Pyrenees Mountain Villages & Atlantic Beaches
A region infused with unique charms, exuberant folklore and postcard-perfect scenery at every turn. Hiking trails along the dazzling Atlantic coast, through lush rolling pastures and into the regal Pyrenees mountains. A part of France and Spain unlike any other, with a history, culture and language all its own. From the peak of La Rhune to the beaches of Biarritz and every enchanting village in between, come fall in love with Basque Country.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the Basque Country less traveled, where hidden mountain villages give way to lively beach towns and coastal castles
- Trek through the majestic French and Spanish Pyrenees on the incredible Grande Randonnée or Gran Recorrido trail network
- Summit emerald-hued La Rhune mountain, rising from the border, for magnificent views over both France and Spain
- Taste organic farm-to-table cuisine at charming Basque country farms, share delicious tapas and unwind at enchanting hotels
FRANCE & SPAIN
Start Biarritz / End St-Jean-de-Luz or Biarritz
ITINERARY
Days 1-2 Beautiful Biarritz, once a favorite resort town of the European aristocracy, is the kick-off point for your hiking adventure through Basque Country | Add spice to the journey right from the get-go with lunch in picturesque Espelette, home to the eponymous pepper, a treasured Basque chili | Follow trails through green rolling hills and sheep-dotted pastures visiting traditional villages along the way | Hike in the foothills of the Atlantic Pyrenees and across the border to Spain | Visit the tiny hamlet of Zugarramurdi and discover its spellbinding history and caves.
Day 3 Travel on foot from our first charming Basque Country hotel to the next | Start in Ainhoa, a Plus Beaux (Most Beautiful) Villages of France member | Enjoy a delicious meal with local friends |Gradual climbs and descents mark the route to enchanting Sare, where red-shuttered stone houses stand in contrast to the surrounding emerald green peaks.
Days 4-6 Climb up to the top of majestic La Rhune, the starting point of the Pyrenees chain | Part French, part Spanish, this national heritage site is home to pottok horses | Hike well-maintained mountain trails speckled with wildflowers and peat bogs | Drink in the views of a bucolic landscape stretching all the way to Atlantic beaches and beyond | Savor a farm-fresh lunch in a mountain hut |Venture to the coast and walk a hand-picked section of the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) | Get a different taste of Spain over a lively tapas lunch | Complete the adventure with a boat ride and coastal walk to St-Jean-de-Luz, an easygoing beach town with a cheery mix of French and Spanish influences.