Etxalar walks

A beautiful hike from a delightful Basque-Spanish village over the passes, with magnificent views on both sides of the border.

A beautiful hike offering superb views of the surrounding peaks and the ocean in the distance. In addition, you will pass through a fascinating archaeological site.

This is a short version of the pidgeon hunting hut circuit (the long version starts at the bottom of the valley). Starting from the pass, the elevation gain is greatly reduced, but this does not detract from the magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, the valleys (French and Spanish) and the coast (Basque and Landes) in the distance. Information boards also provide a better understanding of wood pigeon hunting.

This route starts at the Lizarieta Pass and goes around Ibanteli without passing through the Xokobia car park (the lowest point of a long loop). It offers the possibility of a half-day hike, without missing out on the magnificent views of the Basque valley and some legendary peaks.

A beautiful hike that allows you to admire many legendary peaks of the Basque Country and gain a better understanding of wood pigeon hunting.

A lovely, easy hike. Beautiful view from the summit.

Starting from refreshing streams, a warm-up walk through chestnut and oak woods gradually reveals the other side of the Rhune, towering above the foggy plains iridescent with the first rays of the sun. After following a small canal, the route climbs into the open, widening the view of the hillsides. The slope becomes steeper along the edge of the forest, then along the border, before levelling out onto a wide, beautiful lawn. It is then time to climb the last slopes leading to the summit of Ibanteli. This summit offers a breathtaking 360° panorama of the Basque countryside, the ocean, the Rhune, the Col d'Ibardin, the Peñas de Hayas and, to the east, the Pyrenees and Atxuria. In this direction, you can also see the Lizarrieta border pass, which may be waiting for you for a refreshing break or a typical, hearty lunch..

This is a very pretty hike that takes you up Atxuria or Peña Plata, a rocky peak above the caves of Sare. We will start near the caves. Etymologically speaking, Atxuria comes from aitz-xuria, meaning "white rock". To the south, it is called Peña Plata, or "silver peak", which comes from the light colour of the rock when the sun shines on it. This peak is a border peak. During this hike, we will be in Spain, in the part that goes around the peak.

Starting from the caves of Sare (which are well worth a visit), the climb to this proud summit offers a magnificent panorama. The climb up the French side, which is sometimes steep, quickly takes you close to the summit ridge, which you follow to reach the top of Atxuria. The route continues opposite the village of Zugarramurdi, the village of witches, before plunging down the Spanish side. A wild crossing precedes a steeper descent back to the French side, passing at the foot of cliffs made up of countless brown-red ledges: overhanging, they serve as a refuge and nesting place for colonies of griffon vultures that fly over this idyllic pastoral landscape. As you approach the forest, the hundred-year-old beech trees and the refreshing company of streams give this gentle valley an enchanting air.

Atxuria or Peña Plata is a beautiful peak with 100-metre cliffs on its southern face. Magnificent views of the Spanish mountains and the northern plains. There are numerous caves at its base. The most famous are those of Sare and Zugarramurdi, which were inhabited in the Palaeolithic era.

Nice hike to the top of La Rhune, along the pigeon fields, on the south side, avoiding the crowds and the little cogwheel train.

Un itinéraire en boucle à travers les vallons qui entourent Sare en passant par la Redoute en étoile de Santa Barbara.

A beautiful hike through a forest of oak, beech and spruce.Here, green dominates.There are many sights to see, including a beautifully renovated mill and lime kilns that bear witness to Navarre's history.At the top of the hike, a beautiful view of the Basque country on the French side, and of the sea if the sky is clear.

A lovely walk that includes a visit to a moving mill steeped in history, but also takes in the surrounding peaks as you climb up from a beautiful Navarrese forest.

An easy hike that offers beautiful views and a succession of prehistoric remains.

A beautiful hike that in a short space of time will give you a 360° view of the Basque Country, all the way to the Landes coast on a clear day. The flora and fauna will not leave you indifferent.

A beautiful loop from the charming village of Vera de Bidassoa with a magnificent view of La Rhune on the way up and a pleasant descent through the forest.

Another way to climb La Rhune. You won't have to contend with the crowds on the more popular trails. Here, there are very few people, except for the locals.

A lovely walk starting from the beautiful village of Les Sorcières. Magnificent views of the Basque peaks and the ocean in the distance.

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 very beautiful hike that climbs from Sare towards La Rhune and passes from pass to pass, offering remarkable views of the mountains, countryside and ocean.

This is a short walk with no other aim than to spend a pleasant moment in a superb landscape and enjoy the peace and quiet of the wide open spaces of the Basque Country.

Starting from Sare, a beautiful little village in the Basque Country, a short hike allows you to discover the beautiful landscape around the village.

Beautiful ascent to an accessible summit offering 360° views of the sea and mountains.

With the beautiful village of Sare as its starting point, this hike showcases the built heritage, old stones, history and landscapes in a very varied loop where there is no room for monotony. From a sporting point of view, the climbs and descents follow one another without transition, never very long, but admittedly with a few steep sections that are sometimes quite tough. It takes a little effort to complete this varied circuit between the town hall square and the heights of the Col de Saint-Ignace. But above all, there are discoveries to be made along the way. Walking along the cobblestones of the old galtzada (medieval road) is a poignant introduction to the area's heritage, followed further on by an old wash house, the remains of Napoleonic redoubts and traditional houses and barns.

This beautiful hike will allow you to discover the most famous peaks of the Basque Country as you climb, as well as enjoy a wide view of the ocean.

Lake Xoldokogaina, also known as Lake Ibardin, is located at an altitude of 330 m in the Arola Valley, surrounded by the Xoldo, Munhoa and Onéaga mountains. It was created in the early 1930s as a water reserve. Swimming and fishing are prohibited. A hike starting from the car park, below the ventas (traditional Basque restaurants) when arriving from the pass, provides access to the lake and offers beautiful views of the Basque coast and the surrounding mountains. The trail crosses pastureland where you may encounter pottoks and betisoak. The Ibardin Pass offers exceptional views of the Spanish and French Pyrenees. The site is ideal for relaxing by the water or enjoying a picnic.

A beautiful hike that takes us to the magnificent village of Urdax, then up twice to admire the surrounding peaks from which we can even see the ocean.Last but not least, the thousand-year-old oak tree is a sight to behold.

A leisurely hike through a charming village, forest and stream.

This is a beautiful hike starting in the pretty village of Urdax, crossing the Otxondo Pass road to reach the Lizartzu Antsestegi ridge. You then reach the Otxondo Pass and return to Urdax via the Saint James trail.

A beautiful hike that takes us to the magnificent village of Urdax, then up to admire the surrounding peaks from which we can even see the ocean.Last but not least, the thousand-year-old oak tree is a sight to behold.

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.

This loop is known as SL-NA-15 Otsondottiki. It climbs from the Urdax monastery to the Otsondottiki Pass on a forestry route. Otsondottiki means little Otsondo in Basque, the Col d'Otsondo (pass) being situated a little higher up. The white and green markers are clearly visible and the route is unambiguous. The route is not particularly difficult.

A beautiful hike that combines superb views and varied trails. Definitely do it in good weather to enjoy the landscapes that await you.

A circular route to discover three peaks overlooking the Basque coast to the north and the Bidasoa valley to the south.

A hike that will lead you to one of the primary summits of the Pyrenees, offering you a view over the entire Basque country, French and Spanish.

A beautiful walk around the village of Ainhoa, passing by an old fish farm

La Petite Rhune, passing by the Yasola venta, offers an unusual view of La Rhune. Follow this trail towards the Col de Kizkuitz to discover an unusual feature of the Rhune massif. The return to the Col des Trois Fontaines will allow you to seek out the little secrets of the Ihizelai rocky plateau.

A beautiful route to discover La Rhune in all its glory.

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.

This circular walk takes you to the Napoleonic redoubts used by Marshal Soult's army against Wellington's British troops in 1814. You can enjoy beautiful 360° views. Magnificent hundred-year-old oak trees line the route.

This is a very easy hike that starts at the foot of the Col d'Ibardin next to the old customs house, climbs up to the pass and descends on the side facing the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. It is called the Sentier des Mulets (Mule Trail) in reference to the convoys of mules that once criss-crossed the mountain to carry all kinds of goods, not necessarily declared at customs, across the border. For the record, Pierre Loti's novel Ramuntcho, written in Ascain, recounts these stories of smugglers.