Holidays in the Basque Country with a dog
What hikes to do with your dog in the Basque Country? What are the dog-friendly activities to do in the Basque Country? In this article, learn more about the Basque Country with your dog!
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Do you know the Basque country? The Basque cake, the pediments, the goat cheese, the Espelette pepper, the waves of the coast to drive surfers crazy, the pretty red and green facades of Saint Jean de Luz, Saint Jean de Pied de Port, Sare, Ainhoa and the famous Rhune and its little train?
Musher and I have just returned from a few days of vacation in the French Basque country, between Gascony and Béarn. If you don't know this vacation destination yet, let me introduce you to the places that Musher, my dog, and I loved to visit and test.
The Basque country, the happiness of hikers
Musher and I hike a lot. Vast fields of lush grass, forests of majestic trees, rivers and streams everywhere, huge fern groves… these are the magical landscapes that punctuated our outings. No camping with my dog this summer, we opted for day hikes and comfort every night.
You like the sea: you will love the coastal path that will take you to Spain. I have Brittany in the soul and in the heart so I personally found the decor a bit bland.
You like the mountains: you will love hiking on the crests of the Rhune, the Artzamendi, the Pic d'Iparla... As you can guess, I much preferred mountain hikes with an average of 600 positive elevation changes for 15 kilometers . The holidays were sporty. We enjoyed ourselves. The calves and thighs have warmed up well. Musher was happy to find her basket in the evening. As a reminder, hiking in the mountains with your dog, it can't be improvised. You have to prepare for your outing and make sure that your dog is in good shape and that you have the equipment necessary for his well-being. Take stock of this by reading or re-reading the article devoted to this subject in the Mag' of EmmèneTonChien.com
On the hiking side, I would like to point out that the Basque country is a land of livestock which means that you will come across a lot of herds of sheep, cows and even semi-wild horses. At each start of the hike, there is a small sign reminding you that your dog must be kept on a leash in pastoral areas. Indeed, the latter must in no case disturb the animals present in these spaces. Moreover, some of them could have dangerous reactions towards your pooch.
To secure Musher, we went into cani-rando mode: she with her harness, me with my harness ( belt), so she remained connected to me with the elastic lanyard. Remember to anticipate the approach of herds, especially if your dog has a strong hunting instinct. Respect the places that welcome you.
A good point for the Basque country: there are streams and rivers everywhere and there is always water! Musher enjoyed every ride.
There are a few must-see spots from what I've heard of them, but I'm going to have to reschedule a vacation there, as I haven't had time to test them: the Holzarte footbridge in Larrau which allows you to overlook the Olhadubi gorges at 180 meters high. Musher having a great vertigo, I do not think I will be able to make him cross this footbridge… And the gorges of Kakuetta: a natural site where nature is luxuriant and the waterfalls majestic. A site to visit with your dog tied on a leash and preferably in low season otherwise you will be at the queuleuleu and the place loses all its charm.
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in the Basque Country
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Dog-friendly activities to do in the Basque country
How do you know that you are in the Basque country? If the houses are green or red and there is a fronton in the village: you have arrived! We tested Basque pelota with Musher but dog version: I throw the ball, it catches up, I run after it. She loved it! The summer is very animated between bullfighting activities, Basque strength games, concert of Basque songs, pelota tournament... We went one evening to Saint Jean de Luz see the toro de fuego and have a confetti battle. Musher was the star of the square, the kids covered her in confetti. Hard to make him understand that it can't be eaten! As a good gourmet, she must have tasted one or two confetti. The toro de fuego is a kind of fireworks. Many dogs can't stand the noise of firecrackers and fireworks; if your dog is sensitive to it, I advise you not to bring him to this show, he could quickly feel very uncomfortable in the crowd and the noise and escape you.
On the activity side, we visited Saint-Jean-de-Pied-de-Port, a pretty town with fortifications, Espelette and its gourmet market, Saint Jean de Luz and its bay as well as Biarritz where we had the chance to witness a magnificent sunset on the rock of the virgin. On the coast, do not look: dogs are not tolerated on any beach! It's unbelievable but true… On the other hand when you see the waves in this corner of France, I advise you not to let your dog go into the water if you decide to ignore the prohibitions. If ever, a wave wins, are you sure you can help it without putting yourself in danger?
And then we went on the Rhune. We could have taken the little Rhune train, the main attraction of the Basque country, to reach the top, because the latter accepts our dog friends. The little train takes you to the top of the Rhune from where you can of course go down on foot or with the same little train. From up there, if it is clear, you will have a magnificent view of the whole Basque country and the coast. It's worth checking out !
I loved going on vacation with my dog. As always we enjoyed ourselves with Musher. She accompanied us almost everywhere and with a little organization, we were able to do everything we wanted to do. Traveling with your dog is the guarantee of returning with hundreds of good memories in mind; and if you're like me hundreds of photos and videos with your beloved little companion. What do I remember from our vacation? Basque cakes!!! The saying goes “like master, like dog”! I'm like Musher, a foodie! Luckily I saved the recipe...
On the gourmet side, I also recommend a small detour by Saint Etienne de Baigory at the Laïa chocolate factory. Unfortunately, you won't be able to enter the shop with your dog, but the chocolate maker works the cocoa beans himself: it's worth the detour even if it's not dog-friendly! I hope I have made you want to discover this beautiful region with your dog. See you soon for new Wouafement Bien adventures!