PICOS DE EUROPA: TRAIL ECLIPSE

Fastpacking is simply travelling on the trail while carrying your own pack with everything you need for a multi-day adventure. There are almost no roads where we’re heading, which means we need to be semi-supported in our approach.

You will need a running pack with a capacity of 20–30L. This means travelling light with only the essentials: spare running gear, a lightweight sleeping bag, a small travel towel, water, and snacks. If you’re unsure about anything, just pop us an email and we’ll go over the kit list in as much detail as you need.

This is a challenging adventure featuring 3.5 long days on the trail, involving steep ascents and descents far away from civilization. The trails we travel will at times reach altitudes of up to 2,000m and follow rough, more difficult terrain.

This adventure is ideally suited for runners and fast hikers who are comfortable being on their feet for 4–6 hours per day. You’ll need a good level of fitness to cover distances of up to 20km and the stamina to handle back-to-back days. As this is a fastpacking adventure, you will also need to be capable of carrying your own pack, weighing up to 5kg.

We have purposefully designed this trip to coincide with the total eclipse, which will be visible across the Iberian Peninsula. Falling on 12th August 2026, this marks the first such event in over a century. Spain is located at the end of the path of totality, so the eclipse will occur as the sun is setting close to the horizon. As it happens in mid-summer, the chances of clear skies are high across much of the country.

Our elevated position at the Vega de Ario should stand us in good stead for a remarkable moment. It must be stressed, however, that while it is unlikely, being in the mountains means we cannot guarantee that inclement weather won't affect our view.

Fast hiking and trail running on this circumnavigation of the Picos de Europa involves four long days amongst remarkable mountain scenery. One of the joys of the Picos is that fewer travellers from outside of Spain tend to visit, meaning we benefit from relatively empty trails.

Our route is very challenging, covering distances of approximately 15km per day. This includes long, rewarding ascents of up to 1,400m (particularly on days 2 and 4), as well as steep technical descents of as much as -1,000m. We can expect to be on our feet for anywhere between 4 to 6+ hours.

The terrain is incredible: a real mixture of lush green grass, beech, and virgin forests, leading up to the rugged limestone that characterises the central and western massifs of the national park. It’s worth knowing that the higher we go, the more technical and rocky the trail becomes, but we take our time to ensure everyone is comfortable.

We will send you a complete packing list in advance of the trip beginning so you are clear on what to pack.

Fly into Bilbao Airport (BIO). This airport is well-connected to the rest of Europe with many direct flights daily. Please aim to arrive in the afternoon or evening on the first day; this allows time for meeting the team, a full briefing from our crew, and a chance to rest before we head out. Your departure flight on the final day should be booked for the afternoon, leaving no earlier than 1:00 PM.