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| Spain and France: The Basque Country
An 8-Day tour starting from $3,798
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your adventures throughout this lush, mountainous region explore scenic landscapes and an ancient culture unchanged since the time Columbus launched his fleet from these very shores. With the Pyrénées as a backdrop, the walks follow panoramic ridgelines, trout-filled streams, and centuries-old footpaths once trod by pilgrims and smugglers. Charming villages welcome you to experience a way of life rooted in a dramatic history—including foreign invasions by the Phoenicians and the Moors. Monasteries, private wine cellars, and mysterious caves add intrigue to a journey that begins in Bilbao, where modern-day Spain is celebrated through design achievements like the renowned Guggenheim Museum. Soon you reach the frontier—also a second meeting point, the quintessential French village of Sare. |
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• Experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides
• All transportation during the trip • All accommodations while on tour, including authentic posada inns, a simple restored farmhouse, and Gothic mansion, all private baths • All meals included except one lunch and two dinners; alcoholic beverages not included
DAY 1 Arrival - Bilbao or Sare; Senpère - Venta Bergara; 4-7 miles, easy
The group meets in the quintessential French Basque village of Sare for a short introduction before setting off on a gentle walk across the oak forest of Senpère and across the border into Spain. Following a former smuggler’s trail, you stop in Venta Bergara, once a smuggler’s hideout. A longer option brings you gently downhill among lush valleys greeting farmers and villagers along the way. You return to your charming country-house hotel for a gourmet welcome dinner and the beginning of an enthralling Basque adventure. Hôtel Arraya, Sare, France DAY 2 Crossing the Basque Pyrénées; 4-8 miles, easy to moderate on rocky terrain After breakfast and a 40-minute drive up Lizarreta Pass, the destination is the border between France and Spain. Above the tree line there are spectacular views of both sides of the frontier. Two walking options are offered this morning; the long option includes a steep 1,000-foot climb of approximately 45 minutes followed by a 1,350-foot descent along a rocky switchback trail. The easier option involves a 210-foot climb and an elevation loss of 150 feet. Both options ultimately arrive at the caves of Zugarramurdi, a small village that was once the site of persecutions and witch burnings. It was here that 31 women, reputed to be witches, were burned at the stake during the Spanish Inquisition. You visit the Cave of Akelarres (the alleged site of witchcraft ceremonies) before re-crossing the border and winding your way back to Sare along beautiful, wooded paths and roads. Dinner this evening is served in the hotel’s farmhouse restaurant and may feature hake filled with local chorizo (sausage) or free-range chicken marinated in cider. A chocolate cake with sorbet and nougatine is likely to complete the feast. Hôtel Arraya, Sare, France DAY 3 Sare - Burguete; Camino de Santiago; 6 miles, moderate, 1,000-ft elevation loss on steep and rocky terrain. Roncesvalles - Burguete; 3 miles, easy This morning you depart by private coach for Ibañeta Pass, immortalized in the Song of Roland and the site of Emperor Charlemagne’s defeat by the Basques. En route you may stop at the beautiful French border town of St. Jean-Pied-de-Port. The drop-off point allows you to walk, as millions of pilgrims have done for a thousand years, along the lush trail leading to Santiago de Compostela. The walk provides spectacular views above the tree line and descends into beech forest. After crossing from France, you descend along a steep trail to the legendary town of Roncesvalles and visit its ancient monastery (or weather and time permitting, continue on foot to the next hotel.) You spend your first night in Spain in the village of Burguete, at an old farm recently restored into a comfortable, family-run hotel. Tonight dinner is at Ernest Hemingway’s favorite refuge in the Pyrénées, where the same menu is served that he describes in his novel The Sun Also Rises: a hearty meal of Sopa de Verdura and Trucha a La Navarra (vegetable soup and freshly caught trout stuffed with smoked ham). Hotel Loizu, Burguete, Spain DAY 4 Burguete - Espinal; 5.2 miles, easy to moderate. Pamplona visit; 2 miles, easy After breakfast you depart on foot from the hotel and follow a medieval cobblestone road across fields and forests. These were the first steps of the pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela in the Spanish valleys. Passing by cattle farms and crossing fresh green pastureland, you reach the peaceful villages of Espinal and Bizkarret, once settlements of ancient inns, since this road was the main route to the Iberian Peninsula at one time. Later in the morning you drive to Pamplona, the former capital of the Kingdom of Navarre, with narrow cobblestoned streets and medieval walls. Walking along Estafeta Street—the path of the world famous Encierro (running of the bulls), you have some free time to browse in the shops and choose a lunch of tapas or other regional specialties. After lunch, continuing on by minibus to La Rioja, the landscape takes on more of a Mediterranean look—with vineyards, olive groves, and ancient hilltop villages. Entering the village of Samaniego, a Baroque manor house is your home for the next two nights. Later, the group gathers in one of the local bodegas (wine cellars) for a visit and wine tasting of the celebrated Rioja. Tonight you can enjoy an evening of independent strolling and dining in the wine town of Laguardia. Palacio de Samaniego, Samaniego, Spain DAY 5 La Rioja: Santa Maria de la Piscina - San Ginés; 4 miles, easy or Toloño Castle; 8-9 miles, moderate, 1,092-ft elevation gain; 2,076-ft elevation loss Today is devoted to exploring the northern portion of La Rioja. You may choose a walk to the ruins of Toloño Castle and monastery with spectacular views of the wine country. The route begins at the Rivas de Tereso pass (at 3,051 feet) and after descending along a paved road, it continues along a gravel trail for approximately three miles. The walk winds uphill for about two miles on mountain trails until you reach the ruins of a 14th-century monastery, and just to the west, the massive rocky formation known as Toloño Castle. A shorter, easier walk option takes you through world-renowned vineyards, beginning at the Romanesque chapel of Santa Maria de la Piscina, set amidst poppy fields. There is time to relax before a special dinner in the hotel’s exceptional restaurant. Palacio de Samaniego, Samaniego, Spain DAY 6 The Cantabrian Alps: Urkiola - Arrazola; 7-10 miles, easy to moderate or Atxondo Valley; 3 miles, easy After a buffet breakfast, there is approximately a one-hour drive to the starting point of today’s walk. Circumventing the peaks of the National Park of Urkiola, you climb along a steep trail for the first part of this walk before continuing through pasture, century-old beech forest, and alongside glacial streams slowly descending into the valley of Atxondo and the village of Arrazola. The tinkling bells of the Laixa sheep welcome you to this fertile region. An easier walk option from Apatamonasterio to Arrazola takes you through the former copper and iron ore mines of Amboto. Both walks finish at the impressive farmhouse of Makatzeta, which has been converted into a restaurant. With views of spectacular limestone peaks and lush farmland, you can relax from the walking over a cup of tea or a glass of cold beer. Late in the afternoon, you transfer to the ocean side of the Basque Country and the citadel of Hondarribia. You spend two nights in a Gothic palace with a terrace open to views of both the Spanish and French banks of Bidosoa estuary leading out to the Bay of Biscay. Dinner this evening is on your own. Hotel Obispo, Hondarribia, Spain DAY 7 Coastal Cliffs and Villages: Artikutza - Arantza; 10 miles, easy to moderate, 700-ft elevation gain, 1,700-ft elevation loss on steep and rocky terrain To complete this diverse tour of the Basque Country, today you stroll in the mountains above the ocean, beginning at Eskas, the entrance to the Artikutza Reservoir. The walk follows the ridge of the hills of Artikutza, dotted with prehistoric tombs, holly, walnut, and beech trees, and offering impressive views of the Pyrénées. You return for a final Basque culinary feast by the harbor in a restaurant renowned for its typical local cider. Hotel Obispo, Hondarribia, Spain DAY 8 Farewell This tour in the Basque Country concludes after breakfast. You may choose to spend the day on the beach in Hondarribia or take a short taxi ride to your air or rail connections. Note: The above is a 2008 itinerary. The 2009 itinerary will be available soon - please call for details Itinerary Changes Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events, or weather. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.
You trace the Pilgrim’s Way (Camino de Santiago) into the celebrated Rioja wine region and conclude in the heart of farm country, exploring the emerald Cantabrian valleys undulating to the Atlantic Ocean. The vibrant cities of Pamplona and Hondarribia add allure to this diverse destination. At day’s end, you relax in lodgings rich in the character of the region. Comfortable posada inns evoke simple elegance, while a 19th-century mansion and a Gothic palace add historic dimension. Authentic meals, influenced by the French and Spanish in equal measure, earn their worldwide acclaim and deepen our admiration of Basque culture.
You trace the Pilgrim’s Way (Camino de Santiago) into the celebrated Rioja wine region and conclude in the heart of farm country, exploring the emerald Cantabrian valleys undulating to the Atlantic Ocean. The vibrant cities of Pamplona and Hondarribia add allure to this diverse destination. At day’s end, you relax in lodgings rich in the character of the region. Comfortable posada inns evoke simple elegance, while a 19th-century mansion and a Gothic palace add historic dimension. Authentic meals, influenced by the French and Spanish in equal measure, earn their worldwide acclaim and deepen our admiration of Basque culture. • Walk on the pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago • Walks, wine tasting, and avant-garde architecture in the Rioja region • Seaside citadel of Hondarribia • Visit to Pamplona, site fo the "Running of the Bulls" • Authentic posada inns and Gothic palace accommodations Walk Ratings • Moderate terrain • 7 to 9 miles per day with occasional options • Please note that there are daily ascents and descents, with some steep sections, often on dirt trails and/or rocky mule paths All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.
2008 Single Supplement $355 2009 Single Supplement $475 As arrangements are confirmed at least a year in advance, the tour price is subject to change. Reserve early to guarantee the best available price. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
