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Col d'Amesketa walks
The Mondarrain from the village of Itxassou, return via the Col d'Atharri
Visorando Member
6.62 mi
+2,421 ft
-2,441 ft
5h 10
Moderate
Departure from Itxassou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A very beautiful route to reach Mondarrain via the north face. The summit passes at the foot of a climbing site. See Practical Information.
The view from the summit is 360°, from the Basque Coast (Côte d'Argent) to the Béarn Pyrenees, passing by the peaks of Navarre.
Atharri
7.57 mi
+1,591 ft
-1,608 ft
4h 50
Moderate
Departure from Itxassou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A pleasant hike in the Basque Piedmont with beautiful scenery.
Pic d'Ezcondray
Association / Club / Walk leader
2.50 mi
+912 ft
-909 ft
1h 55
Easy
Departure from Itxassou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Climb Pic d'Ezcondray (Ezkondiaraï) via the Col d'Amezketa
Mondarrain and Artzamendi from Itxassou
Local authority
15.05 mi
+4,229 ft
-4,255 ft
10h 35
Very difficult
Departure from Itxassou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A beautiful route through hills and mountains, this trail is aimed at experienced hikers. The length of this hike allows you to enjoy two stunning views from the summits of Mondarrain and then Artzamendi. There is plenty more to discover, including the betizu, small wild cows of the Basque Country, as well as the pottok, manex and Blondes d’Aquitaine. In addition to these domestic animals, there is a wealth of local flora and fauna to discover along this route. The Esteben Borda restaurant, situated halfway along the route, offers a chance to stop for a bite to eat before tackling the second ascent of the day. After Artzamendi, the descent into a wild valley will delight hikers before the circular route finishes along the beautiful road leading to the Pas de Roland.
For the more athletic, this route is perfectly suited to trail running.
Pic du Mondarrain via the route around the Pic d’Ezcondray
4.45 mi
+2,001 ft
-2,005 ft
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Espelette (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A lovely walk, with a short stretch of road at the start, which is very quiet. After that, it’s a steady climb up to the Pic du Mondarrain. A few wooded areas provide some shade. The final ascent is over rocky terrain; you may need to use your hands at times, but this is only occasionally necessary. On the descent from Mondarrain, there’s a brief, slightly more challenging section – a few metres where you’ll need to hold on to some rings set into the rock. However, this section can probably be bypassed via other paths shown on the maps if it really is too difficult; the idea was to complete a circular route.
Walks near Col d'Amesketa
The Alkurruntz tour from Urdax
11.03 mi
+2,680 ft
-2,677 ft
7h 25
Difficult
Departure from Urdazubi/Urdax (Navarre)
From the beautiful little Navarran village of Urdax, we set off to conquer Alkuruntz. There are several picnic spots to choose from and the view is magnificent on both the French and Spanish sides.
Ascent to La Rhune from the station at Col de Saint-Ignace
3.32 mi
+2,418 ft
-2,966 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from Sare (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
From the Rhune mini-train station, this hike climbs to the summit at 905 metres. The trail crosses moors, pastures and small woods, offering progressive views of the Basque Coast and the Pyrenees. Along the way, pottoks and mountain birds punctuate the ascent. At the summit, the 360° panorama reveals the ocean on one side and the Pyrenean mountain range on the other, rewarding your efforts with a spectacular natural spectacle.
Moulin de l'Enfer and Palacio de Azkolegi
12.90 mi
+3,143 ft
-3,182 ft
8h 40
Difficult
Departure from Baztan (Navarre)
A lovely walk through the heart of the Bastan valley, starting from the Etchebertzekoborda restaurant and passing by the beautifully restored “Moulin de l’Enfer” and the Palacio de Aizkolegi (at the top of the Bertiz estate).
From Ascain to Hendaye
10.64 mi
+1,079 ft
-1,158 ft
5h 50
Moderate
Departure from Ascain (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
A lovely stage with a seaside feel and the end of the journey in sight.
In the footsteps of the old Ascain-Sare tramway
4.54 mi
+669 ft
-430 ft
2h 40
Easy
Departure from Ascain (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Did you know that a tramway used to run through the hinterland from the coast (Hendaye, Ciboure) to Sare via Ascain? That was before the car became popular in 1936. This hike takes you along its route, based on available archives. The landscape has preserved the memory of this journey, which you can discover during this excursion under the watchful eye of Mont Esnaur.
From the summit of La Rhune to Sare
4.30 mi
+36 ft
-2,772 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Ascain (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
After reaching the summit of La Rhune via the little train (a lovely climb), we head back down towards the village of Sare. A lovely stretch through the woodland, occasionally passing horses roaming freely.
Around Bera
4.49 mi
+886 ft
-1,476 ft
2h 50
Easy
Departure from Bera (Navarre)
A ridge route above the town of Bera, taking you from the Col de Lizuniaga, on the French-Spanish border, to Bera.
The Haute Route des Pyrénées is not yet very high at this point.
From Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
6.82 mi
+469 ft
-472 ft
3h 35
Moderate
Departure from Bidart (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Discover the Basque coast from Bidart, where you can watch the surfers, to the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The route is uneven between the very pleasant coastal path and the detours behind the numerous properties. You can end your visit at the beach in Saint-Jean-de-Luz or relax in the town.