Pyrenean travel agency specializing in your hikes and treks in the Pyrenees, the GR10 and more
BASQUE COUNTRY: Maison IPUTXAINIA, 64220 ASCARAT
ARIEGE: 20 chemin de la montagne, 09000 FOIX
+33 (0)5 34 14 51 50 - +33 (0)6 10 97 16 54
Brochure PDF
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Stays
Tastes and traditions of the Basque Country: Winter Hikes, Snowshoeing, and Gourmet Cuisine !
French Bask country
Guided walking
Guided Walking
6 Days
5 Nights
4 Activity Days
From 770,00 €
This accessible hiking circuit takes you into the mountains of the Basque Country ! This stay is the perfect opportunity to discover an exceptional cultural identity while following in the footsteps of pilgrims from around the world who start their journey in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Your guide, a true Basque Country expert, will introduce you to this vibrant local culture and take you to some of the region's must-see spots - from picturesque listed villages to the stunning Spanish Basque coastline. This tour also celebrates the region's gastronomic treasures: Irouléguy wine, sheep's cheese, Espelette pepper, and the famous axoa de veal. Getting hungry already?
Finally, the accommodation is a highlight of this circuit: just a stone's throw from the listed town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, our 3 star guesthouse is run by Jean and Mathieu, the founders of RESPYRENEES, with the help of their parents Josiane and Jean-Michel. Guests have free access to the spa and peaceful outdoor spaces perfect for relaxing, as well as a gourmet table where local products are lovingly showcased.
HILGHLIGHTS OF THE HIKE :
• Relatively easy winter hikes and snowshoeing in the Basque Country
• Centre-based walking holiday (returning to the same accommodation each night)
• Our own accommodation, entirely dedicated to hikers and privatized for the group, a 3-star guesthouse with full comfort, a spa, and outdoor spaces perfect for relaxing. A welcoming family hosts you and offers their gourmet table!
• Gourmet surprises along the trails
• Relatively easy winter hikes and snowshoeing in the Basque Country
• Centre-based walking holiday (returning to the same accommodation each night)
• Our own accommodation, entirely dedicated to hikers and privatized for the group, a 3-star guesthouse with full comfort, a spa, and outdoor spaces perfect for relaxing. A welcoming family hosts you and offers their gourmet table!
• Gourmet surprises along the trails
Dates and Prices
Departures & Prices:
€770 per person.
Supplements:
-Standard single room extra cost : €160 per person
-Double room for single use extra cost : €190 per person
-Extra night in BB double room : €59 per person
-Extra night in BB standard single room : €89 per person
The price includes:
- Accommodation with full board from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6
- Transfers during the stay
- All visits and tastings
- Supervision by a BE AMM specialist in the Basque Country and provided equipment: snowshoes and walking poles + microspikes
The price does not include:
- Insurance
- Meals not mentioned in “the price includes”
- Transfers not included in the program
- Drinks
- 15 € registration fee
Day 1: Start of the Stay in Bayonne
Meeting at 6:15 PM in Ascarat at the Iputxainia guesthouse (or at 5:15 PM at Bayonne train station). Check-in at your accommodation, a guesthouse with a spa, for the entire week. Welcome drink and briefing on the stay.
From Day 2 to Day 5:
If snow conditions allow, we can do up to 4 snowshoe hikes, as described below. However, the Basque Country is a mid-mountain area, which is also affected by rising winter temperatures. Periods of mild weather are increasingly frequent, limiting the duration of snow cover.
Come prepared: it’s possible that we may only be able
to do one or two days of snowshoeing, and the other days will be
carefully selected hikes on foot by your
guide!
Note: Shh! A few gourmet surprises will brighten up your
hikes - yes, that’s our signature touch!
Day 2: Snowy spaces and mountain pine forest of La Pierre St Martin
THE snowshoe hike of the week, where snow is almost guaranteed. In the magnificent hook pine forest of Braca or at the foot of the limestone peaks of Soum Couy and Pic d’Anie (Aunamendi in Basque, 2504 m), there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a beautiful day in the snow!
Day 3: Iraty highlands and its beech forest
Home to the largest beech forest in Europe, Iraty also features high plateaus between 1,300 and 1,500 m in altitude, ideal for snowshoeing when snow is present. The views stretch out over the High Pyrenees. Forests, mountain pastures, and expansive landscapes await you.
Day 4: The Legendary Roncevaux Pass and its border ridge
No
need to explain the historical significance of this pass. But from
its 1,057 m altitude, it also offers excellent snowshoe outings
along the border ridges when snow conditions allow.
Day 5 : Ahadi Massif and Summit, in Spanish Navarre
Today
we cross the border and hike in Navarre, an
autonomous community of Spain and a historic kingdom in the past.
The Adi (Ahadi in Basque, 1,458 m) reigns supreme
over the area!
Alternative hiking tours: Typical villages of the Basque Country
Through
the villages of Ainhoa (listed as one of “The Most
Beautiful Villages of France”) and
Espelette, world-famous for its red peppers that
adorn the village house façades.
Distance : 12 km, Duration : 5 hours, Elevation
gain : +490 m, Elevation loss: -530 m.
Alternative hiking: Incursion into Spain via the superb Coastal Path
Overlooking
the Bay of Txingudi, which separates Hendaye from
Hondarribia at the far northwest of Spain, Mount
Jaizkibel, a coastal mountain rising to 545 m, welcomes us on its
slopes to soak in the sea air so cherished by the Basque people,
traditionally fishermen and avid travellers…Distance : 9 km, Duration : 4 hours, Elevation gain : +250 m, Elevation loss: -400 m.
Alternative hiking trails: Iraty: GR10, forest and high mountains
We
ascend to Iraty, with views opening up over the High
Pyrenees. Forests, mountain pastures, and expansive
landscapes are on the program. We sometimes follow the
GR10, the trans-Pyrenean trail that connects the
Atlantic to the Mediterranean in… 40 days.Distance : 11.5 km, Duration : 5h30, Elevation gain : +530 m, Elevation loss : -510 m.
Jour 6 : Courte randonnée pédestre puis fin de votre séjour
For
this final outing, we will climb a small panoramic peak: Mount
Mondarrain. Rising to 749 meters, it offers a
magnificent view of the Rhune massif, the entire
Basque coastline, and the surrounding villages of Ainhoa and
Espelette.
Distance: 11.5 km, Duration: 5h30, Elevation gain: +530 m - Elevation loss: -510 m.
End of the stay around 4 :00 p.m., after transfer to Bayonne train station.
The programs have been planned based on the most recent information available at the time of writing. However, unforeseen circumstances may occur, and situations beyond our control could alter the course of the trip. On site, our guides are the best judges and may modify the itinerary depending on weather conditions or if required for the safety of the group.
Welcome
On Day 1 at 6 :15 p.m. at your accommodation in Ascarat (64 – Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Maison d’Hôtes Iputxainia: www.maison-iputxainia.com
For participants arriving by train : meeting at 5 :15 p.m. in front of Bayonne SNCF train station.
Dispersion
On Day 6 around 4 :00 p.m., after transfer to Bayonne train station.
Level
Terrain :
Mountain hikes on snow-covered terrain, over gentle slopes suitable for snowshoeing.
Level 2 :
These trips are designed for those seeking active holidays. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Expect 3h30 to 5h45 of walking per day. Ascent rate : +300 m per hour.
*walking times are average estimates and only account for actual walking, not breaks.
Accommodation
5 nights in comfortable guest rooms with spa and outdoor areas for relaxation, in double room configuration.
Single rooms are available upon request, with a supplement and subject to availability. Private parking is provided for those arriving with their own vehicle.
At Maison Iputxainia, you’ll feel right at home! The whole family is at your service. Josiane, Jean-Michel, Jean, and Mathieu will prepare delicious meals, welcome you warmly, and accompany you on the mountain hikes.
Meals :
-Hearty breakfast served buffet-style (subject to health regulations in effect during your stay), including tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, homemade jam, and little touches from the chef
-Dinner often based on Basque specialties, including a starter, main course, and dessert. Refined cuisine to explore the local gastronomy
-Picnics included
Luggage porterage
Only personal items for the day and your picnic need to be carried.
Group
Groups of 3 to 13 people.
Supervision
Hikes led by a qualified mountain guide (BE) specializing in the Basque Country.
Materials provided
Snowshoes and walking poles + hiking crampons.
To discover
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