Estany de les Fonts is one of the small lakes reached by the Gran Recorregut País trail in the peaks south of the resort of Soldeu in Andorra
Transform yourself into an Andorra explorer
Tucked like a map-maker’s oversight between France and Spain, the mountainous microstate of Andorra is one of Europe’s lesser-known nations, but its modest size means that you can get to know it very thoroughly in only a few days. This is especially true if you’re covering the country on foot, taking the Gran Recorregut País (GRP) trail through some of the wildest scenery in the Pyrenees. This 75-mile circular route loops round the country in seven stages, reaching a height of 2,829 metres on the ridge-line of the Collada dels Pessons, and taking in wooded valleys, high-up lakes and meadows grazed by herds of horses. Small Andorra may be, but this is still a serious hike with plenty of forward planning and equipment needed. For those who prefer to bed down in a hotel rather than a mountain hut, shorter hiking trails remain the quickest way to the heart of the country, home to 85,000 people and the only independent state with Catalan as its offcial language.