Pilgrim Trails, Pintxo Hopping, and stunning Bilbao
Hiking the Basque Country: From France to Spain
Overview
With its own language, a renowned cuisine, and some of the most gorgeous hiking trails in Europe, Basque Country is a world apart in Europe. Our Basque Trip Leaders bring us on an insider’s journey amid the region’s megalithic monuments and ancient farmsteads. The pilgrim tradition is strong here, and we’ll hike from France into Spain on the Camino de Santiago trail and visit the pilgrim towns of Roncesvalles and France’s Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, gate of the Camino Francés. Dining well is the second religion of the Basques, and we’ll have lunches among farmers and fishermen, taste local mountain cheeses, go pintxo-hopping in the foodie capital of San Sebastián, and finish up with a private guided visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Arrive: Biarritz, France
Depart: Bilbao, Spain
Highlights
- Experience Basque Country with Trip Leaders who have a passion for sharing their unique culture and cuisine
- Hike from France to Spain on the classic pilgrim trail to Puente la Reina
- Enjoy delicious picnics and meals in local Basque gathering spots
- Learn about the fascinating heritage of El Camino de Santiago
- Savor a special Basque dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant
Itinerary
We meet in stylish Biarritz and head to Bayonne for a walk on the Smugglers’ Trail, which traces the border between Spain and France (we cross it on foot several times!). The next day’s hike is through the Basque Pyrenees, a pristine pastoral setting unchanged over the centuries.
In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the French gate of the Camino de Santiago, we have our “Pilgrim Passports” stamped, then hike El Camino to the pilgrim town of Roncesvalles, where the Basques defeated Charlemagne’s army in 778 AD. After an overnight in Pamplona, we’ll make the classic pilgrimage hike to Puente la Reina, where the Camino Francés and Camino Aragonés meet. Our historic hotel in Pamplona is the same one Hemingway stayed in!
A mountain trail brings us through central Basque Country, with a local lunch among farmers. In entrancing San Sebastián, we walk down from the top of Monte Igueldo for views over the Bay of Biscay. After our hike, we’ll go pintxo-hopping—a foodie “pub crawl” to taste the best tapas. Our accommodation is a parador set on a hill in Hondarribia’s Old Town.
Our hike on a coastal pilgrim trail brings us to Getaria, a charming fishing village on the Basque coast. In Bilbao, we enjoy a guided visit to the celebrated Guggenheim Museum. Depart on Day 8.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3+ (Moderate) according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 9 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 4.5 hours a day. You will also need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 5 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 750 feet gain and 550 feet loss
- Day 3 - 7 miles; 4 hours; 1,099 feet ascent/1,624 feet
descent - Day 5 - 7 miles; 4.5 hours; 1,510 feet ascent/755 feet
descent
On every hike, you can expect varied terrain, including shepherds' trails, wide dirt roads, coastal trails, walks along the rolling countryside, rocky mule tracks, and beautiful sections of the famed Camino de Santiago. The maximum elevation that we hike to is about 4,800 feet. We often drive to a mountain pass each morning to begin our hike, so there is more downhill than uphill and it can be rough on the knees. Hiking poles are highly recommended.
The weather in Basque country is generally mild, with cool breezes and occasional showers. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 70s°F and nighttime temperatures are in the 50s°F and 60s°F. It is always necessary to bring raingear as the weather can change at any time.
We'll stay in a collection of historic hotels and inns. Since our accommodations are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Eating well is the second religion of the Basques, and we'll have classic lunches among farmers and fishermen, sample the local mountain cheeses, go pintxo-hopping in the foodie capital of San Sebastián, and enjoy a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Lunches are in local restaurants or picnic-style in local Basque gathering spots, and dinners are in restaurants in town. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure the earliest possible reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be after 8:00 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day). Please note that driving times can vary dramatically from what is anticipated based on road conditions.
Client Testimonials
"This was another great adventure for us. The trip was constructed very well, with great locations, food, and experiences. A great combination of trip leaders. A beautiful part of the world to explore with wonderful hikes to get to really appreciate the beautiful countryside and hidden treasures. This experience is exactly why we keep returning to Wilderness Travel."
Angie R.
Kenosha, WI
"Josu and Joserra made the trip. Their enthusiasm and knowledge for their country and its history and culture made it so much more memorable. Their humor and skills in managing a constantly changing environment and diverse group of travelers make them truly invaluable and I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone. They enhanced this trip more than I could have ever imagined and I’ve been inspired to return home and continue to learn more about the Basque Country! "
Carol M.
Stonington, CT
"We had a wonderful trip! The scenery, hiking, guides, cuisine, and hotels were all perfect!"
Denise H.
Truckee, CA
"Can’t say enough positive things, especially about our exceptional tour guides, Joserra and Josu, who shared their huge store of Basque and Spanish history and culture with us with passion, personality, and wonderful senses of humor."
Elizabeth D.
Santa Barbara , CA
"We had a fantastic time. Joserra and Josu were absolutely fabulous guides, they really brought the Basque land to life for us in every way. They have a superb command of history and culture of the Basque land and are able to talk about it in a way that is completely engaging.They were extremely generous with their time and energy, patient with our questions, and made everything seem effortless and fun."
John L.
San Francisco, CA
"The itinerary was terrific; each town more charming than the next. The hotels were all stellar, and the restaurant choices were great."
Laurie R.
Oakland, CA
"Great food, very nice hotels, the best guides, and a spectacular area to hike in. What more could we ask for?"
Ronald R.
Essex Junction, VT
"This trip turned out to be not only a hiking trip, but also a 'foodie' trip. Joserra and Itziar did a great job at making sure we could try local Basque dishes. Every meal was a treat. We enjoyed exploring the various towns and cities on the itinerary. We have always loved WT trips and this one certainly lived up to your wonderful reputation as a company!"
Susan L.
Johns Island, SC
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Itinerary
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.