This hiking holiday in the French Basque Country takes you from the peaks of Iparla to the beaches of the Atlantic coast, along the GR10 and GR8 trails. During the hike you will encounter the charm of the mountains and the Basque countryside with villages in red and white, beech forests, moors and meadows. Cosy accommodation with character will greet you at the end of each hiking day.
During this trip you will hike along good trails with each hike being about 4-6 hours long, i.e. of medium character.
Hike in the beautiful French Basque Country
Highlights
- Hike from mountain to sea with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean
- Picturesque villages with Basque culture and rhythm of life
- Cosy accommodation with character - where food is carefully prepared with local ingredients
Quick facts
| Travel duration: | 7 days/ 6 nights |
|---|---|
| Travel period: | 15/4 - 15/10 |
| Grade: | Medium. Average 4-5 h/ 10-15 km/ 300-700 m per day. Day by day trip grading, see "program" on each trip. 3 |
| Accommodations: | |
| Trip type: | Self guided walking holidays |
| Price example: | From €1,140 |
| Meals: | Breakfast & 4 dinners |
Prices per person in EUR
This trip is available from April 15 – October 15, with any arrival date except Fridays, and Saturdays in July and August.
7 days/ 6 nights From €1,140 Book your trip
| Period | Double Room - shared bed | Twin Room - separate beds | TRP - Triple Room | SGL - Single Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-15 2026-06-30 | €1,140 | €1,140 | €1,140 | €1,590 |
| 2026-07-01 2026-09-30 | €1,230 | €1,230 | €1,230 | €1,680 |
| 2026-10-01 2026-10-15 | €1,140 | €1,140 | €1,140 | €1,590 |
Prices quoted are per person and include:
- Accommodation 6 nights
- Breakfast
- 4 dinners
- Luggage transport for hotel changes
- Detailed hiking maps
- Detailed Roadbooks in English:
- Destination information
- Practical information
- Detailed hiking descriptions day by day
- GPX files, for hiking maps in your own GPS or mobile phone
- 24 h emergency phone for urgent matters
Not included
- Flight to/from the destination
- Transfer to/from the airport
- Train journey up to La Rhune (if you want to do this, you pay on site)
* Single room rates
- Single room rates apply when travelling in the company of others. If you are travelling on your own, in most cases there will be an extra charge due to more expensive luggage transport. Please contact us for prices.
Optional extras
- Private transfer from Biarritz airport to St Jean Pied de Port, contact us for prices.
- Private transfer from St Jean de Luz to Biarritz airport, price per car: 90 Euro (max 4 people).
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in St Jean Pied de Port
Check in at the hotel, start familiarising yourself with the hiking maps and take a tour of St Jean Pied de Port.
Day 2 Hike from Col D’Ispéguy to Bidarray – 13 km (16.5 km)
The day starts with a transfer to the Col d’Ispéguy, where the hike begins. You will hike in the ‘vulture kingdom’, along the red sandstone ridges of Iparla. There are two trails to choose from, one slightly easier, and one more challenging. You then hike to Bidarray, a village rich in Basque culture and lifestyle.
13 km (16.5 km), +150 m (+800 m), -380 m (-1300 m)
Day 3 Hike from Bidarray to Itxassou – 12.6 km (16 km)
The trail starts by hiking along the limestone plateaus of Sauveterre to Le From Bidarray, where you follow the mythical smugglers’ paths criss-crossing up to the summit of l’Artzamendi (926 metres above sea level), then continue downhill through the Pas de Roland to the small village of Itxassou, famous for its fine cherries.
You can choose between a shorter or a longer route today.
12.6 km (16 km), +590 m (+880 m), – 650 m (-890 m)
Day 4 Hike from Itxassou to Espelette – 16 km
From Itxassou you could take a shortcut over the hills to Esplette, but the hike around gives a great view of the green landscape. A small climb to Mondarrain (749 metres above sea level), and then downhill until you reach the typically Basque village of Espelette, decorated with red garlands.
Trying the chilli pepper that Espelette is famous for is mandatory!
16 km, +620 m, -760 m
Day 5 Hike from Espelette to Sare - 19 km
From Espelette to Sare, you hike through the countryside with its small charming villages and over the mountains with views of both Nivelle and Ainhoa. After about 4 or 5.5 hours of hiking (depending on the route you choose), you will reach the village of Sare, named as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
19 km, +620 m, – 600 m
Day 6 Hike from Sare to Saint Jean de Luz- 10.5 km (15 km)
Today you have several choices. One of the options is hiking or travelling by train to the top of ‘la Rhune’. From La Rhune you have a 360° view over sea, moors and mountains all the way to the Hautes-Pyrenees and Spanish Basque Country. The hike continues down to Ascain. From here a short transfer to Saint Jean de Luz is included.
10.5 km (15 km), +500 m (+880 m), -840 m (-500 m)
Day 7 Departure day
We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.
Accommodations
During this trip you will stay in 2 and 3-star hotels.
7 days/ 6 nights
| Night | Place | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | St-Jean-Pied-de-Port | Hotel *** |
| Night 2 | Bidarray | Hotel ** |
| Night 3 | Itxassou | Hotel ** |
| Night 4 | Espelette | Hotel *** |
| Night 5 | Sare | Hotel ** |
| Night 6 | St-Jean-de-Luz | Hotel *** |
Route map
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