Atharri and Pas de Roland from Itxassou

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Beautiful views of Itxassou and Mount Ursuya, then Roland's Pass and the Nive Gorges.

Details

n°1393312
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 320 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 322 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 339 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 42 m
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Photos

River swimming
no Roland
no Roland
View of Itxassou

Description of the walk

Parking is available at the Itxassou pelota court, 100 metres to the right on Rue Larrondoko Bidea.

(S/E) Turn right when leaving the car park. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the first and second streets on the left. At the next intersection, turn left onto the small tarmac road that leads into a wooded pastoral area, along the Basseboure stream.

(1) Take the hairpin bend to the left, then, about 50 metres further on, turn right and continue slightly uphill until you reach a five-way intersection.

(2) Take the second road on the right, which climbs for about 1.2 km. You will arrive at a flat area. At this flat area, ignore the first intersection and continue straight ahead on the road that descends and turns right.

(3) Take the left path, continue on this descending path which ends with a first hairpin bend to the right, then a second hairpin bend to the left. Continue until you reach the intersection with a paved road.

(4) Take this paved road on the left for about 300 m. At the intersection with another paved road, turn left again and continue straight ahead between the houses.

(5) Ignore the road on the right that crosses the small Laxia stream. Continue straight ahead on this paved road, which initially runs alongside this small stream and then the Nive river after crossing the Pas de Roland.

(6) Ignore the two roads on the right, continue almost straight ahead and then, 30 metres further on, turn left. Continue straight ahead on Rue Zabaloko Bidea, which climbs slightly, ignoring the first street on the left and the street on the right that leads to a car park.
Go straight ahead for about 100 m, then take the path on your left that goes into the woods. Stay on this gently sloping path, ignoring the first path on the right (not shown on the IGN map) and then the second on the left. At the third intersection, turn right.

(2) Take the second road on the right that goes downhill; this is the road you took on the way there.

(1) Take the hairpin bend to the right and continue straight ahead, retracing your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 88 m - Parking is available at the fronton pelota court
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 85 m - Hairpin bend to the left
  3. 2 : km 1.22 - alt. 111 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 2.45 - alt. 289 m - At the crossroads, take the path on the left.
  5. 4 : km 3.7 - alt. 108 m - Tarmac road, on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.11 - alt. 49 m - At the intersection, continue straight ahead.
  7. 6 : km 5.5 - alt. 45 m - Fork in the road, turn left.
  8. S/E : km 7.51 - alt. 88 m - Parking is available at the fronton pelota court

Notes

There are no drinking water points on this route.
Equipment required: very good walking shoes, cap or hat in fine weather, rainwear depending on the weather forecast.
In hot weather, it is necessary to bring plenty of water as the climb between (1 and 2) is long and difficult.

Worth a visit

(Between 1 and 2) This is the most tiring part of the walk, but every time you turn around, you are rewarded with beautiful views. You can see Itxassou and then Mount Ursuya.

(5) About 80 metres after this point, there is a small beach on your left where Basques and tourists come to picnic and swim. A little further on, leaning over the parapet, you can see the "Pas de Roland". After this curiosity, for about 500 metres, you follow the Nive and can see rafting (in season).

(6) After this point, about 230 metres further on, I suggest a visit to the church of Itxassou. After this point, take the first street on the right to cross the small car park. At the end of the car park, you are almost opposite the church. After your visit, retrace your steps to the other end of the car park to rejoin the route.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 57 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Lenna34500
Lenna34500

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb, very enjoyable hike with a variety of landscapes
Quite a workout on the climbs
But brilliant

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eric2706
eric2706

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The start is quite demanding, but the rest of the route is pleasant.

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marcbouff&64
marcbouff&64

Hello filiplacour,

A rather uninteresting hike, but well done, you may have worked up a sweat by the time you reached the pass. What's more, there was:

  • A beautiful view
  • vultures
  • Kites
  • And a pleasant spot on the banks of the Nive.

Looking forward to your comments on other hikes. Have a good evening.

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filiplacour
filiplacour

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Quite a steep climb, but superb views. The rest is a little disappointing... The banks of the Nive with the Pas de Roland are nice. Lots of vultures, a few red kites. Not particularly interesting.

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jeannotca74@gmail.com
jeannotca74@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very steep climb at the start, which gets your legs going!

very pretty scenery

lots of vultures

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Thierrygundo
Thierrygundo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with a very steep first part

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User 10268554

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike.
Quite steep, but with magnificent views

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tibocoop
tibocoop

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. Did it with my family and our dog. As described in other reviews, the climb is a bit steep at first but the path is clear so no problem (avoid at the peak of the sun). The view at the top of the pass is magnificent. We saw lots of vultures perched on the rocks on the way down. I recommend it!

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delaitre annie
delaitre annie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we went hiking during the week. Perhaps there are more people at the weekend or during the holidays, but it was a very beautiful hike

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Gautier64
Gautier64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, although there are a few steep slopes...

And I highly recommend making the extra effort to go via the Athari Pass... magnificent view of the hills and the ocean

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delaitre annie
delaitre annie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great hike at the end of October, to be repeated with friends, perhaps with a picnic

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Verojoel
Verojoel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, but perhaps not one to do in very hot weather as almost the entire climb (a good half of the hike) faces east.
The route is not too busy, but there are a few hikers and mountain bikers.
A very pleasant and accessible hike.

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delaitre annie
delaitre annie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great hike, a bit muddy in the forest

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Domdom Lucien
Domdom Lucien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, well worth doing.

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Celine40
Celine40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The climb is quite difficult for beginners, but once you reach the flat section, it's pure bliss!

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