French Immersion in Pays Basque (France) in October 2025

Hasparren, near Bayonne

Discover the Basque région in the Pyrénées Atlantique with our favourite guides Patrick & Robbie from Pyrénées Tours, who will take us on an unforgettable 9-day all-in-French immersion in which you can strengthen your French skills while learning about local culture, gastronomy and traditions of the region.

Dates

Friday 3rd to Saturday 11th October 2025

French Level

This immersion is open to participants with a B1 level minimum. All activities, classes and meals will be conducted in French only. Participants are expected to communicate in French only throughout the entire immersion. It is tiring, but very rewarding, trust us!

Contact us if you're not sure of your level.

The Basque Region

Basque Country is a cultural region within the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, extreme southwestern France, bordering the western Pyrenees Mountains where they adjoin the Basque provincias of Spain,

The Basque, who speak a language that is among the oldest in Europe, are ethnically distinct from the people who surround them in France and Spain, having preserved their identity among the waves of migrants who have passed through the region since prehistoric times.

Along the coastal fringe, known for its pleasant climate, tourism is the economic mainstay with resorts such as Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, and Hendaye. There is also some fishing. Inland, on the foothills of the Pyrenees, sheep are extensively grazed for the production of cheese. 

 The region extends from the Anie Peak of the Pyrenees to the magnificent rock-bound coast around Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Bay of Biscay. 

Accommodation

Hotel-Relais Les Tilleuls

Les Tilleuls, Place Verdun, 64240 HASPARREN

Website

During your stay in Hasparren you will be staying in the family run Hotel des Tilleuls, situated in the village centre. Hélène and  her mum, Mayalen, run the hotel together with their staff. 

The hotel has been in the same family for three generations. 

Dinners will be taken in the restaurant on the first floor above the bar in the main hotel, and breakfast will be in the annex downstairs near the foyer. The same room will be used for your French classes. During your stay, you will enjoy regional country food. Red & white wine will be served at the hotel with evening meals, as it is the tradition in the southwest of France. Wi-Fi is available from your room. A laundromat is available in the village.

Surrounding the hotel, there is a bank, post office, supermarket, restaurants, pharmacy, news agency, some cafés and other shops selling some Basque produce and wares.  

Language Classes

The goal of this immersion is to give participants an opportunity to develop and strengthen their ability to communicate effectively in French, in a region famous for its gastronomy, geography and its history: Pyrénées Atlantique.

Your stay includes 12h of goal-oriented lessons focused on French communication – to increase your grammatical knowledge and vocabulary using authentic documents and sources. The format of the lessons is divided between a “classical” style every other morning and a less formal setting for the rest of the time.

Classes will take place in the hotel conference room.

Programme

Friday 3rd October

Participants will be met at Bayonne railway station at 14.03 and transported by coach to the hotel in Hasparren. This is the arrival time of the TGV 8537 from Paris which departs Montparnasse at 10.04. Details and timetable will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour. [Train tickets not included in package]. The afternoon will be free to relax and explore the village. Welcome drinks followed by dinner at the hotel.

Saturday 4th October

Class in the morning. Lunch will be in La Bastide Clairence, one of France’s most beautiful villages, with time to wander the village. We will then make our way to Bayonne for free time to explore the old historical town, or perhaps for the art buffs, the Musée Bonnat or the Basque Museum. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Sunday 5^th October

Bus trip to Arnaga, the home of Edmond Rostand, to wander the garden and visit the house. Next stop will be Itxassou for a small stroll (3 km) and a light lunch in a country restaurant. A game of pétanque after lunch. Dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Monday 6^th October

Morning in St Jean Pied de Port for its market, free time to wander and then lunch in this beautiful old town. Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday 7^th October

Visit to a chilli farm in Espelette, followed by a visit to a prehistoric grotto and a Méchoui lunch. After lunch we will go to the Makhila atelier. Dinner not included – a free night for you to choose a restaurant in the village.

Wednesday 8^th October

Class in the morning. Visit and lunch at a traditional Basque pig farm and a stop at a trout farm. Small stroll in St Etienne de Baigorry. Dinner at the hotel.

Thursday 9^th October

Free time in Espelette with a visit to the chocolate maker and a tasting. Lunch in the port of Socoa for Ttoro, followed by free time in St Jean de Luz. Dinner at the hotel.

Friday 10^th October

Class in the morning, light lunch with tasting of duck products. Farewell drinks and dinner.

Thursday 17^th April

The bus will take all the participants to Bayonne railway station to catch the 10.17 TGV 8534 for Paris, Montparnasse.
Details and timetable will be confirmed a few months before the start of the tour. [Train tickets not included in package].

Price

Individual Room: AU$6,950

Shared Room: AU$6,620

Please note that spots are available on a first come, first served basis. We cannot hold nor guarantee a spot without deposit.

Good to know

• A get-together for participants coming on this tour will be held in Bowral on the 2^nd of February 2025.
• During this tour, walking to and from activities is necessary, and walking mobility will be required.
• All participants must have travel insurance. We strongly recommend they purchase travel insurance as soon as they have paid any deposit or any travel arrangements.
• All participants must include travel insurance information with their final payment, a signed accident waiver and release of liability form, supplied by Pyrenees Tours.

What's included

• 4x 3hrs French lessons by a French a la Carte teacher
• All transports to and from activities during the immersion
• All meals as described above
• Accommodation and breakfasts
• All activities as described above    
• Wine is included with all the sit-down meals but if the wines are not to your liking, you are free to purchase something different at your own expense.  The quantity of the wine served will be sufficient to accompany the meals
• Group Transfers from Bayonne train station at the day and times described above (To be confirmed)

What's not included

• Airfares, train transportation, taxes, passport fees, visas
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Any personal expenses during the whole stay
• Tips
• All expenses which do not appear in expenses included in the price

Payment schedule

• A non-refundable deposit of $1,200 is required to secure your booking. Bookings will ONLY be confirmed upon reception of the full deposit, on a first come, first served basis.
  
• The final payment of the remainder is due by the 1st of July 2025.

Terms & Conditions 

I Our responsibility

It is our responsibility to ensure that tour activities have been organised as stated in the program.  It is also our right to alter the itinerary, if necessary, in the event of unforeseen circumstances.  Any extra costs resulting from these alterations will not be our responsibility.

No responsibility will be accepted for any delays occurring during the tour. It is at our discretion to stop any person from participating in any of the activities should they not have the required level of fitness or mobility on any particular day.

II  Cancellation 

By the organisers: If the tour needs to be cancelled, due to member of the group cancelling and resulting numbers being below the minimum number of 12 participants, after the 8^th of January, no deposit will be refunded to any participant who made the late cancellation. Other participants deposits will be refunded.

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be made in writing to French à la Carte 

• If cancellation occurs earlier than 70 days prior departure, an admin fee of $500 will be retained.
• If cancellation occurs between 70 to 45 days prior departure, 30% of the cost will be refunded, unless you are able to find someone to take your spot.
• No refunds are available if cancellation occurs less than 44 days before departure, unless you are able to find someone to take your spot.

III Responsibility of participants

It is the responsibility of the participant to organise and pay for all travel documents, i.e. passports, visas, tickets, insurance, departure tax.  All participants need travel insurance.  The participants will be responsible for any injury, sickness, loss, or damage that might occur.

If any participant wishes to alter the itinerary in any way, all resulting costs and organisation will be his/her responsibility.  It is the responsibility of the participant to be at the point of pick-up as specified and at the time specified. If this is not possible it is the participant's responsibility to rejoin the tour at his/her own expense.

IV  Organization

The organization of the course, the activities on the schedule and the itinerary may be subject to change without notice due to act of God, local circumstances and weather.

We contract with a range of third parties and individuals. To the best of our knowledge, the different third parties who will assist us during the course are qualified to perform the duties they are contracted to perform. Château de Joudes Saint Amour will not be held liable for injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur due to the behaviour of these third parties.

Contact & more info

info@frenchalacarte.com.au

0400 141 370