The 8 most beautiful hikes to do around Hendaye

Want to discover the green face of the Basque Country? Discover our selection of the most beautiful hikes to do around Hendaye.

Nestled in the heart of Basque Country at the gates of the Spain , Hendaye’s seaside resort is a city full of history. Prised for its kilometers of beach, its marina and the beauty of its neo-basque houses it attracts holidaymakers from all over France. A true paradise for water sports enthusiasts, it also offers beautiful surprises to nature lovers. On the way to incredible hiking trails among natural landscapes.

Between green mountains and impetuous waves, discover our selection of the most beautiful hikes to be done around Hendaye.

1. GR® 10 Steps 1: D’Hendaye au Col du Grand Descarga

We start this selection with one of the hikes around Hendaye with the GR 10 that crosses all Pyrenees from Haute-Garonne to Pyrenees-Orientales . No panic, we do not take you in a journey of more than 800 km across the mountain.

Start your 22-kilometre stretch on the Hendaye seafront to the Grand Descarga pass. Admire the Pyrenean vegetation take place all around you in this mountain landscape. Bruyère, beech forest and crochet pine pair your itinerary. In the distance, the Rhune and its impressive viewpoint are drawn in the horizon of the Basque Country.

Attention, this route considered difficult is more suitable for experienced people with an excellent physical condition. Get good walking shoes, hiking sticks and food. Wanderlix recommends that you explore this trail at the end of June to contemplate the incredible blooming of the site when the days lie down.

2. Jaizkibel hike

To make one of the most beautiful hikes around Hendaye, meet in the Spanish Basque Country . Very popular among hikers, this hiking trail takes you to Mount Jaizkibel, 543 meters high from the monastery of Guadalupe.

From the top, embrace an incredible view of the Cantabrian Sea and Txingudi Bay. The Baie d’Hendaye also stands out in a luminous panorama under the rays of the sun. Some points of view even have a orientation table to identify the different heights erected around you.

For all history lovers, explore the remains of war. The Basque heritage is unveiled with the tower of Aramitz, the dome Jaizkibel, the tower of Santa Barbara and the dolmen of Iselin. On your trip, you will also meet many pilgrims walking the famous Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle route .

3. Hiking from Irún to Hendaye

You don't know what hike around Hendaye without climbing in the mountains? Hiking from Irún in Spain to Hendaye appears as the ideal option for a quiet walk without any important disappointment.

Long 8 km, it offers you the possibility to reach these two essential Basque towns on the Atlantic coast. Along the way, you will stroll along the pheasant island and the preserved marshes of the river. The passage to Spain is only a thread. Indeed, you will pass through the bridge of Saint-Jacques and then follow the bay of Chingoudy.

Do you feel the kisses of the Bay of Hendaye? Your walk reaches its end in front of the large main beach of Hendaye. Hand ice, towel on the sand, admire the ballet of surfers with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Hondarribia Littoral Trail in Pasaia

What better than a hike on the coastal path between Hondarribia and Pasaia to combine nature and the ocean? Armed with your walking sticks, walk through the hilly landscape of this Spanish region. The sound of the waves shaking the cliffs you cradle all the way to Cabo Bioznar Pasaia.

What to say is the panorama that takes place in front of your eyes! On the one hand the majestic mountain of Jaizkibel and Tximistarri and on the other the Cantabric Sea. When you arrive at a good port, reward your physical efforts with a fresh drink accompanied by delicious tapas.

5. Pasaia hike in Saint Sebastian

For this hike around Hendaye, you start from the finish point of the previous hike: Pasaia. This 15 km footpath is much easier than it appears from the port city. Between land and sea, watch the Plata lighthouse on its rocky sparrow 163 meters above the sea and the remains of a 19th century aqueduct.

The most beautiful view of this route extends before your eyes as soon as you arrive above the city of San Sebastian or Donostia in Basque. This bay of the Concha (in the form of a shell) is one of the most beautiful in the world. You will quickly understand why!

If you’re passionate about aquatic activity, rent kayaks or paddles to navigate on clear water and reach the water Isla de Santa Clara .

6. Hiking the Col d’Ibardin by Lake Ibardin

Known for shopping enthusiasts and good business at the Franco-Spanish border in the Pyrenees, the Col d’Ibardin peaks at 300 meters above sea level. The lovers of paths in the middle of nature will find their happiness during this hike around Hendaye.

This family walk takes you to the top of the Ibardin Pass to Xoldokogaina Lake or commonly known as Ibardin Lake. Between oaks and pottoks (mountain walls) the lake of Ibardin is revealed. Its soft and peaceful surface tinted with fish jumps will undoubtedly remind you of the distant landscapes of our Scottish neighbors (without the Loch Ness monster).

The best view of nature remains the sumptuous dam that reflects the color of the sky as a natural mirror. Embrace the breathtaking view of the bay Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Basque coast as soon as the sun reaches the tip of its nose.

7. Circular Paramoudras

This hiking tour in the Pyrenees 12 km long is worth a visit to these unique geological curiosities in the world. Do you know them? paramoudras ? These are regular and symmetrical rock formations of 45 million years old. These ladies, although aegean, resist erosion all this time on our planet. Geology lovers or just little curious, admire these balls, hard sandstone cylinders or silex in the chalk in the shape of a cylinder.

This walk between mountains, forests and meadows introduces you to the natural riches of this massif, adorned with a ranking in the Natura 2000 network. Small and large people can use their imagination in different forms. Here's a turtle! And there's a head of shit! On the sea side, during the season, dolphins and whales play between the waves of the Cantabrian Sea. Open your eyes!

8. Hiking the Perdrix rock

The Perdrix rock is a 4 km circuit easily accessible for seasoned athletes or beginners. Without too much difficulty, you will reach the view of the Perdrix rock and the top of Xoldo. In clear weather, the views embrace the Basque Coast with a view of La Rhune, the 3 crowns and the Landes.

The Basque Country is only waiting for you to unveil its hiking trails!