Ziburumendi from the Chapel of Olhette via Insola

Climb to the summit of Ciboure Mountain to discover the Basque Coast via the Insola forest.

Details

n°1554548

Creation:
14 Oct 2018

Last update:
09 Jan 2024

Last review:
14 Apr 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.31 km
Average duration: 3h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 378 m
Descent: - 375 m
Highest point: 412 m
Lowest point: 45 m

Country: France
Areas: Pyrenees, Basque Country
District: Urrugne (64122)
Start/End: N 43.335183° / W 1.668014°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1245OT
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Photos

A huge cairn with a cross on top of Ziburumendi.

At the Deskargako pass, a chestnut grove in the making.

The path narrows as you approach Intzola.

Description of the walk

Park about a hundred metres after the chapel.

(S/E) Continue along the track that runs alongside the Intzolako Erreka and heads south.

(1) After about 2 km, ignore a path on the left and arrive just after the junction with the^GR®10.

(2) Cross the stream and continue straight ahead on the GR^®. Pass near the Venta Intsola, cross the border and continue to the Venta Zahar.

(3) Cross the stream and climb up to pass in front of this restaurant. The^GR®10continues after the last building in a north-easterly direction after crossing the border.

(4) Reach the Col de Deskargako. Leave the^GR®10and climb left, north-west, to reach the summit of Ziburumendi.

(5) Continue descending due north. After about a hundred metres, after turning left, pass by an oratory. Continue along the path, which descends in a zigzag pattern.

(6) At the crossroads, turn left. Join a track and follow it to the left for about 30 metres.

(7) At the intersection of two tracks, take the track on the right that descends.

(8) About 600 metres further on, take a path on the right that descends to the Intzola river.
Cross the river (this can sometimes be tricky when the water is high) and rejoin the track you took on the way up on the right.

(1) Return to the car park (S/E) by retracing your steps on the right-hand side.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 45 m - Chapel car park.
1 : km 1.92 - alt. 117 m
2 : km 1.99 - alt. 124 m - Junction with the GR10.
3 : km 3.03 - alt. 164 m - Intzola stream
4 : km 4.35 - alt. 273 m - Deskargako Pass. Leave the GR10.
5 : km 4.95 - alt. 412 m - Summit of Ziburumendi.
6 : km 5.94 - alt. 221 m - Crossroads.
7 : km 6.14 - alt. 218 m - Track on the right
8 : km 6.54 - alt. 197 m - Path descending to the right.
S/E : km 9.31 - alt. 45 m - Chapel car park.

Notes

Water sources and shelters at the ventas.
Shelter at the oratory on the way down from the summit.
On the way back before (2), crossing the river can be tricky if the water level is high: caution is advised

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

titouberg

14 Apr 2026 at 18:51 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk. There was a slightly tricky section just before Venta Insola, where a tree was blocking the path. There were quite a few people on the final stretch, walking in the opposite direction. A stunning view from Mount Ciboure over Saint-Jean-de-Luz and La Rhune.

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Feufeu

03 Nov 2025 at 08:29 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that begins in shady undergrowth along a small stream.
You emerge from the Insola forest with a magnificent view of the Rhune.
The climb up the Ziburumendi pass offers a 360° panorama at the summit. Magnificent!
The descent faces the bay of Saint Jean de Luz, then returns through the forest.
The path is stony and slippery at this time of year but remains passable.

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Florence F

21 Jul 2025 at 14:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very varied walk (pleasant woodland in hot weather). Don't forget to book in summer if you want to eat at the venta.

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vinorando

10 Mar 2025 at 13:20 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello.
A superb walk, with a route that I adapted slightly. Magnificent viewpoint.

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eric bourdon

10 Jun 2024 at 09:28 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant and varied route with relatively few encounters that day. We followed the GPS track perfectly without any particular difficulty and the cumulative elevation gain indicated by the device was 452 m. The summit of Ziburumendi is quite steep and rocky, so the walking sticks came in handy. We did come across some trail runners who didn't seem to be impressed by either the slope or the rocks.

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Murielle Biez

15 Jan 2024 at 13:58 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk starting from Olhette Chapel. Views of La Rhune and the Col d'Ibardin. You can explore the Redoute des Émigrés, a historic site from the Napoleonic Wars.
It is busy in summer. Popular route.
Refreshments available at the Venta Insola in summer.

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guillermalain

01 Aug 2023 at 21:00 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that although this hike is advertised as having an elevation gain of 360 metres, it is much more difficult than La Rhune, which has an elevation gain of 800 metres.
You absolutely must have live GPS if you want to find the trail, as it is not marked at all.
Just after Venta Intsola, you can no longer see the path... but it's there! It's a fairly steep climb, even for goats!
There are lots of loose stones at the top of the hike, so it's a bit difficult to walk on scree!
We worked up a good sweat, so it's not something to do in strong sunshine, as the climb to Ziburumendi alone, at 360 metres, is no mean feat!

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Flying Dutchman

26 Dec 2022 at 10:08 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We still need to do that hike. It will be in the spring/summer. I have made a note of the observations below.

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GLEPATIO

27 Sep 2021 at 08:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short Sunday stroll, but unfortunately not one to do at the weekend as it's far too crowded. We changed our route because there are so many paths... Otherwise, it's a beautiful viewpoint, especially in good weather.

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VL2

03 Dec 2020 at 13:46 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike accessible to most people. No major difficulties except for the second part of the ascent to the summit of Ziburumendi. It's a steep climb!
A few remarks.
1- Don't be tempted at point 1 by the first river crossing. It is a little before the one chosen for the hike. A magnificent concrete pylon across the river encourages you to cross, but it cannot lead to point 2... at best to point 7.
2- At the Deskago pass (point 3), don't look around. The right path is in front of you, even if it seems to climb steeply.
3- Read the description in point 5 carefully to avoid turning right. If you do, you will not be able to find your way back and will have to turn around.

In summary, everything is clearly explained in the description, so don't hesitate to consult it often to avoid taking the wrong route.

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greg2601

25 May 2020 at 10:10 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, mostly shaded, with magnificent views of St Jean Bay and La Rhune in the background.
there has been a small change to the route due to a landslide: the passage at Venta "Point 2" is no longer accessible, so we had to turn back to the first venta to get back on track.

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alainlabarrere

29 Oct 2019 at 16:58 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An enjoyable route without any major difficulties. Best done in dry weather.

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ThibaultLeRenard

30 Sep 2019 at 10:48 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful, easy hike
Some junctions are not included in the guidebook and are too minor to appear on the map

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johanna.darguy

19 Aug 2019 at 10:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very good!

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miepmag

23 Jul 2019 at 12:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

thank you for the description of this hike
a few details to consider:
on the way there, you pass very close to the crossing used on the way back, so you can check whether it is passable. Otherwise, you will have to make do with it on the way back.
from Deskargahandiko lepoa, what you see is a secondary summit. There is a very short descent and then a 70-80 metre climb. As I chose this hike for its shade, to do with my family on hot days, there is no shade from the pass to the crossing on the way back...
at the summit, you come to a cairn with a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary. This is not the oratory, which is actually further down and cannot be seen from the summit. There is a magnificent view of the entire coast and the Rhune.
the zigzag path is quite long.
the path to take at 600m (it seemed shorter to me, 400m? In any case, we took the first one) is a narrow path that branches off from the wide track.

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