Esteribar walks

Forty-eighth stage of the Camino de Santiago. A stage like today’s is described in Spanish as: todo derecho – straight ahead all the way. You walk alongside the River Arga with little change in elevation until you reach Pamplona, at the foot of a group of hills covered in beech, oak and wild pine trees. As you approach Pamplona, the landscape becomes more clearly influenced by civilisation, with its conifers, reforestation and farmland. The rest of the stage is dominated by the Alto del Perdón, which offers a magnificent view. From there, you can see Pamplona and the Pyrenees behind, and opposite, the vast Navarrese plain. You will spend part of the day climbing up and down this mountain range, passing through quiet little towns that resemble islands floating amongst the fields of grain.

The Adi overlooks the Urepel valley and the Quinto Real, which belonged to the kings of Navarre. The inhabitants paid a grazing fee corresponding to one-fifth of the herds, the quint.Currently reduced to 2,000 ha on the French side, but belonging to Spain, only the families of Saint-Étienne de Baïgorry have use of it. Herd owners pay a grazing fee (vacade) for each animal. This is why a fence marks the boundary of the Quinto Real.

This loop is a superb hike in Lower Navarre, taking you in turn to the peaks of Lindus, Xaxperro and Sorotepo. This ridge route between France and Spain offers total immersion in the open, wild landscapes of the Basque Country. Throughout the route, panoramic views of the Baigorri valley, the surrounding Basque peaks and, on a clear day, the High Pyrenees follow one after another. A complete itinerary, between high-altitude pastures, airy ridges and a pastoral atmosphere, ideal for hikers in search of tranquillity and wide open spaces.

The forty-seventh stage of the Camino de Santiago. A long stage but less gruelling than the previous day’s, despite a somewhat arduous descent towards Zubiri. Along this route, you’ll alternate between landscapes of beech and pine forests and charming little villages with typical Navarran architecture. From this stage onwards, the signposting on the Camino de Santiago in Spain consists of yellow arrows—either painted on the ground, on building facades, on rocks or on trees—or specific European signage featuring a stylised yellow scallop shell on a blue background. This logo may also take the form of bronze scallop shells nailed to walls or set into the ground in the major towns along the route, indicating the direction towards Santiago de Compostela.

A lovely hike, taking in part of the western ridges of the Aldudes valley, which guarantees magnificent views.

Cette boucle, à l'Est du village des Aldudes, permet de faire une belle trilogie de sommets Otsaxar (825 m), Otsamuhno (901 m) et Errola (907 m), ornés de promontoire rocheux, dans le cadre enchanteur des collines de Basse Navarre. Le retour face aux crêtes Ouest des Aldudes nous donne une vue superbe sur la Peña de Alba, l'Hargibel et le Zarkindegi. On revient au village par le Sud et on découvre (ou redécouvre) les spécialités du village ! Passages interdits ? Voir l'avis di 04/09/2023 et laisser le votre, merci

An easy family hike that allows you to explore the hills around Aldudes. You may encounter a few Pottok ponies roaming free at the top of some of the hills. The walk offers some very pretty views of the surrounding valleys and can be rounded off with a visit to a farm where Basque pigs are bred.

A beautiful loop around the hospitable center of Roncesvalles, an important stage in the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.Roncesvalles is called Roncesvalles in Castilian, or Orreaga in Basque. The route passes through the village of Auritz (in Basque) or Burguete (in Castilian).

A superb hike with four peaks over 1000 m, two superb lakes and also a dolmen, a menhir, an ancient Roman road, all in a protected natural setting.

Legate (870 m) is one of the most picturesque peaks in the Baztan valley. Located to the North of Elizondo, the view from the summit is 360°, with Askolegi dominating the Bertiz park. Below, a majestic calvary leads the way back to the hamlet of Lekaroz.

A beautiful walk in the undergrowth that still allows you to discover the surrounding peaks.

The D428 alone offers wonderful scenery. Unless you make frequent stops, you won't be able to enjoy it much as it's best to keep your eyes on the road. The Urculu offers different scenery along this route as you pass through plateaus with magnificent views of the surrounding area and the Basque and Béarn mountains.

Lake Arritzulegi is better known as Lake Mendaur, as it lies at the foot of this peak. It is actually a dam lake. Located at an altitude of 700 m in a very pretty setting, it makes for a beautiful hiking destination. However, I would describe this hike as difficult, partly because of the elevation gain and partly because some of the paths that still appear on maps have disappeared. This means that part of the hike is off-trail and without many landmarks. You therefore need to have a good sense of direction and be used to walking off-trail. This hike is therefore only suitable for experienced walkers.The Visorando app is recommended.

Beautiful hike in the Southern Basque Country (Navarra).Discover a refreshing waterfall and a touching dolmen.Beautiful farmhouses in pure Navarrese style.

A magnificent hike through a typical Navarrese forest leads to the summit of Mendaur, with its breathtaking 360° views.A visit to the Ermita de la Trinidad (ermitage) is a must!

The Urkulu Trophy: this imposing stone tower is thought to have been built in Roman times to intimidate invaders of the powerful Roman army... even though it is located off the route from Bordeaux to Astorga via Pamplona.

It's a hike for the whole family through forests and past streams, with the reward being the superb Cascade de Xorroxin, source of the Baztan-Bidassoa river... and perhaps the discovery of the treasure guarded by the lamias beneath the waterfall.

Ascent of Autza via Erratzu in a circular route via the Xorroxin waterfalls. Unmarked hike, except for a small section along the GR® trail after the summit. Descent via the Xorroxin waterfalls, a point of interest.

Starting from the small village of Sunbilla in the Bidassoa valley south of Vera, this is a pretty, technically easy circular on beautiful tracks except for one short section. There is a small campsite on the heights above the village.

A superb round trip from the Col d'Ispéguy to climb the Astate.

This route is published under the name SL-NA-Elorrieta and is included here for use with Visorando. It starts at the Col d’Ispeguy and climbs to the Col d’Elorieta via a lovely circular route.

This is a very beautiful hike that takes us to the first peak over 1,300 m from the ocean. It passes through very varied landscapes along the way. At the Col d'Elhorieta, there is an important megalithic site (cromlechs) that is worth a short detour. At the summit, there is a beautiful 360° view. The return trip along the ridges is truly magnificent in good weather.

A round trip from Col d'Ispeguy to climb Elhorriko Kaskoa via a local trail SL-NA Elhorrieta (SL for Sendero Local, local trail in Spanish, NA for Navara, the province of Navarre).

Above Baigorry, from the Col d'Ispegi, climb through the forest along the border to reach the majestic Col d'Elhorrieta. The route to Elhorriko Kaskoa and Urrizpilota offers fantastic views of the peaks of Baztan: Autza, Gorramendi, Irrubelkasko and the Iparla range: Buztanzelai, Astate and Pic d'Iparla.The route passes between border markers 98 and 102.

This hike to Hautza via the Trempetta ridge is well worth the effort. There is a significant elevation gain, but you are guaranteed to be rewarded with spectacular views. The ridge offers breathtaking vistas that will quickly make you forget the difficulty of the hike. This hike climbs successively to several viewpoints. From the summit of Hautza, there is a 360° view of all the peaks of the Basque Country and, further away, the Pyrenean peaks.

A magnificent hike. The views are spectacular all along the way. You can stock up on snacks and drinks at Col d'Ispeguy, which will lighten your backpack. Please note: the path between (2) and (3) may be frightening for those who are afraid of heights. In any case, it should be avoided by everyone when the ground is frozen.

Beautiful walk on the ridges between the Gorramendi and Gorramakil peaks, with a magnificent view of the Baztan valley and, on the other side, the Pyrenees. Not very difficult, it can be done with the whole family.

This hike allows you to admire the Basque landscape, shaped by man over many centuries.

A very pretty circular route that follows the French-Spanish border ridge, passing through three passes.A very well-marked red and white path on the Spanish side allows you to pass below the ridges (for those prone to vertigo). The markings can be helpful, but they change over time due to privatisation, diversions, temporary closures, etc. This circular may be difficult for some people.

Oilarandoi is a magnificent viewpoint overlooking all the surrounding peaks. The nearby Munhoa and, further away, Iparla, Autza, Adarza and many others. At the summit, there was originally a hermitage, which was occupied from 1706 to 1792. The ruins were rebuilt twice, in 1941 and 1985. This hike includes sections with significant gradients of between 30 and 40%, but the reward is at the end and the view from the summit is well worth the effort.

This is a beautiful hike that takes you around the Guermiette valley via Munhoa and the Urdanzia and Leizartzeko passes. Once you reach the Ahartzako Pass, those with the most stamina can climb up to the Olharandoï Chapel or continue along the hillside following theGR®10.

A pleasant hike of moderate difficulty, except for the final climb up Munhoa, which is quite steep. Magnificent views of the Basque Country landscape. The outward leg of the hike follows the GR®10 to the Col d'Urdanzia. The return leg is not marked, so we recommend using the Visorando app.

Mendaur rises to an altitude of 1,130 metres. It is an iconic peak with its chapel built in 1692 and restored in 1963. This is essentially a round trip hike following the ridge line to the south-east of the Navarrese village of Arantza and climbing the nearby Mendieder.

A beautiful hike along an oldPR® trail, which is unfortunately no longer well marked. The return journey is on gentler slopes than the outward journey. The end of the route crosses the vineyards of Irouleguy.

Circular loop through the Irouléguy vineyards. On a sign in front of the church, this route is described under the title "Menta: trail showcasing the unique characteristics of the Irouléguy vineyards". Surrounded by stunning peaks and offering a peaceful atmosphere, this is an easy walk suitable for the whole family.

The Muhnoa is a magnificent 360° viewpoint. Most of the climb is on a gentle slope of about 10%. The last 1,400 metres become more difficult, but the reward is at the end.

This route is also known as Elurti. It allows you to discover the Artxuita dolmen from the village of Ascarat.

A beautiful stage in the Pyrenean foothills along country lanes.

Step back in time as you discover a unique heritage, walking along centuries-old cobblestones and enjoying the view of the Pyrenees – this is how you’ll discover the authentic town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. I visited this town at the end of the final French stage of my Camino de Santiago, after 47 days of walking.

A hike around Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to discover a unique feature of Basque architecture in this part of Navarre, then share a "piece of the journey" with pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

Even if you are not a pilgrim on your way to Compostela, you will enjoy this pretty little tourist town in Lower Navarre, built on the banks of the Nive de Béhérobie. Let me give you a little guided tour.

The forty-sixth stage of the Camino de Santiago. A physically demanding stage, featuring the ascent of the Pyrenees, splendid views of the surrounding Basque Country if the weather permits, free-roaming herds, a sense of being high up, and the excitement of crossing into Spain. After a long, steep descent, you arrive at the Monastery of Roncesvalles. Given the altitude of the finish point and the cool temperatures, I preferred the monastery dormitory to camping. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a whole new journey begins. The landscapes are no longer the same, nor are the pilgrims. From here on, there are ten times as many people on the paths. Very few French people and lots of Koreans, Australians, Americans, Filipinos and, of course, Spaniards. From here on, you have to speak Spanish or English or use Google Translate. But you always manage to make yourself understood and get by. That’s the magic of the Camino de Santiago.