Basque & Béarn Itineraries
Walking Tours in Basque & Béarn, France
These tours cover the Béarn and the Basque regions taking us through breathtaking scenery and offering a long list of unforgettable culture, history, charm and of course – food!!!!
May
This tour will cover my region of the Béarn and part of the Basque regions taking us through breathtaking scenery and snow capped mountains during the spring season. You will be able to share a day with local villagers and play ancient games and of course taste some of the regional food and wine. I am proud to be Béarnais and to share my village life with you!
Day 1
All participants will be met at Pau railway station and taken to the hotel in Monein. The afternoon will be free to relax and explore the village. Welcome drinks with folk singers performing local traditional songs, followed by dinner in the hotel.
Day 2
Journey by bus to the village of Gavarnie for a three-hour return walk to Le Cirque de Gavarnie. Picnic lunch. On the way back, a quick stop to see the twelfth century church in the village of Luz St Sauveur. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Day 3
Journey by bus to Gamarthe for an easy village to village walk retracing part of the ancient St Jacques de Compostella pilgrimage route (14 km), ending in St Jean Pied de Port, the last French port before crossing the mountains into Spain. Free time to wander through the old fortified village. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4
Journey by bus to Bious Artigues to the three D’Ayous lakes for a five hour walk. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 5
Relaxing day including a village to village walk to give us a chance to experience the local countryside. Light lunch at a local ‘gite’ with free time in Monein in the afternoon. Dinner in one of Pau’s finest restaurants.
Day 6
Journey by bus to walk to Lake D’Estaiens, a four hour walk. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7
Journey by bus via the Baretou Valley for a six-hour walk in the Olcarte Gorges. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8
Quick trip to my village, Abos, for a game of quille de neuf and quille de six and a stroll around the village, including an official welcome by the village Mayor. Lunch and a wine tasting in a nearby vineyard followed by a 3 kilometre walk back to Monein . Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
The bus will take all the participants to Pau railway station to catch the train for Paris.
October
The Basque country is one of France’s most colourful regions offering a long list of unforgettable culture, history, charm and of course – food!!!! A place to remember!
Day 1
All participants will be met at Bayonne railway station and taken to the hotel in Espelette. The afternoon will be free to relax and explore the village. Welcome drinks followed by dinner in the hotel.
Day 2
Bus trip to St Jean Pied de Port to spend time at the local market and then on to the village of Irouléguy where we will start our 8 km country lane walk to the village of St Étienne de Baigorry. Picnic lunch. After lunch we will stroll around the village and later visit a chilli farm. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Day 3
Bus trip to Les Aldudes for a four-hour walk among the palombieres (the wild squab hunting huts) with magical valley views. Picnic lunch. After the walk we will visit a Basque Charcuterie, enjoy a tasting and see the unique breed of Basque pig. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Day 4
We will cross the border into Spain and walk along the ridge of Mount Jaizkebel to the seaport of Passajes taking in the spectacular views of the Pyrénées and the Atlantic. Light lunch in a restaurant and free time to visit the village. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 5
Rest day.
The morning will start with a guided tour of Espelette with a local personality, followed by a visit to the chocolate maker and then a tasting of the locally produced foie gras. We will then make our way to the port of Socoa, for Ttoro, a traditional Basque seafood soup, followed by a stroll along the water’s edge and free time to experience the history and charm of St Jean de Luz. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 6
Bus trip to Bidarray for a spectacular four-hour walk in the hills surrounding the village. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7
Four hour walk in the hills surrounding the village of Itxassou with a casual lunch in country restaurant. The afternoon will be spent playing some traditional French games. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8
Trip to the Col Ignasse for a ride on the petit train to the top of La Rhune. A two and a half-hour walk will take us back down the mountain. Picnic lunch. We will stop in Ainhoa for a little time to explore this beautiful village. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
The bus will take all the participants to Bayonne railway station in the morning to catch the train for Paris.
Basque Region Walking Tour 2024 /2025
22nd September – 30th September, 2024
Cost per person, twin-share – AUD $ 4584 Single supplement – AUD $ 495
21st September – 29th September, 2025
Cost per person, twin-share – AUD $4710 Single Supplement – AUD $ 495
Pyrenees Tours
Principal: Patrick Arrieula
A.B.N 732 1201 1211
Office Address: 20 Albert Street, Bowral
Postal Address: PO Box 469, Bowral, N.S.W, 2576, Australia
Ph: (61) 02 4862 5711
Email: pyrenees@acenet.com.au
