Cycling Tour In The Basque Country

We arrive at Saint Jean pied de Port and check into our hotel which is situated in the centre of this historic town. Saint Jean Pied de Port sits on the swift flowing river Nive. It is the small but perfectly formed capital of the French Basque country's interior with a wonderfully preserved colourful old town of cobbled streets full of character. The old town is encircled by 15th century ramparts.

Overnight Standard Hotel

After getting acquainted with our bikes we follow an optional circuit south and east of Saint Jean Pied de Port through the Labourd region, initially following the deepening valley of the river Nive. The traditional houses in Labourd, perhaps the most attractive in the Basque country, have inspired the design of many suburban villas and holiday homes. The exposed wooden framework, usually painted a white reddish brown, contrasts with the original walls of cob (compressed loam, clay or chalk, reinforced with straw) coated with white washed rough cast. The countryside is dotted with megalithic sites including Dolmens, cromlechs and tumulus. Fertile, pastoral land is home to pretty white farm buildings with green and red shutters. The Labourd is a privileged ground with splendid landscapes. We will arrive back in Saint Jean Pied de Port in time to explore this picturesque retreat with its quiet residential villas, scattered farmhouses on gentle slopes and shady nooks and corners.

(Total cycling approx 30 kms / 18 miles)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our cycle ride today follows the course of the river Nive in a north westerly direction and passes through the most southerly of French vineyards at Saint Etienne de Baigorry. We continue to Bidarray, at the crossroads of three valleys and then the cherry producing village of Itxassou and Espelette. The village dates from mediaeval times and remains a sprawling collection of Basque style red and white houses lining narrow winding streets. Espelette specialises in growing a regional variety of red chilli pepper and breeding a pony called a Pottock, which were once used in the local mines. We will arrive in Ainhoa, a walled village in typical Basque style, considered by some to be the prettiest village in the Labourde region, the main street is lined with extremely colourful houses with wood beamed facades.

(Total cycling approx 50kms/30 miles)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

You may choose to spend the day relaxing this beautiful village or our optional ride today is a circular route to the south and west of Cambo les Bains. We will cross the border into Spain to visit Zugarramurdi where there is a long tradition of witchcraft. The Supreme Inquisition, a Roman Catholic council dedicated to finding and persecuting heretics including witches, appointed Dom Juan Valle Alvarado in charge of the investigation of witchcraft in Zugarramurdi. It took him several months to suspect almost 300 adults as being witches. He decided that forty of them were guilty and sent them to Logrono for trials. No one, not even children, were safe from being under suspicion. It is possible to make an optional visit to the witches cave and museum. Our circuit continues to cross the frontier back into France and the pretty village of Sare, which for a long time was regarded as the capital of the Basque smuggling network due to its proximity to the Spanish border.

(Total cycling approx 30 kms/18 miles longer options available)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today, we leave Ainhoa in a westerly direction towards the Atlantic coast. Cambo les Bains. It is the exceptionally mild climate and a visit by the well known poet and writer Edmond Rostand (Cyrano de Bergerac) made Cambo a fashionable health resort at the turn of the last century. The Villa Arnaga, and gardens was created by a friend of Edmond Rostand, celebrated poet and author. He came here for a few moths to recover from a serious illness, and stayed for 12 years. It was he who had the Villa Arnaga built which houses a Rostand memorabilia and it is possible make an optional visit to the house and beautiful gardens.

There will be an opportunity to swim in the lake at St Pee sur Nivelle and learn more about the Basque game of Pelote, played with a ball against a large wall (Fronton) which is a feature of many Basque villages, at the museum in the village. We continue our journey to reach the beautiful Basque coastline at Saint Jean de Luz, which is considered to be the most Basque of the towns lying north of the Spanish border. It is a natural harbour, sheltered by dramatic cliffs, with a long sandy beach and lively fishing port and has become renowned for its quality of light and cuisine.

(Total cycling approx 48kms/29 miles)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our cycling option for the day is a circular route of varying distances allowing you to cycle as much or as little as you wish. We head east to Ascain and the Col St Ignace from where a small rack railway (optional) climbs to La Rhune (900m) offering splendid views of the surrounding countryside. It was on these slopes that the word bayonet has its origins. During the 17th century the Bayonnais people were fighting the Spaniards and ran out of ammunition. They tied long knives to their muskets and routed the enemy thus engraving the name bayonet in history. Another option is to visit the Maison Ortillopitz, a traditional Basque farmhouse dating back to 1660.
Our circular route continues to the border coastal town of Hendaye close to the Ile des Faisans, a no man’s land between France and Spain where treaties were signed. We then follow a scenic coastal route of rugged cliffs and sandy coves to Saint Jean de Luz passing the Chateau d’ Abbadie (optional visit) originally built in the mid 19 C by a half Irish, half Basque explorer and adventurer, Antoine d’Abbadie, best remembered for his research work close to the sources of the Nile in Ethiopia and his correspondence with the poet Rimbaud
(Total cycling approx 47 kms/27 miles shorter options available.).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Another day of relaxation or optional cycling. Our cyling option takes us north of Saint Jean de Luz to rejoin the river Nive which we follow to Bayonne, capital of the French Basque country. In the 12th century, Bayonne was part of the dowry of Eleanor of Aquitane. When Eleanor’s second husband, Henry Plantagenet, assumed the crown of England in 1154, Bayonne became English, and remained so for 3 centuries. The city fell to the French in 1451. Early in the 17th century, Bayonne was the first French city to produce chocolate. From Bayonne, we follow a coastal route passing through Biarritz which was once the chosen resort of royalty? King Leopold of Belgium, the late King and Queen of Spain, the Empress of Austria and Queen Victoria have all praised its silvery coastline. Optional to visit the museum of Chocolate. We continue via Guethary, a photogenic little village and there are several swimming options before returning to Saint jean de Luz.
(Total cycling approx 50kms/30 miles shorter options available).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

You tour ends in Saint Jean de Luz after breakfast. Please note that for those clients on the return train to London, breakfast will not be included due to an early departure.

Included meals: Breakfast