The Bardenas Reales is a desert in the North of Spain, not far from Pamplona. Not made of sand, but of clay, chalk and sandstone, this peculiar desert offers incredible sights. I definitely recommend hiking a few days there, to see all the beauty it has to offer. I also recommend hiring a guide to travel around the Bardena blanca, Negra and the central plateau. Here’s why.
1 – It’s Easy To Get Lost In The Bardenas Reales
The Bardenas Reales are shaped by the wind and the rain. Even today, the desert changes every week: some summits fall, some bridges break, some watercourses appear and some holes are created.
There’s no real waymarked path that you can follow and it’s easy to get lost in the desert. When I saw the routes we took, I was glad I had opted for a group tour, because on my own, I wouldn’t have felt confident and I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate the extraordinary views.
Our 2 guides regularly travel around the Bardenas Reales to make sure their paths still exist and they prepare them for the hikes. For example, they had made a little bridge out of wood so that we could cross a small river.
Plus, there’s a military base within the Bardenas Reales. Although it’s marked by signs, I still felt more comfortable with guides. The military regularly conducts bombing exercises to test and train soldiers, often launching bombs from planes. The guide mentioned that you see the explosion before hearing it. So if you see a cloud, protect your ears!
2 – You Won’t Be Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere
When it started to rain, we faced difficulties to reach our destination. One of the buses couldn’t cross a giant puddle. So we turned around. Our guides knew when the puddle was too big, and knew an alternate route to arrive at the intended destination.
If you take your own car, be careful! Even if it’s a desert, there can be a lot of water on the roads.
3 – You’ll Learn Cool Stuff About The Bardenas Reales Fauna And Flaura
Guides will show you where to find paw prints and tarantula nests. They will tell you about the history of the Bardenas Reales site, about the salty waters, and about the type of plants you can find there.
This is so much more interesting than just walking in the desert and not really learning about what you see and when it appeared.
4 – The Guides Will Find The Best Photo And Picnic Spots for You
How long until you can sit down and eat in front of a beautiful view? If you don’t know the way, you might ask yourself that question a lot. Your guide will know the perfect spot with flat stones to sit on, and incredible formations to look at while eating.
They will also show you where and how to get an awesome picture of the Bardenas Reales and of yourself.
5 – You Will Have Alternative Activities To Hiking In The Bardenas Reales In Case Of Bad Weather
What if one day it’s impossible to hike? What could you do near the Bardenas Reales? Once again, guides will know where to go, when the entrance fee is free and where the best restaurants are.
Originally, I booked a group tour, because I thought that it would be cheaper and because I really wanted to spend a week in the Bardenas Reales desert to see all the different sites. But, once I was doing the tour, I also realized that I would not have enjoyed the hikes as much had I been on my own.
It’s just impossible to see all the beautiful things and to feel safe if you’re not with someone who knows the desert like the back of their hand. Our guides were able to adapt to bad weather, new rivers, different hikers’ needs, and they were there to help us climb the hills or go down the trenches.
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