Surf, eat, relax, repeat: make the most out of your stay at our surf hostel with our custom travel plans
Are you planning a trip to French Basque Country? If so, you might be wondering how long to stay in our surf hostel in Guéthary. In this post, we offer two sample itineraries for 4 and 7 day stays. Of course these are just suggestions and can be catered to suit your personal preferences. Whilst staying for less than 4 days is also an option, we believe you’ll enjoy resting with us for a while longer so you have time to make friends, relax and really get to know local life in our charming seaside village.
4 day itinerary at our surf hostel
Day 1: Settle in and start relaxing
Arrive and check in to L’escale Surf Hostel. Have a chat with your host Ella or one of our friendly staff who can offer suggestions on the best things to do.
Take a short walk through the local village - be sure to stop by La Maison Du Fronton to sample our local cheeses and charcuteries. There is also a supermarket 5 minutes walk from the hostel if you want to stock up on supplies and cook your meals in our kitchen.
Chill at the beach. There are lots of beaches within walking distance of the hostel to choose from.
Day 2: Day trip to Biarritz
Biarritz is a major surfing town on the Basque Coast and is definitely worth a visit. You can walk the 8km route to Biarritz (approximately 3-3.5 hours one way) and catch the bus and/or train back.
Catch a beautiful sunset at Côte des Basques - you can also get a nice pizza or some drinks at the bar here. There is also a bottle shop where you can buy your own wine or beer so you can sit on the clifftop and watch the sun go down. Look out for the small monument marking Côte des Basques as the spot where surfing started in France.
Day 3: Take a surf lesson
We can organise surf lessons for you as well as surfboard and wetsuit hire
Watch the sunset with a beer on the terrace or at one of the cliff top bars.
Day 4: Saint Jean-de-Luz
Check out by 10:30 and store your luggage for free at the hostel!
Walk to Saint Jean-de-Luz. This walk is between 6-8 km depending on the route you take and takes around 2 hours. For food we recommend trying the special macarons from Maison Adam (these are different from the ones you will see in the rest of France - see photo gallery at the bottom of this article) or a great little pizzeria called Le Cosmopolitan. You can easily catch the train or bus back to Guéthary from here.
Pick up your bags and head off to your next destination feeling relaxed, sun and salt kissed and ready for your next adventure.
If you have more time, we recommend staying for at least 7 days or more since there is so much to do in the area. Here is a week-long day itinerary for those who really want to relax and experience the local way of life.
7 day itinerary at our surf hostel
Day 1 - 4: same as above. Surf, eat, relax, repeat.
Day 5: Rent a bicycle
Visit the countryside and surrounding towns on the Basque Coast by bike. You can rent bicycles from our hostel for €12/day. Here are some cool cycling routes that are worth checking out. Be aware that inland Basque Country can be hilly so you will get a good workout cycling! The easiest route is from our hostel to Saint-Jean.
Every Wednesday in the evening, you'll find the locals playing pelote basque/chistera. It's entertaining to watch the heavy ball being thrown around with the chistera (a kind of Basque racket). It's a really old traditional game that originated from the area. You will also hear the Basque language being spoken.
Day 6: Enjoy a day of rest.
We know that being on the go and travelling all the time can be tiring so why not enjoy a sleep in before enjoying a coffee and the free breakfast at our hostel.
Take a yoga class at our local studio Yoga Etxea.
Cook a wholesome meal in our well equipped kitchen.
Watch a movie on the projector in our cosy common room.
Day 7: Go Surfing
Rent a surfboard and catch some waves at one of the many great surf beaches nearby. We are more than happy to share some recommendations about the best spots depending on your level and the conditions.
If you stay even longer, why not shape your own surfboard in Biarritz, take French lessons, take a day trip to San Sebastian or check out more of the local surf spots!
We are here to answer all your questions so you can start relaxing and enjoying your holiday ASAP no matter how short or long your stay with us is.
Book Your Stay
No matter the length of your stay, L'escale is a place to stop for a while, feel at home, make new friends, explore and create memories.
Other blog posts: