all activities as will the group size for any additional activities you book.
Minimum numbers required for a holiday to operate
Some of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to operate (as listed in the ‘Group Size’ section). If your holiday departure has not yet reached the minimum number, you will be told at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that your chosen date is not guaranteed by nine weeks before your scheduled departure date, we will contact you to discuss the available options as per our booking conditions.
Minimum and maximum age
The minimum age for this holiday can be found in the ‘Key Facts’ section of the holiday overview.
Younger family members may be able to participate but may not be able to take part in all activities. Please contact one of our Travel Experts if you have any questions.
Itinerary amendments
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final and detailed itinerary will be provided either with your final travel documents (which are uploaded into your online account around a week prior to departure) or upon arrival.
Medical History and Advice
We want our holidays to be accessible as they can be and will do our best to accommodate any special requests and requirements where possible. We have a wide range of holidays and destinations and so our travel experts will help find the best holiday for you.
In order to give us the best possible chance to do this we ask that if you or any member of your party has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or has any special requirements, that you tell us at the time of enquiry or booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. You may need to provide a doctor’s note and proof of insurance in some cases as the health and safety of our clients is absolutely paramount.
In providing this information you are allowing us to work with our expert local partners to ensure that your whole party can enjoy the holiday. By letting us know in advance we can discreetly work with you to adapt any part of the holiday which may potentially be challenging. Being able to prepare for this in advance makes an incredible difference to what we can offer and minimises any impact on your party and the rest of the group.
Unfortunately, if you choose not to share this information with us in advance then it may limit some or all of the itinerary you have booked, and we cannot be held accountable for any additional costs or missed activities resulting from this.
It is vitally important that you advise us prior to departure of any medical or dietary condition relating to any member of your party so that we may notify our local staff before you arrive. We recommend only drinking bottled water from bottles with unbroken seals and be vigilant about the use of ice in drinks and ice cream.
Insurance
Insurance is not included in your holiday, but it is a pre-requisite to travelling with us. You will need to ensure that you have cover for all the activities that you will be participating in during your holiday.
It is extremely important that you take out a suitable travel insurance policy at the time of booking. Plans do sometimes change, and you will need this policy should you need to cancel your holiday.
If you are struggling to find a suitable policy then details of our preferred provider, who will cover you for all the activities we offer, can be found on our website by clicking here. Please note that this policy is available to EU residents under the age of 75 only.
The UK Foreign Office Advice
Our clients’ safety is at the centre of everything we do, and our operations team continually assesses and monitors the destinations we feature. We carry out thorough risk assessments and work closely with all of our suppliers to continually follow best practice. For up to date travel advice the UK government offers its Travel Aware website as well as the advice detailed below.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice
We receive all updates from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with regards to travel advice and we always ensure that we follow this advice in our operations. The FCO issues travel advisories for countries based on a very wide range of factors. They may provide notification about things as simple as a football match and crowds, or they may go so far as to advise against all travel to a region. We ask all our clients to refer to the relevant Travel Advice by Country for the destinations they are visiting in order to make an informed decision on the safety of the destination based on the details provided. It also provides vital information regarding entry requirements, embassy information, local laws and customs as well as specific safety and health. Guests should take responsibility for keeping themselves up to date with this advice. Please also ensure that, if you are transiting through another country, you have read the advice and meet the entry requirements for that destination too.
The FCO travel advice is applicable to British Passport Holders. Most governments will issue their own travel advice for a region and, if you are not a UK resident then you can find some helpful links below:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
Canadian Consular Affairs Bureau http://voyage.gc.ca/
The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english.html
If the FCO deems that there is an unacceptable level of risk for UK citizens then, together with the government, they may issue an advisory against all travel to a region or country. If such an advisory is published, then we will act accordingly, and this may require the cancellation, curtailment or amendment of a holiday itinerary. These decisions are made on the basis of ensuring our clients’ safety and will affect all clients on the holiday, regardless of their nationality.
If one of our local experts suggests an amendment due to a situation which develops locally then we may also take the decision to amend an itinerary appropriately.
If we have to cancel your holiday prior to departure you will be offered the option of an alternative trip (where any price difference will either be refunded to or covered by you) or a full refund of the monies paid.
If we have to curtail a holiday, then you will be refunded for any costs for the elements we have been unable to deliver, where we have been able to secure a refund from our suppliers. If we must reroute a holiday, then any basis for refund is determined on a case by case basis and dependent on whether the central holiday experience was provided or not.
Booking activities locally
Additional activities can be booked locally in almost all our destinations. However, as per our booking conditions, we cannot be held responsible for any injury or loss incurred through participation in activities which are booked at your destination outside of our holiday itinerary (see our ‘Terms and Conditions’ for further details).
When arranging any such activity please always ensure that safety is your primary concern.
In some of our destinations, you can borrow or hire equipment for use in your free time. You do so entirely at your own risk. You must ensure that you are correctly prepared, have the necessary equipment and knowledge (maps, etc.) and ensure that where applicable, you follow marked routes. We recommend discussing your plans with the local teams who will be able to advise on the most suitable options for you.
Always let the reception/guide know where you are planning to go and take a torch and mobile phone (with the hotel/guide’s phone number stored). It is also a good idea to leave your contact number and the time you expect to return to the hotel should the hotel need to contact you.
Flight schedule changes and connecting transportation
On your documentation, we will confirm your flight schedule. Sometimes the flight number, routing and timings might change prior to your departure. If the change is classed as a significant change then we will contact you to discuss this. Please see our booking conditions for details.
Flight schedule changes can impact on your pre and post-holiday travel arrangements if these have been booked separately to your holiday. We strongly recommend that you do not book transport (such as trains or transfers), car parking or non-connecting flights to the departure point for your holiday until you have received your final confirmed travel times when your final travel documents are issued. We are not responsible for the effect of any schedule change on your pre or post travel arrangements. We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-flexible or non-refundable tickets to avoid cancellation and penalty charges.
Booking your own flights cancellation disclaimer
If you have chosen to book your own flights, then you will need to wait until we confirm to you that the holiday departure has met the minimum numbers required to run (if applicable to your chosen holiday). Once the holiday is guaranteed to run, you will be informed and you can then make your arrangements.
If transfers are included in your holiday, please ensure that any potential flights will be met by our standard transfers (speak to one of our Travel Experts for advice) otherwise private transfer supplements may be applicable. Once your flights are booked, please send us a copy of your detailed flight itinerary.
Please be aware that most tickets are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For this reason, we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket and check the limitations of your cancellation insurance before booking. We cannot be held liable, in the unlikely eventuality that we should be forced to cancel or amend your trip, for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made.
Cancellation terms - Catalan Pyrenees
Please note that the following cancellation terms supersede those mentioned in section 7 of our general booking terms and conditions.
- Up to balance due date (This is normally 12 weeks prior to departure however some holidays differ. If this applies to your holiday you will be advised at the time of booking) - Loss of deposit (including the full cost of flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
- between balance due date and 43 days prior to departure - 50%
- 42 to 29 days prior to departure - 75%
- 28 to 17 days prior to departure - 90%
- 16 or less days - 100%
Terms and Conditions
Our full booking terms and conditions can be found on our website: https://www.activitiesabroad.com/booking-conditions
Please note: our payment and cancellation terms will be unique to each booking – they will be confirmed with you at the time of quotation. The terms listed above are noted as a guide only
Please note that the following cancellation terms supersede in part those mentioned in Section 7 of our general booking terms and conditions.
- Up to balance due date (this is normally 16 weeks prior to departure however some holidays differ. If this applies to your holiday you will be advised at the time of booking) - Loss of deposit (including the full cost of flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
- Between balance due date and 92 days prior to departure – 50%
- 91 to 24 days prior to departure – 75%
- 23 or less days – 100%
Reviews
Traveller Reviews
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The activity was super fun, the guide was excellent. 25 August 2018 by The Berri Family
White-water rafting, for many reasons. the activity was super fun, the guide was excellent, the skill/risk level wasn't high low (good for me as a parent), and the activity allowed people to bond within a team and also compete across teams.
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We have some wonderful memories 27 July 2018 by The Button Family
We had a fantastic time Isi our guide was wonderful. Location was beautiful - simply stunning. The whole trip was organised very efficiently so there was no stress for us - other than being at the meeting point at the right time! It was a trip of unique experiences and we have some wonderful memories (and Go Pro footage!)
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Our holiday was great 05 August 2017 by The Webb Family
Our Rep Emma was outstanding. She thoroughly engaged everyone and had great enthusiasm for all activities even when my children had doubt about certain activities; she adopted the leading role to pull them through. Excellent. The whole family thoroughly enjoyed white water rafting even with a few dips in the river. We were always in the very professional hands of the activity team and felt…
Read more secure under their supervision. Overall a fantastic holiday.
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All the activities were great so impossible to single one out. 05 August 2017 by The Williams Family
Emma, our rep was great and should be congratulated on the great job she did throughout the week looking after us and oozing enthusiasm at every meeting. We had every confidence in her and our wonderful guides who were fun and made it their job to ensure we were getting the most out of the activities. White-water rafting - we opted for the whole day trip and were glad we did. Our guide, Martin,…
Read more was fantastic (if a little crazy!) and made sure we all had the best time. Despite having some reservations about the canyoning, the guides made us feel at ease and we all got a lot out of it. Open kayaking was quite hairy in the rapids but an unforgettable experience and we felt safe at all times knowing the expert guides were close at hand to help us out (and fish us out!) if we got into trouble. Mountain biking was great - most of the uphill hard work done by the minibus so we were left to enjoy the downhill and the awesome views of the mountains. Again, we had a great guide who let us go at our own pace with frequent stops to take a break and enjoy the scenery. Remind future visitors that it can get cold in the mountains and to pack accordingly. It was 6 degrees at the start of our bike ride and a warmer jacket and/or gloves might have been useful!
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Already looking to plan our next activity break 20 August 2016 by The Carron Family
I'm not going to lie; when my husband told me he has booked an adventure week I could have cried. Really I had been looking at beach holidays and this wasn't on my list...cue stony silence! So we were met at the airport by the bubbly Vivian and had a stop for a drink on the way to the hotel, I still was uncertain. We arrived during a downpour and this did nothing to thaw the icy…
Read more silence...Then we entered the Hotel Pey, yes its 2-stars but not what I expected at all. The staff were friendly and the hotel was beautifully kept. The pool was chilly but clean. The breakfasts kept us fuelled for the challenges ahead. It was better than some 5-star hotels I have stayed in. The hike the next day blew my mind, it was just beautiful and my reservations about the holiday thawed immediately. It was at the right pace and Vivian pointed out bits and pieces as we walked. Then came lunch..not soggy sandwiches but beautifully fresh baguettes, cheese, ham and tomatoes and garlic as well as the biggest peaches EVER. Vivian showed us how to make a "proper" sandwich and produced a bottle of wine from her huge rucksack. After a lovely break off we went again. I cannot fault the day. Next came white water rafting, well I've never experienced something so well organised. Yet another ace day. I was beginning to fear an apology to my husband was needed, but it was only day 2, things could still go wrong... Canyoning was on the horizon and I was NOT keen! Then came canyoning, surely this would be the day that I could gloat at my husband getting it wrong...nope this was the day when I had to admit defeat, swallow my pride and tell my husband he was the best and that this possibly was the best holiday I have ever been on. We opted to go hydro boarding on Wednesday our free day...well it was definitely adrenaline filled and my daughter may take a while to forgive us but it was FANTASTIC! Again the guides were superb I cannot commend them enough. They looked after my daughter throughout and kept her close, building her confidence. Horse riding next and this was at a leisurely pace and my daughter loved it! I think my husband would have preferred the adrenaline bike riding, which from the feedback from the other families was also faultlessly organised. Open kayaking was our final activity and our favourite, an excellent mix of adrenaline and calm allowing us to take in the spectacular scenery. Again... those guides! And then home...I haven't felt this sad about a holiday ending in a long time. My husband is dining out on the "told you so's" and my daughter is already looking to plan our next activity break. This time, I won't be a sulky chops as I know it will be a blast!
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Everything was great - even the weather! 20 August 2016 by The Maynard Family
Lovely hotel with refreshing swimming pool. Fantastic well-organised activities and an outstanding rep. A truly wonderful family adventure. White water rafting was just such fun and so exhilarating! I found the hydro- speed rather scary! I thought everything was great - even the weather!
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Don't change anything 06 August 2016 by David and Nicholas Sidaway
Don't change anything. A very good balance of activities. It was great to see my son enjoying activities he hadn't tried before & becoming more confident on his bike though the mountain biking day. Dago, the local rep, was superb throughout. He was a big part of making the holiday very enjoyable. Sort was great. It did not feel like a typical tourist resort. Food prices were very reasonable.…
Read more Very few other English voices around. I think I could count the number of times I heard other Brits through the week on the fingers of 1 hand. We were a group of 10 in total. Everyone got on well, which added to the experience.
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We will certainly do something like this again in the future. 23 July 2016 by The Reece Family
The local guide (Thomas) was extremely knowledgeable and really went the extra mile to be helpful. Local activity guides were very good at their job and also helped to make the activities as much fun as possible. Rafting was the most fun for all the family as we were all involved together. Overall it was a fantastic trip and we will certainly do something like this again in the future.
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The activities were first class and most enjoyable 14 August 2015 by Paul King
The activities and interaction with other families on our holiday - it was particularly pleasing that children got on well with each other and at the end of the week exchanged contact details to keep in touch. The activities were all first class and most enjoyable. White Water Rafting - All day activity that involved all levels of fitness and abilities - most amazing day out; Hydrospeed -…
Read more Physically exhausting and bruising, but despite that - good fun.
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Ultimately great, fabulous and fun! 01 September 2014 by Angela Tsen
This was the best holiday I have been on in a long time. The activities were well-organised, safe and fun. We were very lucky on our trip. We were all complete strangers and got along very well - 5 families, 9 children. Every activity was great. The kids were very happy. It was also down to our very capable and patient guide, Goyo, who cannot be recommended enough. He took very great care with my…
Read more 7 year-old son and got him through Hells Canyon (Inferno), safely. I would never have trusted anyone else to do that. I was quite prepared to miss out as he was too young but Goyo looked me in the eye and told me he would get him down and he did. My son loved it and is now at the age of 7.5 very much an adrenaline junkie.Sort is an amazing destination. It was like Yosemite but much easier to get to everything. In Yosemite it’s really hard to stay close to the valley and the accommodation options are limited. There is so much to do and everyone working is related to some aspect of the tourism in the area and so has a very relaxed, outdoor feel to it. I am very impressed and will come back.Canyoning is the most exciting and compelling activity. To get to the canyon we had to pull ourselves over on the wire suspended over the river or jump into the river - was it a 7.5m jump or higher and climb out! Barranco el infierno is just amazing and as good as we were told it would be. Even without abseiling down through the Cave because there was too much water and it was too dangerous, was fabulous. Also it does mean that I will have to do it again so I can do the Cave properly. It was like being on a film-set. And being told to jump from a 5m jump - I am sure it was higher than that was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. And everyone did it!My son really enjoyed the horse-riding. I have to say that Marta from Hipica les Vernedes was superb. She ran along all the way of our 5k ride, making sure the children were okay and safe, instructing us all the way in perfect English. Her team were great and her knack of matching rider to horse making sure that the horse was not too unruly for the first-time rider was very well-done.Goyo is amazing, organised and thorough. Everyone warmed to him and trusted him straight away. That's very important when hanging from a rope in the middle of a narrow gorge. He is a big guy and looks like a character from Games of Thrones. He joined us on every activity as he loves it all. His patience when dealing with all the 9 kids and their various food requirements at dinner was enormous. He was safe and clear in all instruction and planning throughout our week.White-water rafting is enormous fun. The company Rocroi (who do all the water activities) is well-organised, the friendly guides speak English, Catalan and Spanish. It works out much better value to book as a group through Activities Abroad. Travelling and doing it individually is a lot more expensive and you don't get the chance to work together as a group. Sitting in a raft with a bunch of complete strangers who don't speak English is just not the same. We had such good support and friendships within the group. Every day was exciting and we all looked out for one another and to the activity that day. Cheering and shouting over the rapids and jumping into the river was cold and exhilarating at the same time.I can’t wait to look at the holidays for summer 2015. We (the group) might have to stay in touch to relive our adventures all over again! And did I mention the restaurants in Sort? Really good food and really good value. From the hip and trendy to Catalan traditional food, meat and more meat and it are all within walking distance. The kids’ playground is between the hotel and the restaurants. After dinner the kids could safely go on their own (9 kids from 15 to 7) while the grown-ups enjoyed the fine wine Spanish red wine.
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Sort is a perfect base location for this holiday... 23 September 2013 by Peter Marsh
Sort is a perfect base location for this holiday and felt like a very safe environment for young families. My boys (13 and 17) enjoyed the freedom of being able to explore the village with their new-found Activities Abroad friends and test their Spanish vocabulary in the pizza restaurants and sweet shops!All the activities were great but I enjoyed the white water rafting the most. Spectacular…
Read more scenery, exciting, fun and great to watch the kids enjoying it at close quarters. Good opportunity to meet others in the group and great lunch!Daily meetings with our tour guide (Isi) to discuss kit requirements for the following day were a good way to keep the group together and well-prepared for the activities.
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We had a fabulous holiday 22 August 2013 by Adrienne Dixon
We had a fabulous holiday. RocRoi are a really smooth run activities provider and we had such fun on the river, highlight was kayaking down white water mid lighting storm, very spectacular. Hiking was beautiful and picnic delicious. Mountain biking scenery was breath-taking. We met some lovely people and the kids all got on brilliantly, becoming rather pack-like ....almost feral. Mattias and…
Read more Thomas our reps were very friendly, welcoming and helpful. Thomas on the other hand was a real pro. We all felt totally confident with him at the helm. We will definitely be back for one more Activities Abroad holiday at least before Madgy refuses to come on holiday with her mother at all. Thanks very much for another great holiday.
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The activities were exciting and thrilling 10 August 2013 by Simon Wilkins
This was our second visit to Sort on the Catalan Pyrenees activity holiday. Having thoroughly enjoyed the holiday last year we returned with another family this August, and weren't disappointed. Sort is a lovely place to stay - it is a fairly quiet, small town right next to the river Noguera Pallaresa, where all the water-based activities take place.The Hotel Pey is family-run hotel and is a great…
Read more place to stay. The staff are extremely friendly and the hotel is kept spotlessly clean. It has a big pool and loads of room to relax around it and is located right in the centre of the town, near Sort's restaurants and shops.We were in a group of approximately 30 people (a good mix of adults, teenagers and children). Our holiday representative, Isidro (a qualified mountain guide), looked after the group in a very professional, friendly and able manner. He made sure everybody knew what they'd need for the next day's activity and was superb at handling the logistics of managing a large group of people. In addition to the activities, he was on hand to advise on local restaurants and to answer a variety of other questions. Isidro had an in-depth knowledge of the area (he grew up in the region) and was enthusiastic about the activities and had a real pride in the area.Although our family were only taking part in three of the activities on this occasion, we thoroughly enjoyed those that we did. We spent a fantastic day white water rafting (which was both exciting and had stunning and interesting scenery to boot). Our instructor was both friendly and extremely skilled and his obvious enthusiasm for the activity and pride in the area made the day even more special. Likewise, the canyoning instructors looked after us extremely well and, while ensuring our safety was paramount, had a good sense of humour and were enthusiastic about their speciality. The trek in the Aiguestortes National Park on the first day introduced us to the absolutely jaw-dropping scenery of the high Pyrenees, and was a great ice-breaker for the group.Food-wise, there was a good variety of restaurants to choose from, including a pizzeria, a lovely tapas bar (called Cafe Pessett - very interesting and delicious food) and a restaurant serving hearty Catalan mountain fare. The holiday rep can advise on the different optionsWhen no activities were taking place there are plenty of other things to do - I walked up to a village called Pujalt, about an hour or so up a steep path, where there are fantastic views down to Sort and up towards the high Pyrenees, with plenty of flowers and butterflies to see along the way. My girlfriend rented a bike and cycled on some of the quiet roads around Sort. Other options were to swim or simply to relax with a coffee or a drink by the pool.All-in-all, both our families had a fantastic time. The activities were exciting and thrilling, the location and hotel perfect for the type of holiday and the local rep both friendly and professional. I should also add that Activities Abroad were very helpful and booking with them was very straight forward. I feel sure that we will travel with them again - and may even go back to Sort for a third visit!
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A FANTASTIC holiday... 31 July 2013 by Vera Keatings
Just wanted to send a note to say what a FANTASTIC holiday we had in Sort. The activities went far beyond our expectations in how advanced they were and the guides were absolutely expert. We'd like to say a special thanks to Isi who really made everything work and kept everyone within their comfort zone - which can't have been easy considering the height of the river this year!If at all possible,…
Read more we'll be back!
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Wonderful holiday 05 September 2012 by Andrew Cleminson
What a wonderful holiday, full of exciting activities in a most beautiful area - a perfect destination for the active family. Both my teenage daughter and I had a great time! The variety and quality of the activities were superb - all very professionally managed with fun, challenge and safety very much the themes; the Activity Guides were quite excellent. I also took the additional option of…
Read more mountain biking (highly recommended), which gave even more chance to enjoy the wonderful scenery. Every aspect of the holiday met or exceeded our expectations from initial contact with the friendly and helpful Activities Abroad staff, the booking system and support, to our wonderful Rep/Local Guide Frank, who truly made the holiday extra special with his enthralling local knowledge, charm and friendliness, and his desire to ensure that every single person had a great time. I've been recommending the holiday to friends ever since we've come back! Thank you Activities Abroad!
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Our local guide (Frank) was excellent in his local knowledge, language, helping with the young adults 31 August 2012 by Ian Gerry
Our local Guide (Frank) was excellent in his local knowledge, language, helping with the young adults. To every question he had an answer. In short he is known in my family as 'Super-Frank’! - An observation (rather than a complaint).The whole experience with your 'customer facing' staff was excellent. a) I liked that when I spoke to Barry Nolan, he was knowledgeable/friendly/efficient. He…
Read more made the difference between you making the sale and possibly not. b) The local guide was excellent (as mentioned above). That was the consensus of the adults and young adults alike.
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Our guide Frank made the holiday 29 August 2012 by Suzanne Giles
Our guide Frank really made the holiday; his local knowledge was excellent, and he was a wonderful companion to us during the whole week. There was only us and another family, so a small group, and we all got to know each other well. We will definitely recommend Activities Abroad, and especially the Catalan Pyrenees. Thanks to all the team.
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Very well organised from the moment we arrived 09 August 2012 by Paul Miles
Very well organised from the moment we arrived at Barcelona airport. Met by smiling friendly guide who introduced himself (Mattius) and directed us to the waiting group. Throughout the week he was attentive, always checking we were happy and nothing was too much trouble for him. The activity guides at Roc Roi were also great. Very professional, friendly and experienced and they made us feel…
Read more confident.
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Very enjoyable experience 09 August 2012 by Isabelle Simmonds
Very enjoyable experience. Our guide Martin did everything possible to satisfy everyone's need. The location was great. Rafting: the instructor knew exactly how far to push the activity to make it fun and yet safe.
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Great holiday 16 August 2011 by Paul Weinmann
I was travelling alone with my son and I liked the fact there were other single parent families in the group. Meeting other families who were really friendly was a good dimension to the holiday.
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Brilliant week 16 August 2011 by Julie Hartfield
What a brilliant week for both adults and children. Frank and Gabby were exceptional Reps - we have never had such enthusiastic, helpful and attentive people in resort, they are both a credit to themselves and Activities Abroad! Hotel pool could be a little warmer and ear plugs provided for the donkey, dogs and bells, evening renditions! The standard of equipment, instructors and all the 3rd party…
Read more providers were of a very high quality. Thank you!
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Our best holiday ever 08 August 2011 by Deborah Stapleton
We did an activity holiday in Croatia last year and loved it. At the time we felt that was our best holiday ever. Now this one tops the list for my daughter and comes equal top for my husband and I. I would particularly like to commend the helpfulness and friendliness of the tour rep and also the level of equipment provided and instruction provided by the activity companies.
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It has been a ‘fun-tastic’ week 09 September 2010 by Monica Lalanda
We are all really excited but quite apprehensive, too!! We have never been in a group holiday, let alone a holiday with people we have never met..We have taken a few days before the actual start of the activity holiday to do a bit of tourism in North Spain.This is an amazing country. We’ve been to Pamplona, where the bulls run in a herd after another herd (a human crazy one) then visited a few…
Read more historic places in the area. We spent a night in Sos del Rey Catlico, where King Fernando de Aragn was born.The view from the hotel was spectacular.We arrived in Sort early; it is pretty warm. The streets look deserted at 4 in the afternoon. Mind you, it is well over 30! The hotel is next to the river and the lady at the desk was quite welcoming. The apartment is simple, maybe slightly outdated but quite practical and very clean. We have a view to the swimming pool and the mountains and there is a lovely old church just across the road.There are enough wardrobes to put all our stuff away quite quickly so, we get our empty bags and suitcases tucked away under the beds within minutes. We soon hit the water in the swimming pool. It is so refreshing (some would say it is freezing!).We are told at the reception that the group is meeting in the garden at 8. We see from the window of our room the chairs getting ready for the welcome meeting.Carlota and Gabby, our guides for the week, say hello to everyone and make a big effort to get to know everyone’s names. They seem quite friendly. The other families look a touch apprehensive too, nobody knows anybody else. This is going to be interesting. We are 16 adults and 18 kids, eight families all together. Most of the children are in the age range of eight to 12. Gabby (German but living in Spain for a decade) and Carlota (from Cataluña) speak really good English and they give us a little welcoming speech with information and some instructions for the week. We get a glass of some lovely sangria (the kids get a soft drink!) and then we all head the restaurant at the hotel for dinner. The kids sit all together and leave the adults to do the same. The food is pretty good, a paella and some grilled meat. Everybody start chatting, by the end of the meal, we don’t feel we are amongst strangers any more. We all go to bed looking forward to the next day and the bells in the church nearby remind us we are away from home, ringing every 15 minutes (our brains stop hearing them pretty soon).We have breakfast in the garden next to the swimming pool, it’s so lovely!We all meet at the hotel reception. We really look like an adventure group now with our rucksacks, hats and trekking shoes. Five old fashioned land-rovers accommodate all thirty of us, the kids are really excited about the back seats and off we go.We travel uphill for about 45 minutes or so and, by the time we get off the cars, we are welcomed by a breath-taking view. We are surrounded by the beautiful Pyrenees at their best.Carlota and Gabby give us a little briefing about the day, we’ll be walking about 9 Km but a lot of it is steep and we soon start walking. The scenery is truly amazing with the high peaks, lakes and waterfalls. We stop a few times for a little rest or just to admire the place or even just to hug some trees as suggested by our lovely Carlota!We get to the shores of the lake and settle there for a lunch that we have all helped to carry like a proper team (or a special week family as the guides says!). The picnic turns out to be really delicious and very Mediterranean. All children and adults tuck in with pleasure.The water in the lake is absolutely freezing cold but the kids walk in and splash each other and even climb up some of the bigger rocks.Some of the adults have a short siesta in the warm grass under the lovely shade of the trees. Everyone seems so happy.The walk continues after lunch and the views get better and better. We are quite tired by the time we get back to the cars. What a fantastic stroll.Most of the kids and some of the adults spend the rest of the evening in the swimming pool; the children play really well together, judging by the shouting and the laughter.At seven o’clock we all meet in the garden with both guides to get information about tomorrow and suggestions on places to eat.The group split into two to go for dinner. Ours choose a pizza place nearby and we get the kids to sit together in a large table and the adults in another one. Everyone seems pleased with that! The pizzas are not bad and although the service is slow it is not expensive. The kids finish their food first so we send them to the hotel garden to play since it is only a few yards away. A lovely end for a perfect dayWe could get used to this breakfast in the garden, it is brilliant. The actual food is very nice with good variety. As planned, we get together at the reception and get to the little bus that is already waiting for us at the door. We head towards today’s destination about 30 km away for kayaking and wall climbing. It is a touch cloudy but warm. We keep fingers crossed that it doesn’t rain.We get to the lake where a big pergola looks into the water. We are allowed to leave our bags there and we just stay in our swimming costumes or t-shirts and shorts. An instructor explains the rules of paddling to us and we are all soon in the water in our colourful kayaks in this huge lake.The views are lovely even if the road runs nearby. There are single and double boats and they are simple to manoeuvre and very stable. It is a tiring activity but really fun. Some of the kids play a polo game but they don’t last too long. It is quite warm even if the day started a bit cloudy.After a while, we all end up at the climbing wall where both adults and kids give it a go with better or worse results(there was some showing off, too...).It is such good fun with everyone cheering each other and clapping. I think by now we don’t quite feel like strangers any more. It is fabulous.The guides order some sangria for the grown-ups that goes down really well.At midday we return to Sort. Luckily there is a large and nice supermarket that stays open at Spanish lunch time, when everything else is closed. We buy some nice Spanish bread, cured meats and cheese, some salad and also fruit and head to the apartment. The little kitchen comes in really handy.All the kids agree to meet back at four o’clock at the swimming pool and they spend the rest of the afternoon playing, shouting and laughing. It is likely the whole of Sort could hear the noise! What a bunch!By about seven the whole group meet at the garden and we get information about the next day from Gabby and Carlota, who are doing a brilliant job.The group splits for dinner again and ours go for a tapas place. The waiter manages to accommodate us all in a huge table and suggests bringing food of their own choice until we are full. I would have never thought that it was going to work but it did! The choice of different stuff was amazing; my favourite one was some tiny cheese fondues and some crunchy prawns - delicious! The price was very reasonable. We were only across the street from the local park, which is where the river bank used to run, so the adults stayed longer at the cafe; for a cup of coffee and the kids went to play. It was really nice for everyone.We all slept quite sound with all the tiredness of the day’s activity. This holiday is really working out very well for all for us.Oh my goodness, today is canyoning day!! We are all incredibly excited and a touch frightened at the same time. Breakfast was a bit quieter than other days; it is all this tension. The group gets divided into two and we leave on the earlier one. The bus is waiting for us at the door and takes us to the river base where we will be starting. We are all given thick neoprene wetsuits and socks, lifejackets and helmets that we take out to the road where we get changed. A fascinating and unusual changing room! The activity guides Mark and Elisabeth takes charge of our little group and we start the walk that takes us to the top of the hill where the actual ride would start. It is hard walking up hill under the heat and inside the suits but luckily it isn’t too long. We splash ourselves with the cold and transparent water as soon as we arrive at the river, so cool! Mark and Elizabeth give us some basic instructions; their English is not perfect but good enoughSo down we go, scary at times, but mostly brilliant. There is a bit of abseiling to be done, sliding down rocks, going down with the help of rope. It really feels like an incredible adventure. A couple of times we plunge into the cold water but we don’t drop our own temperature, these wetsuits really work! The hardest bit is to walk along the river without falling and I have a nice bruise to prove it....The whole thing was a challenge and at the end it just feels so good but also so short!!Absolutely fantastic.At the very end there is a photographer who takes a few shots of everyone. We are told that we will be able to buy them later on the week. We walk back to the bus and get out of the wetsuits and all. The next group arrived just then. We were all so jealous that they still have the whole experience to get through! The bus takes us back to the hotel. Another quick trip to the supermarket and voila! A lovely Mediterranean lunch ready for some hungry stomachs. We all decide to have a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Everyone seem to have brought nice books and most adults just lay in the lovely sun beds with a cold beer as the kids had a very noisy and fun time in the swimming pool.A good time for writing up a holiday blog...The greatest hit after swimming were the Nintendo's, many of the kids get together to play game groups with their multi coloured machines but they are also very entertained with the more old-fashioned hide and seek!Daily meeting as usual at seven in the garden; the next day is free day so everyone has decided to either chill out or do another activity. Carlota and Gabby take care of all the new bookings pretty hassle free. So easy!So by now, some of the families are a bit tired with going out for every meal so many people, ourselves included, stay for a home cooked dinner at the apartment. It doesn’t really take much effort to cook some pasta with chorizo and tomato sauce! The kitchen has got everything one could need to organise simple meals.Some of us meet at the garden and, as the parents relax with a good chat in the garden, the kids play beautifully together, taking advantage of these late Spanish evenings. Another fantastic dayPlenty of time for a more relaxed breakfast today. The sun is shining and the just baked croissants taste delicious with the background of the mountain and the old church.We use the morning to walk around in Sort, there isn’t much but still the little shops are quite entertaining. They sell witches of all sorts and sizes, something to do with lottery tickets here is Spain; a long story, we are told! Our family has been unable to agree on one activity today with the broad choice of possibilities so we split into two. Two of us go horse riding and the other two go for level two of the canyoning. Everyone is now more excited than scared this time around!The horse riding is a lovely experience since we have never done it before and we get the chance to meet Marta, who apparently is able to talk with the horses, she is ever so friendly and we have a great time. The ride takes us about an hour and the scenery is beautiful, even if it is very hot at four in the afternoon.Level two canyoning is an absolute success, longer than the first time and with some more adventurous slides and falls.One family go for level three and they get all the admiration of the group! Apparently, it involves a high jump into the water, from about seven meters high and then a 40 minute walk. They really look no less than thrilled with themselves when they come back to the hotel!Carlota has booked a meal for the whole group at a restaurant in a village nearby. The place is stunning, decorated with the style of a Gaudi building. The kids get a table just for them and everyone enjoy the benefits of a nice and complicated menu. The food is absolutely delicious. It works out very well.Quite a bit of singing in the bus on the way home make us all pretty ready for bed. This is all so good; we don’t want this holiday to end!After yesterday’s horse riding, and higher level canyoning, (so much for a so called ‘day off’) today, we are preparing ourselves for open kayaking. We need to gather our strength and get out of bed - an increasingly difficult task as the week goes on- It’s a good thing that yesterday the whole party was split in two groups for today’s activity and we are starting a little bit later (one more hour sleep is welcome!). A mighty breakfast is in order and, although the morning is still a bit chilly, we choose to have it again in the garden, the scenery is outstanding.We go to the RocRoi activity centre by coach. As we arrive, we are given a neoprene wet suit and boots, a life jacket and a helmet, the perfect gear for serious fun! Then, we are taken to the river and, one by one or in a ‘tandem’, we start paddling in the open kayaks. Now we are in business. The water is cold but the adrenaline shuts off our body thermostat. We try to avoid some of the rapids, others go for them! What a thrill!Our seven-year-old son, although a bit apprehensive at first, is having the time of his life.We finally arrive to the finish line with only one minor casualty among ourselves, nothing serious, and everybody is delighted.We prepare some lunch in the apartment at the hotel and then the heavens open. Well, at least it happens at the right time. As everything here, the storm is of huge proportions, lightning, thunder and as much water coming from the sky as in the river. What to do? This is an activity holiday after all, so the children play table tennis in the games room of the hotel and the adults, well, a drink and a chat in the lobby until the weather clears. Just in time for the afternoon meeting to get the information needed for tomorrow.And then off we go for dinner. We take the advice from our guides and we go to a lovely restaurant with an open kitchen where you can see your meal being prepared. Once again, the food is excellent and after it, the adults have a drink whilst the children play in the park. Everybody happy!Today is the day we have all been waiting for, the rafting. Meryl Streep in The River Wild plays tricks in our minds. After breakfast, the entire group gets in the bus to go to the RocRoi activity centre. We get our gear on and we are divided into groups to go into the rafts.We start very gently, but soon we hit the rapids (or rather, the rapids hit us...). We have a guide on each raft, ours is telling us the names of the rapids just before we go into them: the washing machine, the tsunami, the bone breaker (we realise he is just making it up!).I think that in our raft we are having more fun than any other; at least we are shouting louder than anybody else! What an amazing activity.We have been down the river for 14 km but we would go for another 14 without thinking twice. After lunch all the children spend the afternoon playing in the hotel swimming pool (they never get tired of splashing and jumping into the water, lake, river or swimming pool, it doesn’t matter).For the last evening meal, Gabi has chosen a restaurant in a nearby village. It is a beautiful, rustic restaurant and the food once again delicious.It has been a ‘fun-tastic’ week. The children have made lots of friends, and the adults too. It is a pity that it has come to an end.A group photo to remember us all. Funny enough, the crutches had nothing to do with the activities we have been doing!!Time to say goodbye to all our new friends. Most of the group takes the bus that will drop them in Barcelona to catch the plane back home. We have come by car and we have a few hours’ drive ahead of us. It has been a great holiday. We have done so many things!We can say that we have been there, done that, we’ve got the T-shirt! It has been the first time we do this kind of holiday, but certainly not the last.
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Memorable holiday 07 September 2010 by Peter Cranmer
Memorable holiday, very busy with great company - you don't get shy retiring types on this holiday.Hotel was good, right in centre of town, making buying lunch in a local deli very easy.Martin, the guide and host, was very good at organising different places for us to eat in the evenings - all of which added to the experience. I would recommend it to anyone who is reasonably active - you don't…
Read more have to be super fit................Overall value for money was good
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The holiday surpassed expectations 13 August 2009 by David Scregg
This was our first experience of Activities Abroad and we found that all the other families had travelled (with you) before. That in itself was excellent testimony to the company. Our activities were all well organised and supervised and the local rep was superb. The hotel and local area was comfortable and convenient. The children especially enjoyed the hotel pool. Most enjoyable activity?…
Read more Canyoning - we had not experienced this before and it was something totally different. I proved that I was not too old (though I was too chicken to jump 20ft into the river!). For us personally, (the holiday) surpassed expectations, so we were more than happy.
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Amazing holiday 03 August 2009 by Helen Carson
This was an amazing holiday made possible by Martin our Spanish rep; he was so genuine and only wanted the best for all of us! I was very pleased that my children met people their own age and all got on well. Also, my husband was happy as he had lots of activities to keep him busy! From my point of view if my family are happy then so am I! It was good to meet like minded people also enjoying the…
Read more activities. The long raft trip was the big highlight! Because it took all day and you had to concentrate and the scenery was amazing! The holiday was good value for money.
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