Mondarrain walks

A very beautiful route to reach Mondarrain via the north face. The summit passes at the foot of a climbing site. See Practical Information. The view from the summit is 360°, from the Basque Coast (Côte d'Argent) to the Béarn Pyrenees, passing by the peaks of Navarre.

Views of the Nive Valley, Mount Ursuya, Mount Baïgura and Mount Artzamendi.Encounter pottoks and small wild cows.You may see sheep, vultures and gliders.View of the Rhune and the ocean with Bayonne, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz

The ascent of Le Mondarrain provides access to a viewpoint covering the Basque Country as far as the sea. Views to the south over a wild landscape, kingdom of birds of prey, horses and local breeds of cattle, which are a little wild as they are free to come and go.

A lovely ridge walk with the Mondarrain as a bonus.

A short walk to climb Mondarrain

A beautiful route through hills and mountains, this trail is aimed at experienced hikers. The length of this hike allows you to enjoy two stunning views from the summits of Mondarrain and then Artzamendi. There is plenty more to discover, including the betizu, small wild cows of the Basque Country, as well as the pottok, manex and Blondes d’Aquitaine. In addition to these domestic animals, there is a wealth of local flora and fauna to discover along this route. The Esteben Borda restaurant, situated halfway along the route, offers a chance to stop for a bite to eat before tackling the second ascent of the day. After Artzamendi, the descent into a wild valley will delight hikers before the circular route finishes along the beautiful road leading to the Pas de Roland. For the more athletic, this route is perfectly suited to trail running.

This walk takes you past the Chapel of l’Aubépine, Mount Errebi, Mount Soporro, the Pic d’Ourrezti, and finally the Pic du Mondarrain. The return journey follows part of theGR®10, avoiding the steep climbs of the previous mountains. You’ll have the pleasure of encountering sheep and wild horses. At the Pic du Mondarrain, you’ll be rewarded with the chance to take a photo beneath a giant Basque Country flag, with views stretching all the way to the sea.

A lovely walk, with a short stretch of road at the start, which is very quiet. After that, it’s a steady climb up to the Pic du Mondarrain. A few wooded areas provide some shade. The final ascent is over rocky terrain; you may need to use your hands at times, but this is only occasionally necessary. On the descent from Mondarrain, there’s a brief, slightly more challenging section – a few metres where you’ll need to hold on to some rings set into the rock. However, this section can probably be bypassed via other paths shown on the maps if it really is too difficult; the idea was to complete a circular route.