Trekking in the Pyrenees

This hike, which will take you from the Basque mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, follows the famous GR10 route, the great Pyrenees Crossing. It features a variety of landscapes specific to the Basque Country, nestled in the heart of the Atlantic Pyrenees. The Basque Country is not to be defined in terms of high mountains and peaks, but rather by describing exceptional charms and cultural originality. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the historic capital of the Basque Country, you will walk towards Saint Etienne de Baïrorri, with the sumptuous Iparla crest in the background, and then towards Bidarray. From rolling hills to small peaks, you will then cross villages with magical names, such as Ainhoa, Sare, Dancharia, with bright and shimmering tones, built in the purest Basque tradition.
You will taste the Spanish atmosphere when reaching the border at the Col d'Ibardin, before descending towards Hendaye, to enjoy the charms of this lively coastal town bordered by the superb bay of Txingudi.

Between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea, in the heart of the sunblessed region of the Corbières you will find the imposing, mystic stone castles of the châteaux cathares. These castles represent a tragic, political and religious intrigue that shook the South of France and marked the region. During the week's walking you will discover landscapes of immense natural beauty, lush valleys and rolling hills. You will discover an interesting page of France's history along with some good local food and wines. The trails pass through a whole variety of terrain, each day is different, the vegetation, the ‘garrigue' is fragrant and often full of colour. Your itinerary follows the ‘Cathar Trail', a footpath that stretches from Port La Nouvelle to Foix.

Spanish Basque Country coast features the last reliefs of the Pyrenees, opening in some areas wonderful beaches surrounded with cliffs. The sea is clear, sometimes choppy with beautiful waves. You can take a bath, get a tan, but you can also, and above all, hike along the Pacific Ocean. Here, no jealous: ocean and mountain perfectly meet and merge. For you to be able to discover this amazing union between the natural features, we offer you the opportunity to cross the area from North to South, stopping every night in a seaside stopover. With the Ocean always at the background, you will go from hills to creeks, from cliffs to beaches, from lawns to forests.

The Spanish Basque Country coast features the last reliefs of the Pyrenees, opening in some areas wonderful beaches surrounded with cliffs. The sea is clear, sometimes choppy with beautiful waves. You can take a bath, get a tan, but you can also, and above all, hike along the Pacific Ocean. Here, no jealous: ocean and mountain perfectly meet and merge. For you to be able to discover this amazing union between the natural features, we offer you the opportunity to cross the area from North to South, stopping every night in a seaside stopover. With the Ocean always at the background, you will go from hills to creeks, from cliffs to beaches, from lawns to forests.

From Hendaye to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, come and discover on your bicycle the multi-faceted Basque Country! Just by the water side, you will start the week on a wonderful road linking Hendaye to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, weaving along the Basque corniche overlooking the Ocean. Then, the time will come to go further inland and reach the first Pyrenean massif: the Rhune, emblematic mountain of the Basque Country. Later on, you will discover many traditional villages with plenty of character, such as Sare, Ainhoa, Espelette, Itxassou, Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry…

Protected by the mountains and blessed with an exceptional quality of light, the Lubéron radiates with a palette of different colours. It is a terrain of sensations. The colours, fragrances and tastes of Provence will attack your senses, you can be sure to see some of natures wonders and sample some exceptionally good food and wine. The villages and the region's history are a real joy to discover, there is no better way than by cycling to really penetrate into the intimacy of the region. This itinerary will lead you through Roussillon and Rustrel where you will find the stunning bright ochre quarries. Perched villages, such as Bonnieux, Lacoste and Ménerbes, some of the most beautiful villages of France.

Mediterranean mildness, fantastic landscapes of the Corbières, vineyards, castles perched upon rocky outcrops, this is just a preview of what you can expect to discover during this colourful tour. In the Cathar Aude, some places steeped in history, such as Carcassonne, Lagrasse, or the Termes, Aguilar, Quéribus or Peyrepertuse Cathar castles, are still living testimonies of a recent past. A host of 7 exceptional Cathar castles and 2 abbeys will unveil their past history! All of these ancient strongholds are linked by sumptuous backroads in the heart of the Corbières and Fitou vineyards.

As it descends from the southern Alps, the River Durance makes a slow loop around a limestone plateau known as the ‘Luberon', a rugged, wooded region that stretches for about 65 kilometres between Cavaillon, in the East, and Manosque, at its western extremity. The western end is known as the ‘Petit Luberon' and the eastern end as the ‘Grand Luberon'. The two sections are divided by the Combe de Lourmarin (the old pathway), which cuts across the mountains between the charming villages of Bonnieux and Lourmarin. It's a beautiful region, rich in colour and contrasts, with vivid sprays of scented lavender, bright green vines, ochre-coloured villages and austere white limestone hills.

The Coast Vermeille (Scarlet Coast), is aptly named. It's situated on the southern French side of the Pyrenees Orientales. The Mediterranean sea to the east and the Alberes massive to the west. The other side of the border extends towards Cadaques in Spanish Catalonia. The cultivated terrassess of vines extend up the slopes and into the sunny valleys. They produce the famous BANYULS and COLLIOURE wines. This is a wonderfully vibrant land with a friendly population ??" who just love to party ! Everywhere the 'sardane' is danced in rounds for the tourists. The gastronomy is equally remarkable with wonderful local produce like for example anchovies or grilled fish. You can taste this wonderful Catalan cuisine as you look out over the sea. This is an exceptional walking area that you will discover with its contrasting landscapes. These are lands of red earth also nicknamed 'La Côte des Merveilles' (the Marvel Coast).

The first section, from Hendaye to Saint Jean Pied de Port, covers a variety of landscapes typical of the Pays Basque region, set in the heart of the Atlantic Pyrenees. The scenery has a charm and regional originality that you won't find elsewhere. Rolling hills, magical villages, such as Sare, Ainhoa and Dancharia that are seeped in Basque tradition, and a rich pyrenean flora and fauna are all waiting to be discovered. At the end of the walk you will reach the villages of Bidarray and Saint Etienne de Baigorry with the sumptuous Iparla mountain ridge in the background.

The first part of the itinerary is in the Pays Basque. The GR10 weaves its way from village to village, without reaching Spanish soil. An opportunity to discover villages typical of the region such as Estérençuby or Logibar. After Logibar, Sainte-Engrace, the most oriental of the basque mountain villages. From here the GR10 goes into a typically Pyrenean, high mountain setting. In gaining altitude you will reach St-Martin before descending upon the village of Lescun, renowned for its famous glacial cirque. The best part of the walk awaits you at the end of this section at the village of Estaut, in the Aspe valley, gateway to the Pyrenean National park.

From Etsaut to Cauterets, the GR10 takes you through the Pyrenean National Park. The park stretches from the Aspe valley to the Aure valley, along the Spanish border. Setting off from Etsaut, via the famous chemin de la Mâture, you will reach the grandiose surroundings of the Ossau valley, that opens out before you and affords a spectacular view of the pyramid-shaped Pic d'Ossau. From Gabas to Arrens valley, you encounter a succession of lakes and villages in stone and slate and a never-ending wilderness that serves as summer pastures. After having discovered the Arrens and Estaing valleys, you finish your holiday in the spa town of Cauterets.