LA "GRANDE NIVE" (THE BIG NIVE)



Course A:
From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Saint Martin d'Arrossa. 10 kilometers of grade 2-3.
BOARDING:
It is possible to board when coming out of Saint Jean Pied de Port toward Cambo. At the end of the village Uhart-Cize, just after the bridge that crosses the Valcarlos Nive, you will find a small car park with a track leading to the river.

.LANDING:
About 10 km down from Saint Jean Pied de Port, take the road on the left going toward Saint Etienne de Baïgorry. The road crosses the river straight away. The landing takes place on the left bank, below the bridge, in a poplar grove.

CHARACTERISTICS:
This course can only be done when there has been enough rains to have a good level of water. The first grade-3 crossing, halfway down the course, is a slope break with rocks at the landing. The rest of the course goes through a few rapids with waves that enable you to enjoy the countryside.
The road is never far away.

Course B:
From Ossès to Bidarray. 5 kilometers of class 2 to 3 river.

 BOARDING:
On the D918 road, about 800 m after Osses when going toward Cambo, a narrow tarred path goes downwards on the left. It is better to leave the cars at the top of the track, near the regional products shop, as the path is used by different rafting organisations and by sheep flocks. The river is one hundred metres away from there.
LANDING:
5 km down from the boarding point, on the right bank, before the last railroad bridge that crosses the river at Bidarray.

CHARACTERISTICS:
There are no specific difficulties on this course. The "wavy" rapids, most of them being well pronounced, are separated from each other by "big pool". You can go down this course all year long.
.
Course C:
From Bidarray to Itxassou. 12 kilometers 2-3+-D river.

BOARDING:
It takes place at the landing point of the above course B.

LANDING:
Approximately 3 km after crossing the village of Louhossoa (towards Cambo), after going down a big slope, take the small road on the left that goes into Itxassou and over the Nive river. The bridge to cross the river has distinctive concrete archings. The landing takes place under this bridge, on the left bank.

CHARACTERISTICS:
After the roadbridge leading to the village of Bidarray, only 2 class-3 rapids will spice up your course (the rapids of " Pas de l'aigle " (eagle step) and of the " Scierie " (saw-mill)). After these, the course goes down a class-2 river among a very wild landscape. Then the river gets a bit more restless, before arriving to the famous " Pas de Roland " (Roland step), carved in a very aesthetic gorge. This crossing can be of the volume handling type with nice waces according to the amount of water. Quite quickly, you will reach a big " flat " (?) that comes just before the dam of Itxassou. The Kayak " path " is at the farthest end of the dam, on the right. You can have a look at the path by landing on the right bank. You can go down this path all year long.

Course D:
From Itxassou to Cambo, 4 kilometers of class 2 river.


BOARDING :
It is the landing point of the above course C.

LANDING :
It takes place at the thermal baths of Cambo. To get there, follow the signs " Hasparren " in Cambo, and then those of the " Thermes ".

CHARACTERISTICS:
This course is ideal for initiation or nautical tourism, on a kayak or on a open-canoe. Tha landscape is both wild and welkomming. This course can be done all year long.
route départementale 918
64780 Bidarray
Tel/Fax :33 (0)5 59 37 72 37
Home page - Where are we? - ACTIVITIES - Rafting - Kayak - Hydrospeed - Canoraft - Airyak - MUST DO! White water rafting sensations on the Noguera Pallaresa -
The Nive river - The structure - The team -Selling and renting of inflatable kayak-
- PRICE LIST - Booking - Lodging - Links
site developped by ur-bizia.com Copyright january 2001