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Splendid Nature Parks of the Spanish Basque Country

Name: Splendid Nature Parks of the Spanish Basque Country
Brand: Respyrénées
Price: 950 EUR
Availability: InStock

Spain - Spanish Bask country

Guided walking

Guided Walking

6 Days

5 Nights

5 Activity Days

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From 950,00 €

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Here is a holiday full of surprises and good vibes, with a focus on sports.

The Spanish Basque Country is best known for its coastline and ocean, but its hinterland is home to limestone mountain ranges that form natural ramparts: the sierras. From these, the views are beautiful and far-reaching.
Some of the mountain ranges have been classified as Natural Parks due to their beauty and cultural and heritage interest. Every day, we will hike in one of these ranges, and the great names of the Basque mountains, such as Anboto, Jaizkibel, Aizkorri, Txindoki, will hold no more secrets for you. The predominant colour is green, which makes the landscapes vibrant and magnificent.
These are imposing and relatively demanding mountain ranges, proud to offer level 3 hikes (up to 900 metres of elevation gain). Indeed, such a level is necessary to reach the highest peaks and complete the most interesting hikes in their entirety.
As the ocean remains inseparable from the Basque Country, we will also spend two days hiking in the Flysch massif overlooking the sea between Zumaia and Deba, and in the cathedrals of colour and erosion of Jaizkibel.
Hiking is great, but when travelling in the Basque Country, it would be a serious mistake to miss out on its culture, history, heritage and atmosphere. Of course, our local guide, a specialist in the Basque Country, will tell you all about the remains such as dolmens and menhirs encountered along the way, and why there is a chapel here and there. We will also discover the sanctuary of Arantzazu, where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared. The contemporary basilica is the work of several internationally renowned artists such as Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida.
We will end our stay in the heart of Bilbao's old quarter with its many tapas bars. We will spend the last day visiting the unmissable Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art, famous both for the architecture of its building and the quality of its exhibitions.
We will also savour delicious moments sipping a cold drink in the shade of the plane trees in the Plaza Mayor, accompanied by a pintxo of tortilla or anchovies, against a backdrop of hubbub created by children running around and grandmothers watching over them. Yes, here, people live outside, in the streets, bars and village square !

HIGHLIGHTS :
• Discover the natural parks of the Spanish Basque Country and their peaks.
• Five hikes carefully selected by our team of locals to give you an overview of the Spanish Basque mountains and their stunning coastline.
• Visit to the Guggenheim Museum and the two most beautiful and important monasteries in the Basque Country.
• Easy access from Hendaye station.

Dates and Prices

Departures
Group of 5 up to 12 people.
Guaranteed departure from 5 people.
Between the beginning of April and the end of October.

Price per person:
July - August - September: €975
Excluding July - August - September: €950

Supplements/discounts:
- Single room supplement: €200/person

Price includes

- Full board accommodation from picnic on day 1 to breakfast on day 6 (free lunch on day 6 in Bilbao)
- Transfers during the stay
- Supervision by a BE AMM specialist in the Basque Country
- Visit to the GUGGENHEIM Museum

Price doesn't include

- Insurance
- Meals not indicated in “The price includes”
- Transfers not included in the program
- Drinks
- Visits (excluding GUGGENHEIM museum)
- Application fees: 15 €

Day 1: Start of your stay in Hendaye - Coastal path on Jaizkibel

Meet at 9.30am at Hendaye station. Let's make the most of this first day to explore the rugged coastline of the southern Basque Country. Discover the magnificent green plains of Mount Jaizkibel: here, the Pyrenees literally plunge into the ocean. We will walk along cliffs and small coves to discover fossils and a unique geological spectacle.
After the hike, we will head to the village of Segura and settle in for two days at our comfortable hotel in a superb setting.
Distance: 12.5km, duration: 5.5 hours, ascent: +620m, descent: -620m

Day 2 : Aralar Nature Park and Txindoki summit

Short transfer for this hike in the Aralar massif. It is home to the iconic Txindoki summit (1 340m), also known as the Basque Matterhorn, from which you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the week. Located in the heart of Idiazabal, home to the ‘latxa’ sheep's cheese par excellence of the Spanish Basque Country, this will be an opportunity for us to taste it !
Distance: 9.6 km, duration: 5 hours, ascent: +910m, descent: -910m

Day 3 : Aizkorri - Arantzazu Nature Park

Today, we leave Segura and head west towards the Aizkorri massif for the most challenging hike of the week. From the Arantzazu sanctuary, we climb up to vast meadows where horses, sheep and cows peacefully share the land. To the rhythm of their bells, we reach the chapel of Aizkorri perched on the summit ridge (1528m). On the way down, we can stop at the Urbia refuge to quench our thirst!
Distance: 17.2 km, duration: 6 hours, ascent: +990m, descent: -990m

Day 4: Basque Coast Geopark: Coastal hike from Zumaia to Deba

Today's stage will allow us to discover one of the most beautiful and interesting areas of the entire Basque Coast, the "Geoparque de la Costa Vasca". The route takes us on a journey through an uninterrupted succession of strata representing more than 50 million years of the planet's history! It is one of the most important geological sanctuaries in the world.

Distance: 14km, duration: 5 hours, ascent: +660m, descent: -660m

Day 5: Urkiola Natural Park and Anboto ridges - Elorrio

From the entrance to Urkiola Park, we walk towards Anboto (1 331m) and its ridges. Its limestone terrain, which has given rise to caves, sinkholes, caverns and rock shelters, has inspired a multitude of legends, myths and beliefs. It will be time to tell you about the ‘laminak’, the little elves who work at night, and Anbotoko Dama (the Lady of Anboto in Basque), a female deity representing nature.
After the hike, we will head to the village of Elorrio for some free time to visit. Then we will return to Bilbao for our last evening, with a tapas night!
Distance: 11km, duration: 5 hours, ascent: +890m, descent: -890m

Day 6: Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum

To end the week on a high note, we leave our hiking boots behind to explore the historic heart of Bilbao. Visit the Guggenheim Museum, stroll through the "casco viejo" with its pedestrian streets and numerous bars.

End of your stay
Transfer to Hendaye station in the middle of the afternoon, arriving at 4.30 pm.

The programmes have been drawn up based on the latest information available at the time of writing: unforeseen circumstances are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the itinerary. Our guides are the best judges on site and may modify the itinerary depending on the weather or if the safety of the group requires it.

Welcome

Day 1 at 9:30 a.m. at Hendaye station (64).

Accommodation the night before or on the last day: see our Accommodation section.

Dispersion

Day 6 around 4.30pm, after transfer to Hendaye station.

Level

Terrain
Hikes on good trails, the terrain is varied but often rocky.

Level 3/5
These trips are designed for those looking for an active holiday. Regular walkers, in good physical condition, with experience of hiking in the mountains. Hikes of 6-7 hours per day on average, with an average elevation gain of 700-1000m, on fairly easy trails with a few minor technical difficulties.

Accommodation

5 nights in a 2 or 3-star hotel, based on double occupancy.
Single rooms are available on request, subject to availability and at an additional cost.

Meals
- Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam)
- Evening meals often based on Basque specialities, including a starter, main course and dessert
- Picnics included
- Drinks not included

Accomodation before or after the stay
Hôtel BELLEVUE **
36, boulevard du Général Leclerc
64700 HENDAYE
Tel : 05.59.20.00.26
http://hotelbellevue-hendaye.com/

Luggage porterage

During the hike, carry only your personal belongings for the day, your picnic and sufficient water.

Group

From 5 to 12 people.

Supervision

Hike supervised by a qualified guide who is a specialist in the Basque Country.
The RESPYRENEES team of guides is 100% local. Based in the Basque Country or the Pyrenees, we know the landscapes, culture and history of these mountain ranges like the back of our hand!

" I really enjoy this tour because it allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of the Spanish Basque Country and discover its many legends, passing through mystical forests and caves. It's also a challenging tour that you have to earn! It takes you through a variety of landscapes, from natural parks to the ocean shore. "