Reviews
Pick-Up Included
Private Tour
Free Cancellation
DurationStart Time: 09:00am
- Cross Three Countries: Journey through France, Andorra, and Spain following real WWII escape routes.
- 4WD Historical Expedition: Travel deep into the Pyrenees by private vehicle to access remote wartime sites.
- WWII-Era Hotel Stay: Sleep where refugees and Allied pilots once stayed after crossing the border.
- Optional Trail Hikes: Choose from two immersive walking experiences along authentic escape paths.
- Visit a Francoist Prison: Discover what happened to escapees who were captured in Spain.
- Explore Hidden Crossings: Access secret mountain passes and smuggling routes used during the war.
- Storytelling & Research: Learn about resistance fighters, smugglers, and refugees through in-depth narration and firsthand sources.
- Romanesque Church of Santa Coloma: Understand how WWII impacted Andorra’s oldest church and its medieval artwork.
- Historic Village of Ordino: Walk through one of Andorra’s most important towns during the WWII era.
- Private & Personalized: Fully guided and customizable experience with expert WWII storytelling.
- WWII History Enthusiasts: Travelers passionate about the untold stories of resistance, survival, and escape across Europe.
- Jewish Heritage Travelers: Those interested in tracing the hidden Jewish escape routes through the Pyrenees.
- Curious Explorers: Adventurous minds seeking a meaningful experience beyond traditional sightseeing.
- Hikers with a Purpose: Walkers who want to follow historic trails while learning the human stories behind them.
- Small Groups & Private Travelers: Couples, friends, or families looking for a private, immersive, and personalized experience.
- Researchers & Educators: Academics and lifelong learners eager to explore rarely visited sites and authentic WWII landscapes.
This two-day historical expedition traces the real-life WWII escape routes used by Jewish refugees, Allied pilots, and resistance fighters fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. Far from a standard sightseeing tour, it follows a powerful narrative—one of courage, danger, and survival—through some of the most remote and dramatic landscapes of the Pyrenees.
During World War II, the high mountain trails of Andorra and the Spanish Pyrenees became secret corridors to freedom. Thousands risked everything to escape across this harsh frontier—helped by smugglers, villagers, and underground networks. Andorra, neutral and secluded, became a vital refuge. Its location between occupied France and Francoist Spain turned it into a key transit point, with over 27,000 individuals believed to have passed through during the war.
Across the Central Pyrenees of Lleida—in regions like Alt Urgell, Pallars Sobirà, and Cerdanya—underground escape networks allowed some to reach safety in Britain, the U.S., Palestine, or Latin America. Many others were captured, imprisoned, or sent back. These mountains witnessed both hope and heartbreak, and their trails are steeped in memory.
To honor these hidden histories, the several research projects in catalonia has mapped and signposted six major WWII escape trails. These routes, aligned with France’s Chemin de la Liberté (Liberty Road), form the backbone of our journey.
We begin in Barcelona and travel north to the French border region, tracing the same mountain passes, forests, and smuggler trails used during the war. Traveling by private 4WD, we cross into neutral Andorra, stopping at scenic lookouts and key WWII sites to understand how these dramatic escapes unfolded.
In Andorra, we uncover the role of this tiny nation during the Nazi occupation of France—from Vichy diplomacy to refugee shelters. We visit Ordino, once a wartime hub of underground activity, and spend the night in a historic hotel that housed real-life fugitives—a place where the walls still hold their stories. That afternoon, we walk a section of an original freedom trail, reliving the emotional and physical challenge of crossing the Pyrenees on foot.
On Day Two, we explore the UNESCO-listed Santa Coloma Church and its unexpected wartime history, before descending into the southern Pyrenees of Spain. But reaching Spain wasn’t always the end of the journey—many refugees were caught by Franco’s Guardia Civil and detained. We visit a historic prison where escapees were held, and follow forgotten backroads and footpaths once used by smugglers and guides. Along the way, we continue with short walking segments on preserved trails, allowing you to walk in the very footsteps of those who risked everything.
This journey blends immersive storytelling, first-hand research, and spectacular natural beauty into one unforgettable expedition. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience history in motion—across three nations, multiple cultures, and one of the most compelling escape stories of the 20th century.
Inclusion- Pickup and Drop-off
- Professional Local Guide
- Air-Conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
Exclusion- Hotel accommodation fee
- All ticket & entrance fees
- Travel Insurance
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Additional Notes
Available language: English
1- Ask us to adjust the itinerary to your preferences.
2- Pickup & Drop-off From Hotel, Apartment, Cruise Port or Airport of Barcelona
3- Child seat is available upon a request.
Morning: After departing from Barcelona, we journey toward the French Pyrenees, where we begin our historical journey through the landscapes that witnessed some of WWII's most daring escapes. Our first stop is a historic site that highlights the crucial escape routes used by Jewish refugees and Allied airmen fleeing Nazi control.
As we hike along the preserved paths, we’ll uncover how the harsh mountain terrain became both a barrier and a lifeline for those on the run. The stories we share are not just about locations—they’re about people, resilience, and hope. Along the way, we pause at lookout points and hidden crossings that smuggling networks and resistance fighters used to help individuals cross into neutral Andorra.
Lunch: We stop in a traditional mountain village for a local lunch before continuing our journey into Andorra, where WWII history comes to life through the stories of smugglers, guides, and ordinary villagers who risked everything to shelter refugees.
Afternoon: After lunch, we make our way across the border into Andorra, stopping at key sites in the capital, Andorra la Vella, to understand how the presence of the Vichy government impacted daily life and the secret escape routes. You'll learn how the government’s collaboration with the Nazis contrasted with the courageous actions of Andorran citizens, who defied orders to aid those in need.
We’ll continue to the village of Ordino, a wartime hub of resistance, where we’ll visit a heritage hotel—once used by refugees and escapees. This authentic WWII site serves as a poignant reminder of the risks people took to ensure others’ survival. We’ll end the day with a short hike through one of the freedom trails, walking in the very footsteps of those who escaped tyranny.
Overnight: Stay in a charming, historical hotel in Andorra that once played a vital role in the region’s wartime history.
Morning: After breakfast, we begin our day with a visit to the Santa Coloma Church, a Romanesque structure that holds a deep historical significance. This church was directly impacted by the events of WWII, and it tells the story of the hardships faced by those passing through Andorra on their way to Spain.
We then descend into the southern Pyrenees, where the route takes us through the challenging backroads and hidden paths used by smugglers and guides. As we journey deeper into Spain, we’ll learn the fate of those who managed to cross into neutral territories—many were intercepted by Franco’s Guardia Civil and imprisoned in historical prisons.
Lunch: Stop for lunch in a local town near the border, with a chance to reflect on the stories of heroism and survival that have shaped these landscapes.
Afternoon: After lunch, we visit one of the historic prisons where refugees were detained by Franco’s regime before being sent to camps or worse. Here, we hear about the final stages of the escape routes and the sacrifices made to ensure that thousands of people found safety. We’ll take a short hike along another preserved WWII escape trail, walking through the natural landscapes that once harbored refugees.
The day concludes with a drive back through the Pyrenees to Barcelona, reflecting on the stories of those who risked everything for freedom, as well as the landscapes that helped them survive the darkness of war.
We return to Barcelona in the evening, where your tour of the Jewish and Allied WWII escape trails comes to a close. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on the incredible stories shared during this immersive, historical journey through the Pyrenees.
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