The Most Beautiful Natural Parks And Attractions In The Basque Country

The Basque Country is one of Spain‘s most spectacularly stunning areas, home to soaring mountains, dramatic cliff-lined coasts, green pastures and quaint rural villages, not to mention numerous natural parks.

Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve sits on the Basque coastline between Bilbao and San Sebastian. It is the most important natural park in the Basque Country and was even declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984. The Oka River runs through the middle and flows out to the Mundaka estuary, creating an important wetlands area, home to birds such as fish eagles, spoonbills and Eurasian bittern. Visitors to Urdaibai will also find some of the most stunning beaches in the Basque Country – including Laida and Laga.

Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park

Valderejo Natural Park

Located on the west edge of the province of Alava, on the border with Burgos, sits the stunning Valderejo Natural Park. A wide valley hemmed in by steep green hills and rocky cliffs, the River Purón flows through the middle, creating a haven for wildlife. There’s a rural interpretation centre in the park for visitors, as well as nine marked hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties to explore it.

Basque Coast Geopark

One of only 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks, the Basque Coast Geopark is a spectacular part of the Basque Country. Covering an area of 90 square kilometres along the shores of Gipuzkoa, it encompasses the villages of Deba, Zumaia and Mutriku. Dramatic cliffs characterise the coastline, while the interior is home to the largest number of caves in Gipuzkoa, including the UNESCO World Heritage Ekain Cave.

Gorbeia Natural Park

A vast mountain range, spanning the provinces of Alava and Bizkaia, Gorbeia Natural Park covers 20,016 hectares. Its highest point, after which the park is named, is Mount Gorbeia, standing at 1,480 metres, and topped by an enormous cross – now a symbol of the park. One of the most popular parks for adventure sports, it’s especially well known for its various mountaineering routes. Hiking and mountain biking can also be done here.

Aiako Harria Natural Park

Situated in the eastern part of the province of Gipuzkoa, near to the border with France, Aiako Harria sits in foothills of the Pyrenees. Its boundaries are the Rivers Urumea and Bidasoa, and in its centre are huge granite massifs, towering up from the sea. One of the oldest parts of Spain, the land here dates as far back as the Paleozoic Era. The park’s most distinctive feature are the Three Crowns, or Tres Coronas – Irumugarrieta (806 m), Txurrumurru (821 m) and Erroilbide (837 m).

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.