Itinerary & programme

1. 01

   Day 1: Saint-Palais to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (37 km, 700 m ascent)

   Your adventure begins in the heart of Lower Navarre. This hilly but manageable stage takes you south along the historic pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela. The arrival in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is spectacular, with its pink sandstone ramparts and its citadel overlooking the Nive.

   Things to do:

   • Cross the famous Roman bridge over the Nive

   • Wander the rue de la Citadelle and its craft shops

   • Taste Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese at a local producer

   • Enjoy a Basque dinner in one of the traditional restaurants.

2. 02

   Day 2: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Bidarray (22 km, 410 m ascent)

   This is the first demanding stage of the route. You weave between mountains and green hills. After a gradual climb towards Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, you ride through the Irouléguy vineyards (the only AOC vineyard in the Basque Country) before dropping down to the Nive gorges at Bidarray. The scenery is magnificent and the views over the Basque mountains unforgettable.

   Things to do:

   • Tour and taste at an Irouléguy wine cellar.

   • Cross the romantic bridge at Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry

   • Spot the flocks of Manech red-headed sheep.

   • Have dinner in Bidarray, known for its rural atmosphere and its setting on the banks of the Nive

3. 03

   Day 3: Bidarray to Espelette (18 km, 280 m ascent)

   A stage full of legends and flavours! You first follow the Nive, then pass the legendary Pas de Roland (where, so the story goes, Charlemagne's nephew split the rock with a single blow of his sword Durandal). After riding through the charming village of Itxassou, you climb towards your destination: Espelette, capital of the pepper.

   Things to do:

   • Take a refreshing dip in the natural pools of the Pas de Roland

   • Stop in Itxassou to taste the famous black cherry jam

   • See the church and the pepper-covered façades of Espelette.

   • Visit a pepper drying house and discover the red gold of Espelette

4. 04

   Day 4: Espelette to Saint-Jean-de-Luz (27 km, 310 m ascent)

   Ride through the jewels of the Labourd: Ainhoa, Sare and Ascain. These emblematic villages lead you gently towards the ocean. The day ends in the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a former corsair town with magical light and streets steeped in history.

   Things to do:

   • Visit Ainhoa and Sare, listed among the most beautiful villages in France

   • Optional ride on the rack railway to the summit of La Rhune

   • See the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, where Louis XIV was married

   • Swim in the sheltered bay in the heart of the port town

5. 05

   Day 5: Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Bayonne (31 km, 300 m ascent)

   You head north on the Vélodyssée. This coastal section passes through Guéthary, a former whaling port, then Biarritz, the imperial resort. Ocean views are constant. You finish the stage in Bayonne, a city of art and history famous for its medieval half-timbered architecture and the lively banks of the Nive.
   
   Things to do:

   • Stop for a photo at the Rocher de la Vierge in Biarritz.

   • Admire the Belle Époque villas along the Grande Plage.

   • Visit the cathedral of Bayonne and its cloister.

   • Taste Bayonne ham in the covered market beside the Nive.

6. 06

   Day 6: Bayonne to Hossegor (27 km, 60 m ascent)

   The horizon opens out and the terrain softens. You cross the Adour, leaving the Basque Country for the vast pine forests of the Landes. Safe cycle paths carry you through the dunes to Capbreton and its one-of-a-kind port, then on to Hossegor. A stage given over to surfing and relaxing, between the sea lake and legendary waves.

   Things to do:

   • Ride through the Chiberta forest on shaded paths.

   • Walk along the pier at Capbreton.

   • Cycle around the Hossegor sea lake.

   • Watch the sunset from Santocha beach

7. 07

   Day 7: Hossegor to Dax (44 km, 180 m ascent)

   For this last day, you leave the coast for the calm of the Landes countryside. You ride under the canopy of the pines, on straight, shaded forest tracks. A final chance to enjoy the silence of the forest before returning to the Gallo-Roman town.

   Things to do:

   • A last morning swim

   • Ride through the pine forest

   • Taste the Madeleines de Dax

   • Visit the Borda museum or the bullring.

   • Unwind at the Dax thermal spa.