Crossing the Basque Country

Night in a tent at the cottage, and meal at the table d'hote.

Discover the mountain: the foothills of the Pyrenees, the pottioks (small Basque horse), the Spanish ventas (in fact we pass for supplies at the Ibardin pass known for its famous shops or “venta” in Spanish). Then we enter a beautiful forest before reaching our stopover cottage to the village of Olhette. Splendid ocean views will enhance your day.
Night in a tent and meals in a stopover lodge. The meal and breakfast will be prepared by the cottage. Possibility of swimming in the pool at the cottage.
Height difference: + 500 m and 5 hours of walking.

M3 - Olhette/Aïnhoa
Today we are going to take an exclusive itinerary that will take us to the Franco-Spanish border. The landscapes are splendid, views of the ocean (Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Aquitaine coast), and on the Rhune mountain (very beautiful), the rest of the journey will make us play “border jump” as if returning to the time of smugglers. We pass at the foot of the Rhune, then start the descent to the superb village of Sare and its pediment (one of the most beautiful in the Basque Country). We still have a few kilometers left before reaching the end of our stage: Aïnhoa classified “one of the most beautiful villages in France”.
Night and meal at the stopover cottage (meal to be reheated).
Height difference: + 850 m and 5 hours of walking.

Day 4 - Aïnhoa/Col des Veaux
This stage will allow us to discover a different, steeper and wilder mountain. This morning we are taking the Way of the Crosses which will take us to the summer plateaus (a lot of flocks of sheep: the Rufous-headed Manechs). In front of us stand several peaks: the peak of Mondarrain (749 m) and the peak of Artzamendi (926 m) (mountain with bears) superb! We take the opportunity to climb the Mondarrain peak (360° view of the Basque country). We reach our farm inn by a superb ridge path. Our cottage is located on the Franco-Spanish border.
Night and meal at the cottage.
Height difference: + 800 m and 5 hours of walking.

Day 5 - Col de Veaux/Bidarray
This morning we are walking on the Franco-Spanish border to the summit of the Artzamendi peak: the highest peak in the canton, an ascent without technical difficulty. Then the GR10 crosses the vulture ridge (observation of local fauna and flora), a descending course of wild beauty. Half-day break at the river; basins and natural pools ideal for swimming and relaxing. We arrived in Bidarray at the end of the afternoon.
Meal at the cottage (meal to be reheated). The night will be spent in the cottage or in a tent depending on availability.
Height difference: + 450 m and 4 hours of walking.

Day 6 - Bidarray/Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry
Today's stage is a great classic of sporty hiking in Garazi-Baigorri: it's the crossing of the Iparla ridges. These ridges stretch from Bidarray to Ispeguy in a wall of several hundred meters above the valleys of the Nive, Iparla being the name of the highest peak of this wall with its 1044 m. Thanks to its various amphitheatres and its lateral ranges, they have given an unparalleled mountain character to this entire region! Since the western side of the Iparla ridges is not very steep, crossing the Iparla ridges is an easy but long course that has also become a classic crossing of the Basque Country. It is not lacking in charm, and walking along the A-peaks of the wall is spicy! It is therefore on this classic itinerary that we must travel, but instead of continuing to the Ispeguy pass at the end of the crossing, we will go down to Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorri, in the Leipars district, where the stopover lodge is located.
Night and meal at the stopover cottage.
Height difference: + 1000 m and 8 hours of walking.

Day 7 - Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Pleasant stage that allows us to reach Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, from Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry, by climbing an easy summit of 1021 m, the Munho (Munhoa) excellent belvedere over the entire region. Previously, we could possibly climb Oylarandoy with its summit chapel. The views are superb, you dominate the whole valley. Relatively easy step. The arrival city of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is very characteristic with its old town, its ramparts and its citadel. This day will allow us to have enough time in the afternoon to visit the city.
Night and meal at the campsite.
Height difference: + 800 m and 6 hours of walking.

The course of this program is indicative.
It may undergo modifications or adjustments, depending on technical criteria, safety requirements or the climatic conditions of the moment. In this case, only those responsible for UCPA supervision are authorized to take the necessary decision (s).