Roncesvalles loop via Burguete

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).

Details

5611598
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 237 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 239 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,042 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 880 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, take the D933 towards Roncesvalles, over the Col de
Roncesvalles (Puerto de Ibañeta), past the collegiate church. Parking is available behind
the buildings.

(S/E) Head North around the pilgrims' hostel, then turn West to the hairpin bend in the road.

(1) Cross the road and take the cement road into the forest.

(2) Go through a barrier and turn right onto the carriageway to the next junction.

(3) Take the path that descends to the left into the forest. This path joins the GR®11 Pyrenean trail.

(4) Continue South on this path.

(5) The path branches off to the East to enter Burguete. Go through the village and continue South-East until you cross the Aetzubi stream (ford it if the flow is low, otherwise cross a small stone bridge).

(6) Turn left, still on the GR®°11, until you come to a cemented track.

(7) Head East, still on the Pyrenean path.

(8) Turn left on the GR®, which then makes a left hairpin bend and winds its way up through the forest towards the North-East.

(9) Leave the GR®11 on a path that goes left to join a track called Basajaunberroko basoa (see "During the hike" section).

(10) Continue on this track, ignoring a right-hand trailhead as the paths there are no longer passable.

(E) Continue on the Camino Francés to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 945 m - Car park at the Roncesvalles hospice - Collégiale Royale de Roncevaux
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 974 m - Hairpin bend in front of the hospice
  3. 2 : km 0.88 - alt. 973 m - Turn right through a fence
  4. 3 : km 1.9 - alt. 938 m - Path leading down to the left
  5. 4 : km 2.38 - alt. 908 m - Pyrenean footpath junction GR°°®°°11
  6. 5 : km 3.8 - alt. 883 m - Left turn on the GR11
  7. 6 : km 4.58 - alt. 893 m - Aetzubi stream
  8. 7 : km 5.07 - alt. 906 m - Crossing cemented track
  9. 8 : km 5.86 - alt. 970 m - GR11 to the left
  10. 9 : km 8.96 - alt. 1,022 m - Path on the left entering the forest
  11. 10 : km 10.14 - alt. 966 m - Wide track Basajaunberroko
  12. S/E : km 11.36 - alt. 944 m - Car park at the Roncesvalles hospice

Notes

Please note: water is available in Burguete.

Worth a visit

Find out more about Roncevaux.

After (9), the path named Basajaunberroko basoa refers to a legendary Basque character: Basajaun.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
garmend64
garmend64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely little walk in fine weather, with the best sections taking place in the forest. For us, it was a refreshing stroll after the Iparla ridges!

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LM64
LM64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk on a Sunday when the weather wasn't supposed to be good, but we were very lucky, the sun shone throughout the walk. It was a nice walk, but we covered 14km on more or less the same route if I remember correctly... 243m of ascent and 241 of descent; 1044m at the highest point and 880m at the lowest. And we're taking our time, 4 hours 50 minutes. We had to make the most of the varied landscape and take some photos! A very nice walk. One point of concern: we saw 3 or 4 dead birds around the buildings. Plant protection product, disease, chance...?

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Béthanie
Béthanie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Precise itinerary despite adverse weather conditions

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andre.chesneau
andre.chesneau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With our thanks
with kind regards
AC

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Tartera
Tartera

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy mountain walk on an almost flat route. Perfect description. And the route is very well signposted.
Interesting without more until (6). Then through a magnificent holly beech forest from (6) to (10).
Idyllic riverside picnic spot at (5).

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capitaine nemo
capitaine nemo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely, well-marked walk around Roncesvalles through a parish specific to Brittany and a beautiful forest that we crossed in snowy weather,
magical!

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