Birds of Northern Spain
See some of Europe’s most spectacular birds. We travel from the mountains of the Bearded Vulture, to the plains of the migratory Grey Crane.
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€1795 per person
No Single Supplement Solo travellers have their own private ensuite bedroom, at no extra cost.
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Holiday Price
€1795 per person
“I stayed on a group bird watching trip and had a fantastic time. The scenery is amazing…..we saw beautiful Bearded vultures, skies filled with Grey Cranes flying over us, calling to each other, and we even saw Great Bustards” Ellen. Nottingham. UK
A unique opportunity to see some of the most spectacular birds in Europe. From close up views of Bearded Vultures, to Wallcreeper’s, Great Bustards and thousands of Grey Cranes. These are just a few of the highlights on our 7 day trip, ‘Birds of Northern Spain’.
Based initially in the Spanish Pyrenees you will be staying 4 nights at our renovated 17th century farmhouse. We are Simon and Lucy your hosts.
Here you visit the mountains of the Bearded vulture, with a morning in a hide. We spend a day in the National Park of Ordesa, visit a dramatic landscape to look for the Wallcreeper, before then moving south of Zaragoza.
Our second base is on the shores of the Gallocanta lake. The 2 nights here are timed to coincide with the spectacle of thousands of Grey Cranes; they rest here on their migration North.
The following day we explore the shores of the lake. As well as the cranes we can expect to see Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Pintail, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and others, while summer or passage visitors may include Black-necked Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Montagu’s Harrier, Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern and Dotterel.
Calandra Lark and Black-bellied Sandgrouse are also here, as well as Hen Harriers, Dupont’s Lark, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Great Bustards. Golden Eagles are frequent winter visitors
We are passionate about wildlife and birds, as are our carefully selected Nature Experts.
Join us as we discover the birds of Northern Spain. The group size is limited to a maximum of 8 people. All accommodation is on a private room basis with bathroom. There is no single supplement.
Why not organise a group of friends! We can make this a private, tailor made holiday.
Questions about this trip?
We've compiled answers to common questions on our FAQ page. Here you'll find information about booking, travel, accommodation, and catering for individual needs. For anything else, please contact us at holiday@aragonactive.com,
Supporting local conservation
We support directly and indirectly the Foundation for the conservation of the Bearded Vulture, and Birding Aragon. This includes financial support, as well as highlighting the conservation work done in our area, on each of our holidays.
Birds of Northern Spain
The walking is easy to moderate on our Birds of Northern Spain Holiday. The pace will be slow, with regular stops. We will always have a watchful eye for birds and other wildlife.
The bullet point itinerary below gives an idea of what we will be doing during a typical week.
DAY 1: Arrival
- Afternoon arrival Zaragoza. Transfer to the mountains.
- Dinner and a chance to meet the group.
DAY 2: Vulture Day (Day 1)
- The hides accommodate 4 people so we divide the group in two.
- Group A – mountain hide to see Bearded vultures close up!
- Group B – leave with a local bird guide to explore a different area.
DAY 3: Vulture Day (Day 2)
- Group A and B swop places.
DAY 4: Wallcreeper
- The group is back together and we visit a dramatic landscape to look for the wallcreeper.
DAY 5: Rest Day
- A chance to catch our breath and explore the area around the farmhouse.
- Winter visitors at home include Hawfinch, Serin and even Wallcreepers!Permanent residents are Redstart, Nuthatch, Crested tits, Goldcrest and Firecrest.
DAY 6: South to Gallocanta
- We head south to Gallocanta, breaking up the journey along the way.
- We will arrive at Gallocanta in time for a walk, stretch our legs, get our bearings and soak in the atmosphere as the ever present cranes call.
- At the hotel we will meet our host and wildlife specialist Javier.
- Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 7: Spectacle of the Cranes
- As dawn breaks we visit the lakeside to see the spectacle of thousands of Grey Cranes take to the skies.
- After breakfast we continue to explore the lake shore. Birds around the lake include Great Bustards and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.
- In the afternoon there is time to relax and explore on your own.
DAY 8: Gallocanta lakeside
- Our final morning at Gallocanta.
- A second opportunity to witness the spectacle of the cranes at dawn or wander to the lake shore on your own.
- After breakfast we rendez-vous to make our way back to Zaragoza for onward connections.
Stay at our traditionally restored 17th century Farmhouse.
We are Simon & Lucy, your hosts, and we live in the tiny hamlet of Albella, with just eight permanent residents. An authentic Pyrenean experience….
Where we have the right recipe to make your holiday truly memorable.
Spacious bedrooms, deluxe ensuite bathrooms, and comfortable communal areas with Wifi.
Dining out on our large terrace from May to October.
Fresh produce that is locally sourced, or straight from our organic veg patch.
Local Somontano wines.
Whether it is breakfast, picnic lunches or evening meals, we prepare everything with care and passion.
For more details on the accommodation click the button below.
Just Some of Our Reviews on this Holiday…
“Having enjoyed two excellent holidays with Simon & Lucy in the past two years during May and June with my Wife,
I took my good friend Keith on a February birding break. We were met at Zaragoza Airport by Simon and driven North,
along with 4 other guests. The scenery as you approach the foothills of the Pyrenees is superb but on this
occasion, not much snow, just blue skies.Unusual for the time of year.
This short break’s first highlight was to drive into the mountains and spend time in a hide observing the magnificent
Lammergeiers and numerous Griffon Vultures. This was as terrific experience and whilst I am a very amateur photographer
I managed to take some very good pictures.
There was free time to walk in the peaceful and beautiful surrounding countryside at Albella with bonus sightings of
Roe Deer and uncommon birds such as Hawfinch and Woodlark. We spent a day walking with a guide looking for the
elusive Wallcreeper. No joy but it was seen the following day.
The second major part of the visit involved a drive south beyond Zaragoza, to a lake where around 30,000 Cranes were
spending the Winter. The sight and sounds of these birds was a spectacular experience. There were many other
bird species to be seen, the best of which, for me, were the Short Eared Owls and the Great Bustard.
I have great admiration for the way Simon and Lucy have developed their holiday accommodation, with excellent
food and hospitality along with their delightful daughters Penny and Sofi.
If you enjoy nature then i highly recommend this and indeed any other holiday Aragon Active have to offer.”
Ed. Royston. UK. Birds of Northern Spain Holiday February 2020
“I stayed here on a group bird watching trip and had a fantastic time. The scenery is amazing. An absolute highlight was watching huge numbers of Griffon vultures from the mountain hides. They were spectacular, a memory I’ll treasure. We saw beautiful Lammergeiers too, and skies filled with Grey Cranes flying over us, calling to each other, and we even saw Great Bustards. We stayed in two locations and in both the home-cooked food was excellent. As a vegetarian I’m used to making do with what is available when on holiday, but here the food was something I looked forward to every day!
Simon and Lucy are full of knowledge about the local area, which they clearly care deeply for. They are lovely hosts and eager to make sure everyone has a good time. If you like mountains, good food and big birds then this is the place for you!”
Ellen. Nottingham. UK. Birds of Northern Spain Holiday February 2020
How to get to us at Casa Allué
We recommend to all guests that they make travel arrangements to Zaragoza.
There are direct flights into Zaragoza airport from London Stansted. Alternatively, Zaragoza has high-speed rail links from Barcelona and Madrid. Journey time from both cities is approximately 1½ hours.
From Zaragoza we offer a minibus taxi transfer service, collecting from the airport and the railway station to our Guest House in the Spanish Pyrenees. Transfer time is just under 2 hours. Cost €80 return per person.
Click the button below for detailed information and instructions on travelling to Zaragoza.
Booking
Availability & Reservation
Reserve your place by completing the form below.
If you are in any doubt about your suitability for this holiday please contact us before completing this form.
Once completed you will get a summary of your trip with the total cost.
Email: holiday@aragonactive.com
Tel: (0034) 679 345 623
Select Trip Dates & Guests
Simply select your trip date and the number of guests, then proceed using the 'Next' button.
We require a €150 deposit per person as part of the reservation process. Our secure on-line payment system accepts all credit cards.