Private Tour Saint James Way and Pyreness
from 545
French Country Side And Baztan Area
+/- 8 Hours
1 to 8 People
All Year Round
Tour Description
On this, one of our best Basque Tours, we will go into the interior of the French Basque Country, cross the Pyrenees and return to San Sebastian through the Baztan Valley.
We will pick you up at your accommodation and head towards the interior of the French Basque Country, crossing villages such as Espelette or Itxassou.
We will start the day with a stop in one of the most fantastic and legendary places in the area… the Pas de Roland. In this gorge, excavated by the Nive River, we will take a walk, enjoying the waters and nature that this place offers.
We will then continue to Saint Jean de Pied de Port, a town founded in the 12th century, which belonged to the Kingdom of Navarre and is known worldwide as one of the beginnings of the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago.
In this cozy and charming medieval village, we will walk through the streets within the walled area, the gateway to Spain and Navarre, the Citadel, or the Romanesque bridge. Wherever we go, we can meet pilgrims starting their way to Santiago de Compostela or stop at any of the many establishments offering local products.
The next stop will be Saint Etienne de Baigorry where we will take another walk through the village and stop at a chocolate shop to taste an exquisite hot chocolate.
Finally we will go through the port of Ispegi towards the border with Spain to cross into Navarra, where we will stop at Amaiur Maia, the last resistance of Navarra before being conquered by Castilla. We will pass under the arch, and see some of their palatial houses.
Here we will put an end to our visits and we will make our way to your accommodation
Tour Departure & Return Location
The guest´s accomodation
Tour meeting time
09:00am
Tour Price includes
- English speaking local guide
- Private transportation
- All the transportation costs (petrol, parking and toll)
- Insurances
Tour Price excludes
- Any food or beverages not mentioned above
Tour Complementaries
- Feel free to ask our guide to take any pictures at any of the wonderful spots
Tour Itinerary
09:00 - 10:45 Discovering places and legends in the interior of the French Basque Country
The day will start at 9.00 am at your accommodation, where our guide will pick you up in a private vehicle to take you to the area of Itxassou, where we will make the first stop at Pas de Roland.
In this wild place, full of legends, you will enjoy a stop to take pictures, walk by the river and listen to the different stories that our guide will tell you. This wonderful gorge carved into the rock by the Nive River, is a privileged place, remote, full of peace and you can enjoy spectacular views while listening to the sound of water.
11:15 - 12:30 Beginning of the Way of Saint James
Feel like a pilgrim walking through the streets of this town that belonged to the Kingdom of Navarra. The cobbled streets, the pilgrims’ hostels, the old and picturesque houses, give it a unique medieval character. The different gates in the walls or the citadel will be some of the points you can visit before crossing the river on the Nive and following in the footsteps of some of the many pilgrims who frequent this idyllic place.
12:30 - 14:30 Tour outside the conventional route
After a brief stop in Saint Etienne de Baigorry to taste a delicious hot chocolate, we will take the route to the Ispegi pass, which as we go up, will offer us more impressive views over the valley we left behind. Green slopes, with Pottokas (local horses) and sheep, will open up as we go. Once we reach the top, the views will leave you speechless.
14:00 - 15:30 Land of Battles
Amaiur Maia was the last resistance in the conquest of Navarre by Castilla in the 16th century. Recent archaeological excavations have discovered part of the Castle. We will be able to taste a talo (typical corn cake of the Basque Country) in the old restored mill.
Here we will finish our visit and we will make our way to your accommodation.
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TripAdvisor Tour Testimonials
We visited 5 little french towns, all of them nice ,interesting, clean, lot of sign from past centuries. Our guide Diego very professional, very knowledgeble -he knows everything! He could work with people: .friendly, pay attention to details,his car comfortable. So our trip was the best!!!
While in San Sebastian on a week long holiday we decided to visit Lourdes in France and was advised by the hotel reception that Diego' s private guided tour to Lourdes would be a good option. Diego picked us up at our hotel and from the moment we met him he was proved to be a respectful and professional guide. His English was impeccable and his knowledge of the Basque Country excellent. He engaged with us in an informal, fun and pleasant manner. In Lourdes, he showed us around all the holy and tourist sites including the Grotto, the three Basilicas and spectacular views of the Pyrenees and Lourdes from the top of the Funiculaire du Pic du Jer. Diego created one of the best experiences of our holiday and comes highly recommended.