This ancient road from Bayonne to Pamplona, which winds through the Baztan Valley, was once used by pilgrims travelling from the French port to Santiago de Compostela. Today, it is drawing an increasing number of walkers and pilgrims, thanks to its gentle landscapes and the charm of its villages and small towns. Rolling green hills, peaceful valleys, ancient woodlands, folklore, rich heritage, and memorable gastronomy define the Baztan region.
Along the way, you will walk not only in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims, but also of merchants, nobility, and armies. Even the Romans once passed through these lands.
The Camino Baztan (also known as the Baztanés Way) is a historic pilgrimage route that, at approximately 110 km, connects Bayonne, France, to Pamplona, Spain, where it joins the popular Camino Francés. It’s an excellent choice for pilgrims seeking a quieter, more authentic experience through the stunning Basque Country and the picturesque Baztan Valley. The route typically spans six stages and is known for its lush green landscapes, often compared to the Irish countryside.
Compared with the 1000m+ climb and descent to Roncesvalles on the French Way, it offers a lower-altitude route across the Pyrenees into Spain. The route offers an alternative start point and is a standalone route in its own right.
The Camino Baztan is generally well-marked with yellow arrows and the occasional specific trail marker. However, as it is a less-travelled route than the Camino Francés, with fewer pilgrims sharing the road, it’s ideal for anyone who has already walked a short Camino route, rather than a first-time long-distance walker.
(Still planning your Camino adventure? Browse all our Camino de Santiago Trips.)
Price
£785 pp, sharing double/twin rooms – single supplement is £230
Camino Baztan Tour Price Includes
Price Excludes
Bayonne is a vibrant city with an impressive Gothic Cathedral and colourful, distinctive Basque-French architecture along the River Nive. The French Basque Country stages pass through charming villages like Ustaritz and Espelette, the latter famous for its vibrant red peppers.
The Baztan Valley is the heart of the Camino. You cross the Pyrenees via the Otsondo Pass into the valley, with scenery dominated by rolling hills, dense beech and chestnut forests, and meadows dotted with white farmhouses and elegant Baroque manor houses.
Urdax in Spain is home to the historic Monastery of San Salvador, which includes a pilgrim albergue and marks the official connection with the Spanish section of the route.
Amaiur is a historic village, known for its ruined castle and a monument commemorating the last stand of the Kingdom of Navarre against the conquest in 1522.
Elizondo is the capital of the Baztan Valley, a beautiful town of stone and water. It’s a great place to stop, with stately homes and a reputation for excellent chocolate.
Puerto de Belate is a higher mountain pass after Elizondo, offering panoramic views before descending towards Olagüe. However, it’s much less challenging than the Camino Frances route over the Pyrenees.
Pamplona is the final destination, a historic city famous for its medieval old town and the San Fermín Bull Run. The Baztan Way joins the Camino Francés at the Puente de la Trinidad de Arre just before entering Pamplona.
Basque culture and history are ancient and rich, providing an authentic experience for travellers who enjoy the path less trodden. The Basque Language “Euskera” is historically the language of the Basque Country on both the French and Spanish sides, where the unique and ancient language of Euskera is still widely spoken.
The distinctive Basque architecture includes white, half-timbered houses in France and imposing stone farmhouses (caseríos) and Baroque palaces in the Spanish Baztan Valley. The Baztan Valley is steeped in ancient Navarrese and Basque folklore, including legends of witches, spirits, and mythological creatures. The Caves of Zugarramurdi and its Witch Museum are popular, slightly off-route highlights.
Unlike the busy Camino Francés, the Baztan Way offers a rare opportunity for solitude and introspection, allowing for more genuine interaction with the local communities.
The gastronomy along the route reflects the region’s strong Basque and Navarrese agricultural heritage, which is known for its hearty, high-quality, and local ingredients. Feature favourites include Bayonne Ham, Espelette Peppers, Basque Cake, and local chocolate. On the Spanish side, it’s Navarrese favourites such as Trout, Chuletón (thick T-bone steak), Pochas, a fresh white bean stew, Pinxtos, which are Basque-style tapas, and local sheep’s cheese.
There is much to see and do in Bayonne, so you might want to spend an extra day here. The Cathédrale Sainte-Marie is a UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece and the perfect starting point for your pilgrimage. Head to the Musée Basque et de l’Histoire de Bayonne in Petit Bayonne for a fascinating insight into Basque history, culture, and traditions.
Bayonne is famous for its food. For a vibrant, authentic experience, visit Les Halles, Bayonne’s indoor market. Here, you can grab fresh, high-quality local produce, cheeses, and cured meats. Then walk off lunch with a stroll along the banks of the Nive River. The signature colourful, half-timbered Basque-style houses lining the river are a perfect photo opportunity. You can walk the Ramparts of Bayonne’s impressive fortifications for views of the city. Bayonne is the chocolate capital of France. Visit a traditional chocolaterie to sample their rich, velvety hot chocolate served with buttery toast. It’s the perfect pre-Camino energy boost. For dinner, you might find a traditional Basque restaurant on the riverfront. Look for dishes like Axoa (veal stew) or fresh fish, paired with a local Irouléguy wine.
Starting at the Cathedral, this first stage serves as a transition away from the urban environment and into the iconic green, rolling hills of the French Basque Country. The way starts flat, walking along the River Nive, and becomes more undulating as you progress onto quiet, minor roads and rustic tracks/forest paths. Ustaritz is a picturesque Basque village for a lunch stop. Souraide is a charming, peaceful village with a strong Jacobean tradition of pilgrim hospitality.
The walking today is primarily on rural paths, forests, and fields, marked by significant ups and downs as you approach the Spanish border. The terrain becomes notably more rugged and mountainous as you approach the foothills of the Pyrenees. You will pass through the picturesque town of Ainhoa, described as one of France’s most beautiful villages, then the border town of Dancharia, before crossing into the beautiful Spanish valley setting of Amaiur-Maya.
Today’s walk is a shorter, scenic day through the heart of the Baztan Valley, with gentle elevation changes, following river valleys and country paths that connect the area’s villages. This is a day to slow down, enjoy nature and reflect. The Camino takes you through Elizondo, the elegant capital of the valley, where you can admire the impressive Baroque manor houses typical in this region, before arriving at the elevated, panoramic village of Ziga.
A moderate walk today, that gradually begins the transition out of the inner valley and towards the high mountains. The path moves through quiet farmland and beautiful woodland, with a mix of gentle climbs and descents on rural tracks and quiet roads. The route passes through several traditional villages, such as Irurita and Gartzain, offering intimate glimpses of rural Navarran life and architecture before finishing in the medieval-feeling village of Lantz.
This is the most demanding stage, due to the climb up and over the Belate Pass. Your sustained ascent is followed by a long descent on ancient, rugged tracks through atmospheric beech and oak forests. This old route was historically protected by the Monastery and Pilgrim Hospital of Santa María de Belate, whose ruins you pass, marking a point of great medieval importance.
A relatively short and easy final day. The path descends gently, leaving the mountain forests behind and leading into a more open landscape as you follow the Ultzama River valley. The final few kilometres are urbanised as you enter the city. You will join the busy Camino Francés at Trinidad de Arre, crossing the striking medieval bridge, before making your final entrance into the historic centre of Pamplona, concluding your journey at the city’s famous walls and Cathedral.
Hand-picked and well known to us, we prefer to choose comfortable, small, family-run establishments on the Camino.
Your accommodation will include a variety of guest houses, apartments and 1 -3-star hotels & hostals (not pilgrim bunk houses). All rooms have private en-suite facilities.
If your budget allows, we can suggest some accommodation upgrades, as we often work with the top-end establishments on the Camino. Some rural lodgings may require a short transfer off the Camino, but we think you’ll find them very charming and comfortable.
Our high level of personal service and customer care offers the best of local food, culture, and history.
