GR 10 liberté partie 2 : de Saint Jean Pied de Port à Etsaut

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the capital of the Pays Basque region. It lies in a circle of hills at the foot of the Roncevaux pass into Spain. After checking into your hotel you may choose to do a walk in the surrounding area. A chance to discover the many delights of this seductive region.
Explore St Jean and its surroundings
Walk through the Irouléguy vineyards and the village of Ispoure, in the surroundings of the capital of the Basse Navarre - a region with many touristic assets.
Kurutxamendi loop
The Kurutxamendi is a small hill dominating Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. This pedestrian loop can be the object of a pleasant short and easy stroll at the side of the pilgrims who go to St Jacques de Compostelle. Despite the low altitude, however, you will have good visibility on the peaks of Navarre, and even Labourd. Distance : 9km, duration : around 3h, altitude gain : +300m, descent : -300m OR Distance : 5km, duration : around 1h30, altitude gain : +150m, descent : -150m

The GR10 stays in the Pays Basque for approximately 170km of walking, winding its way through tiny villages but keeping to the French side. The trail heads out in an Easterly direction from St Jean towards the nearby hills. Following the deepening valley past small, isolated farms, sparkling mountain streams and steep green slopes. You get glimpses of the higher Pyrenean peaks to the East. The culture is rural and distinctly Basque. As you pass through the villages, such as Caro and Estérencuby, you can soak up the ambience. Stop at Estérençuby for the comfort version, otherwise continue the hike to Phagalcette. Distance : 16km, duration : around 6h, altitude gain : +900m, descent : -450m (To Phagalcette). OU Distance : 12km, duration : around 4h, altitude gain : +500m, descent ; -500m (To Esterençuby, comfort version

In the morning, short transfer from Estérençuby to Phagalcette for the comfort version. The day's stage has a sporting character due to its distance, combined with the hike's rugged topography. Through beautiful, vast pasture plateaus with clear views, you'll reach the magnificent site of the Cromlechs d'Occabé, a prehistoric monument of stones planted in the earth and arranged in a circle. From here, you'll enter the Iraty forest, Europe's largest beech forest, straddling the border between France and Spain. Then you'll reach the Iraty chalets at the Col de Bagargui. Distance : 20,5km, duration : around 7h45, altitude gain : +1400m, descent : -700m. 

Starting from the chalets d'Iraty, we pass the Pic des Escaliers, culminating at 1472m, before beginning the descent via the Ugatzé ridge, then reaching Logibar. Crossing ridges and passes, the route offers remarkable views to the east towards the first high peaks of the Pyrenees: Pic d'Anie (2504m), Pic d'Ansabère (2360m), Table des 3 rois (2421m), Visaurin (2669m)... Not forgetting the nearby Pic d'Orhy (2017m), the top of the Basque Country. Distance : 16km, duration : around 6h30, altitude gain : +450m, descent : -1400m. OR Distance : 11km, duration : around 3h30, altitude gain : +200m, descent : -1150m (bad weather variant).

From the hamlet of Logibar, the GR10 passes the canyon of Holzarté with its famous bridge. The GR progresses in the direction of the plateau of Ardakhotchia before arriving at the ‘cayolar de Saratzé’, altitude 1205m. Cayolars are the traditional shepherd’s cabins. To arrive at the hamlet of Senta, you will penetrate the valley of Barétous, this is part of the second region you will discover called the Béarn. It is a region that functions to the rhythm of nature’s calendar and rural pastoral life. Distance : 25,5km, duration : around 8h30, altitude gain : +1300m, descent : -1100m. OU Distance : 22km, duration : around 7h45, altitude gain : +1250m, descent : -1050m (variant)

In the morning, short transfer organized from Senta to La Pierre-Saint-Martin. It's also possible to walk this part, adding a night in La Pierre St Martin or with a long hike from Senta to Lescun  : Consult us). The GR10 makes its way to the Arres de Camplong and on to the massif of L’Anie. There are superb views of the Pas d’Azuns mountains in the direction of the Pic d’Anie at 2504m, one of the first really high summits in the mountain chain. The trail continues into the famous glacier cirque at Lescun. The views are awesome, the summit of Camplong, le Pic Billare and the nearby plateau of Sanchèse. Distance : 15,5km, duration : around 5h45, altitude gain : +500m, descent : -1200m.

This is the last day’s walking for this stage of the GR10 between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Etsaut. The trail comes out of Lescun glacier cirque and progresses towards a series of small charming mountain villages. After passing by the plateau de Lhers and the Col de Barancq, the itinerary arrives at the village of Etsaut in the famous Aspe valley . This is the gateway to the Pyrenean National park. Distance : 16km, duration : around 6h15, altitude gain : +850m, descent : -1150m.