Introduction
The Basque Country owes its outstanding relief to the foothills of the Pyrenees that line the Atlantic coast on the Bay of Biscay, both in France and Spain. Rolling hills and medium-high mountains to high mountains, all constitute the Basque Pyrenees.
The hiking trail „GR 10“
One of the most famous French hiking trails, the GR 10, (GR stands for Grande Randonnée) crosses the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It generally takes four weeks to get from one sea to the other.
Fauna and flora
Hiking in the Basque Country means being able to observe vultures up close, encountering small Basque wild horses (pottok), sheep, horses and cows on your hike. The Basque countryside is lush and green, flora and fauna are very rich and largely natural. You can often catch a glimpse of the sea on your hikes. You are surrounded by beauty at all times and your eyes will enjoy every moment.
Hiking with sea view
On the French side of the Atlantic, there is the picturesque 25 km long coastal hiking trail from Bidart to Hendaye, which you can hike along in several stages. We recommend the most beautiful sections to our guests in our homemade touristic guide. Wonderful views of the sea with romantic bays, great vegetation and beautiful scenery await the hiker on this trail.
A special hiking experience on the Spanish side is also the section from Pasaia to San Sebastián (duration approx. 2h). Coming from the mountain, you walk towards San Sebastián and this unique city with its two bays lies at your feet, a truly breathtaking spectacle.
The mystical mountain of the Basques
The emblem of the Basque mountains is the mountain "La Rhune" near the coast at the foot of the Col de Saint-Ignace near the beautiful village of Sare. "La Rhune" (905 m) plays a special role in Basque mythology. Climbing this mountain is a must for every Basque traveller. You can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the sea and mountains from the summit. If you don't want to climb up and/or down, you can comfortably take the authentic cogwheel railway from 1924 and travel the way in 35 minutes. A unique highlight!
Hiking in the Basque Country
There are also countless well-signposted hiking trails in the French Basque Country. Many of them are listed in well-structured French hiking guides distributed by the tourist offices or information centres in Cambo-les-Bains and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Pilgrimage
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", should be familiar to all pilgrimage lovers. The Camino (800 km) to Santiago de Compostela in Spain starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The pilgrimage takes about four weeks. Self-awareness included!
BaskoParadis = Hiker's Paradise
When you spend your holidays at BaskoParadis in Louhossoa, you can start hiking directly from your ecological holiday apartment (Eco-Gite). We are happy to recommend our favourite hiking trails to you.
So is the Basque Country a destination for hiking lovers? We respond to this question with a resounding YES!