A circular route from Olhette to Ibardin

The starting point for this hike is the car park at the Olhette Chapel.
To get to this starting point by car, see the “Practical Information” section below.

Note: depending on the weather conditions in the preceding days, the ground may be very muddy. Furthermore, the presence of hunting towers means this walk is prohibited during the wood pigeon hunting season.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path straight ahead towards Benta Intzola or Insola.

(1) At the fork in the road, keep left; the path on the right is the return route.

(2) Take the path on the left towards Benta Intzola, crossing the stream over the stones.
Note that in some places there are rows of flat stones corresponding to the remains of a Roman-era path.

(3) At the boundary marker, continue straight ahead over the rocks, taking care as they may be slippery.
Note: depending on the time of year, this path may be under water. In this case, at the boundary marker, cross the stream over the large tree trunk using the taut cable—a sort of lifeline—and follow the path.
In any case, pass Benta Intzola via the small path to the left and below the inn.
Continue straight ahead.
At a bridge (do not cross it), at the foot of Benta Zahar, go straight on, taking the very narrow path. Continue along this path with the stream on your left.

(4) Cross the stream in two stages (there is a sort of peninsula in the middle of the water) over exposed rocks, as the path continues on the other bank. Take care when crossing as the rocks can be slippery: keep a firm footing by using your walking poles. The stream is now on your right, but you will need to cross it again four times: take the same precautions to avoid falling into the water.

(5) At the junction, head slightly to the right. You’ll come to a bunker and a very large crossroads, dominated by a hunting tower.

(6) Take the track on the right that goes uphill. Pass in front of the hunters’ hut. Follow the Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP, which crosses the Pyrenees over a distance of around 500 km).

(7) Leave the HRP here and take the very narrow path uphill to the right. At the end of this path, with the Okalarre restaurant (closed for a long time) behind you on the right and a three-way junction in the road ahead, turn right. Almost immediately, leave this road and head left (follow the sign for Venta Elzaurdia).

(8) Leave this road again and take a small path to the left.

(9) Go through the barrier (don’t forget to close it behind you), cross the car park and, heading right, you’ll reach the Col d’Ibardin, which is at the roundabout in front of the petrol station.
Note boundary marker number 13, well hidden in the middle of the roundabout (watch out for traffic). (For your information, the Ibardin inns are therefore on the left as you go up). Continue a few metres along the road.

(10) Look out for the^GR®10dirt track on the right (it is signposted, amongst other things, as the “Chemin des mulets”). Take this track and then, heading right, tackle the very, very steep climb (take it slowly and steadily).

(11) Turn left onto the wide path. Follow the gentle descent.

(12) After passing the barrier preventing vehicles from passing, leave the^GR®10; the path continues straight ahead to the left. You will arrive at the Col des Abeilles.
Note: further on, at (15), the route takes a very steep, fairly long descent along a narrow path requiring a good level of fitness; see the “Practical Information” section for an alternative route starting here.

(13) This is the spot from which you can see the road leading to Ibardin. Take fire brigade track 2 to the right, which climbs slightly.

(14) Take the track on the right, marked in yellow. You’ll come to a ruined house.

(15) This is where the steep descent begins. Descend gently, calmly and carefully: this section of the descent may also be used by daredevil cyclists (red-rated descent). So it’s not enough just to watch your feet; you must also keep an eye on what’s behind you.

(16) When the path splits in two, cyclists must go left and walkers must take the path on the right. You must strictly observe this requirement to keep right, indicated by a sign. The descent continues.
Shortly afterwards, the path splits in two again. Cyclists must go left and walkers must take the right-hand path. You’ll reach a much wider path marked in yellow. Take it by heading left and you’ll soon come back to the junction you passed at the start of the walk.

(1) Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Driving directions to the start of the hike:

From Saint-Jean-de-Luz, take the D918 towards Ascain.
At the traffic lights in Ascain, turn right and cross the bridge.
At the roundabout, turn right towards Urrugne.
At the stop sign, turn right onto the D4 towards Urrugne.
Pass through Trabenia and then enter Olhette.
At the roundabout, continue straight ahead but shortly afterwards turn left onto the path that runs past the Olhette chapel.
Drive for about a hundred metres and park in the car park (spaces marked on the ground). Do not attempt to go any further.

For your information, the journey by car from Saint-Jean-de-Luz is approximately 12 km.

Alternative route (12): if you follow my route, you will eventually come to a very steep, fairly long descent along a narrow path that requires a good level of fitness. If this is not the case, you should take the following alternative: take the path on the right, which is the continuation of the HRP and the^GR®10, and, following the markings, head to the first ford across the stream (2). You can then simply retrace your steps to return to the car park without any difficulty.

Take a detour via the Ventas d’Ibardin. In the past, these were simple refreshment huts. Now they are large supermarkets offering a wide range of products (tobacco, alcohol, petrol, etc.) as well as food and drink.