Hiking Vélo Pays Basque

Discover the Basque Country and its mountains in the company of a private guide, with a program adapted to your physical condition? Zeharka, short for "to cross" in Basque, is the company name of Bixente, mountain guide and sports educator. We offer a wide range of hikes: discovery, gourmet, nocturnal, sporting, bivouac, orienteering, but also trail riding, mountain biking, road biking, rock climbing, snowshoeing (in winter) or an introduction to the 3 Basque pelotes: bare hand, chistera, paleta. The choice is yours, and you can set off in complete confidence.

A wonderful walk from Larrau along the GR on one of the most spectacular and most frequented sites of the Western Pyrenees. The torrents have dug the ground, forming spectacular and long crevasses, the witness, these gorges of Holzarte! Following the marked path along the edge of the crevasse, we arrive at the junction of the Olhado and Olhadybia crevasses, at an altitude of 590 meters. There, the highlight of the walk begins as you approach the footbridge, a real suspension bridge over a bubbling torrent 160 meters below!

The former domain is now public property, classified as a Sensitive Natural Area. It overlooks the city to the south. A path of 2.5 km length for 30 min to 1 hour of walking, marked out through wood leads the visitor to the top of the hill : view on Itxassou and the Basque Pyrenees. Picnic area. An easy and family outing which, despite its low altitude, allows you to enjoy a panoramic view. Stop at the educational building "Elondare".

Between Haute-Soule and Basse-Navarre, in the heart of the Iraty forest, this pass rises to an altitude of 1,283 m. One of the 3 main sites in Europe, it is "inhabited" by birdwatchers, whether migration specialists or simple amateur enthusiasts, who you'll find on your way from July 15 to November 15. Black kites, Montagu harriers, birds of prey, cranes... fly over the Basque mountains and don't go unnoticed! Sunrises and sunsets in this mosaic of landscapes.

From the beach of Erretegia to Bidart, the Coastal Trail winds along the Atlantic coast to the village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. 13 km long, it takes 3:30 a. m. to complete the entire path, but it can be segmented at any time. For example, you can enjoy a round trip to Guétary port in 1:30 a. m. You will then have a beautiful view of the coastline, between beaches and cliffs. From Bidart, don't miss the Sainte-Madeleine Chapel and its pleasant panorama.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 1:30.

Difficulty: easy.

Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are available to you from Bidarray. The great mountain bike crossing from Bidarray to Sare, where you will discover white and red houses, frontons and its pelota players... A difference in altitude of 1 270 m, for experienced mountain bikers... The hike that leads you to the picturesque abandoned village of Arizakun, wedged between impressive cliffs... The ascent of the Harriondo massif which allows you to overlook the valleys of the Baztan and the Nives. Difference in altitude: 550 m. And the magnificent hike to Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry.

Discover your heritage on foot! On this easy hike, you'll learn how Iraty's forest resources were used to make masts, oars for fishermen, furniture and charcoal. You'll notice the diversity of the flora and fauna... Many of the activities along the interpretive trail still "vibrate" in the heart of Iraty; a true museum open to all!

Agence les Corsaires organizes exciting geological hikes led by Pierrick d'Alleman, an FFFM-certified geologist with a passion for rocks and ancient history, who takes even the most daring hikers on a journey into a world that reveals the existence and secrets of a 65-million-year-old ocean of rocks beneath our feet. On the program: the cliffs of Bidart, Biarritz, the Hendaye coastline, La Rhune, Mondarrain, Artza Mendi and the fossils of Urculu.

I love this hike, which can be completed in half a day. When you leave the village of Bonloc in the direction of Saint-Esteben, keep an eye on the kilometre marker: at the Saint-Esteben milestone (3.5 km), take a small road to the right. And you can stop the vehicle as the road becomes a path: after crossing a stream called Garraldako Erreka, the world is yours! This ascent takes around 2 hours and is accessible to all.

Laëtitia, a seasoned sportswoman with a passion for outdoor activities, offers you the discovery of her favorite playground, the Pyrenean foothills of the Basque Country, on foot, on trail, on horseback and along the coast, with surfboard or paddle. With a training and a diploma of sports educator, she will share her passion with you by proposing outings in small groups on her favorite themes such as the history, the local fauna, the flora, the rocks or the gastronomy and its producers without forgetting the beaches from San Sebastián to the Adour.

At the beginning of the Loisirs leisure base, a discovery trail leads you to the encounter of the fauna and flora of this mountain. The first step of the journey is to take up to 50 minutes, before meeting the first information panels. They will inform you about the specific aspects of this mountain, such as the presence of the pottok, the typical horse of the Basque Country, the use of kaolin, or the pastoral tradition in Baigura. After 1 p. m., you will have the choice between doing half-turn or continuing on a larger loop, which climbs up to the collar and prolongs the two-hour walk.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 2 h.

Difficulty: Easy, but with 300 meters of difference.

Hiking trails around Sainte-Engrâce for all levels, with breathtaking panoramas. Merkatubidea: departure from Camping Ibarra, 6 km, 3h; Ukhumurrutia: departure from Camping Ibarra, 6 km, 3h; Gorges d'Ehujarré: departure from the church, 12 km, 7h30; Murrutchegagné : departure from church, 4 km, 2h30; Espildoy: departure from Auberge Berrieix, 6 km, 4h30; Tour du Pont d'Enfer: departure from Gorges parking lot, 2 km, 50 min; La Verna: departure from Visitor Center, 8 km, 3h30.

Rise above the world with Sylvain and his team on a fully personalized tour, discovering unexplored landscapes, wildlife, local people and their environment. Sylvain will introduce you to or perfect your skills in summer and winter mountain activities. With 30 specialized circuits in each sector, the Basque Country offers unique experiences with the possibility of bivouacking. Training courses are also available, covering observation, mountain orientation and avalanche rescue.

Between the sky, the mountains and the sea, everything here invites you to take a stroll along the paths laid out for this purpose, such as the El Cano fishermen's path, also close to the shore, where you can cycle or walk. If you're a jogger, don't hesitate to take this path... There are two ways to explore the village on foot. You'll find explanatory signs on some of the paths. These walks take less than two hours to complete, and allow you to discover part of the Basque heritage and the village of Guéthary.

A great idea for a family outing. By a towpath transformed into a track, it is possible to reach Bayonne. A pleasant walk reserved for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers and horse riders. The preservation of the banks of the Nive and its development belong to the mixed syndicate of the Nive maritime made up of the towns of Bayonne, Bassussary, Villefranque and Ustaritz. A preserved site, a space of peace, of nature and one sometimes crosses pilgrims coming from the four corners of the world.

Take a walk with Patxi and join him for a sunset in the heart of the Basque mountains. On this hike, you'll meet the inhabitants of our countryside, such as sheep, pottoks and maybe even griffon vultures. Enjoy a convivial gourmet break with a peasant snack, and when night falls, light your way with a headlamp. The distance is 6 km, with an ascent of +200 m, for a total duration of 4 hours.

Looking for a day full of discovery and excitement? Take off on an adventure, accompanied by a guide specialized in flora and fauna, with a special focus on the emblematic bird of the Basque mountains: the griffon vulture. This experience is open to all, and will allow you to delve into the history of the smugglers and the legends of the Laminak, while being close to the vultures' nests, which you can observe through binoculars.

You can buy a topo-guide listing about thirty marked itineraries in the Saint-Palais area and hiking sheets for the whole of the Basque Country at the Tourist Information Office. In July and August, ask for the summer guide which proposes hikes with mountain guides, locals who tell you about their country. Without taking the car, you can go on foot on the Saint-Sauveur hill on the Xibaltare path (2 hours round trip): a very beautiful panorama on the Basque and Bearn Pyrenees awaits you there.

The mount Ursuya dominates all the Country of Hasparren; we see it above the 10 villages lying at its feet. Any walker can reach it (678 m). Start from the fronton of the Celhay and Urcuray district and ask for information because the two proposed hikes are of different difficulty and duration. Along the way, there are explanatory stones and information on the richness of the Ursuya and the pastoral activity of these places. You will know everything about the protohistoric remains, ancient paths, pottoks, shepherds. Up there, an exceptional panorama.