Fact sheet Guided walk Level 2/5 5 walking days Spanish Basque coast: where Ocean and mountains become one Your route, in a brief Easy hiking on the Spanish Basque Coast Itinerant tour Accommodation with all modern conveniences, in hotels and guesthouses Introduction to the rich and varied Basque Country gastronomy Strong points Easy access to the Hendaye train station Coastal hiking Discovery of the Spanish Basque coast Tapas evening in San Sebastian 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. You will also enjoy the gastronomy of this territory whose cultural and culinary heritage is exceptional. Every night you will be invited to taste Basque culinary delights: tapas, Txakoli, fish, axoa www.gr10-liberte.com / www.respyrenees.com Tél : (33) 5.34.14.51.50 ou (33) 6.83.82.98.28 mathieu@respyrenees.com
Nb : Our guided tours are mainly composed of French or French speaking people. However, all our guides speak English : they will make sure you are well integrated within the group. They translate in English all their speeches and are available to satisfy all your expectations. PROGRAM Day 1 : Start of your holiday in Hendaye Meeting at the hotel at 6.45pm (or at 6.30pm at the Hendaye train station). Check-in at your accommodation (a hotel **). Welcome drink and briefing on the tour. Day 2 : Loop of Hondarribia From Hendaye, you will reach the wharf to take the boat shuttle to cross the Txingudy Bay, which separates Hendaye from the Spanish harbour of Hondarribia. You will quickly reach the Cabo Higuer, the western end of the Pyrenees. From there, the track will offer you a condensed summary of the Basque Country, leading you sometimes above the cliffs, sometimes in the middle of a green valley: ocean and mountain merged! When you get to Hendaye, after the hike, let s go to the beach! Distance : 15km, duration : 5h, altitude gain : +420m, descent : -460m. Day 3 : From the Jaizkibel mountain to San Sebastian Short transfer from your accommodation to the Jaizkibel Mountain. There, the track will reward you with magnificent views over the ocean, 400m down, from one side, and over the first French and Spanish Basque mountains, from the other side. Then you will walk down through a lovely pathway on the cliff s edge to reach Pasaia, where you will take another boat shuttle to cross the Pasaia Bay. The remaining part of the track to reach San Sebastian will take place through creeks and green seaside. Tapas evening in San Sebastian. Distance : 14km, duration: 4h45, altitude gain: +400m, descent : -600m. Day 4 : From San Sebastian to Zarautz At the beginning of the day, you will progressively walk higher and higher above San Sebastian to reach a pleasant track overlooking the Ocean. The end of this stage will be punctuated with a stopover to taste some Txakoli in a bodega (cellar), before arriving in Zarautz. Txakoli is a Basque white wine produced from the hillsides and vineyards of Txakoli. Distance : 21km, duration: 6h30, altitude gain: +500m, descent : -610m. Day 5 : From Zarautz to Zumaia Because this section will be short, you will have the opportunity to take some rest and relax, enjoying the beach in Zarautz. Then, it will be time for you to put your hiking shoes on to start the stage of the day by a pedestrian trail that meanders along the Ocean until Getaria (you can also choose to reach it through the hills if you prefer). Getaria is a small fishing harbour dominated by the San Anton lighthouse. Then, you will reach Zumaia, on the shore of a wonderful bay where the rivers Urola and Narrondo meet. Distance : 9km, duration: 3h, altitude gain: +320m, descent : -320m. Day 6 : From Zumaia to Deba The stage of the day will allow you to discover one of the most amazing and interesting areas of the whole Basque coast, entering the zone of Deba-Zumaia, that was recently declared a coastal biotope. The itinerary allows you to roam in a few hours an unbroken succession of stratums that, layer after layer, represent more than 50 million years of the planet history. It is one of the most important geological sanctuaries in the world. At the end of the day, transfer to Zumaia by train. Distance : 14km, duration: 4h45, altitude gain: +660m, descent : -660m. Day 7 : End of the trip After breakfast, around 10am, transfer by train to Hendaye.
As an option, transfer by train to Bilbao in the morning, and visit of the Guggenheim museum. Then, return by train to Hendaye in the middle of the afternoon.. (Train ticket Zumaia - Bilbao and entrance fees are included in the price, not the train back from Bilbao to Hendaye). Please, consult us if you want to book a night in Bilbao. Bilbao, a worldwide known city thanks to the Guggenheim museum, which was designed by the architect Franck O.Gerhy, is a must-see in Spain. The museum has propelled the city to one of the most important cultural cities in the world The programs were created according to the last elements known during the writing. It may be necessary, if situations arise that are beyond our control, for the itinerary to be modified. On site, our guides are the best judges, they can decide to modify the itinerary according to the weather or if it is necessary for the safety of the group. MEETING POINT AND END OF THE TRIP Meeting point: Day 1 at 6.45pm at your accommodation in Hendaye (64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Hotel** Bellevue. For those coming by train: meeting-point in front of the train station in Hendaye at 6.30pm. YOU SHOULD IMPERATIVELY INFORM Mathieu one week ahead of time, texting him: + 33 (0) 6.83.82.98.28, for him to book the shuttle between the train station and the hotel. End of the trip : Day 7, around 11.30am, after your transfer by train from Zumaia to Hendaye. DATES AND PRICES Number of participants: Groups from 5 to 15 people. Departures : Guaranteed departure from 5 people. From Sunday 01/04/2018 to Saturday 07/04/2018 From Sunday 22/04/2018 to Saturday 28/04/2018 From Sunday 29/04/2018 to Saturday 05/05/2018 From Sunday 06/05/2018 to Saturday 12/05/2018 From Sunday 20/05/2018 to Saturday 26/05/2018 From Sunday 17/06/2018 to Saturday 23/06/2018 From Sunday 08/07/2018 to Saturday 14/07/2018 From Sunday 22/07/2018 to Saturday 28/07/2018 From Sunday 05/08/2018 to Saturday 11/08/2018 From Sunday 12/08/2018 to Saturday 18/08/2018 From Sunday 19/08/2018 to Saturday 25/08/2018 From Sunday 02/09/2018 to Saturday 08/09/2018 From Sunday 09/09/2018 to Saturday 15/09/2018 From Sunday 23/09/2018 to Saturday 29/09/2018 From Sunday 30/09/2018 to Saturday 06/10/2018 Prices per person : Price low season 765 Price Mid season (June/September) 830 Price July-August 880
Extras/discounts: - Single room option: 180 / pers or 250 /pers (July-August) The price includes : - Full-board accommodation from dinner D1 to breakfast D7 - Transfers during the tour - Supervision by a Mountain Leader specialist of the Basque Country The price does not include : - Holiday and travel insurance - Meals not shown in «the price includes» - Transfers not shown in the program - Entrance fees - Drinks Group composition : Our guided tours are mainly composed of French or French speaking people. However, all our guides speak English: they will make sure you are well integrated within the group. They translate in English all their speeches and are available to satisfy all your expectations. Nature of the terrain : Easy walking, on good footpaths, the terrain is varied but often rocky. Level 2 : These trips are designed for people looking for active holiday. A reasonable level of fitness is required. You will walk between 4 and 5 hours a day. Ascent speed*: +300m/h. *Be advised : the walking duration is given to help you in your choice, but this is an average, not including the stops during the walk, and overall walking duration is just an indication, but can be different between walkers. ACCOMODATION / FOOD Accommodation : Five nights in hotels and one night in a guesthouse, in a double room. Single room option on request, with an extra fee and according to availability. Private carpark in Hendaye for those coming with their own vehicle, 30 /week (according to availability). Food : - Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, butter, jam) - Evening meals often based on Basque specialties, include a starter, a main course and a dessert - Picnics included - Drinks not included PRACTICAL INFORMATION How to get to Hendaye: By plane : Biarritz Parme Airport (25km) : daily flights to Paris, London, Lyon, and the Clermont Ferrand Hub. By train : Regular trains TER to Hendaye, from the main cities. Contact the SNCF (36.35, direct call or www.ter-sncf.com for confirmation of timetables) By car : From Bordeaux A63 motorway, 207km. From Toulouse and Bayonne, A64 motorway, 293km, then Bayonne to Hendaye, A63 motorway, 32km. If you are coming with your own vehicle, we advise you to park it in Hendaye, where you trip starts. Public transports : Information SNCF: 3635 ou www.ter-sncf.com Practical information :
- The Pays-Basque - Béarn Departmental Tourism Committee: Petite Caserne, 2 allée des Platanes - 64100 BAYONNE - tel : +33 (0)5 59 30 01 30 ; infos@tourisme64.com - Hendaye Tourism Office : 67 bis, Boulevard de la Mer - 64700 HENDAYE tel : +33 (0)5 59 20 00 34, website : www.hendaye-tourisme.fr - Information SNCF: 3635, or www.ter-sncf.com - Local weather forecast: +33 (0) 8 99 71 02 64 - Mountain rescue : PGHM Oloron-Sainte-Marie, +33 (0) 5 59 10 02 50 -Rescue: 112 For those who choose the extension to Bilbao : From Bilbao, regular trains to Hendaye, every hour approximatively (with a transfer in the San Sebastian-Amara train station to take the TOPO, which links San Sebastian and Hendaye). Information and booking on www.euskotren.eus Example of journey: Departure Bilbao-Atxuri 1pm - transfer Amara 15.38pm - Arriving Hendaye 16.22pm WHAT TO BRING AND PACK Luggage A 35L (or so) hiking backpack that you will use to carry your personal belongings during the day. Clothes 1 sunhat or cap T-shirts (1 for 2 or 3 walking days). Avoid cotton, very long to dry; rather choose short-sleeved T-shirts (breathable material) in Capilene (Patagonia), Dryflo (Lowe Alpine), Light Effect (Odlo) etc 1 base layer (with the same characteristics) or long-sleeved shirt 1 polar fleece jumper 1 trekking trousers 1 comfortable trousers for the evenings 1 wind and rainproof jacket (Gore-tex type), simple and light 1 swimwear and towel to go to the spa center. Compulsory if you want to access the health Spa. Warm underwears Walking socks (1 pair for 2 to 3 walking days). Avoid the «tennis» type socks (cotton), which take a long time to dry and increase the risk of blister; rather choose some Coolmax-based ones. 1 pair of waterproof ankle hiking boots (Vibram type soles) 1 pair of comfortable trainers for the evenings This list should be adapted according to the season you choose Other little things 1 high quality sun glasses 1 water bottle (1 liter minimum) 1 pocket knife (don t forget to put in your checked baggage for your flight) Small toiletry bag and towel T-roll, suncream, lipstick For picnics: cutlery, glass and a sealed plastic box Your own first-aid kit Your usual medication Vitamin C or polyvitamin Pain medication: paracetamol, preferably Adhesive bandage (Elastoplast-type, 6cm wide) Adhesive dressings + disinfectant wipes Blister plasters (Spenco type, available in pharmacies, drugstores, sport stores )
Collective first-aid kit First-aid kit placed under the responsibility of your Mountain Leader