Spanish Language & Walking Holidays

Spanish Language School in Spain with a difference

“It really was a perfect blend, learning and fun”. David Lynch, November 2010 (See comments)  

 Our Spanish language courses in Spain combine round-the-clock Spanish tuition with an idyllic walking holiday in the Pyrenees. Run house-party style, these Spanish  language holidays are designed for adults of all cultural backgrounds and walks of life.  Certain weeks are dedicated to the total beginner, and others to the intermediate or advanced Spanish speaker.   

Our Spanish courses are lively and dynamic and are led by native, professional Spanish teachers. They are based in a tiny hamlet of the Spanish Pyrenees and involve lots of friendly Spanish language immersion with the local farming community. The typical age of our guests is between 30 and 70 years old (and Harry, from Guernsey, who I remember beat us all up the hills at an incredible 83!)        (See dates and prices)        

Learn the Spanish Language in Spain

We believe that a language is to be spoken, that it cannot be severed from people, a culture and a setting. For this reason  one of the main objectives of this Spanish course in Spain is to offer our guests a Spanish language course with lots of Spanish conversation practice. I can only imagine that if our guests are interested in learning Spanish in Spain then it is not to spend their days in sterile classrooms watching life outside the window! Our methods therefore combine formal Spanish language lessons with a colourful programme of walks, fiestas and forays into the local Spanish culture, allfacilitated by native Spanish teachers, guides and friends.       

During these morning walks in the Pyrenees we amble through the countryside exploring its villages and fiestas and sampling the local cheeses, wines and patxaran. And, as locals (perhaps the odd smuggler) join us during the week, even the most timid of guests finds that Spanish conversation  bubbles forth.         

Spanish lessons in the Pyrenees

Spanish conversation continues over lunch and in the afternoon we offer structured sessions of formal Spanish language tuition.  In these Spanish classes our teacher picks up on vocabulary learned during the day and develops a structured platform of grammar, vocabulary, idioms and expressions. Our Spanish teaching is of the highest quality and, as we work with small groups, we do our best to give individual attention to each of our guest’s language needs.      

Dinner is in true house-party style and a time to relax (free from the shackles of ’para’ and ‘por’). They are inevitably a meeting of minds and a fun exchange of languages, cultural anecdotes, ideas and experiences.      

 Our Spanish Language Courses in Spain run at 3 different levels.        

• Beginners – Elementary
• Intermediate  (Half-day Spanish immersion)
• Intermediate – Advanced (Full Spanish immersion)

ALSO:

Tailor-made Spanish & Walking Holidays for 2 or more people. (More information)  

Spanish & San Sebastian (paseos y pinchos)          (More information)

Please ask us for the levels sheet.         

Spanish Language & Walking House Parties in the Pyrenees: Dates 2012

*  See our full immersion Spanish language courses in San Sebastian for other dates.

*   Our Walking, Basque Culture & Gastronomy weeks ALSO give Spanish conversation practice. 

Beginners – Elementary Spanish language courses reinforce new Spanish words and structures informally throughout the day, giving you ample opportunity to practise the language skills you will learn during the afternoon classes.         

18th – 25th August (Main fiesta season)                                                                                                                         

(ALSO: tailor-made Spanish & Walking weeks for two or more throughout the year. Further information).

Price. £845      Enquire about this holiday.        

Intermediate Spanish language courses introduce periods of total immersion, and all lunches (which may last a couple of hours) and afternoon session are held exclusively in Spanish.        

7th – 14th July (Coincides with the famous San Fermin “running with the bulls” fiesta in Pamplona)

11th – 18th August (Main fiesta season in the area)  

29th September - 6th October (Autumn colours in the Pyrenees)

(ALSO:  tailor-made Spanish & Walking weeks for two or more throughout the year. Further Information.)

Price. £845            Enquire about this holiday.    

(Also intermediate Spanish course in San Sebastian (Spanish courses in San Sebastian))  

Intermediate – Advanced Spanish Language Immersion Courses include extensive periods of total immersion in Spanish which stretch to include the morning walks and activities as well as lunch and the afternoon classes.  You may find yourselves speaking Spanish, exclusively, for 7 -8 hours a day.        

17th  - 24th June  (Fiestas de San Juan ‘Midsummer’s night’) 

21st – 28th July  (Main fiesta season)

8th – 15th September (Autumn colours in the Pyrenees)

(ALSO: tailor-made Spanish & Walking weeks for two or more throughout the year. Further information).

Price. £845          Enquire about this holiday.    

(Also intermediate – advanced Spanish course in San Sebastian (Spanish courses in San Sebastian)) 

Prices above include full-board accommodation at the farmhouse with unlimited food and wine and all restaurant meals.  There are NO hidden extras and NO single supplements. We provide a full 5-day walking & cultural programme with on-going informal Spanish teaching and 12 hours of formal Spanish tuition. We also provide a free shuttle to and from Biarritz airport and San Sebastian bus station.       

Please see our Spanish Language Courses (paseos y pintxos) in San Sebastian for other dates.     

We also run bespoke Spanish language & Walking holidays throughout the year for individuals, couples and groups. Please enquire.         

For telephone enquiries call +44 (0)121 711 3428 or Spain + 34 650 713 759        

Sample Spanish Language & Walking Itinerary 2011

Day 1 Pick up from Biarritz, cava reception and dinner and introduction to the week and life in the Baztan and Malerreka Valleys.         

Day 2 Today we drive to the tiny hill-top village of Ziga, and walk high into the hills with stunning views of the Baztan valley and Elizondo. The walk takes us past isolated farms and mountain crofts from which we gain an insight in the daily mountain life of the Basque people. We head back to Ziga for lunch on the terrace with Mercedes and Julian then prepare as a home-cooked lunch with local produce before we head back to the farmhouse. After a siesta there are 2 and a half hours of formal Spanish language lessons in the afternoon. Dinner at the house.         

Day 3 This morning we walk towards the village of Azpilikueta, the birth place of the mother of San Francisco Javier, the patron saint of Navarra and famous Jesuit missionary. Here we discuss the characteristics of Basque village life and explore the village church, fronton (pelota court) and school as well as the vital roll of the local water mills and the antics of the local miller (often famous for his womanising!). We head back to the farmhouse after a drink at the bar where Edorta joins us for lunch and sings us Spanish and Basque songs on the guitar. Siesta and Spanish lessons in the afternoon followed by dinner.         

Day 4 This morning we make our way gently over the hills to the medieval town of Amaiur where we explore the ruins of its mediaeval castle, famous for its role in the final defense of the kingdom of Navarra and strategically placed on one of the main routes of famous ‘Camino de Santiago’ (St James’s Way). Here we explore the history of the nobles of the Baztan valley and examine the shields found on the numerous ‘palacios’ in the village. After a traditional Basque lunch at the village water mill of corn talos, txistora, cider and Patxarran we make our way back to the house along parts of ‘El Camino’. Siesta and Spanish lessons in the afternoon. Dinner at the house.         

Day 5 Today people are left to explore the area on their own. In the morning and afternoon buses leave Elizondo for San Sebastian (one of the most beautiful cities in Spain famous for its aristocratic past, tapas bars and wide open sandy bay, La Concha) and Pamplona (a roman city, made famous by Hemmingway for the bull run in its world-renown fiestas of San Fermin). Those people who prefer to stay at the farmhouse can happily borrow maps and will find ample stocks of food.         

Day 6 This morning we explore my home hamlet and take a walk along the ridges of Ameztia, with stunning views of the mountains of Mendaur, famous for its superstitions and witches’ covens. Here we visit my neighbours on their mountain farms, see their animals and discuss the traditional farming methods as well as sampling Sagrario’s delicious sheep’s cheese, downed with a glass of local wine. We then walk to my ‘finca’ for lunch on the terrace. After lunch we drop into the local village of Santesteban to buy food for the final night’s dinner and then head back to the main farmhouse for Spanish lessons. Dinner at the house.         

Day 7 Depending on weather conditions, we drive further a field to the wild landscapes of Aritzakun and Urrizate where we visit the vulture breeding grounds of Itxusi where abandoned shepherds huts testify to the age-old practice of transhumance farming. We walk along smugglers tracks and ridge tops towards the Pexas de Itxusi, with spectacular views of the French Atlantic coastline below. Here we find the most northern Griffin Vulture breeding grounds in the Iberian peninsular. With vultures overhead we make our way slowly back towards civilization after a picnic in the hills. Lessons in the afternoon. Grand farewell evening meal or barbeque at the farmhouse.         

Day 8 Morning – return to Biarritz for return flights.         

To make the best of weather conditions, local fiestas and our guests’ individual preferences, these itineraries are flexible.         

Practise your Spanish before and after your holiday. Euroclub offers friendly conversation and classes with native speakers in Spanish, French, German and Italian to people in the London area.