From the car park to the start of the 7 lakes route

A lovely walk featuring a fairly steep climb to the Port de Ratera, but no other difficulties. Magnificent scenery of lakes, pine trees and rhododendrons (early in the season). A good overview of the Aigues Tortes park and the Encantats.

This route around the Colomèrs lakes allows you to explore part of the magnificent Aigues Tortes (Les Encantats) National Park. Flowers, rhododendrons, torrents and streams, and peaks offering breathtaking views over all the lakes await you. This hike is suitable for those with some experience of mountain walking; less experienced walkers may choose to skip the two peaks on the route (Tuc de Ratera, 2,860 m – not covered on Day 1 – and Tuc Gran de Sendrosa, 2,703 m, on Day 2). The route is classified as difficult due to its length and the steep slopes on Day 1, as well as the summit on Day 2. The route can be extended by starting with a night at the Colomers mountain hut, which will allow you to complete a longer loop around the lakes of the same name before reaching the Saboredo mountain hut.

The Colomèrs lake circuit is a massif of mountains arranged in a circle, protecting some fifty lakes ("estanhs") in its bosom. The slow erosion of frost during the Ice Ages has left an inescapable landscape: a high mountain area with high, steep peaks of around 3,000m, such as Creu de Colomèrs, Gran Tuc de Colomèrs and Tuc de Ratera.

This easy hike takes you past a dozen or so lakes in the Cirque de Colomèrs, which has around thirty in total, some identified and others unnamed. The landscape is magnificent, combining pine undergrowth carpeted with rhododendrons and large areas of rounded rocks dotted with lakes of all sizes fed by crystal-clear torrents. On the way back, a stop at the Colomèrs Refuge allows you to conclude this circular route by enjoying the Estanh Major, into which multiple waterfalls flow. A summary of the Aygues Tortes and San Maurici National Park in all its splendour.

This second stage offers a return route to the Banhs de Tredos via the Sendrosa Pass (Coth deth tuc Gran de Sendrosa). The ascent of the Tuc Gran de Sendrosa is optional for hikers with sure-footedness. This option, which is well worth the detour for the exceptional view from the summit, involves a 300-metre climb along the rocky ridge and requires using your hands on relatively easy climbing holds (PD), though there are a few exposed sections where a sure footing is essential. The descent is always slightly more technical than the ascent. Not recommended for inexperienced walkers or those prone to vertigo. This route is well worth the effort for its wild scenery, the flowers and the abundant vegetation in June. The descent from the pass is quite long and a little steep before rejoining the Day 1 trail, just below the Taxis car park.

Third and penultimate stage of this loop in the Encantats. Still lots of beautiful lakes and magnificent jagged peaks silhouetted against the sky. Significant elevation gain and sometimes tricky paths with steep slopes, scree and sections with ropes, which fortunately were already in place.

This is a beautiful circuit in the Val d'Aran, through the Vaqueira mountains to Naut and Baish de Bacivèr Lakes.Although it's a short loop, it requires an established fitness level to climb the first half of the route.The effort will be rewarded by the arrival at Lac Naut de Bacivèr, the highest point of the hike.

This is the second stage of this four-stage loop in the Encantats. There are numerous lakes between these two refuges with beautiful ascents and descents. No technical difficulties, but some scree that is not very pleasant.