BASOAK BAZTAN-IRATI MTB
The MTB route of the BASQUE PYRENEES forests
Point to point stages of Pure Mountain Bike in Spain through the Atlantic Pyrenees
style - mtb - All Mountain
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
- Options from 3 to 6 stages -
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
BASOAK BAZTAN IRATI
THE ROUTE
BASOAK Baztan - Irati MTB is the version of BASOAK that is more focused on the North of Navarra. Its axes are clearly the Irati Forest, the Baztan Valley, and the endless forests of Quinto Real. We can "visualize" it by imagining a triangle whose vertices are; in the North the Baztan, the EREMUA MTB and Trail Center or what is the same; the Esteribar Valley in the South, and Roncesvalles or Irati/Larraun (depending on the option we choose) as the third vertex in the East. Between these vertices there are 3 BASOAK MTB point to point stages, C, J and K.
...
A circle at each vertex of the triangle contributes to the system another 3 stages, D, L and M, these circular ones, which we can decide whether or not to include in our trip, and which grant a flexibility of between 3 and 6 stages to the proposal.
Overall, this is a route with a high level of physical and moderate technical demands. It could be summed up by saying that we are not looking for enduro but rather for "singletrack", the more "flow" the better. In some stages this is achieved better and in others worse.
And as in all BASOAK, proposals, when the route crosses territories with "influence" of an active MTB Center, we integrate as far as possible in our tracks the routes of the Center that best suit our route intention, thus including paths initially designed for more local use in our long-distance proposals.
The experience offered by PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE consists, in broad terms, of a Self-Guided Tour pack. This includes Accommodations, the GPS Tracks for the route, a detailed map-sketch with alternatives for each stage, and Luggage Transport from hotel to hotel.
Depending on the sporting level of the participants, the route can be lengthened and the accommodation in Burguete replaced by the one in the Larraun neighborhood, closer to IRATI. In this option, which we call PLUS, stages C and D -especially the last one- are quite demanding in terms of sports and you will have to be well trained to finish them in good condition.
- Full technical
route totals - Stage C
Zubiri - Espinal - Stage J
Espinal - Baztan - Stage K
Baztan - Zubiri - Stage D
Circular Irati - Stage L
Circular Baztan - Stage H
Circular Eremua
Stage C: Eremua/Zubiri - Burguete
Distance: 41 km Unevenness: 1.715 m
Stage J: Burguete - Baztan
Distance: 53 km Unevenness: 1.315 m
Stage K: Baztan - Eremua/Zubiri
Distance: 49 km Unevenness: 1.695 m
Stage Opcional D: Circular Irati
Distance: 63 km Unevenness: 1.210 m
Stage Opcional L: Circular Baztan
Distance: 56 km Unevenness: 1.605 m
Stage Opcional H: Circular Eremua
Distance: 42 km Unevenness: 1.385 m
La ruta al completo
Distance: 304 km Unevenness: 8.925 m
Zubiri - Burguete / Espinal / Larraun
Territorio Eremua - Quinto Norte
From the Quinto Real to Roncesvalles.
"Camouflaged" in the green line of the profile we find 2 descents of type "Eremua". The 1st deposit us in the vicinity of Zilbeti, and the 2nd, the so-called Balseta, on the equator of the stage in Sorogain. On the way we will have left behind the almost disappeared "Gernika de Picasso" painted on the trees, the bunkers of P Line - built during "Franco's Spain" to repel a possible Allied attack after World War 2 - and all the almost "magical" environment of the northern slope of the Adi Peak that we will have bordered while we contemplate - if time permits - the small rural cores of the Basque-French Pays at our feet.
We leave the territory "Quinto Real" and we go into "Roncesvalles" territory. The P Line keeps emerging sporadically, the information panels and QR codes that also arise sporadically in specific places, interpret the "Archeology of war" and tell us about the battles that developed on these same slopes during the French withdrawal in the War of Independence - slopes in which we, fortunately in our own bike way, also fight -. The sheep, which have been where you see them for more than 5,000 years, tell us about the shepherd past. Roncesvalles, which also appears there, tells us about centuries of pilgrims and battles between Franks and Vascones.
The descents are here more "flows" than in the 1st part and after descending the "avenue" that suddenly deposits us in the Weapons Factory of Orbaitzeta, we have almost finished the stage and we can to go back in time again and imagine the frantic activity that developed between those now old walls during the years in which the cannonballs came out of their furnaces and workshops and made it possible to create an empire "where the sun never set".
Larraun / Burguete / Espinal - Baztan
Los Alduides, el "Shangri-La" pirenaico
No tenemos disponible el perfil de la opción PLUS; Larraun - Elizondo, pero los datos son: 67 kms - 1.605 ms+ y 2.200 ms-
Baztan - Zubiri
Etapa reina, El Quinto Real
Circular Irati
Un baño de Bosque
Stage D of BASOAK MTB is the "SELVA DE IRATI" stage.
A tarmac road helps us quickly get into the heart of the forests. We also continue lightly through the succession of tracks and wide paths that define the track while we advance "crossing out" objectives, Irabia Reservoir, Irati Houses, Cascada del Cubo... a wall that makes us stand up and enter the North slope, the Basque-French one, where the paved tracks once again print rhythm to the track.
The character of total forest and wood environment predominant until now begins to combine with areas of pastures and livestock environment culminating in the wide top of the Okabe. This, if the fog does not prevent it, will become a practically unforgettable 360º viewpoint only blocked to the east by the imposing mass of the Ori Peak - the first 2000, on this side, of the Pyrenean mountain range - which we almost seem to be able to touch.
The megalithic complex of Hilarrita appears on the side of the road, which with its waste of 26 cromlechs constitutes one of the most important funerary groups - if not the most - of Pyrenean prehistory.
We are already going down. Until the end of the stage - except for a slight comeback to "relocate" - everything will be down or flat. Grassy hills ... stretches of "singletrack" ... tracks and pastoral shepherds, maybe some boring dog ... Bridge of the Question ... Swamp of Irabia again ... more trails along the sometimes uncomfortable Channel Betolegi, through which the waters that begin to give shape to the Irati River are channeled ... and we are back on the wooded tracks that lead us to the end of the stage.
Circular Baztan
Aroma de contrabandistas
Circular Eremua
Un baño de "singletracks"
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage C
Zubiri - Espinal - Stage J
Espinal - Baztan - Stage K
Baztan - Zubiri - Stage D
Circular Irati - Stage L
Circular Baztan - Stage H
Circular Eremua
Zubiri - Burguete / Espinal / Larraun
Territorio Eremua - Quinto Norte
Cencellada, bunker de la Línea P y flow Pirineum Navarrorum. Magia en BASOAK MTB
Collado de Aratun, referencia geográfica del macizo del Adi.
Sendero por la ladera oriental del Adi. Nos encontramos en la cota más elevada de la ruta.
Ascenso exigente entre el Albergue de Sorogain y la cima de Txasperro
Espectaculo bajo las laderas de Mendiaundi
Comienza el descenso hacia Roncesvalles por las laderas del Pico Mendiaundi.
La Colegiata de Roncesvalles en su ambiente.
Abandonamos Roncesvalles y nos dirigimos hacia el final de etapa en la entrada de la Selva de Irati.
Secciones de "flow" en el descenso hacia la antigua fábrica de armas de Orbaitzeta.
Fábrica de armas de Orbaitzeta, estamos muy cerca del final de etapa, de manera que podemos "perdernos" un rato entre sus ruinas y su historia.
Larraun / Burguete / Espinal - Baztan
Los Alduides, el "Shangri-La" pirenaico
Si hemos dormido en Burguete, la etapa comienza casi con un potente descenso hacia Urepel
Interiores de la vertiente norte del Pirineo vasco/francés. Caminos del territorio conocido como Quinto Norte.
En algunos momentos dudaremos si los "bichos" que vemos son ovejas o cabras.
Bikers en Arrikulunka, -La piedra en coloca-
La segunda sección de la etapa coincide durante varios kilómetros con el trazado del GR®T 5, Kulunka Bidea.
Sucesión de collados en la línea de la divisoria fronteriza. Testigos mudos de la prolongada actividad contrabandística de la zona. En la imagen, Ehiartza.
Llegada al Collado de Berdaritz, paso habitual en las transpirenaicas de BTT por la vertiente norte.
A caballo entre el Baztan y el vasco / francés valle de KINTOA, el Collado de Berdaritz se erige como máximo representante del paso clandestino de personas por la línea fronteriza en épocas convulsas, especialmente en la Segunda guerra mundial. Si te interesa el tema puedes ver algo más aquí: RECURUT - Paso del Puerto de Berdaritz
Valle de Baztan, comienza el descenso del día.
Pastoreo ciclista en Gorostapolo
Escenas de la ruta a su paso bajo la Torre de Urkulu. Al igual que en las siguientes imágenes, las viviremos si hemos optado por la opción de ruta con alojamiento en Irati/Larraun
Cima de Astobizkar con su señalización de elementos de "Arqueología de la guerra". Estamos en el punto más elevado (1.499 metros) de la etapa. Bajo sus laderas un río de peregrinos. El Camino de Santiago entra en Navarra.
Baztan - Zubiri
Etapa reina, El Quinto Real
Dura subida, con algún tramo de "peaje" -empujar bici- antes de volver al bucólico entorno del Valle del Kintoa vasco/francés que recorrimos en la etapa J, Burguete - Baztan
Belleza simplemente desbordante en el ecuador de la etapa K de BASOAK MTB, de nuevo el sorprendente KINTOA.
Bosque & Bikers. Continúa un duro y prolongado ascenso.
En ocasiones, en BASOAK, el paísaje será este.
Senda & Niebla, Bosque & Niebla
En la 2ª mitad de la etapa el Baztan dará paso de nuevo a la oscuridad y a los rincones escondidos de los Bosques del Quinto Real en los que comenzamos la ruta ya hace algunos días.
A los pies de la vertiente norte de los Pirineos Vascos, tras remontar un angosto valle, se esconde, al estilo de aquel "Shangri-La" de las películas, el remanso de las "villages" de Alduides y Urepel -Aguas templadas en euskera-
Esperemos que cuando lo veáis la luz sea otra.
A quien le vaya el "mambo" podrá elegir finalizar la etapa por la emblemática ruta Nafar Whistler del Centro de BTT y Trail Eremua
Fin de jornada en el Pantano de Eugi.
Circular Irati
Un baño de Bosque
Senderos algo técnicos bordeando el Pantano de Irabia.
La ruta va alternando grandes zonas boscosas con otras de carácter más pastoril.
Coronando la cima del Okabe sin bajarnos de la bicicleta. Cuando la niebla no lo impide, sus 1466 metros de altitud y su ubicación en el centro del eje pirenaico conforman un mirador espectacular.
Escenas cotidianas en las laderas del Okabe en la variante norte de la etapa.
Uno de los más impresionantes conjuntos megalíticos de los Pirineos. Los 26 cromlechs de Hilarrita en las inmediaciones de la cima de Okabe.
Euforia de cima. La cumbre del Okabe sobrevuela la Selva de Irati.
Descenso de Okabe.
Presa del Pantano de Irabia en el corazón de la SELVA de IRATI.
Circular Baztan
Aroma de contrabandistas
Últimos rayos del día en las cimas de BAZTAN.
Vista sobre el Valle de Aritzakun, rincones escondidos o casí "Navarra profunda". Toponímia con fuerza sonora en este area; Aritzakun, Urritzate, Arizkun, Bozate...
Paisaje típico baztanes
Borda escondida en la vegetación en las inmediaciones de Urdax.
En ocasiones el bosque te deja atónito.
El descenso a Dantxarienea desde la cima de Gorospil por la cresta de la imagen, es la "guinda" de la etapa circular de BASOAK MTB en el BAZTAN. Se puede visualizar en Youtube en este espectácular vídeo realizado por Skydio 2.
Ver vídeo Larla à VTT
Circular Eremua
Un baño de "singletracks"
Ascenso opcional por la ruta Sugea, la línea de ascenso del Centro de BTT Eremua.
La loma de Goitiko Gaina hace de frontera entre los hayedos del norte de Navarra y los prados y bojedales que colonizan el territorio más al sur.
Rincones de la ruta por la Selva de Anue.
Lantz, emblemática localidad navarra conocida principalmente por sus famosos carnavales y por los alerones de sus viviendas.
Secuencia de valles y montañas entre el Pirineo Navarro y la Cuenca de Pamplona.
Ambiente de prados y bosque bajo en la 2ª parte de la etapa de regreso al Valle de Esteribar.
THE ROUTE IN PICTURES
Expect to feel it!
OUR LODGES
The half of the Trip
- Lodging for stages with start in Zubiri
- Lodging for stages with start in Burguete
- Lodging for stages with start in Espinal
- Lodging for stages with start in Irati / Larraun
- Lodging for stages with start in Irati / Larraun
- Lodging for stages with start in Elizondo
Hostería de Zubiri
Hotel Loizu
Hostal Rural Haizea
Hostal Rural Urkixokoa
Hostal Rural Mendilatz
Hotel Trinkete 3*
- Important -
In the rural world that our routes run through, hotel establishments are usually small. It is often difficult to book the sequence of accommodations necessary to complete a Pack, especially if the number of participants in a group is a bit high.
Booking in advance is often the key. It is not a commercial trick on our part. Many times, that reservation with enough time in advance is simply the difference between being able or not being able to reserve the Pack.
Esquema de ruta BASOAK BAZTAN-IRATI MTB
3 etapas en línea C + J + K obligatorias, y 3 etapas circulares D + L + H opcionales.
3 Stages / 3 Nights
3 etapas en línea
546 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
572 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
648 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
653 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: 156 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
4 Stages / 4 Nights
3 etapas en línea y 1 circular
546 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
572 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
648 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
653 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: 156 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
5 Stages / 5 Nights
3 etapas en línea y 2 circulares
684 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
710 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
792 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: 190 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
6 Stages / 6 Nights
3 etapas en línea y 3 circulares
780 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
836 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
808 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
887 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: 252 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Add night at the end of the route
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- - for 56 € per person in a double room or for 95 € in a single room
In these proposals when the groups are odd, the accommodation is offered in double rooms and a single room.
- TRIPLE ROOMS ARE NEVER USED -
If you want the price of the Pack to be cheaper, perhaps we can lower the level of one of the chosen hotels. And also, if the number of participants is odd; request a triple room.
- This management is only done once the Pack has been contracted -
Rates for the whole year, subject to availability.
The prices may vary when the dates coincide with the Easter holidays or with the Patron Festivities of any of the places of accommodation.
- As many nights of accommodation in Hotel as stages have the Pack
The 1st in B&B and the rest in Half board - Shower and luggage reception at the end of the last stage despite you don’t spend the night at the finalising point of the route
Transport of luggage between hotels
1 bag or package of a maximum of 20 kg per person
If not needed, the cost of this service will be deducted from the proposal- Tracks of the route in GPX format for mobile phones or GPS devices and printed map with each day routes options
- Explanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage Download sample - Link to services that may be necessary along the route
- Presentation of the route and delivery of information in hand the day of the arrival of the group to the hotel or the morning of the next day when groups are of 6 or more people
- Telephone assistance for incidents or consultations during the days of the contracted activity
- Beers or other consumptions outside the proposed menus in the dinners or during the stay in hotels
- Meals in restaurants at the time of the noon, unless it has been agreed previously to replace dinner with meals
- Any kind of sports material, helmets, shoes, etc
- Mechanical Assistance during the activity
If possible, we will try to help you in case of a breakdown, but in many situations this help can be very limited due to lack of specific spare parts or other circumstances. The cost of the service if it can be done is € 18 per hour + € 0.40 per kilometer. - Anything not expressly indicated in the offer
- Airport/station pick up
We put you in contact with the transfer companies that provide these services. We do not include its cost in our proposal. - Bicycle rental
We put you in touch with a rental service in the nearest place to the route start point - Hire Asistance / Accident Insurance
and / or Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Best time to go: The route can be done once the snow disappears in the highest mountains of the route. From there, we dare not say that one era is better than another. It really depends on the specific weather of the days we choose.
Do not underestimate the weather, not even in the middle of summer. The conditions -especially in the Pyrenees- can be identical to those of the Central Pyrenees. To summarize... our advice is: bring even the long culotte and if it doesn´t come out from the suitcase, all the better.
In summer it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of storms -frequent in the afternoons-. - Type of tracks: Paths and tracks with more physical than technical demands, both uphill and downhill. The "singletracks" selected from the MTB Centres through which the route passes are usually blue level. Sometimes they can be red, but it is always a temporary and avoidable difficulty. To summarise, we can say that the aim is to make the paths have "flow" while avoiding the "enduro" concept as much as possible.".
For technically demanding sections - which sometimes exist - when possible we offer alternative tracks, although the easiest way to avoid distorting the route is to get off the bike. - Ideal bike: Preferably a dual suspension MTB bike.
- Orientation: The route must be followed with a GPS device or with the mobile phone App that you are used to using for the same purpose.
It is not advisable to try to learn how to use an App on the fly.
We do not provide Apps or GPS user manuals. It is up to the users to have this knowledge.
There is no on-site signage. - Ciclability: Depending on the technical skills and strength of each person, the route is 98%.
- Provisioning: Although we sometimes find refreshment points, depending on the time of year we may find that some establishments are closed. The documentation we provide at the start of the route provides information on the options at each stage.
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