Technical sheet | Self-guided walk | Level 2/5 | 5 walking days Spanish Basque coast: where Ocean and mountains become one Your route, in a brief Strong points • Easy hiking on the Spanish Basque Coast • Easy access to the Hendaye train station • Itinerant tour • Coastal hiking • Accommodation with all modern conveniences, • Discovery of the Basque coast in hotels and guesthouses • Introduction to the rich and varied Basque Country gastronomy www.gr10-liberte.com / www.respyrenees.com Tél : (33) 5.34.14.51.50 ou (33) 6.83.82.98.28 [email protected] 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… •PROGRAM Day 1 : Start of your holiday in Hendaye Check-in at your hotel in Hendaye. You can choose to visit the city or to do a walk to discover the famous Domain of Abbadia, remarkable 60ha natural site located on the seafront, within varied landscapes. In this amazing biological reserve, you will be able to visit the well-known Gothic Revival castle of Antoine d’Abbadie. according to the opening hours. Distance: 5.5km, duration: 3h00, altitude gain: +80m, descent: -80m. 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 Hondarribia, after the hike, it is time for a Tapas stop! Distance : 12km, duration : 4h30, altitude gain : +300m, descent : -300m. 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. San Sebastian and its famous “Concha” are waiting for you, for an amazing evening wandering along the “Casco Viejo”, discovering the best “Pintxos” (tapas) bars of the whole country! Distance : 17km, duration: 5h30, altitude gain: +300m, descent : -700m. 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 the crossing of Txakoli green vineyards, this delicious Basque white wine you will surely have the opportunity to taste. Distance : 21km, duration: 6h30, altitude gain: +400m, descent : -400m. 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 : 11km, duration: 3h30, altitude gain: +400m, descent : -400m. 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 sanctuary in the world. At the end of the day, transfer to Zumaia by train. Distance : 12km, duration: 4h00, altitude gain: +300m, descent : -300m. Day 7 : End of the trip After breakfast, around 10am, transfer by train to Hendaye. As an option (see Extras), 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. 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. This program is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere to. It may be necessary, if situations arise that are beyond our control, for the itinerary to be modified. •MEETING POINT AND END OF THE TRIP Departure: Day 1 at your accommodation in Hendaye (64 – Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Hotel** Bellevue. Ending: Day 7, around 10am, after your breakfast in Zumaia (Spain) or Bilbao, for those who chose the extension to Bilbao. Return to Hendaye by train (see Practical information). Possibility to organize a transfer (see Extras). • DATES AND PRICES Departure Booking from 2 people, every day from the beginning of March to the end of November (according to availabilities) Consult us for group discount, or option without luggage transfer. Prices per person for a group of 2/3: Prices low season 665 € Prices 15th June- 15th September 760 € Prices per person for a group of 4/5 : Prices low season 630 € Prices 15th June- 15th September 725 € Extras/discounts: - Single room option low season: 160€/ pers - Single room option 15th June-15th September: 230€ - Extra night in BB, double room in Hendaye: 54€/pers - Extra night in BB, single room in Hendaye: 80€/pers - Extra transfer back from Zumaia (or Bilbao) to Hendaye, for 2 to 4 persons: 175€/transfer - Extension to Bilbao (including the one way train ticket and the admission to the Guggenheim Museum: 30€/pers) The price includes : The price does not include: - Half-board accommodation D1, D2, D4, D5 and - Holiday and travel insurance D6); night only D3 in San Sebastian (many - Meals not shown in « the price includes »: dinner possibilities for dinner and breakfast) D3, breakfast D4 - Transfers shown in the program (D3) - Boat shuttles: D2 (3,60€/pers return journey) and - Luggage transfers day 3 (0,70€/pers) - Transfers not included in the program (D6: train from Deba to Zumaia) - Transfer back from Zumaia (or Bilbao) to Hendaye - Entrance fees - Drinks Nature of the terrain Easy walking, on good footpaths, the terrain is varied but often rocky. Level 2 This trip is 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 ***, and one night in a guesthouse, in a double room. Single room option on request, with an extra fee and according to availability. Free private carpark in Hendaye for those coming with their own vehicle. Food - Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, butter, jam) - Evening meals often based on Basque specialties, include a starter, a main course and a dessert - Dinner D4 and breakfast D5 in San Sebastian not included: a wide variety of Pintxos bars and restaurants are waiting for you, this is the reason why we don’t want to force one choice. - 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 ; [email protected] - 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 How to get back to Hendaye, from Zumaia (or Bilbao): By train: The Spanish Basque coast has a train service provided by the Spanish Basque company EUSKOTREN.