Luxury French Pyrenees to Basque Country Walk (Sparkling Biarritz to Spain's Rioja Wine Region) 6D5N, Fully Guided

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 10 km (6 miles), Elevation gain: 152 m (500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)

On this day, you will meet your tour leaders at 10 am at the Biarritz Train Station (Gare de Biarritz), located in Allée du Moura in Biarritz, France. Please arrive dressed in your hiking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear and anything else you may need for today’s hike (your luggage will be transported to our first night’s accommodation).

We meet in the lavish seaside town of Biarritz, known as the “queen of beaches and the beach of kings” ever since Empress Eugénie de Montijo and her husband Emperor Napoleon III made Biarritz the favourite resort of the European aristocracy. After meeting, we shuttle for a brief distance to a beach near Bidart to start our hike.

Warm up with a walk to Saint Joseph Chapel for the first of many spectacular panoramic views over the Atlantic. Our route today follows le sentier du littoral, a coastal trail that stretches all the way to San Sebastián along the Basque Country coast, following quiet trails, shoreline paths and crossing through small towns. As you hike along the rugged coast, keep your eyes peeled for unique geological formations including flysch, alternating hard and soft rock stratums that make the rock faces look like tiered cakes.

We stop for a beachfront lunch before continuing on to the north jetty of the Bay of Biscay and the town of St-Jean-de-Luz. A delightful fusion of French and Spanish influences, this calm beach town is a great place for exploring. Stroll along its streets and admire the timbered houses and maybe do some shopping to acquire souvenirs early. When you’re ready, make your way to our home and a Relais & Châteaux member, Hotel Parc Victoria. An elegant 19th-century hotel with a lovely art-deco style situated in a lush garden setting.

Take some time to settle down in your room and perhaps enjoy a dip in the pool before reconvening on the terrace tonight for a welcome reception, followed by a gourmet dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), Elevation gain: 366 m (1200 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)

Today, after a lovely breakfast, we set out on our adventure. Our route meanders along the border of France and Spain on the Grande Randonnée 10, a hiking trail that spans the length of the Pyrenees Mountains. We start outside a remote village whose baserri (white houses with red or green timber) are characteristic of the Baroque countryside.

Admire the views of the rolling green hills on your climb to the Col des Veaux, a mountain pass that sits right on the border. As you hike, look for red kites soaring above; these elegant birds of prey have long wings with black tips and red triangular tails, and migrate through the Basque region annually. After climbing over the pass we stop for a delicious signature picnic.

After lunch, you could choose to shuttle straight to our next hotel for some relaxation. Or, if you’d like to hike more, choose between a shaded riverside trail or a slightly longer route with a bit more climbing and gorgeous views before getting into the van for a quick ride to the hotel.

Our hotel, Auberge Ostapé is a magnificent 17th-century estate with whitewashed, red-shuttered suites nestled in a sea of green hills. Each of the luxurious suites has its own golf cart, so explore the grounds in style. You could also opt for a soothing sauna session, a dip in the pool or an assuaging massage (spa treatments are at own expense).

Tonight’s dinner at the hotel features classical flavours reimagined with modern techniques.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 853 m (2800 ft)

Today we begin with a shuttle to St-Martin-d'Arrossa, where we start our hike to the village of Bidarray. Follows the ups and downs of the route to catch breathtaking views of the villages and valleys of Basque Country. You’ll be sure to see a lot of goats, sheep and pottok horses as we head on.

In Bidarray, we enjoy a traditional Basque lunch at a charming inn. Savour chicken with piperade, a sauce prepared with onions, tomatoes and es pele the pepper, a treasured Basque Country chilli known for its slightly smoky flavour.

After lunch, we’re treated to a Basque pelota demonstration. This sport is one of the oldest in Europe and has many varieties but it is typically played by hitting a ball against a wall (the fronton) with your hand, a racket or a wooden bat. Test your skills and engage in a little friendly competition with your hiking companions.

If you’d prefer to pump more adrenaline, hit the trail once again for a challenging but memorable approach over the ridge back to our hotel. Or hop in the shuttle to spend your time relaxing by the pool or at the spa.

This evening, we shuttle to a nearby town for a tasting of local Irouléguy wine and a tasty dinner of regional dishes.

Level 2, Approx. 10 km (6 miles), Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)

Today we begin the second part of our adventure as we journey into Spain! We hop in the shuttle to the start of today’s hike, which passes over Col de Roncevaux (Roncesvalles, in Spanish). If the Pyrenean weather is favourable, you’ll enjoy views of vast beech forests and broad patchwork hills.

This area is known for its incredible natural beauty as well as its cultural significance as the birthplace of the legend of Roland. According to the mediaeval French epic poem La Chanson de Roland, Roland, Duke of the Marches in Brittany and nephew of Charlemagne, was ambushed by the Basqur while heading over this pass with a small band of men in AD 778. He died a hero’s death while blowing his horn to summon aid from Charlemagne. Roland’s demise is memorialised all over the Pyrenees with tales, sounds and statues, and Baroque mountaineers will tell you that on stormy nights, the ghostly call of a horn can be heard echoing across the hills.

Roncesvalles is also where millions of pilgrims first touch Spanish soil on their long journey to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. You’re walking in their footsteps today!

After eating lunch, hop in the shuttle for the ride into the Rioja region, famous for its wine production. We make our way to the town of Elciego, home to our spectacular hotel and winery, the Marqués de Riscal. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the hotel’s unique architecture features a multi-colored, ribbon-like titanium façade, meant to reflect the pink radiance of Rioja wine, the distinctive gold mesh which adorns Marqués de Riscal Reserva bottles and the silver foil shielding the cork.

Dinner tonight is a short shuttle ride away at the excellent Castillo El Collado featuring Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 11 km (7 miles), Elevation gain: 488 m (1600 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 19 km (12 miles), Elevation gain: 518 m (1700 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 21 km (13 miles), Elevation gain: 671 m (2200 ft)

Wake up to a lovely breakfast and after fueling up for today, we board a shuttle to the town of Lágran. Set out along an easygoing route through the Agricole Valley, then make the steady climb up to the pass of Puerto dey Toro. Rest here and admire the views before descending into prime grape-growing country.

Rioja is divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Our route today explores the vineyards of the latter, a region which produces full-bodied wines with high acidity.

After lunch at a small winery, experience the full spectrum of the colours of Rioja vineyards as you make your way to the walled village of LaGuardia. Here, during the Middle Ages, residents dug caves in the rock beneath their homes to create places for food storage and refuge during siege. When wine production became prominent in the region, the underground passages were found to be ideal for fermenting wine. Today, only a few of these caves are still operational in the village and we will visit one in the afternoon.

After lunch and a sampling of traditional Rioja wines, continue hiking through the vineyards or shuttle back to the hotel to relax and perhaps relish a treatment at its spa. Before our farewell dinner, we meet with a member of the Marqués de Riscal family to visit the winery, enjoy a tasting and learn more about the winemaking history of the family.

We celebrate our incredible journey with a fantastic dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Relish seasonal, fresh market cuisine and raise a glass to an unforgettable Basque Country adventure.

Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)

This morning, sleep in and enjoy the hotel’s amenities or take a final exploration around the surrounding property. Check out the hotel’s otherworldly flourished, reflecting the colours of the sky and the surrounding vineyards. Walk over wooden platforms and quiet paths to admire different views of the property and enjoy a final stroll through the village as you make your way back to the hotel.

You still have time to freshen up before saying goodbye to your tour leaders at the hotel and departing by shuttle to the city of Bilbao, where your adventure ends.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.