5 Days Hiking in the Basque Country

at a glance

Peppers, Panoramas and Shepherd’s Paths

First choice: a 17.5 km hike (around 5h30, +500 m) leaving straight from the hotel along gentle paths through meadows and hamlets to reach Espelette, the village world-famous for its fiery red peppers that hang from every facade. We wander, we taste, then climb toward Mont Urzumu. From up here, the view opens across the Mondarrain and Artzamendi, and the Basque valleys spread out in a patchwork of deep greens. A gentle descent brings us back to Itxassou.

For a more relaxed version (12.5 km, around 4h, +400 m), the route is just as rewarding — at a gentler pace.

Second choice: head straight for the Mondarrain summit (749 m), a rocky peak with exceptional views over the entire Basque coast. At the top stands the Ikurrina, the Basque flag, alongside the ruins of a medieval castle belonging to the King of Navarre, occupied until the 15th century. The trail continues in a loop across open ridges before returning to Itxassou.

🚶 On foot from the hotel, no transport needed.

at a glance

Altitude, Cliffs and Vast Silence

From Bidarray, several routes unfold depending on energy and ambition.

For those drawn to wild landscapes, the route via the Peñas d’Itsusi (18.5 km, around 6h45, +850 m) is unmissable. The name means ‘the ugly rocks’ in Basque, though they’re anything but. These sheer cliffs plunge dramatically into the valleys of Bastan and Aritzacun. We walk between rushing streams, vertiginous walls and breathtaking scenery, as griffon vultures glide overhead on vast wings. The pyramidal peak of Irubelakaskoa rises in the background. A landscape that feels like the edge of the world — yet surprisingly easy to reach.

Another option: make for the Col de Lacho and the Iparla ridges (15 km, around 6h, +1000 m). From shepherd’s paths, we climb to the Iparla summit (1049 m), the first peak over 1000 m in the Pyrenees when coming from the Atlantic, straddling the border between France and Spain. The 360° view sweeps from ocean to mountains. A suspended moment. A shorter version is also available (9 km / 3h30, +550 m) for a more relaxed pace.

🚂 Train from Itxassou to Bidarray. Return by train from Bidarray.

at a glance

Medieval Lanes, Vines and Pilgrims of Santiago

From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, several routes venture into the Basque hinterland. The hike to the Arradoy summit (15 km, around 5h, +600 m) crosses the Irouléguy vineyards before reaching this remarkable belvedere overlooking the valley. The descent winds gently back through cultivated hillsides and into the medieval streets of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Passing beneath the Porte Saint-Jacques, we find ourselves walking alongside pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela. A chance to exchange a few words, hear their stories, discover where they’ve come from and where they’re going. An encounter that adds another dimension to the day.

For keen walkers, the route via the Munhoa (1023 m) along the GR10 (19 km / 7h, +950 m) rewards with panoramas stretching to the high Pyrenean peaks, before descending to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, tucked between vineyards and mountains. Return by bus then train to Itxassou.

🚂 Train from Itxassou to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Return by train, or bus + train from Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry depending on the route chosen.

at a glance

A Landscape Shaped by Mining History

From Saint-Martin-d’Arrossa, a 12 km hike (around 4h30, +700 m) leads to the Larla summit (705 m) and its ancient open-cast mining sites. This massif was worked for over 2000 years, until 1914. The ochre tones of Basque sandstone still speak of that geological and human history. Today, the Larla is a pastoral landscape of rare biodiversity. From the top, the view plunges down across the north face of Iparla, that long vertical wall rising above the valley.

Less dramatic than the ridges of previous days? Perhaps. But this preserved trail offers something rare: near-total silence, untouched landscapes, and the quiet satisfaction of walking a path that few others take.

🚂 Train from Itxassou to Saint-Martin-d’Arrossa. Return by train from Saint-Martin-d’Arrossa.