Europe’s mini Grand Canyon!
Robbie SinclairWho knew we have our very own mini Grand Canyon here in Europe!
Oliver & Robbie finished their week of driving around Southern France & Spain with a scenic trip taking them from the culturally rich and foodie haven of the Basque Country, to an area of stark contrast; one of Spain’s most scenic deserts where they stayed in one of the country’s most unique (and Instagramable) hotels…
After a few glorious days driving over the Pyrenees and through the Basque Country I had become used to seeing jaw dropping lush landscapes at every turn. Babbling brooks, waterfalls and endless skylines of green stretched out before us as we sat in our 4×4 watching in amazement whilst trees whizzed passed our windows. The roads were strangely quiet and this beautiful backdrop felt like it was just for us as we cruised around hairpin turns and over serene mountains. It was magical.
The road journey from Biarritz to the Bardenas Reales Natural Park should be about a two and a half hour drive. However we took a little longer so we could take lots of scenic photos along the way. The extra time we spent was worth it and we made sure we had plenty of pastries and coffee which we had bought in a quaint little bakery. It was just us two, a podcast, tasty treats and stunning views.
Our sat-nav instructed us to turn onto a small dirt track and it was time for our next adventure. As we entered the Aire De Bardenas Hotel compound, I felt like I was headed to a space station outpost. We were full of excitement and intrigue as we pulled into the parking area of the semi permanent structure. The single story hotel is boarded with repurposed wooden pallets that blends in with the landscape surrounding it and after the glamour of Biarritz it was really nice to add on a quirkier element to our trip.
After staying at a number of unusual places including Petit St Vincent; a private island in the Caribbean and The Ice Hotel and Tree Hotel in Sweden, we have grown a penchant for unique hotels. Aire de Bardenas was the perfect choice for our next out of the box stay.
Sat in a wheat field, Aire de Bardenas looks out onto the town of Tudela and behind it sits the most incredible desert view. The unique part of this hotel isn’t its incredible setting, nor is it the homegrown vegetables or its friendly staff, although these are all high up on the list. The thing that makes Aire de Bardenas so amazing is their bubble tent rooms that allow you to sleep under the stars and be at one with nature. The aluminium and reinforced plastic structure boasts an inflatable dome that houses a transparent bedroom and covered private bathroom, all cleverly situated to avoid prying eyes. We had a more “traditional” room so after taking a look around the space we collected our keys and turned onto the strange Sci-fi like corridor to find our room, we entered number 9; the last room on the left.
The simple room seemed very Scandinavian. Simplicity and functionality is teamed with quiet design details at Aire De Bardenas and I instantly feel a sense of calm. At the end of the bed there is a large window with a lazy day bed and on the other side of the window sits the wow factor moment. A large metal bathtub resides in a stark yard that reminds me again of a moon base only seen in Sci-fi movies. Despite the unusual design, the unique landscape seems utterly romantic and feels like a perfect option for honeymooners or those wanting to reconnect with each other.
When booking a hotel my top priority is always a bathtub so I was pleased to see that the reception area stocked LUSH products to satisfy the instagram hungry hashtaggers that frequented the hotel, I of course was no exception so I dashed out to buy a new one. Although the thought of a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine seemed very tempting we couldn’t stop and relax just yet, there was one more thing on the list we needed to see, so we grabbed our map and some water and jumped back into the 4×4 to hit the road.
This time we headed towards Bardenas Reales Natural Park which was just 5 km from our hotel. I had heard great things about this place but couldn’t quite believe my eyes as we entered the desert. It took me a minute to realise that I was actually in Spain and not in mini Monument Valley. As we drove onto the small rough road towards the natural park, google tells me that it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and never fails to surprise its visitors… I can see why! Boasting a whopping 42,500 hectares of photographable desert like landscape it feels more like a film set from Star Wars rather than a natural park in Spain!
The soils are made up of sandstone, chalk and clay and thanks to years of wind and water damage the landscape has eroded away to create the most fantastical natural hills, craters and gorges. They say that seeing is believing and you do REALLY need to see this place to believe it. As we drove through the park we noticed a military firing range and some buildings that felt very top secret. After around 2 hours of exploration and around 200 photographs we called it a day and headed back. We cruised passed the many cyclists in the park and ventured out.
Back in the quietude of our hotel and with a large glass of red wine I watched the bath bomb fizz around the huge tub creating swirls of orange. I closed my eyes and thought about our adventure. This trip had felt like 4 holidays in 1, lush mountains and plush spa days juxtaposed with dry deserts and off road driving. It was perfect!
BARCELONA & DESERT TWIN-CENTRE BREAK
- Return flights to Barcelona
- Pre-booked seats & checked in luggage
- Arrival private transfer from airport into the city
- 1 night 4* hotel in Barcelona with breakfast
- City centre car hire collection, 3 days hire
- 2 nights Aires De Bardenas hotel, Bubble with breakfast
- Advice & hints on enjoying the desert drive
- Self-drive back to airport for car drop off
This is just an example of what we can offer. Contact us to discuss your requirements and our travels specialists can create the perfect trip to Aire de Bardenas and other areas of Spain for you.
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