Baztan Valley village tour

A very pleasant hike that takes in the beautiful restored villages of the Baztan valley.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 306 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 305 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 395 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 235 m

Photos

Description of the walk

By car, cross the border at Dantcharia and continue on the N-121-B. Climb to Otxondo Pass and descend a few kilometers before finding the junction for Amaiur / Maya. Park in the church car park.

(S/E) Go back the way you came, passing the metal sculptures and the mill.
Reach the N-121-B, cross it, drive down to the crossroads and immediately take a dirt track to the right (yellow arrows). Shortly afterwards, the road becomes paved.

Then take a small concrete track downhill to the left (yellow markings). When you reach a tarmac road, follow it uphill to the right (yellow markings). Reach Urrasun and its "Santiago hermitage".

Yellow and white markings.

(1) Turn right towards Ezpilkueta. The track first descends along a stone wall. It enters undergrowth, then rises gently, passing the beautiful "Xozborroa" house built in 1605, with its blue shutters. At the junction with a small road, continue left.

(2) At the crossroads where the large Indaburua house stands, turn right and then immediately left to drive alongside it. A grassy path continues straight ahead. Pass between more beautiful houses and come to a concrete track. Turn left down the track and 100 m further on, turn right towards Ezpilkueta.

The path becomes narrower and runs alongside a stone wall. Go through a fence. When you reach a track, turn left alongside a barn with a large oak tree. Go down the concrete track and, at the junction with a road, continue straight ahead. Shortly afterwards, you'll come to a house with a black iron gate.

(3) Turn right as indicated and shortly afterwards reach a charming spot with mills, a river and stone bridges.

(4) Keep left and climb a gravel path. 5 min later you reach Azpilkueta. Waterhole immediately on the right (open and close valve). Take a stroll through this beautiful, flower-filled village, and walk around the church via its Elizegui pediment, which has a direct entrance to the church via a wooden staircase (a unique configuration in the whole Basque Country). Continue up the village, where you'll find another watering hole, and just before the last two houses, reach a crossroads.

Turn left down the concrete road towards Apaioa. As the road rises, turn left onto a small path that crosses a stream. Go through a gate with an ingenious locking system.
The paved path climbs up to the village of Apaioa, which is reached via a 2nd gate. Pass the Francisco Javier hermitage, built in 1687, and follow the markings down the road.

(6) As you go downhill, turn left onto the path that leads to a Casa Rural, then past the Apiolarre house. Continue along the path, which is red from the debris of tiles and bricks that have consolidated it. Cross a beautiful oak forest and reach a crow's-foot.

(7) Turn left, then right at a gate, the path descends between two fences, then continues straight ahead through the ferns. Arrive at the Malko self-catering cottage and walk down the small road in front of it. At the bottom, turn left at the crow's feet.

(8) Cross the Baztan (which gives the valley its name) and reach the N-121-B road. Cross it and take the road rising opposite. After 150 m, take a path that rises to the left. Arrive at a new housing estate and follow the signs. There's a waterhole on the left before you reach the old town of Arizkun.
Cross the town via the church square (small fountain).

A few dozen metres further on, on the left, is a working farm (in the middle of town) opposite the imposing Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels. At the very top, pass to the left of a "Forja" (blacksmith's shop). The road is paved with concrete. Further on, you come to a house with two large oak trees.

(9) Turn left. At the bottom, pick up a road, take it to the right, cross the Baztan and at the traffic circle, turn right towards Bozate.

(10) 100m further on, turn left and climb up past some beautiful farms. At a crossroads, keep to the left until you reach a sign about 500 m further on.

(11) Turn left towards Amaiur. After a while, when you reach a small house, the path narrows and goes downhill. Zigzag downhill,

(12) At the bottom, cross a stream on a charming little bridge. Further on, pass through a gate and continue to an old farmhouse. The path leads directly to the Amaiur church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 285 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 1.62 - alt. 288 m - On the right, at the Santiago Hermitage
  3. 2 : km 2.36 - alt. 324 m - House Indaburua
  4. 3 : km 3.3 - alt. 325 m - On the right, the house with the black iron gate
  5. 4 : km 3.6 - alt. 332 m - Stone path to the left
  6. 5 : km 4.11 - alt. 385 m - panel and sculpture
  7. 6 : km 4.83 - alt. 351 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.58 - alt. 395 m - Left at the three-way junction
  9. 8 : km 7.04 - alt. 235 m - Crossing the Batzan
  10. 9 : km 8.57 - alt. 291 m - 2 large oak trees on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.13 - alt. 264 m - To the left, towards some beautiful farms
  12. 11 : km 10 - alt. 311 m - Sign on the left
  13. 12 : km 10.84 - alt. 277 m - Charming little bridge
  14. S/E : km 11.86 - alt. 286 m - Church car park

Practical information

You can find water points in all villages.

 If you're worried about damaging your calves on some of the grassy paths, wear pants/trousers rather than shorts.

Pharmacy in Arizkun.

In the nearby area

All the villages we pass through have their own unique charm.

During the walk: at rural accomodation Malko, the friendly owner prepares and sells, by the bottle, a very good "Patxakan", an aniseed-flavored liqueur made from small pears. 100 m after the house, on the left-hand side of the road, you'll see the beautiful pear tree of which he's so proud.
In Arizkun, at the forge, the madre of the house will praise the quality of the objects made by her sons (you can visit the workshop).

Once you've reached the cars in Amaiur, don't leave without entering the village via the porch.
The houses are beautiful, and you'll discover an astonishing fountain (with foot basin and towel) dedicated to the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela.

At the very top of the village, on a small hill, stands an imposing monolith dedicated to the resistance of Navarrese troops against the Castilian army in 1512. Amaiur was the last village to fall.
Opposite the church is the mill, where you can sample "taloa", a type of Basque pancake made with flour from the mill.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Baloulinou
Baloulinou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Easy level walk, even for beginners who can walk a good distance all the same. No difficulties, beautiful stone houses, streams, woods, Roman road, village crossings, all in a superb setting.

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CroqueMais
CroqueMais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very interesting and rewarding tour.

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bodu
bodu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pretty walk, with no difficulties, discovering discreet and picturesque villages. The first part of the route is quite shady.
The (French) IGN map is a bit sketchy, so it's worth doing this walk with the mobile app, which put us back on track two or three times.

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BrousseJmd
BrousseJmd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Discovering nice villages

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laumay andrè
laumay andrè

Very nice walk, not too hard, I recommend it, plus it's a beautiful village.

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laumay andrè
laumay andrè

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I loved it, I'd do it again, I recommend it and it's a beautiful village....

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laumay andrè
laumay andrè

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I loved it, I recommend it to everyone, great to do again... There were a lot of people in the way... But that didn't bother me...

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CathDab
CathDab

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Pleasant discovery of the villages of the Baztan valley, with no difficulties

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Daniel Louis Etxeto
Daniel Louis Etxeto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The route is ideal for exploring the Baztan valley. The route crosses the mountains and meadows of the valley floor, and passes through several typical villages, so beautiful are the Navarrese houses. October will accompany you with its gentle air and magnificent colours.

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gil50
gil50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely autumn scenery! Beware of some slippery sandstone slabs.

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Daniel3333
Daniel3333

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We cycled here after reading the "Trilogia del Baztan" by Dolores Redondo, a must-read (available in French) if you want to understand this region and its links with Basque mythology.

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Garipari
Garipari

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a fine, fairly easy walk, which takes in a little-known part of the southern Basque country and some very beautiful houses. Beware of the mud on the last part of the route after Arizkun (bring gaiters).

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taboulechat
taboulechat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice walk, beautiful villages, beautiful houses, shame about the mud in some areas. Best done when it hasn't rained for several days.

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Sectionpaloise
Sectionpaloise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk to discover with your family or friends. Restful and peaceful.

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pseignosse
pseignosse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very fine walk in very fine weather. Beautiful Basque houses.

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