WT18 catalog single pgs

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The spirited Basque country is a world apart, with its own ancient
language, celebrated cuisine, and emerald mountains offering some
of the most gorgeous hiking in all Spain. On our
captivating hiking and cultural adventure, we follow
smugglers’ paths into hidden valleys where sheep
and horses graze, and cross spectacular high trails
to travel from Spain into France—on foot! Eating
well is the second religion of the Basques, and
between our hikes, we’ll enjoy a cooking class, sip
superb red Rioja wines, sample tangy cheeses,
and savor dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Ongi etorri! (Welcome!)
Days 1-5 Bilbao / La Rioja / Cantabrian Mountains /
Navarre High Country Basque lore and legend is all
around us on hikes amid the hidden rock labyrinths
of Gorbea Natural Park and the limestone peaks and
lush meadows of Urkiola National Park. In the steep
and craggy Cantabrian Mountains, our trails lead to a
1,000-year-old castle of the former kingdom of Navarre
and in the footsteps of mountain tribes who settled
here 6,000 years ago. On one afternoon, we’ll join a
private cooking class of La Rioja specialties or taste
wines with a master winemaker, in the cellar of our
charming hotel.
Days 6-7 High Route of the Pyrenees From
Roncesvalles Pass, where the Basques defeated
Charlemagne’s army in 778, we hike right into France
Our native Basque Trip Leaders love sharing their regional culture and cuisine—and they’ll make you feel right at home! PHOTO: JOAN MERCADAL
ILPO MUSTO
BRIAN MCGILLOWAY
MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND ANCIENT CULTURES OF EUSKADI
FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT 58
“This was my first
Wilderness Travel
trip—I am impressed!
I can't think of a
better way to see
this country.
Everything about
the experience was
superlative.”
Harry J., San Francisco CA
on the spectacular Pyrenees High Route, passing mysterious
stone megaliths, then head back into Spain and the
remote Aldudes Valley, where a much-prized cured ham
is produced.
Days 8-10 Bidarray, France / Hondarribia, Spain
On the grassy slopes of Mt. Atxuria, we retrace the
smugglers’ trail used by armies that fought in the
19th century Spanish civil wars. Our last hike is along
the cliffs of Hendaye, France, where mountains
spill into the sea amid hidden islands and coves
that were once the secret refuge of Basque witches.
From our hotel in the colorful fishermen’s quarter of
Hondarribia, we join the locals for the tradition of
txikiteo, or pintxo-bar-hopping, in the town’s tavernas.
Depart on Day 10.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Experience the unique Basque heritage
with visits to pilgrimage sites and local
bodegas
• Hikes include forested trails that lead to
monasteries and ridge walks past ancient
stone monuments
• Savor a Welcome Dinner at a Michelin-
starred restaurant
• Private wine tastings, cooking class, and
picnics including renowned Basque cheeses
• Charming hotels, including a Baroque
manor house, a historic grain mill-turned-
hotel, and a family-run riverside inn
DETAILS
• 10-day trip begins in Bilbao and ends
in Hondarribia
• 9 nights historic hotels and inns
• All meals included except 3 dinners
DATES
May 22-31, 2018 Aug 28-Sep 6
Jun 19-28 Sep 18-27
TRIP COST
$5595 (11-15 members)
$5995 (4-10 members)
Single supplement: $550
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3+ 4 5 6 7
9 hiking days on moderate trails,
some steep sections, 3-6 hours a day,
van support