Best of Basque Country

Arrival in Bayonne (transfer on your own to the hotel), you will visit by foot some of the most beautiful sites of the city. Essential city highlights include Cathédrales Sainte-Marie de Bayonne, Basque Museum, Botanic Garden, Arena of Bayonne & the old town, which will illustrate the rich history.

Today, you will start your day in the Basque Country by visiting its capital: Bayonne, an emblematic city for its famous ham. The Sainte-Marie cathedral, with its two bell towers, is visible throughout the city, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. You will go along the coast passing by Biarritz, by taking the Vélodyssée. You will be able to enjoy its beaches as well as its cultural heritage. Following the Vélodyssée, you will arrive in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a small and colorful seaside resort with a magnificent fishing port, with the Pyrenees and the ocean as a backdrop.

Distance: 32 km (20mi)

Elevation: 376 m

You will leave Saint-Jean-de-Luz to go inland. You will walk on the Pyrenean foothills and discover many villages with the emblematic colors of the Basque Country. Indeed, two of them are classified among "The Most Beautiful Villages of France". They are the villages of Sare and Ainhoa, located on the first foothills of the Pyrenees. They proudly wear the Basque colors on the facades of their houses. After having made a small incursion into Spain and after having passed the village of Ainhoa, you will arrive at Espelette, the famous village where the famous pepper originates. You will be able to see it drying on the facades of the houses. To finish this day, you will go back to the spa of Cambo-les-Bains.

Distance: 40 km (25mi)

Elevation: 600 m

You will start this day by visiting the green station of Cambo-les-Bains. You will make a small detour by the gardens of the Villa Arnaga in order to be amazed by their exceptional beauty (fountains, trimmed hedges,...). Then, you will pass by the small village of Hasparren before joining that of La Bastide-Clairence. This last one is also classified among "The Most Beautiful Villages of France", always comprising an alignment of half-timbered houses with the splendid Basque colors. At the end of your walk, you will arrive in the village of Bardos.

Distance: 42 km (26mi)

Elevation: 598 m

Entrance ticket to Villa Arnaga

The Villa Arnaga, also known as the Edmond Rostand Museum, is a neo-Basque style house designed by the famous playwright Edmond Rostand. The latter is at the origin of the writing of the play so known: Cyrano de Bergerac ''. He occupied this luxurious villa in Cambo-les-Bains with his wife Rosemonde Gérard, famous French poetess and his son Jean Rostand, writer, moralist, biologist, historian of science and French academician.

During this day, you will leave from the village of Bardos and your first objective will be to reach the banks of the Adour river. You will be able to reach them at the level of the village of Urt. This last one includes a very small port giving access to the river. You will also have the possibility of strolling on the barthes of Etchepette, located near the village. You will then have to cross the river and follow the banks until you reach the city of Dax, in the Landes department. But before reaching the city of Dax, you will pass by the village of Saubusse, with its bridge over the Adour. It should be noted that this small village is also a spa.

Distance: 58 km (36mi)

Elevation: 375 m

This new day starts with a visit to the city of Dax, with its Gallo-Roman vestiges, its arenas, without forgetting the hot fountain, a true symbol of the spa. You will also pass by the village of Magescq. The half-timbered house and the bell tower of the church give a particular charisma to this small village. Still on the road to the ocean, you will take the road passing by the village of Azur. This stage will give you the opportunity to start riding on the bicycle paths of the immense Landes forests. You will then reach the seaside resort of Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, as well as the marine lake of the port of Albret. You will finish your day on the banks of the pond of Soustons, after having crossed a new forest.

Distance: 51 km (32mi)

Elevation: 357 m

You will finish your stay by leaving Soustons, on the route of the Vélodyssée, through the Landes forests. You will join the coast rather quickly. On your way to Bayonne, you will be able to enjoy the beaches of Hossegor and Capbreton. Within this second seaside resort, you will be able to stroll in its immense fishing and yachting harbor. When you arrive from Capbreton, all you have to do is follow the Vélodyssée to Bayonne. You will arrive by the northern banks of the Adour, passing by the small town of Boucau. Don't hesitate to rediscover the city of Bayonne, if you didn't have time to see everything the first day.

Distance: 52 km (33mi)

Elevation: 192 m

Today is departure day, you can take your time getting started in the morning, have breakfast and depart at your leisure from Bayonne by train for Paris (4h) or other destination. (Depart on your own). Other cycling itineraries are possible if you wish to extend this type of tour a little longer.