Pyrenees Border Trail

Introduction
Pays Basque France

Accomodation

During the trek we stay in a hotel and two star Gîtes.  Sheets and towels are provided.  Private bathrooms are available for four nights and shared bathrooms are provided for two nights. The dinner on the first evening is not included in the price.

Hôtels and  Gites during the trail are :

-          Gite ** à Urdos  or Hôtel des remparts **  in St jean-pied-de-Port

-          Hôtel Erreguina** à Banca

-          Gite St Sylvestre aux Aldudes

-          Gîte ** à Urdos  and  Hôtel Manechenea **  à St Etienne de Baïgorry 

-   Gite d’altitude* au col des Veaux

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

We have 20 horses, the majority of which are Anglo-Arabs, and 10 ponies. A large number of our horses come from the family stud farm "Des Sables". Appearance and bloodlines are important qualities for us in our horses for this ride and we take great care in providing the horses with a good quality of life.

This trek is really exciting and requires a fit intermediate rider, confident at all paces and able to ride 6 to 7 hours each day over varied and sometimes challenging terrain.

All the opportunity to trot or to canter offered by the landscape are taken. The trail is occasionally difficult and we will ask the rider to walk next to his horse.  Good physical condition – A smile and good humour – are essential. Each person will take care of his or her horse during the trip.

Itinerary

Day1:  Transfer. Arrive St Jean Pied de Port, meeting at Hotel des Remparts at  5 PM,. Dinner  is in the old city. Overnight in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Urdos according to the size of the group. Dinner is not included tonight.

Day 2: Departure at 10 AM. Saint_Jean-Pied-de-Port - Banca Ascention of Monhoa summit - Urdanzia Pass - View from above of Aduldes valley - Overnight in Banca, Hôtel Erreguina or in gite d'altitude Espila according to the the size of the group.

Day 3:  Departure at 9:30 AM. Banca - Urepel / Aldudes Watersheds and views into Spain as well into French side - Lindus Pass - Discovery of the Quint region and the Aldudes valley. Aldudes Village,  Overnight Gite St Sylvestre or in the gite of Urepel according to the size of the group

Day 4:  Departure at 9:30 AM. Urepel /Aldudes - Cayolar Gaintza Crossed of the village of Aldudes - Ascention of the mountain Harguibel - Discovery of the Spanish virgin forest and the Cayolar at the end of the day –  Overnight in Banca, Hôtel Erreguina

Day 5:  Departure at 10 AM. Banca - Urdos Elhorrieta Pass - Panoramic view in front of Ispéguy Pass – Thrilling way going down to the city St Etienne de Baïgorry - Tasting of wine of Irouleguy - and crossed of the vineyard of Mignaberry before arriving to Urdos. Overnight Gîte ** à Urdos and Hôtel Manechenea ** à St Etienne de Baïgorry according to the size of the group!

Day 6:  Departure at 9:30 AM. Urdos - Col des Veaux 19h00 Descent towards the famous village of Bidarrai situated at feet of the watersheds crètes of Iparla - Ascention of col des Veaux - New watersheds - The cliff of the vultures - Prehistoric site ( Kromlech) - Overnight: Gite d’altitude* au col des Veaux

Day 7:  Departure at 9:30 AM.  Col des Veaux - Olhette Discovered Aihnoa and one of the most beautiful village of France Sare - Climb up to Rhune or turn around according to the Forcast - Panoramic view over the Gulf of Gascogne.
End of the trip at 7 pm in Olhette. Tranfer to the Hotel La Rhune in the village of Ascain, or Biarritz airport or Mimizan for those who take a flight from Bordeaux the following day (dinner is not included tonight).
If you select the transfer option from Bordeaux - the overnight is in Mimizan and we include dinner in the transfer package.

Day 8: Departure from Bayonne after breakfast on your own -- or drop off in Bordeaux by mid morning.
                                **Itinerary is subject to change.

Rates and Dates for Pyrenees Border Trail

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Hotel des Remparts at 5:00 PM or at 4:20 PM at the train station of Saint-Jean-Pied de Port
Airport: Biarritz/Bayonne
Transfer: Pick up Biarritz Airport or Bayonne Train Station 16:00 hr.

Climate:

Average High and Low Temperatures for Biarritz, France (in Celsius)

           Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  

High     17     22      24    26    27    25     

Low       7       10      14    16   17     10     

Average Rainfall for Biarritz, France (in mm)

            Apr  May  Jun  Jul    Aug  Sep     

             118   117    81    61     72     84       

Sheets and towels are provided at the hotels and gite.

**Luggage is transported to your accommodations of the fourth and last day.
In between you carry your belongings on your horses. Pack light**