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A route to enjoy the Basque Country
Starting at
775 €*
Distance
124 km
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Difficulty
Medium – High
Regime
Bed and breakfast
Type of Accommodation
Private room with bathroom
Service
Backpack transport
* Price per person, based on double occupancy.
Camino de Santiago with Support
Camino del Norte from San Sebastian to Bilbao
Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao: a route to enjoy the Basque Country
Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao is the first section of the Camino del Norte. Although we won’t reach Santiago de Compostela, Bilbao is also a fantastic travel destination.
We leave the unique coastal town of San Sebastián and hike in a first stage of twenty-two kilometers to Zarautz. This is the same distance that awaits us the next day to reach the city of Deba.
In the third stage from Deba to Markina the route becomes more difficult and we add a few more kilometers. At this stage we will also leave the coast to enter the green landscapes of the Basque Country. The next day brings us to Gernika on a stage of 25 kilometers with some ups and downs. Despite its complicated orography, the stage to Lezama leads through the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve with landscapes that are worth enjoying in peace.
Finally, we reach our destination in a much shorter stage than the previous one of just eleven kilometers: the city of Bilbao.
Donostia – San Sebastián, starting point of the Camino del Norte
Our starting city, San Sebastián, which is directed by the magnificent Bahía de la Concha and lies between the Urgull and Igueldo mountains, is no less spectacular than the entire route. The traditional historic center has of course welcomed the examples of the city’s most modern explosion with buildings like the Kursaal or the Peines del Viento de Chillida. San Sebastián also combines tradition and modernity in the cultural field with celebrations such as the Tamborrada or the Semana Grande with the driving regattas or the current international film and jazz festivals.
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the jewel on the Camino del Norte route from San Sebastián to Bilbao.
One of the great attractions of the Camino del Norte is the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which was declared by Unesco in 1984. It is one of the richest natural spots in the Basque Country with low mountains but considerable slopes open to a valley that leads us to the Cantabrian Sea and forms an estuary.
Bilbao, the end of our route
Bilbao is located in the Bay of Biscay and is now one of the most important cities in the north. Architecturally, the buildings of the Euskalduna Conference and the Music Palace, the Norman Foster Metro, the Calatrava Airport, the towers designed by the architects Arata Isozaki and César Pelli and of course the magnificent Guggenheim Bilbao Museum stand out. The whole old town is also worth a relaxing walk. Visit the many bars with their delicious pintxos.
Basque Country Gastronomy
Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao offers us the appeal of Basque gastronomy. From our own products such as the Txacolí wine or the very tasty Idiazábal cheese to the traditional and varied pintxos that we can try again and again in the bars. In the Basque Country, too, the restaurants, traditional grilled dishes, cider houses and of course the long list of Michelin-starred restaurants stand out.
In addition to those in San Sebastián and Bilbao, on the stage between Guernika and Lezama we will drive through the city of Larrabezu, where the two Michelin-starred restaurants of Eneko Atxa, Azurmendi (***) are located. and Eneko (*).
Landscape along the Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao
The Camino del Norte is known by the combination of coastal and inland landscape. In the special section from San Sebastián to Bilbao we find a route that goes completely through the Basque Country.
The beginning of our tour is marked by the Bahía de la Concha and the climb to Monte Igueldo, from which we can enjoy an unbeatable view of the city of San Sebastián. If we go inside, the landscape becomes greener, with a rather rugged landscape, not very high mountains and valleys with traditional farmhouses.
One of the most notable places, as mentioned earlier, is the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
One advantage of the Camino del Norte is the weather. Although there is rain or even fog in winter, temperatures are usually not excessively low. In addition, in summer we have the advantage that the heat never gets excessively high with pleasant temperatures, both inland and on the coast. In addition, on the tours on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, we can enjoy a well-deserved swim on the beaches.
Difficulty of the Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Bilbao
The Camino del Norte is not an easy route. We are in the north of Spain, which has nothing to do with the plateau landscapes typical of the French way. Also, many of the stages pass by the sea in steep areas. In any case, the beauty of the landscapes far outweighs the difficulties of the way.
Once you have reached Bilbao, you can continue the Camino on the following route from Bilbao to Santander.
BUEN CAMINO!
Arrival in San Sebastian
Just as Paris is worth a fair, every motive is good to get to know San Sebastián. La Concha Bay presides over the city, a city that combines tradition and modernity. We are also in the Basque Country with its more than remarkable gastronomy, so it is not a bad idea to do a good pintxos route to gather strength before you embark on the Way of St. James. His monuments include the San Telmo Museum, the Victoria Eugenia Theater and the María Cristina Hotel, both in neoplateresque style, the Buen Pastor Cathedral and of course Rafael Moneo’s modern Kuursal building. Arrive in San Sebastián on your own.
Accommodation in San Sebastian.
San Sebastian - Zarautz
Difficulty level: medium to high.
We start our Camino del Norte from San Sebastián. We leave the ascending Monte Igueldo, which closes the Bahía de la Concha. It’s an important slope, so you have to face it in a good mood, a spirit that, without a doubt, doesn’t offer the wonderful view of the city that we left behind. This is a phase in which good prospects will prevail, both from Igueldo and from the descent to Zarautz, the end of today. We drive through the fishing village of Orio with an interesting old town, in which the church of San Nicolás de Bari stands out.
Accommodation in Zarautz
Zarautz - Deba
Difficulty level: medium to high.
Stage similar to that of the previous day, in which ascents and descents predominate again, but also the wonderful view of the coast, which is dominated by the Cantabrian Sea. We will have to consider three climbs, one at the beginning and one towards the end, although we will end the stage with the descent from Itziar to Deba, a descent in which precautions have to be taken with slips during the rainy season.
Accommodation in Deba.
Deba - Markina
Difficulty level: high.
The route gets harder when we leave the coastal landscape and enter mountainous areas inland. We will visit beautiful valley areas that are typical of the Basque Country. It is an area without important cities, we will find only a few farmhouses here and there, so it is advisable to get used to it well.
Accommodation in Markina.
Markina-Gernika
Difficulty level: high.
Again we face significant ups and downs. The most difficult part of the stage is the ascent from Bolibar to Ziortza. In this city we can take a short break to relax and visit the Zenarruza monastery and its cloister. Upon arrival at our destination, it is recommended to visit the meeting house and the Guernika tree.
Accommodation in Gernika.
Gernika - Lezama
Difficulty level: medium to high.
We start the day with the most important climb of the day with a gradient of about 300 meters. We are in the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, so it is worth quietly enjoying the natural landscapes that accompany us, even though we are still in a difficult geographical area. In today’s phase we come through the city of Larrabe, where Eneko Atxa operates its two restaurants with a Michelin star, Azurmendi (***) and Eneko (*).
Accommodation in Lezama
Lezama - Bilbao
Difficulty level: medium.
After several stages with around twenty kilometers, we face a much shorter one. We will also have only one climb, Mount Avril, with a 300m gradient, but quite progressive so it is not overly difficult. The descent leads us to the historical center of Bilbao, past the Basilica of Our Lady of Begoña. In Bilbao, besides Santiago de Compostela, we find the only cathedral on the Spanish mainland that is dedicated to Santiago Apóstol. Visits to the old town’s taverns are also essential for a traditional pintxo tour and of course for the Guggenheim Museum.
Accommodation in Bilbao
Bilbao
Check out and end of our services.
Room with private bathroom
Breakfast included
Luggage transport for each stage on the way (max. 20 kg – 1 piece of luggage per person)
24-hour emergency line
Detailed information with stage maps
Pilgrim pass
Pilgrim scallop
Travel Insurance
Dreibettzimmer – 10 % Ermäßigung für die dritte Person
Half board supplement: 25 € / person / night
Private transfer to San Sebastián: on request
Private transfer to the airport: on request
Extra piece of luggage: €8 per stage and piece of luggage (maximum 20 kg)
Extra nights: on request
Travel cancellation insurance
Camino de Santiago with Support
Camino del Norte from San Sebastian to Bilbao
From 775 €*
Price per person in a double room
Price per person, based on double occupancy.