Conquer Mondarrain
The perfect hike in the Pays Basque for families and/or climbing aficionados. It’s an hour or so’s climb to reach the plateau that overlooks the surrounding countryside, where you’ll get views of the Pyrenees on one side, and the ocean on the other. Up on the plateau, there’s a bolted crag with climbs for all levels, and no shortage of perfect spots for a picnic on the grass and a siesta in the shade of the trees.
There’s a spring to the east of the plateau. It means you don’t have to carry litres and litres of water for a hot day’s hike.
Siala via ferrata
A little-known via ferrata in the Ossau Valley, between Eaux-Bonnes and Gourette, with an easy start made up of a series of traverses above a raging torrent. Gripping! It then finds a way through an overhanging wall. It can be tricky but there’s an escape before the difficulties, on the left, so that beginners can feel the exposure in total safety.
In summer, you can hire gear from Intersport in Gourette. In spring and autumn, the bar/tobacconist in Laruns can also help you out.
Zip-line above the Valentin Valley
The pistes are clear for a slower mode of descent... on foot, for example. But for braver souls with a head for heights, there’s the giant zip-wire in the Béarnaise Pyrenees: 200m at high speed, hanging from a cable in the Valentin Valley. You can borrow our harness.
Snowshoeing in Gourette
The 42km of piste at Gourette go just as well on skis as in snowshoes. From white to black, there’s something for everyone, beginners and seasoned skiers alike, easy-riders or reckless daredevils. And if you’d rather head out in a snow groomer, chill in the sauna, or just enjoy a coffee with a view, we’ll see you on the Happy Place plateau.
To get to the ski resorts without a car, take the SKIBUS shuttles. They stop at Gourette, Artouste, and La Pierre-Saint-Martin, setting off from Pau or Oloron.
Touring the Ayous lakes
There’s six in all: Roumassot, Miey, Gentau, Bersau, Castérau and Paradis. Leave the car at Bious-Oumette car park and head out for the grand slam. From peak to lake, on trails or through the forest, attack the peaks and dive straight into the cool water of a high-altitude lake. An unrivalled spring hike.
On the La Pierre-Saint-Martin botanic trail
When the snow melts, the mountains transform. Beautiful flowers with fanciful names sprout from the crags: fawn lilies, homrin, gesse de vivant, aquilegia... Follow us along the botanic trail and learn on the job! The kids can gather bouquets.
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