Walking French & Spanish Basque Country

Itinerary – French & Spanish Basque Country Walking Holiday

Day 1: ARRIVAL – Join Getaria
Pick up at Bilbao or Biarritz airport, welcome by your France Outdoors guide and transfer to Guetaria. The 3* family run hotel Saiaz is the base for your Basque Country walking holiday.
The attractive medieval fishing settlement of Getaria is a world away from nearby cosmopolitan San Sebastián and is a perfect place to get a feel for coastal Basque culture. The old village tilts gently downhill to a baby-sized harbour, at the end of which is a forested island known as El Ratón (the Mouse), on account of its similarity to a mouse.
Getaria has a short but very pleasant beach next to the town’s busy harbour, which is almost totally sheltered from all but the heaviest Atlantic swells. In the evening, the guide will go through the program of the week.
Dinner included.Day 2: WALK – Around Zumaia – Compostela trails
Today after a transfer by public transport to the nice sea resort of Zumaia, you will enjoy a fantastic coastal walk following the Compostela trail and GR-121 around . This walk offer some of the finest Spanish Basque country coast and is now protected to preserve the unique beauty of the place and the ecosystem.
Breakfast and diner included. Picnic lunch not included.Day 3: WALK – La Rhune Summit (905 m) and walk
Transfer to France in the morning to Ascain (or Azkaine in Basque) a typical French Basque country village located at the foot of the Mountain of la Rhune, the last big mountain of the Pyrenees. With a little less than 5000 inhabitants, Ascain has kept the charm of an old Basque village and yet has a good few restaurants, bars and few shops including boulangeries which the guests will surely like very much! The square of the village host the “fronton” or the pitch with the traditional wall used to play the local “pelote basque” game. The chapel Saint Jacques is there to witness that this place was a stop for the Compostela pilgrims. You will enjoy a walk from the Col de Saint Ignace first and then we will take the train up to La Rhune and will discover some breathtaking views as they reach the top, probably the nicest vista of the French and Spanish Atlantic coast (awarded 3 stars in the Michelin Green Guide). Back to Getaria in the afternoon.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.Day 4: WALK – San Sebastien walk
In the morning we will get by public transport to Pasaia along the coast. We will stop first by Victor Hugo’s house. We then will take a small local boat across to the other side of the estuary. The walks starts with an ascent up lots of stone steps (part of the pilgrim way), then the trail undulates through forest (pine trees) and along the coastline with sea views. From there they will enjoy a superb coastal walk finish in San Sebastien. The views coming down to San Sebastian are stunning.
Breakfast and diner included. Picnic lunch not included.Day 5: Free Day
Many options are available on a free day.
Getaria: You can stay in Getaria, go up the escalators for a view over the town (this will only take about 20mins). Visit the church and explore the old city walls. Sunbathe on the sandy beach. Visit the incredible Cristobal Balenciaga museum of fashion, the church San Salvador, or just wander around the fishing port!
Zarautz:
We would recommend going to Zarautz – it’s a bigger town with more going on. Some shopping and the longest beach in the Basque Country. Only a 5-10 mins by local bus.
San Sebastien (accessible by train): Visit this stunning city, the “playa de la Concha”, the playa de Gros with its surfers. The guests can only fall in love with this city and its three main centres of action (lively, the centro Romantico, and the surfer side).
Bilbao (accessible by train) : Possibility to visit the town and the Guggenheim museum.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.Day 6: WALK – Aralar Mountain range – Txindoki
We will take a bus inland to climb the mountain range of Aralar. The area is dominated by the iconic mountain Txindoki, the highest peak of the area at 1346 m. This summit is sometimes called the Basque Cervin due to its pyramid shape and the wild limestone landscape around it. From the summit there are great views and if the weather is clear you can see the Pyrenees and the sea.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.Day 7 : WALK – From Zarautz to Getaria – Coast and vineyards
For the last walk, after a short public transfer, we will enjoy a fabulous and easy walk from the beach of Zarautz (the largest of the basque country) to Getaria along the coast and then a loop walk around Getaria in the middle of the txakolis vineyards.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.Day 8: FAREWELL!!!
Spend the morning at your own pace in Getaria before a transfer to Bilbao or Biarritz airport or San Sebastian town.
Breakfast included.