ACCOMPANIED TRAVEL
SMALL GROUP: from 5 to 15 people
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE: from 5 participants
LENGTH: 7 days – 6 nights
6 breakfasts – 5 picnics – 5 dinners
HIKING LEVEL: EASY to MODERATE – YOGA + SPA + RELAXATION
LUGGAGE TRANSPORTED: Hiking with only a small day pack.
ALL INCLUSIVE tour accompanied by French speaking guides.
A guided “yoga and hiking” stay, nestled in the emerald hills of the Basque Country. A real break in time, this breath of fresh air alternates hiking, discovery, yoga, spa and time for yourself: an ideal recipe for reconnecting body and mind and filling up with energy.
Please note:Direct flights from/to Canada are only available on certain days of the week to this destination.
Reservations for flights and transfers (trains) to and from ST-JEAN-DE-LUZ according to your choice of dates and destinations.
The awakening will be done gently by a yoga session allowing to welcome the day with serenity. We will enjoy the first colors of the day before sharing a gourmet lunch made of home-made pastries. Then we will leave for the peaceful hike of the day, in contact with the sublime landscapes of the Basque Country. Each day, an easy itinerary will combine walks and body awareness, with a picnic on the way. On the way back, we will take the time to relax on the lawns of the “cocooning” garden or in the relaxation and spa area of the accommodation. The evening yoga session will contribute to the fullness of the moment under the last rays of the setting sun. Sessions will alternate between indoors and outdoors. The days will be punctuated by a tasty supper and, for those who wish, a time of meditation. The guide is a specialist of the local region as well as a state-qualified instructor of yoga.
The Way of Hatha Yoga brings together the knowledge and experience gained through practice since the 8th century AD. It is a synthesis of physical exercises, conscious breathing (breath dynamics), concentration and meditation. In a hotel with a harmonious setting, where the sweetness of life is abundant, you will enjoy its Spa Nahia, dedicated to relaxation and well-being.
FRIDAY – Departure from Montréal or other Canadian airport.
DAY 1 (SATURDAY) : ST-JEAN-DE-LUZ (France)
Arrival in St-Jean-de-Luz and drop off at hotel at end of the day. As the tour starts on Sunday, this night is essential to be ready and rested for the next day’s departure. Dinner is on your own.
DAY 2 (SUNDAY) : ST-JEAN-DE-LUZ – OSSÈS – HALTZAMENDI
Meeting at 9:30 am with your guide. Transfer to the peaceful village of Ossès and departure on foot from the village for a first hike in the heart of the Basque Country. The grassy slopes broken up by a few ridges lead to magnificent viewpoints. The panoramas are grandiose on the landscapes that color this region. Picnic on the way. Settling in the rooms after the hike and first yoga session before sharing dinner in the large room of this hotel / family home for 3 generations, an authentic Basque house that welcomes us for the entire stay.
Transfer: 1 hr – Hiking: 3 to 4 hrs
DAY 3 (MONDAY) : LE LARLA
The body is awakened by a yoga session after a first soothing night. The day’s walk leads to the heights of Larla and offers splendid views of the Iparla ridges, decorated with breathtaking red sandstone laces. It is not uncommon to come across herds in transhumance that accompany the hikers in their quietness. Picnic on the way, return to the accommodation and dinner.
Hiking: 4 hrs
DAY 4 (TUESDAY) : LE MONDARRAIN – HASPARREN
Gentle walk on the slopes of the Mondarrain peak, dotted with beautiful beech forests with amazing plant sculptures. The large green landscapes of the region can be easily surveyed and contemplated at the turn of a herd of horses or a flight of birds of prey. Visit and stroll in the village of Hasparren. Picnic on the way, return to the accommodation and dinner.
Transfer: 1 hr – Hiking: 3.5 hrs
DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY) : BIDARRAY – HARRIONDI
Loop around the Harriondi at the foot of the Iparla massif where the path takes on astonishing ochre and wine-colored tones, characteristized by the massif. Also called Harrihandi, the ascent to the summit is possible but has to be earned. The remarkable view of Mount Baïgura can be enjoyed without limit, as well as the Penas d’Itchusi opposite, which are revealed at the bend of a sheepfold lined with oak trees. Picnic on the way, return to the accommodation and dinner.
Transfer: 15 mins – Hiking: 4 hrs
DAY 6 (THURSDAY) : ISPÉGUY – ST-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT
Transfer to the pass of Ispéguy through large bucolic areas. Departure on a path along the border ridge where the reliefs let appear the first mountain landscapes with the peak of Orhy in the distance. Visit and stroll in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, historical Basque village and also a great gathering place for pilgrims and hikers towards Compostela, before crossing the Pyrenees. Depending on the group and the time available, a visit to the Aldudes cheese factory to discover the history of Ossau-Iraty PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheeses. Picnic en route, return to the accommodation and dinner.
Transfer: 1 hr – Hiking: 3.5 hrs
DAY 7 (FRIDAY) : RETOUR À ST-JEAN-DE-LUZ
Last wake up in this place of abundance and the sweetness of the Basque Country. Transfer to St-Jean-de-Luz at the end of the morning around 11 am. End of the tour.
Transfer: 1 hr
SUGGESTION :
At the end of this regional trip, why not plan a few days to discover one or two major cities before returning to Canada?
By train and from ST-JEAN-DE-LUZ, you are 2.5 hrs from BORDEAUX and 5 hrs from PARIS. We suggest BORDEAUX, the regional capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region with its many tourist attractions and also an airport with direct return flights to Montreal on certain weekdays. A LA CARTE PROGRAM ON REQUEST.
* Stay “à la carte” and on request. Take advantage of our experience and advice.
www.nicolevoyage.com 450-455-0991 Toll Free: 1-877-455-0991
www.euro-rando.com 514-386-1704
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