Les Hauts d’Ainhoa
A Basque country house between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic
FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY · NEAR BIARRITZ
Les Hauts d’Ainhoa
A characterful stay in the French Basque Country
Set in the hills above Ainhoa, Les Hauts d’Ainhoa is a traditional Basque house in a peaceful corner of south-west France, close to the Spanish border and within easy reach of Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Walk into the Pyrenean foothills from the village, spend the day beside the Atlantic, explore Sare and Espelette, or cross into Navarre for lunch.
A new three-bedroom gîte is currently taking shape, with reopening planned for spring 2027.
Walk
Camino paths, the GR10 and the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Explore
Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette, markets, producers and some exceptionally good places to eat.
Coast
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz, Bidart and the beaches of the Basque coast.
Mountains, coast and Spain — without changing base
Ainhoa sits in an unusually good position for exploring the French Basque Country.
Spend the morning walking in the hills, lunch in a Basque village and the afternoon beside the Atlantic. Sare and Espelette are nearby, the Spanish border is only a few kilometres away, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz are easy day trips.
It means you can combine mountains, beaches, food and village life without packing up and moving every few days.
Plan 3 days in Ainhoa →
From the journal
3 days in Ainhoa: villages, mountains and the Basque coast
3 days in Ainhoa: villages, mountains and the Basque coast Three days in Ainhoa is enough to discover several very different sides of the French Basque Country. From the village, you can walk into the foothills of the Pyrenees, explore some of the best-known villages...
Discover 8 foods to try in the French Basque Country
What to eat in the French Basque Country: 8 local specialities Food is one of the easiest ways to understand the French Basque Country. The cooking here is generous rather than complicated, shaped by sheep farming, small-scale agriculture, the Atlantic coast and the...
Hiking in the French Basque Country: 10 Essential Tips
Hiking in the French Basque Country: 10 things to know before you go The green hills around Ainhoa can look gentle, but walking in the French Basque Country is still mountain walking. Paths can be steep, weather changes quickly and a sunny village morning does not...
Coming Spring 2027
A new three-bedroom gîte is taking shape inside Maison Labatchenia, bringing together the character of the old Basque house with a new way to stay in Ainhoa.
We’ll be sharing the renovation and plans for reopening as the work progresses.