Slow Food Itineraries

 

May

 

Day 1

All participants will be met at Pau railway station at 15.15. This is the arrival time of the TGV 8514 from Paris, Montparnasse.  Details will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour. Participants will be taken to the hotel in Monein, approximately 20 minutes away. Those who are not using this pick-up service will make their own way to the hotel. Welcome drinks will be served before dinner with folk singers performing local traditional songs.

Day 2

Journey by bus to Salies de Béarn, a village rich in salt, with a guided tour of its charming old streets and ancient salt collecting methods and free time to browse. We will then have lunch at a local duck farm where we will taste its delicious produce all prepared with “Salies” salt. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3

Journey by bus to Bedous to wander around the local market. Lunch will be in the little mountain village of Aydius, where we will taste the traditional Garbure soup, followed by a walk to a goat farm with a degustation of its cheese. Dinner at one of Pau’s finest restaurants.

Day 4

Journey by bus to Oloron to visit the twelfth century Cathedral of St Marie and learn of  its treasures. Lunch will be in the little Basque village of Larrau followed by a stroll around the countryside. Before we make our way back to the hotel we will go to the top of La Madeleine to admire the magnificent 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain peaks and valleys. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5

Quick trip to my village, Abos, for a game of quille de neuf and quille de six and a stroll around the village, including an official welcome by the village mayor.  Lunch will be a buffet of regional specialties followed by a game of pétanque.  Bus will take us to an old rustic vineyard with the option of a 3 kilometre walk back (all down hill!) to the hotel after a wine tasting.  Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6

Journey by bus to the village of Gavarnie for a three-hour return walk to Le Cirque de Gavarnie, with an option to ride by horse or donkey. Picnic lunch. On the way back, quick stop to see the twelfth century church in the village of Luz St Sauveur. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Day 7

Journey by bus to St Jean Pied de Port in the Basque country to explore the local market and then to the Port of Socoa for Ttoro, the traditional Basque seafood soup. After lunch free time in St Jean de Luz. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8

Morning trip by bus to Pau to a giant supermarket to see its enormous food selection.  Lunch will be in one of Pau's great traditional restaurants next to the castle followed by free time to shop and explore the old city. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 9

The bus will take all the participants to Pau railway station to catch the 11.45 TGV 8541 for Paris. This will be the only transport organised that day. [The TGV ticket is not included in package] Details will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour.