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Voykit pocket guide · France
Larrau
Stay one night in Larrau as a hiking base; a day covers the bridge and gorge, but Pic d'Orhy needs a full 2‑day trek.
Larrau is a remote Basque mountain village in Soule, popular for hikes to the Holzarté suspension bridge, Olhadubi canyon and Pic d'Orhy. A car is essential, and most attractions are a short drive then a walk.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (snow may close passes)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Baguette | €1–2 |
| Mountain guide (half‑day) | €30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PUF · Pau Pyrénées Airport
- about 80 km (50 mi) by road, car requiredabout 50 mi (80 km) by road, car required
- BIQ · Biarritz Airport
- about 70 km (43 mi), car requiredabout 43 mi (70 km), car required
Typical fares
- Car rental (compact, 1 day)
- ≈ €45, pick up in Pau or Biarritz
- Bus to Auberge Logibar
- €1.5–2, runs hourly
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is essential for reaching trailheads; most hikes start from a short walk after parking.
See and do
Known for
- Holzarté Suspension Bridge
- Olhadubi Canyon
- Pic d'Orhy
- GR10 long‑distance trail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Iraty Forest | Drive 15 min north on D26, then walk trails | ≈1 h total |
| Sainte‑Engrâce | Drive 25 min east on D26, park near Grotte de la Verna | ≈1 h |
| Spain (Port de Larrau pass) | Drive 30 min south to mountain pass, cross into Navarre | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Logis Auberge de L'Espérance
- Hotel‑restaurant in the village centre, good base for hikes
- Auberge Logibar
- Dormitory beds from €17, half‑board €50; 60 m bus serves location
- Gîte d'étape Chalets d'Iraty
- Key pickup 1 km (0.6 mi) before site; restaurant on‑siteKey pickup 0.6 mi (1 km) before site; restaurant on‑site
- L'aire Naturelle de Camping
- 50 pitches, open Jun–Oct, fresh bread by reservation
- Gîte d'étape Kaskoleta
- 13 beds + 4‑person apartment, viewpoint 5 min walk
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Eskerrik askoes-ker-ik as-ko |
| How much is it? | Zenbat da?zen-bat da |
| Where is the trailhead? | Non dago ibilbide hasiera?non da-go i-bil-bi-de ha-si-e-ra |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Narrow, hairpin‑laden D26 road; drive cautiously.
- Winter snow can close mountain passes; check conditions before travel.
Larrau is very low‑risk; main concerns are mountain weather changes and narrow roads – drive cautiously and check pass closures.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Larrau yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Holzarté Suspension Bridge
- Olhadubi Canyon
- Pic d'Orhy
- GR10 long‑distance trail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Larrau, revision 5212892 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5212892
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/larrau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.