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As autumn arrives, Selva de Irati in the Navarre Pyrenees becomes a breathtaking “magical forest” that transforms with each season: vibrant green in summer, pristine white in winter and a rich mix of ochre, gold and red in autumn. Covering more than 17,000 hectares, it is Europe’s second-largest beech-fir forest, featuring stunning landscapes with rivers, waterfalls, and remarkable hanging bridges. The Aezkoa and Salazar valleys host three natural reserves—Lizardoia, Mendilatz, and Tristuibartea—where visitors can explore extraordinary hiking trails amid this enchanting scenery.
Estadio Mestalla, Av. Aragón 31 (Google Maps)
04:30 / 05:00 (AM)
What to bring
On Friday we’ll depart early in the morning for the Castle of Olite, ranked among the top 5 castles in Spain. After touring the castle, we’ll explore the town of Olite and enjoy lunch before heading to the hotel. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Pamplona, with an optional guided tour available, followed by a Halloween party in the evening.
This is the day of the famous Selva Irati hike. We’ll start the morning with breakfast and then embark on a scenic 15 km route of easy to medium difficulty, featuring lakes and waterfalls in the stunning Salazar Valley. After the hike, we’ll visit Ochagavía, a charming small town, and return to Pamplona at around 19:00.
On the last day, we’ll take it easy. You can choose to wake up early for a guided tour of Pamplona or sleep in and head straight to the bus. We’ll depart at 11:00 for the Bardenas Reales Desert, a 42,500-hectare natural park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. We’ll spend about four hours exploring the desert and the town of Tudela. After lunch in Tudela, we’ll return to Valencia.
Distance: 15 km
Positive elevation gain: 482 m
Technical difficulty: easy to medium
Negative elevation loss: 482 m
Maximum altitude: 1,099 m
Route type: circular
Good physical condition is required for this trip.
We carefully selected our hotel to suit all types of guests and make the most of our 3 days. Sancho Ramírez is a 3-star hotel in Pamplona, just a 20-minute walk from the city center and close to supermarkets, bars, and more. Triple, double, and single rooms are available upon request. We had a wonderful experience there last year, which is why we chose to return this year.
It feels like being in a Western movie, a lunar landscape or the Grand Canyon—but in Spain. The Bardenas Reales is a 42,500-hectare natural park, recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You can explore it by bus or choose optional 4×4 or segway tours.
The Salazar Valley is a land of architecture, art, nature and history, full of culture, traditions and gastronomy. It includes charming villages like Escaroz, Esparza de Salazar, Gallués, Izal, Ochagavía, Sarriés and Uscarrés line the Salazar, Urbeltza and Urtxuria rivers. Notable natural sites include the Irabia Reservoir and Orhi Peak, which rises to 2,000 meters.
This valley, spanning 12,000 hectares of forest—including the Selva de Irati—features hidden caves, dolmens, hermitages, and stelae. It is home to nine municipalities, including Abaurrea Alta, Navarra’s highest village, famously known as the “balcony of Aezkoa.”
Ochagavía, a fairy-tale village in the Navarre Pyrenees, is one of Spain’s most beautiful villages and a must-see in the Selva de Irati. Photography lovers and Instagram enthusiasts will find endless picturesque spots. In the afternoon, the village becomes even more enchanting as sunlight illuminates the façades of the houses along the Anduña River.
Pamplona, Navarre’s capital, began as a medieval city with three districts: Navarrería, San Cernin, and San Nicolás. Today it is renowned for its four million square meters of parks and gardens, making it one of Europe’s greenest cities. Known for its tranquility, Pamplona is also famous for the Sanfermines festival and the Camino de Santiago. Our stay includes 2 nights in a 3-star hotel in the city.
Nicknamed the “medieval fantasy,” the Castillo de Olite is among Europe’s most remarkable Gothic complexes and one of the continent’s most opulent medieval castles. Designated a National Monument in 1925, it still preserves its historic elegance and majestic charm that can be admired today.
