Across the French Basque country to the Atlantic
Average between 6-12 miles / 10.5 and 19 kms per walking day • Average of between 3 and 6 hours ’ walking per day • Grade 2 difficulty
• Ascents and descents of 200 to 700 metres • Most days offer itinerary choices of longer and shorter walks • Recommended 1 June to 15 October • Suitable for anyone who enjoys a good walk
This is a 6-night self-guided walking holiday in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the French Basque country from a pilgrimage town on one of the Camino routes to the fishing port of St Jean to Luz on the coast . Your itinerary includes sections of the GR10 . You stay in characterful , high quality auberges as well as owner-manager boutique hotels . The walks are not difficult , being Grade 2 , and you are mainly in the foothills of the Pyrenees rather than in the high mountains .
Basque region houses
From £ 1,880 per person including British Airways flights to Bordeaux , train to St Jean de Luz , 6 nights in 2 and 3-star hotels in St Pied de Port , Bidarray , Itxassou , Espelette , Sare and St Jean de Luz , 5 dinners , 5 picnic lunches , luggage transfer between hotels , transfer from St Jean de Luz station and return to station , map and detailed notes on the trail .
Douro wine region walking holiday
Average between 4-10 miles / 6-16 kms per walking day • Average of between 2 and 5 hours ’ walking per day • Moderate grade • Recommended March to October • Some hiking experience is advisable
From £ 1,860 per person including British Airways flights to Porto , 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels in Pinhao , Vilarinho de Sao Romao , Alijo , Casal de Loivos and Porto , Dinner with drinks days 2 and 3 , Packed lunches days 2 to 6 , Luggage transfer between hotels and to Pinhao station on day 7 , Private transfer from Porto airport to Campanha train station , Private transfer from Porto hotel to airport on day 8 , GPS tracks using the app Ride with GPS ( you need a smartphone ), Roadbook with detailed route descriptions .
This is a 7-night self-guided walking holiday in the Portuguese Douro wine region , one of the most dramatic in Europe with its patchwork of vineyards that hug the terraced steep sides of the Douro valley and its tributaries . The landscape is full of olives and orange trees too , and then higher up rare coppices and brushwood . There are white-walled villages , typical of the region , often mediaeval in origin , and quintas , the wine-estates , which you can visit as you move through the region . You stay in 3- and 4-star hotels and guest houses , typical of the region , some traditional and some contemporary . The walk is a moderate grade , days are not too long but some walking experience is advisable .
The Douro Valley www . expressionsholidays . co . uk
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