The final stage of the picturesque French Way of St James through Basque country and the foothills of the Pyrenees. Traverse the centuries of time and the borders of Europe on the medieval pilgrim trail of Compostela. In the 9th century, the tomb of the apostle St James was unearthed in Compostela. The site became the focus of a pilgrim trail beginning in France, and crossing northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. This journey, along the Via Podiensis, the French Way of St James, takes pilgrims from Le Puy en Velay to the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied de Port. The route passes a multitude of churches and monasteries, resembling a travelling museum of Romanesque art. Six stages of this historic trail are included in our self-guided walking program in France.
Walking from Aire sur l'Adour offers an insight into the contrasting Béarn and Basque regions of France which have a unique culture, language and cuisine. The landscape is inspiring as you walk between woods and open fields, past a multitude of chapels and historic sights and take time to absorb the history of the villages passed, once resting points for thousands of pilgrims during the Middle Ages. Arriving into St Jean Pied de Port through the Porte Saint-Jacques is a highlight and a rewarding end to the journey along the Via Podensis.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Aire-sur-l'Adour, Saint-Jean-Pie
Aire-sur-l'Adour, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, The Way of St. James, Aire Sur L'adour, St Jean Pied De Port, Miramont-Sensacq, Fichous-Riumayou, Arthez-de-Béarn, Sauvelade, Aroue, Saint-Palais, Ostabat-Asme
Our visit to Crete was definitely our Top 3 Hiking Tours (Mt Blanc and Portugal are runners up). The people are wonderful the food amazing. Fantastic routes and weather .
My itinerary was well planned and I think the experience was of good value for money. The variety of accommodations were welcoming and clean. I especially liked the GPX/GPS files on the daily routes. The communications were impeccable. My only request is that the trip package be provided a month prior to the start of the walk. I usually travel to the starting point about a week prior to the commencement of the walk to get over jet lag, etc.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Val de Loire, Chenonceau, Montba
Val de Loire, Chenonceau, Montbazon, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon, Fontevraud
An exhilarating pilgrimage walk through northern Spain to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela. This stage of the Camino pilgrimage route offers a fine balance of walks in spectacular natural settings with visits to inspiring cultural sites including the magnificent cathedral city of Leon. En route there are numerous reminders of the pilgrims past who travelled the route including crosses, statues and grain silos. In the valley of Ponferrada, O Cebreiro welcomes you to the gates of Galicia and leads you to the fabled Santiago de Compostela. Longer 17 and 18 day versions are also available.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago De Compostela, Leon, Ru
Santiago De Compostela, Leon, Rua, Villadangos Del Paramo, Portomarín, Palas De Rei, Arzúa
This trip was fast paced, very active and jam packed but stunningly beautiful! I am not sure what i was expecting from Crete but it wasn't this, this was even better! We got to swim in crystal clear waters, hike the famous Samaria Gorge, as well as visit archaeological sites, it had a bit of everything.
Trekking and HikingBeach
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The hotels were great and well located. The hiking was challenging. The navigation worked well most of the time. Andros was a beautiful place and well worth visiting.
Recommend staying in Rafina the first night and taking the ferry the following morning. Otherwise it is a very long travel day.
Explore the Caucasus Mountains and the surrounding sites on this fantastic one-day tour of the beautiful Kazbegi region. See the Church of the Holy Trinity and other remarkable cultural sites in a breathtaking natural landscape.
The tour takes you to Ananuri, a historic castle complex consisting of two medieval towers, two churches and defensive walls. After exploring the area, you'll be driven to Gudauri, where you can enjoy the stunning panoramic view over the Caucasus Mountains. Continue your journey in the direction of Kazbegi city. From Kazbegi, we'll head out to visit the famous Gergeti Trinity Church. Enjoy the splendid surroundings and a little exercise on an 8-kilometre hike to the church. Or, for an extra cost, you have the option to be driven to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Afterwards, we will depart for Tbilisi.
A rewarding walk from the mountains of inland Corsica to the rose coloured Calanques of Piana high above the sea. A veritable mountain in the sea, Corsica is the most geographically diverse of the Mediterranean Islands. It offers such a variety of landscapes from snow topped mountain peaks to fine sandy beaches. Age old paths link the high mountain plains with their shepherd huts through to the picturesque Mediterranean Coast. This itinerary starts in the central valley and crosses the Grand Randonnee 20 (GR20), the challenging long-distance route running most of the length of Corsica. On foot you'll discover scented pine forests and the pretty mountain village of Evisa, known for its chestnuts, and explore the deep Spelunca Gorge. From Porto you can explore the unique jumble of rose granite pinnacles including the famous Calanques of Piana before visiting Corsica's capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Corsica, Calacuccia Lake, Col De
Corsica, Calacuccia Lake, Col De Verghio, Evisa, Porto, France, Ajaccio
Would highly recommend this trip. It provides great variety in scenery, beginning in the very hilly area around the base of Mt Olympus; down into lovely valleys and then stunning coastal scenery. We found the written directions to be excellent while the red and white track markers gave us lots of help as well. We were very impressed with Mehmet who kept in contact with us at the end of each day.
Had a wonderful week walking around Mont Blanc. Our group was friendly and kind, the scenery was like a “fairytale” and our accommodation / food was good
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Chamonix, Mer De Glace, Les Cont
Chamonix, Mer De Glace, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Courmayeur, Val Veny, Val Ferret
