Our beautiful Spanish farmhouse in the Baztan valley has been the venue for house parties for people from all over Europe for over a decade. These Pyrenean house parties are the perfect solution for small walking clubs or interest groups who look for expert guiding of this outstandingly beautiful area, while benefiting from the intimate atmosphere of a farmhouse holiday.
Unlike the sterility of hotel existence, our farmhouse in the Pyrenees is at the exclusive disposal of our guests and comes with a well-stocked kitchen, unlimited food and wine, log-fire lounges, outdoor terraces and – not least - a washing machine! Chalet-girl styled, we also provide home-cooked evening meals, picnics and cleaning allowing your group to relax with an aperitif on the veranda and breathe in the extraordinary views of the Baztan valley.
These house-party holidays in the Pyrenees are tailor-made to the group’s interests and can easily be combined with professional guiding within the following areas:
Walks in the Pyrenees
We have an enormous portfolio of the most amazing walks, many leading straight
from the farmhouse door. These walks vary in length from 3 – 6 hours and
can be adapted to all walking levels – either lower valley walks meandering
from one hamlet to the next or higher level walks along the mountain ridges
and border passes.
Spanish Language Courses
Spanish language tuition for individuals and groups can be offered by our professional
Spanish teachers. These lessons can easily be combined with other activities.
The Spanish teacher is also able to join these activities and use them as a
relaxed and informal platform for extra conversation practice.
Culture in the Spanish Pyrenees
These Pyrenean valleys are renown throughout Spain for their traditional farming
practices and for the folklore and mythology so brought to life in their fiestas
and carnivals. Anthropologists have long been fascinated in the area as have
archaeologist who have been drawn here for the area’s ancient history
and for the innumerable stone-age dolmens to be found in the hills.
Gastronomy
Basque gastronomy has earned its fame throughout Europe, and this area is no
exception. These bucolic valleys of the eastern Pyrenees covert a range of superb
gourmet restaurants with expert chefs and wine masters. Basque cooking courses
or sessions can also be organised.
Bird Watching
We have local, bi-lingual guides, highly specialised in the birdlife of the
Pyrenees who can work with us on a weekly or daily basis. Varieties of eagles,
vultures, kites and buzzards can all be found in the area.
Bed and Breakfast in the Pyrenees
We have a wide-range of B & B accommodation for individuals and couples ranging from simple, friendly, family-run homes in the villages, to a choice of beautifully restored country hotels.
The Baztan Valley
The Baztan valley is one of Spain’s closely guarded secrets – renown for its unparalleled beauty, its architectural purity and traditional way of life. The air is full of birdsong and the tinkling of bells as sheep and horses graze their way freely through grassy glades and along the banks of mountain streams. Roman bridges and hidden white-washed farmsteads dot a landscape laced with shepherding routes and donkey tracks – testimony to a past generation of smugglers who provided for their families with the help of nightly forays over the mountains into France. The Baztan people are extremely proud of their area and this shines through in every aspect of life: – the immaculately tended fields, the religiously-watered flowers and the healthy herds of animals that roam the valley slopes. This pride is also crucial to the survival of the traditional farming methods and folklore which are very much alive in the Baztan to this day.
Logistics
· Individual itineraries and programmes for groups of up to 15 people.
· Airport pick-up service. The nearest airport is Biarritz. (One hour
from the Baztan Valley).
· Our tailor-made programmes can be either all inclusive or semi-supported.
Please contact:
spanish@spanish-courses-spain.co.uk
Tel UK: 00 44 (0) 121 711 3428
Tel: Spain: 00 34 650 713 759
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House-party Walking Holiday (Sample itinerary, we can design any itinerary especially for you)
Day 1
Arrivals, Cava reception and dinner at Casa Latxaberria.
Day 2
Today we walk from the house towards the medieval town of Amaiur, famous for
its role in the final defence of the kingdom of Navarra. We make our way up
over the flanks of Gorremendi, along shaded shepherding paths and babbling brooks
before descending on the village water mill for a traditional lunch of corn
talos and cider. We then make our way back to the house along part of the famous
Camino de Santiago. Dinner at the house.
Day 3
Today we walk from the house in Zuaztoi past the crumbling water mill and over
the hills towards Elizondo. En route we pass through the beautiful hamlets of
Apaioa and Azpilkueta (birth place of the mother of San Francisco Javier, patron
saint of Navarra) before we start our descent towards Elizondo. Picnic lunch.
Dinner at the house.
Day 4
Today we drive to the village of Arraioz with its 15th century Casa Torre (defence
towers) and walk up over the hills to the beautiful village of Ziga, with its
Herrerian-styled church, passing the palace of Egozkue en route. Picnic lunch
at the bar in Ziga before we take a walk over the hills and back down towards
Elizondo. Dinner at the house.
Day 5
Today people are left to explore the area at their whim. There are buses from
the valley to San Sebastian and Pamplona but guests are also welcome to stay
at the house and explore the area on their own. We also have contacts with a
specialist guide on birds.
Day 6
Today, we make our way up the ridge behind the house. We then take a walk along
the mountain tops with stunning views out towards the French coastline, St Juan
de Luz and the Atlantic sea. After flanking the mountain of Alkurruntz we slowly
wend our way back towards the hamlet of Zuaztoi. Picnic lunch on route. Dinner
at the house.
Day 7
We head up to the mountain pass of Izpegi and take a higher level walk through
the beech forest along the French and Spanish border with stunning views of
France and Spain. When we reach the shepherds croft in Elorta we then a high
ridge walk with panoramic views of the Alduides valley in France. Farewell evening
meal at a local restaurant.
Day 8
Return transport to Biarritz.
Prices of the Group Spanish Language Courses - tailor made naturally varies according to numbers and what you want