Expert Andorra Lakes Loop

The route starts in Les Escaldes, an urban area located right next to Andorra la Vella, the capital of the principality. At the Pont de la Tosca over the Engordany River you will start ascending steadily into the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley. With 1,440 m of ascent, this is a demanding climb from the start, with little flat ground once you leave town. The route follows the GR7 into the valley, moving from the urban edge into forested slopes, river terrain and open high mountain surroundings.

After leaving Escaldes-Engordany, the trail enters the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, and continues towards Entremesaigües and the Sassanat bridge. You pass the bordes of Ràmio and Fontverd Refuge before reaching La Farga, a reminder of the valley's ironworking past. Between Fontverd and Riu dels Orris Refuge, the path runs through forest and higher valley terrain, with the Madriu River often close by. Higher up, the route reaches the Pla de l'Ingla, a flatter area where the river divides across the gentle ground. From here, the climb continues past Riu dels Orris Refuge and into more open terrain, where the first lakes appear.

Before reaching the hut, you pass Lake Bova on your right and Lake Rodó on your left, with the Forcats lakes nearby. You arrive at Refugi de l'Illa, beside the dam and high lakes of the upper valley. After a long, steady ascent, the mountain hut gives you a clear place to rest, recover and prepare for the next mountain section.

Today, you will hike a long, demanding mountain stage with 1,360 meters of ascent and 1,540 meters of descent. This is the toughest section of the loop because the terrain is slow and technical. Expect rocky paths, steep gradients, winding descents, and narrow sections where good route-finding skills are necessary throughout the day.

From Refugi de l’Illa, the route crosses high mountain terrain near the Pessons Lakes. You will have views of Pic dels Pessons (2,864 m). Next, a short zigzag section begins the descent towards Estany Primer through rugged terrain dotted with boulders and mountain tarns. Be patient and allow plenty of time to complete this section. Near the lake, there is a restaurant where you can stop for a drink before continuing down through Pla de les Pedres.

After crossing the road, the route climbs again through forests and open slopes toward Port Dret (2,560 m) and the impressive Les Vaques Pass (2,570 m). This section goes almost straight up across the contour lines and feels steep. From there, the route descends toward the Vall de Siscaró. Pass the Siscaró lakes, then follow a narrow, rocky, and steep trail down beside the Riu Siscaró. After this descent, follow the track towards the Font del Travenc bridge and the Juclar waterfall. The final uphill section of the day begins there.

At the junction between Estany de Baix de Siscaró and Estany de Siscaró, you can follow a trail with various waterfalls to your left instead of taking the signposted shortcut towards Refugi de Juclar with GR markings. The route ends with an ascent beside the Juclar waterfall to the Refugi de Juclar mountain hut, which sits beside the lake.