Winter sports and activities to enjoy the snow, near Bayonne and Biarritz

If you're looking to enjoy the snow near Bayonne or Biarritz, the Basque Country offers all sorts of winter activities and sports. In the resorts, there's more than just downhill skiing… Sledding, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding… On the slopes of La Rhune or in the Iraty forest, there's something to satisfy all your winter desires.

The Pyrénées-Atlantiques department offers an idyllic setting on the Basque side for fun in the snow, with views of the Atlantic Ocean! And if you want to reach the Pyrenean peaks, you can hit the slopes in nearby Béarn. And why not cross the border and ski in the resorts of the Spanish Basque Country ?

The Pyrenees mountains and the winter sports resorts of the Basque Country

Labourd and the Rhune mountain at the foot of the coast, Lower Navarre and the Iraty passes, and Upper Soule with its Orhy peak are all part of the Pyrenees mountain range. In the resorts, you can discover unusual winter activities. If you're looking for an authentic atmosphere and enjoy mountain cuisine, the Basque Country is the ideal place for your winter holiday.

From the first snowfall, you can enjoy the pleasures of snow on La Rhune, just a stone's throw from the ocean. At 900 meters altitude, this Pyrenean massif isn't equipped for skiing, but it's ideal for hiking in the heart of its snow-covered forest. Interestingly, the Spanish border runs right through it. This presents a great opportunity for a getaway to the Spanish Basque Country.

La Rhune covered in snow, it's beautiful and rare!

Between Labourd and Lower Navarre, you enter the Basque hinterland. Its typical villages are colorful and welcoming, thanks in particular to their " etxe," houses with their characteristic architecture, whitewashed facades, and red half-timbering. Under a blanket of snow, their beauty is all the more striking.

For snowshoeing enthusiasts, head to the Haute Soule region, specifically the Issarbe resort. On the Béarn Pyrénées et Pays Basque tourist office website, you'll find a route in Larrau, complete with a guidebook and information. For family fun, cross-country skiing and sledding are available for children. The La-Pierre-Saint-Martin resort in Arette, on the other hand, is more renowned for its downhill and Nordic skiing. For a change of pace, why not take advantage of your winter holidays to enjoy a road trip through Haute-Soule ?

On the way to La Pierre Saint-Martin and the resorts of Béarn!

Enjoying the snow around the Basque Country

In Béarn, here are the best resorts, from the closest to the Basque Country to the furthest away:

• The Gourette resort is a ski resort, with many other activities: snowshoeing, sledding, tobogganing… But the most unusual thing is its large winter zip line and its Nordic baths.
• The Artouste resort, along with Gourette, is one of the closest to the Basque Country. There you can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, and, most importantly, ice climbing !
• Just before the Spanish border, in Urdos, the Somport resort offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails.

On the other side of the border, you will find the Spanish resorts of Candanchu, Astun and Aramon Formigal.

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As soon as the resorts open, we recommend calling the ski clubs and tourist offices in the Basque Country (Bayonne, Biarritz, Anglet) to ask if bus services are available. Some resorts also offer shuttle services. You could also try carpooling…

For more information, news and activity ideas, you can consult the following websites:

• The Bayonne Basque Country section of the website of the French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs.
• The Basque Ski Club offers weekends and stays in the Pyrenees, particularly in Ariège and Spain.
• Several associations are available to help you find the right route, a professional guide, a volunteer leader… to organize your hike safely. Among them is the Energy's Pays Basque association.

This tour along the Pyrenees and ski resorts comes to an end, and we hope we have inspired you to try new activities.

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