By Sarah Newell | Founder & Co-Owner, Athara Adventures | BICP Ride Leader | Wilderness First Aid & CPR | Outdoor Program Risk Management
Autumn has a way of changing the rhythm of life in the Pyrenees.
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures become more moderate, the animals begin moving down from the higher mountain pastures, the heat of summer gives way to cooler afternoons, and there is a little more space to breathe. It is a season that invites us to slow down, while somehow giving us renewed energy for the things we want to do.
For us at Athara Adventures, September and October have been a wonderful reminder of why we put so much care into creating our tours. Planning, route testing, research and preparation have come together in experiences that have introduced people to places we love, often through a completely new set of eyes.
We have walked the historic paths of the French Resistance, discovered beautiful corners of the Pyrenees with a new group of hikers, and travelled through the French countryside following the story of Joan of Arc.
As our 2026 tour season comes to a close, here is a little of what each of us has been experiencing, learning and enjoying.
Warmly,
Anna, Sarah, and Seoka
Athara Adventures
Anna: when all the preparation comes together
August and September were focused on preparation. There were routes to walk, logistics to organise, details to check and, perhaps most importantly, a great deal of thought about how we welcome people to an area they had never visited before.
At the beginning of September, we ran our moderate Chemin de la Liberté hiking tour for the first time. It was particularly satisfying to see all that preparation come together so smoothly.
One of the things I love most about guiding is introducing people to something new that I also care deeply about. There is a particular pleasure in watching someone experience a place for the first time, especially when it is somewhere we know well enough to appreciate its quieter details.
Two moments from the tour stand out for me.
The first was a long day walking through the Sourque Forest, following the actual Chemin de la Liberté route before finishing in Seix. Along the way, we visited a memorial connected to a family who resisted near Alos during the Second World War.
The forest was beautiful, and several people commented on how strongly they felt connected to the history as they walked. There is something powerful about encountering history in the landscape where it happened. Rather than simply hearing a story or reading a plaque, you are moving through the same terrain, seeing the forests and mountains that shaped the choices people made.
It was a long day, and by the end, everyone was feeling the effort. But I was struck by how everyone kept finding the energy to carry on, staying positive and appreciating the experience even when they were tired.
The following day brought a completely different kind of pleasure. We walked towards a waterfall near Mont Valier, enjoying a beautiful day in the mountains. Afterwards, we sat together at the Maison du Valier, sharing beers and ice cream and enjoying the easy conviviality that comes after a good day outdoors.
These are the moments that make all the advance work worthwhile. When the planning is done well, we can relax into the experience alongside our guests, adapting when necessary and allowing the day to unfold naturally.
And there is another gift that comes with guiding: seeing familiar places through other people's eyes.
One of our guests was particularly knowledgeable about birds. He would hear a bird call, become delighted by it and share his enthusiasm with the group. Another guest knew a great deal about ferns and pointed out varieties we might otherwise have passed without noticing.
That is one of the unexpected rewards of travelling together. We arrive with different experiences, interests and knowledge, and each person adds something to what the rest of us see. Even in a place we think we know, there is always more to discover.
Sarah: walking through history, from the Pyrenees to Joan of Arc's France
For me, one of the highlights of October was a private cultural tour following the early life and journey of Joan of Arc.
This was a little different from the walking and cycling holidays we usually share in our newsletters. The tour came about because a group of eight wonderful women had a common interest in Joan of Arc, and we were able to create a journey specifically around that curiosity.
Over nine days, we travelled from her birthplace towards Chinon, where she met the Dauphin, visiting other places connected to her early military campaign along the way.
This was not a hiking tour. It was an opportunity to explore history on the ground, visiting places, looking at the landscape and bringing the past into the present.
That approach is central to what we do at Athara Adventures, whether we are walking in the Pyrenees or exploring another part of France. We love being outdoors for its own sake, but we also want to help people understand the places they are visiting: the events that shaped them, the people who lived there and the stories that have survived.
For many of our guests, particularly those travelling from North America, the sheer depth of French history is a source of constant fascination. We might be standing beside a building dating from the eighth century, then visiting a site associated with the twelfth or fourteenth century. The centuries are not abstract dates in a textbook; they are visible in the buildings, streets and landscapes around us.
One of the most special aspects of this particular tour was the opportunity to visit places that were not on the usual tourist itinerary. With the help of someone who had particular expertise in Joan of Arc's story, we were able to discover quieter, more authentic places that we might not otherwise have found.
There is a special pleasure in these discoveries. Away from the crowds, we could take our time, look more closely and appreciate the connection between the history and the places themselves.
As our 2026 season comes to an end, it is these experiences of discovery and connection that keep us looking forward to what comes next.
Seoka: finding energy in the changing seasons
The cooler, longer evenings help me slow down, and the milder days, whether rainy or bright, feel both energizing and calming.
The animals came down from the high pastures late this year because of the drought, but after some good rain in October, they’re back in the fields around our hamlet. Visiting with them while I’m walking or riding is one of my favorite things.
I’m finding a better balance and more creativity. In that space, I’ve been quietly building something that means a lot to me: an online community for women.
Over the years, I’ve heard the same thing from friends, colleagues, and clients: their conversations often stay on the surface more than they would like.
It isn’t easy to find people willing to talk openly about menopause, health concerns, questioning relationships, parenting adult children, or the sense that what matters most is evolving. So many women end up holding a lot inside and making big decisions without a real sounding board.
I’m glad that more accurate information about women’s hormonal health is available now, and that the research is growing. Just this week, I heard from Millie, a recent Dartmouth graduate who has been a psychology intern at Hanover CBT for the past two years and who joined me at our spring women’s retreat.
She wrote, “I found out this week I’ll be working on a project on supplemental estrogen, brain connectivity, and cognition! Woo!!” She added that it “feels very exciting and meaningful to contribute to the thankfully growing body of knowledge that will eventually make sense of the female experience.”
Still, good information isn’t always easy to find. These subjects don’t suddenly become relevant in our forties or fifties. Younger women deserve this knowledge too, so they can make informed choices now that will serve them well as they get older.
And women in midlife deserve a story about this time that includes wisdom, growth, and power, not only loss.
I’m imagining a place where women at different stages of life, from young adulthood through midlife and into retirement, can explore their questions, hopes, and values with compassion and curiosity.
There will be monthly online gatherings, conversations guided with care, practical skills and insights from psychology, and small-group workshops. It won’t replace therapy or medical care. It will be a community for learning, connection, and support. And there will always be humor!
It feels fitting to be building this as the seasons change. I’m planning to launch in mid-November. If you’d like to hear first, you can share your interest here.
Looking ahead to 2027
As we wrap up our 2026 tour season, we are already looking towards next year.
The past few months have reminded us that the work behind a good tour is about much more than planning a route or choosing interesting places to visit. It is about creating the conditions for people to discover something new, whether that is a landscape, a piece of history, a different perspective or a connection with someone they might never otherwise have met.
We have been fortunate to share the Pyrenees with people who were curious about the trails, eager to understand the history and willing to look closely at the world around them. We have also had the pleasure of creating a very different kind of journey through the French countryside, shaped by a shared interest in Joan of Arc.
These experiences are what fuel us through the quieter months and into the next season.
The weather is still giving us some beautiful afternoons for walking and cycling, even as autumn settles in. We will continue to enjoy the mountains for ourselves, explore new places and prepare for the adventures ahead.
We look forward to sharing more of this corner of France with you in 2027.
Athara Adventures creates thoughtful walking holidays, cultural experiences and retreats in France and the Pyrenees. Founded by Sarah, Anna and Seoka, Athara brings together a love of place, local knowledge, meaningful travel and time outdoors, helping guests experience this part of France with more depth, connection and ease.
Interested in joining us in 2027? Explore our upcoming walking holidays and women’s retreats, including the introductory Chemin de la Liberté tour in June 2027, or get in touch with us to start a conversation about your next adventure.
