Zugarramurdi walks

A lovely walk starting from the beautiful village of Les Sorcières. Magnificent views of the Basque peaks and the ocean in the distance.

Explore the village of Zugarramurdi and its surroundings, home to a famous thousand-year-old oak tree.

Set off from a charming village of witches to discover a majestic oak tree.

Anglet Accueille hike (guide Richard) The mountain range south of Zugarramurdi offers modest peaks in terms of altitude but with interesting panoramic views. Today's hike, which is new, invites you to make short ascents of five of them: Mendibil, Airagarri, Atxuria, Aizparaz and Arleun.

A trail walk that allows you to discover the main peaks of the Basque Country and also offers a beautiful view of the coast. Beautiful old oak trees line the route. The pottocks (Basque horses that live in the wild) are very friendly.

A climb up to Atxuria (or Peña Plata), which is not the classic route from the Caves of Sare. You’ll walk along some very beautiful paths, discover prehistoric remains, follow the borderline with a few boundary stones, and often find yourself in the middle of the forest. For information: IBP = 51

An easy hike that offers beautiful views and a succession of prehistoric remains.

A beautiful hike that in a short space of time will give you a 360° view of the Basque Country, all the way to the Landes coast on a clear day. The flora and fauna will not leave you indifferent.

This is a very pretty hike that takes you up Atxuria or Peña Plata, a rocky peak above the caves of Sare. We will start near the caves. Etymologically speaking, Atxuria comes from aitz-xuria, meaning "white rock". To the south, it is called Peña Plata, or "silver peak", which comes from the light colour of the rock when the sun shines on it. This peak is a border peak. During this hike, we will be in Spain, in the part that goes around the peak.

A beautiful walk starting from the Sare Caves and passing through the Zugarramurdi Caves, the Witch Museum and the village of Zugarramurdi.

Several hikers have reported that the path after the Zugarramurdi caves is now blocked. I have modified the route (July 2023). From the centre, take the road that leads to the cemetery. A superb hike that avoids the climb to the summit, which can be exhausting and difficult to find.I have already posted this hike on Visorando.You will walk along the magnificent and impressive cliffs of Atxuria. On this southern side, the hike, with less elevation gain and a few hundred metres more, becomes bucolic.

A lovely circular walk starting from the Grottes de Sare and climbing up to the Col des Trois Bornes.

Another way to do a circular route around Atxuria. Easier than some of the other routes already published, with only 450 m of elevation gain. Magnificent views of the impressive cliffs of Atxuria. Some difficult sections – see the reviews

A beautiful circular route around Atxuria (Peña Plata in Spanish).

Atxuria or Peña Plata is a beautiful peak with 100-metre cliffs on its southern face. Magnificent views of the Spanish mountains and the northern plains. There are numerous caves at its base. The most famous are those of Sare and Zugarramurdi, which were inhabited in the Palaeolithic era.

Starting from the caves of Sare (which are well worth a visit), the climb to this proud summit offers a magnificent panorama. The climb up the French side, which is sometimes steep, quickly takes you close to the summit ridge, which you follow to reach the top of Atxuria. The route continues opposite the village of Zugarramurdi, the village of witches, before plunging down the Spanish side. A wild crossing precedes a steeper descent back to the French side, passing at the foot of cliffs made up of countless brown-red ledges: overhanging, they serve as a refuge and nesting place for colonies of griffon vultures that fly over this idyllic pastoral landscape. As you approach the forest, the hundred-year-old beech trees and the refreshing company of streams give this gentle valley an enchanting air.

Un itinéraire en boucle à travers les vallons qui entourent Sare en passant par la Redoute en étoile de Santa Barbara.

A beautiful hike that takes us to the magnificent village of Urdax, then up twice to admire the surrounding peaks from which we can even see the ocean.Last but not least, the thousand-year-old oak tree is a sight to behold.

This is a beautiful hike starting in the pretty village of Urdax, crossing the Otxondo Pass road to reach the Lizartzu Antsestegi ridge. You then reach the Otxondo Pass and return to Urdax via the Saint James trail.

A leisurely hike through a charming village, forest and stream.

Two kilometres from Dantxaria, the village of Urdax is well worth a visit. Here you can explore a few places in the village. But above all, take a walk around the village in the middle of the woods. It is a fairly short hike that can be used as training, but nevertheless the route climbs and descends quite a bit. As for the proposed summit, it is easily recognisable with its large antennas.

A beautiful hike that takes us to the magnificent village of Urdax, then up to admire the surrounding peaks from which we can even see the ocean.Last but not least, the thousand-year-old oak tree is a sight to behold.

From the beautiful little Navarran village of Urdax, we set off to conquer Alkuruntz. There are several picnic spots to choose from and the view is magnificent on both the French and Spanish sides.

This loop is known as SL-NA-15 Otsondottiki. It climbs from the Urdax monastery to the Otsondottiki Pass on a forestry route. Otsondottiki means little Otsondo in Basque, the Col d'Otsondo (pass) being situated a little higher up. The white and green markers are clearly visible and the route is unambiguous. The route is not particularly difficult.

A short hike around Dantxarinea (Dantxaria) in the middle of the forest, ideal for families and to work up an appetite before heading to one of the many ventas in Dantxarinea.

The Lapitxuri is a tributary of the Nivelle, which forms the French-Spanish border. The walk follows the north bank of the Lapitxuri, forming a return route of whatever distance suits you. For my part, I wanted a two-hour walk, so I planned my route accordingly. The starting point is given as Urdax in Hegoalde, but it’s actually in Ainhoa in Iparralde. The Basques view their country independently of borders.

A lovely ridge walk with the Mondarrain as a bonus.

A beautiful hike that takes you on a long tour behind Gorospil, allowing you to admire some of the legendary peaks of the Basque Country: La Rhune, Atxuria, Mondarain, Artzamendi... but also offers a very pretty view of the coast.

A beautiful walk around the village of Ainhoa, passing by an old fish farm

A beautiful hike that allows you to admire many legendary peaks of the Basque Country and gain a better understanding of wood pigeon hunting.

Starting from refreshing streams, a warm-up walk through chestnut and oak woods gradually reveals the other side of the Rhune, towering above the foggy plains iridescent with the first rays of the sun. After following a small canal, the route climbs into the open, widening the view of the hillsides. The slope becomes steeper along the edge of the forest, then along the border, before levelling out onto a wide, beautiful lawn. It is then time to climb the last slopes leading to the summit of Ibanteli. This summit offers a breathtaking 360° panorama of the Basque countryside, the ocean, the Rhune, the Col d'Ibardin, the Peñas de Hayas and, to the east, the Pyrenees and Atxuria. In this direction, you can also see the Lizarrieta border pass, which may be waiting for you for a refreshing break or a typical, hearty lunch..

A lovely, easy hike. Beautiful view from the summit.

A magnificent route that will take you up high and offer superb views of the village and the Rhune.

Ainhoa, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, invites you to discover its gentle environment. The shimmering half-timbered houses in the village centre give way to peaceful countryside dotted with isolated farms. A steady but relatively short climb in the company of pottoks and flocks of sheep takes you up the hillsides and mountains. This is followed by a magnificent open balcony path, offering a vast panorama of Spain, the Nivelle valley, the Rhune and, further away, the coast. Three huge white crosses proudly dominating the village of Ainhoa and facing the pyramidal summit of Atxuria guide your steps towards Notre-Dame de l'Aubépine, a divine spot for a picnic. Here, splendid Basque steles add to the spiritual dimension of this unique viewpoint.

On this 10km route, which is not very physically demanding, you can admire the Bastan valley and the Elizako Erreka stream. There are also sheepfolds, the calm of the Basque mountains and encounters with pottoks and ponies.

A beautiful circular route along the ridges from Otxondo offering panoramic views of the Baztan Valley, then the Gorra range and the peaks of the Basque Country. At Lizartzu, you can visit the three caves, remnants of the Franco era. On the return journey, you’ll discover the western slope, with the Côte Basque, La Rhune, Atxuria and the jewel of the Baztan, Alkurruntz.

Climb up to the oratory overlooking Aïnhoa through the forest to enjoy a magnificent view of the Atlantic coast and the most important Basque peaks.

This hike starts in one of the most beautiful villages in the Basque Country. The route takes you up a series of climbs to the Col des Trois Croix. From there, you climb to the summit of Errebi. The view stretches from the ocean to the mountains of Labourd.

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 panoramic route along the ridge line west of Alkurruntz, characterised by a succession of large bumps and plateaus (Atxuela, Larrondo and Iñaterri passes) up to the summit of Ezkitz. We will finish the route by climbing Alkurruntz and returning via the easiest route.

Beautiful ascent to an accessible summit offering 360° views of the sea and mountains.

Starting from Sare, a beautiful little village in the Basque Country, a short hike allows you to discover the beautiful landscape around the village.

With the beautiful village of Sare as its starting point, this hike showcases the built heritage, old stones, history and landscapes in a very varied loop where there is no room for monotony. From a sporting point of view, the climbs and descents follow one another without transition, never very long, but admittedly with a few steep sections that are sometimes quite tough. It takes a little effort to complete this varied circuit between the town hall square and the heights of the Col de Saint-Ignace. But above all, there are discoveries to be made along the way. Walking along the cobblestones of the old galtzada (medieval road) is a poignant introduction to the area's heritage, followed further on by an old wash house, the remains of Napoleonic redoubts and traditional houses and barns.

A beautiful hike that will allow you to discover the most famous peaks of the Basque Country around you as you climb, but also to enjoy a wide view of the ocean.

A very beautiful hike that climbs from Sare towards La Rhune and passes from pass to pass, offering remarkable views of the mountains, countryside and ocean.

This is a short walk with no other aim than to spend a pleasant moment in a superb landscape and enjoy the peace and quiet of the wide open spaces of the Basque Country.

This is the ideal route for tackling La Rhune in winter or on a cool day in mid-season. Indeed, much of this hike faces south and is sheltered from the north wind. Whilst the ascent is steep, the descent will also leave you with pleasant memories, over grassy terrain with few stones. In any case, your efforts will be rewarded by the unforgettable view from the summit of La Rhune. Depending on the time of year, you may even be able to enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat in one of the summit huts (closed in winter). On the way up, you’ll come across a magnificent cromlech, a prehistoric Basque monument and a sacred burial site.

A route to the summit of Zuhalmendi, featuring traces of the past along the way, such as wayside shrines, a wash house and a redoubt, as well as the chance to learn about pig farming.

A lovely hike which, despite a reasonable elevation gain, will allow you to admire many of the Basque Country’s key peaks and, on a clear day, offer you a breathtaking view of the coast.