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Guided walking & holiday packages
Touring: France, Vietnam, Laos & Bhutan
FRANCE - Walking in the western Pyrenees
SAMPLE ITINERARY
The following walks are a typical example of our program. The choice
and/or order of walks may change to suit conditions. Dave has about
25 walks in his repertoire.
Day 1
Meet at Dax railway station at 16h30 and transfer to our comfortable
farmhouse in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Day 2 - Ostabat (5 hours, 12 kms.)
A fairly gentle start to the week. This walk starts from the Col
d'Ipharlatzé (a saddle within view of the house) and heads
north along the edge of the Lantabat valley. Winding through gentle
farming country, our route eventually joins the pilgrimage route
to Santiago de Compostela (the GR65) and passes the 12th century
chapel in Harambelz, once a staging post for the pilgrimage and
a sanctuary for those who had run the gauntlet of bears, wolves
and human predators in the Ostabat woods. We end the walk in Ostabat
itself, former meeting point of several of the routes leading to
Santiago.
Day 3 - Urdos (4 hours, 8 kms)
Urdos is a tiny hamlet with an ancient château and a 17C chapel,
and is the starting point for one of our shorter walks, some 40
minutes drive from Etxexuria. We climb up by the river under the
shade of chestnut and oak woodland, past picturesque old barns,
shepherds' huts, craggy rocks and lush vegetation. The occasional
herd of wild goats, salamander lizards, and evidence of badgers,
can also enliven proceedings. We have the option of walking up to
the Iparla ridge and the Spanish border, from where we continue
along below the ridge before circling round and behind a mountain,
prior to descending back towards Urdos.
Day 4 - Source of the Bidouze (6 hours - 12 kms)
There is a mystical, Lord of the Rings feel to this walk, which
is undertaken, for the most part, in beech forest. We leave the
minibus on the edge of the forest, then start a long but gentle
uphill in shade, by the River Bidouze. Eventually we arrive at a
vertical limestone cliff face below a hanging valley, and are faced
with a dark cave containing the source of the Bidouze, and if one
is to believe Basque legend, the home of a "laminak" or
two (Basque equivalent of leprechauns)! From here we hit a track
that takes us to our lunch spot above the hanging valley, where
we enjoy wonderful views of surrounding forest and mountains. After
lunch, we continue the circuit past a wood pigeon netting site (only
active in October), eventually dropping down and through lush farmland
surrounded by hills, to the minibus.
Day 5 - Col d'Ispéguy (6 hours - 12 kms)
One of the most attractive villages in the Pays Basque is Saint
Etienne de Baïgorry, on the road to Spain from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port,
and about 40 minutes drive from Etxexuria. Halfway up a stunning
pass leading from St Etienne to the Spanish border we park, then
wind round and up a hill to join the GR10. This continues up past
cliffs to the Spanish border, where the path turns east and we follow
it with superb views into both Spain and France to the col d'Ispéguy
(one of the Pyrenean crossing points for the mother of all cycle
races, the Tour de France). There are several opportunities for
cool drinks and purchase of gifts or even duty free alcohol at low
Spanish prices!! The last phase of the walk includes a descent down
the valley through shaded woods and by the side of a fast flowing
mountain stream.
Day 6 - Salies de Béarn (0 kms!)
As a rest from walking, today we drive north out of the Basque country
to this charming mediaeval Béarnaise town. Here you can wander
around a typical French market, do any necessary banking or post
office business before lunching in the local park. In the early
afternoon you can visit the town's famous spa baths to relieve any
aching muscles. The claim is that the baths can cure you of anything
from infertility to blindness!
Day 7 - Sommet d'Occabé (5 hours, 12 kms.)
Starting at the Col de Burdincurutcheta (1135m), this walk climbs
up through the Iraty beech forest (the largest in western Europe)
to a large open plateau and the Summit of Occabé at 1456m
and the highest in the area accessible on foot . Here we pass a
formation of 26 cromlechs (stone circles) dating back to the Iron
Age. After lunch we descend back into the forest
Day 8
Pack and transfer to Dax railway station by 09h00.
France: Walking in the western Pyrenees
Dates and costs
27 September – 11 October 2008
$1725 per person per week double/twin share with shared bathroom
and $1825 en suite per person per week twin share, joining in France.
(WEEK 1 FULL)
26 September – 10 October 2009
$1800 per person per week double/twin share with shared bathroom
and $1900 en suite per person per week twin share, joining in France.
There is a 10% reduction for two week bookings.
Best Travels, 82 Bellevue Street, CAMMERAY, NSW
2062
tel (61+) 2 9929 9391 besttravels@ozemail.com.au
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