Pilgrim Trails, Pintxo Hopping, and stunning Bilbao
From France to Spain: Hiking in the Basque Country
Overview
Basque country is a world apart, with its own language, a renowned cuisine, and some of the most gorgeous hiking trails in Europe. With our Basque Trip Leaders, this insider's journey brings us to evocative megalithic monuments, ancient farmsteads, and from France into Spain on the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail to Puente la Reina. Eating 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 spectacular 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
From the flower-bedecked Basque village of Ainhoa, our hikes bring us along an ancient riverside pilgrim path and right up to the French-Spanish border as we pass fascinating megalithic tombs and standing stones.
At Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, one of the most beautiful villages in Basque Country (and the French gate of the Camino de Santiago), we have our “pilgrim passports” stamped. We'll hike an evocative stretch of the Camino to Roncesvalles, where the Basques defeated Charlemagne's army in 778 AD. This pilgrim town will welcome us with its history and legends. After an overnight in Pamplona, we'll make the classic pilgrimage hike to Puente la Reina, where the Camino Frances and Camino Aragones 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, hunters, and herders. In San Sebastián, the views are fabulous as we hike down from Mt. Igueldo to the magnificent bay of La Concha, then go pintxo-hopping—a foodie “pub crawl” to taste the best tapas. A local professor will give us a talk on Basque history as we sip a Basque wine called Txakoli at our seaside parador in Hondarribia.
Our hike on a coastal pilgrim trail brings us to Getaria, a charming fishing village nestled into one of the most beautiful harbors 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
"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
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
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—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.