Where Myth Still Breathes
Forests, borders, and the unseen threads of the Basque world
We begin in Etxalar, a village where daily life still unfolds around the frontón. Over a coffee, pelota becomes an entry point into Basque social life, while the nearby cemetery quietly reminds us of a worldview where land, lineage, and memory remain inseparable.
From here, the road turns into an old smuggler’s track, climbing gently through farmhouses and deep green forest toward the Xareta valley—a shared territory that long predates the modern border between Spain and France. This is a landscape shaped not only by geography but also by belief.
In Zugarramurdi, myth and history intertwine. Long associated with ancestral healing practices and a worldview rooted in natural forces, the village became the stage for one of the most infamous inquisitorial trials of the 17th century. Here, we walk through the village at an unhurried pace, and those who wish may visit the caves and the interpretive museum—not as spectacle, but as a lens into how ancient traditions were once misunderstood, persecuted, and nearly erased.
The journey continues to Urdax, a place seemingly suspended in time. Its Indianos houses, monastery, and quiet canal create an atmosphere of stillness that invites reflection rather than explanation. Crossing briefly into France, we end in Ainhoa, one of the most harmonious villages of the Basque Country, before returning through back roads that gently close the circle.
Some landscapes hold stories you don’t see—you sense them. And once felt, they stay with you.
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€745 for 2 guests
€175 per additional guest
€140 per additional guest (10-17)
€35 per additional guest (under 10)
Group size: Intimate groups, up to 6 guests. Larger parties may be considered upon request.
Departures: Pricing and timing are based on departures from San Sebastián. Other departure points can be arranged upon request.
Each journey is carefully calibrated. Variations in group size or departure point are handled with the same attention.
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Departure: 8:30 am
Duration: approx. 8 hours
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· A full meal at a locally run restaurant
· English-speaking professional native guide
· Van, petrol & transportation expenses
· All taxes
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Any item not described above.
