Bear & wolf tracking: Asturias, northern Spain

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Destination: Pola de Somiedo, Asturias, Northern Spain

Dates: 26th - 30th November (Leadership program....Prices on request)

           22nd - 29th March 2025 (places available)

           24th - 31st May 2025 (places available)

           05th - 12th July 2025 (places available)

Duration: 7 days 

Group Size: 8 people

Age: 16+

Cost: 1350 euros

This trip is set in the heart of Picos de Europa national park in Northern Spain. It is timed to coincide with the period of awakening from the winter torpor (semi hibernation) of the European brown bear. Snow is still present on the mountain tops so tracking wolf and bear populations is A fantastic way to spend early/late spring and summer. 

The region of Asturias is a truly wild landscape, one of the rawest I have found in Europe. Semi wild horses have become the favoured prey for the local Iberian wolf packs, 100's of griffon vultures scavenge the carcasses from wolf kills in what is fast becoming an ecosystem built by naturalised apex predators. The area houses the highest concentration of European brown bears in Europe. The sub species that survived in this area is the Cantabrian brown bear. Slightly smaller than the Central European brown bear but nevertheless just as magnificent to see in the wild.

During all our trips we try to enter the state of 2 eyed seeing or as the native Americans call it Etuaptmumk. This means learning about the deep ecology of the species we focus on from a researched scientific stance  but it also means learning to engage in a deep understanding of the land itself. I believe these 2 ways of seeing offer a holistic way not to just engage with wildlife but also to connect yourself to the natural world in a truly meaningful way. 

On this trip we will wild camp on mountain ridgelines and seek out the wild corners of a a truly diverse and unique landscape in order to maximise our learning and to engage the art of Etuaptmumk. We will become the bear ha!

Alongside wild camping we will be based from European Walking Safari's HQ. A renovated hotel in the hills of Picos de Europa that has been turned into a Wildlife & Permaculture hub for the local region. Much of the food we will eat on the trip has be grown own our land and there is opportunity to take a deep dive into the fascinating world of Rewilding, a movement that looks to change the way we inhabit and connect with the land around us. 

This trip is based on hiking within remote wilderness areas so a good level of fitness is required. Wild camping is also scheduled on the itinerary however this is not a bushcraft experience rather an engagement with natures intricate networks and your own relationship to it

TERMS & CONDITIONS AT BOTTOM OF CONTACT PAGE

Please contact europeanwalkingsafari@gmail.com for more details and bookings