In the high Andean trails of Venezuela there is one that is very little known, a path that connects the Pico Espejo station with the town of Los Nevados.

The journey begins in high mountain terrain, you’ll go through different altitudinal floors and a unique ecosystem lives in each one of them. It is an old trail used by the inhabitants of Los Nevados to get closer to the high mountains. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, many of them reached the snowy zone and cut blocks of ice from the glaciers to sell them in the cities. A few years later, it served as an access route for the first explorers and scientists of the Venezuelan Andes.

An ideal and relatively easy route for lovers of high mountain hikes, with beautiful natural settings, a lot of history and little traffic.

This program was thought of and designed with convenience, safety and comfort of the camp as top priority. Imagine a spa in the middle of the mountain and in the background the highest mountains in Venezuela!

This is made possible with our thermal tents that have been specially designed to withstand high temperatures and that become a portable sauna taken to all our camps. The experience is a Banya (traditional Russian sauna) performed in beautiful settings through the Venezuelan Andes.

Now we tell you a little more about what the Banya is about.

The traditional Russian sauna, better known as "banya" is a steam or dry bath at a very high temperature, between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius, the air and internal steam circulate thanks to the use of a brush or bunch of eucalyptus leaves and the air inside is infused with small bouquets of aromatic herbs.

Banya is an activity deeply rooted in Slavic culture and its origins date back to the Viking settlements in Novgorod who used these spaces to heal body and soul through the combination of the four elements; fire, water, earth and air.

The activity consists of entering the sauna in a bathing suit or light clothing and wearing a wet cap on the head to prevent the body from overheating. Remain inside the sauna between 5 to 15 minutes. Then go outside and take a cold shower to even out your body heat and cool down.

This dynamic can be repeated four times or as many times as you think or feel are necessary for your body. The idea is that you enjoy the experience and your body and mind are in complete relaxation.

After the second session, a brush or bouquet called Venik is used to lightly whip the body and help blood circulation, as well as to activate the essential oils of eucalyptus on the body, which due to their properties, aids in relaxing the muscles. The brush also helps circulate the air inside the sauna.

The physical effort performed in the high mountains is demanding, the muscles are sore. A sauna session is the ideal activity for recovery and eliminating fatigue. The sensation is of complete relaxation and at the end of the sauna you will enjoy a hot tea surrounded by beautiful Andean mountains.

In each camp the use of the thermal tent and an outdoor Banya session is included, a warm and comfortable space in the high mountains.