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PYRENEAN EXPERIENCE
LANGUAGE HOLIDAYS
House Party Holidays in
the Spanish Pyrenees
Our mountain farmhouse in the Spanish Pyrenees opens its doors
to people from all over the world. Here, walkers, Spanish language learners and cultural enthusiasts find a home-from-home;
a meeting of minds and relaxed house-party atmosphere with dinners on the terrace and some of the prettiest walks in Europe
leading straight from the farmhouse door.
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Where are we?
Our holidays are based in the Baztan and Malerreka valleys which form part of the Basque foothills of
Western Spanish Pyrenees. They lie in the former kingdom of Navarre, close to the northern French border, an hour south
of the Atlantic Ocean, San Sebastian and Biarritz.
Who are we?
We are a small family company, based in a tiny mountain hamlet of 19 people and totally
integrated into the local Basque farming community (so much so that my daughter has been shepherding sheep since the age
of 2!). This allows us to give a personal approach
to every day we plan and every guest we meet. It also means that our private friends and neighbours often join in - intrigued
by the rare presence of foreign visitors to these parts.
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International Recognition
One day the time-warp of this medieaval landscape will shatter as it gradually attracts
anthropological interest in the depth of tradition still preserved in its carnivals and fiestas. In 2008, these valleys
finally gained international recognition when UNESCO moved to safeguard my village carnivals in Ituren as part of Spain's
intangible cultural heritage. These carnivals - in which my neighbours and daughter take part - are an extremely moving
and intense pagan event linked to the energies of the earth and among the oldest carnivals in Europe.
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Who are you?
Our holidays are ideal for people who want to get completely off the beaten track, for those with a love
of rural landscapes and a genuine curiosity in people and tradition.
• If you are interested in learning Spanish, we invite you to join our relaxed, highly-focused
Spanish Language and Walking Holidays. These are run by professional language and
cross- cultural specialists and are pitched at different levels throughout the year.
• If you are interested in our House-party Walking Holidays (and have a genuine interest in the
Basque Culture), we run several weeks a year centered around local Basque carnivals and
fiestas. Apart from a wonderful range of walks through the Pyrenean foothills and
borderlands, these weeks offer a UNIQUE and very privileged backdoor entrance into
local village life.
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If you are thinking of visiting the area independently we can also tailor-make:
Spanish and Walking Holidays
Walking Group House Parties
Basque Culture Holidays
Bird watching, Basque Gastronomy
Bed & Breakfasts and Self-Catering
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Our holidays are highly personal with professional local guides and Spanish language tuition. We work with
small groups and - as many of our guests travel alone - offer single rooms without supplement.
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Georgina Howard
Author:
Freedom to Choose
Breaking the Language Barrier
Email us from here, or phone +44 (0)121 711 3428 for a brochure.
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