21 - Irati handia VTT
This is THE major circuit from top to bottom of the Irati forest, the reference loop that will have you training carefully and scrutinizing the weather forecast to choose the right day. The day when you can take advantage of the panoramic ridge trails, the paths leading to the Okabe cromlechs..
If you like large-scale mountain bike tours requiring endurance and technique, you're in for a treat, with the added bonus of breathtaking scenery! Head for Col Bagargi and Chalets d'Irati for a remarkable loop through mountain pastures and beech forests, said to be the largest in Europe. The inaugural part of the loop soon reaches the crests of the Pic des Escaliers, where, in the early morning light, the pastoral landscapes are awe-inspiring. To fully appreciate this loop, which takes in the Soule and Lower Navarre regions, you'll need to make sure the weather is just right. Up here, flock paths, unsuspected for their cyclability at these altitudes, allow you to ride between heaven and earth; let's salute the ewes for the quality of the ride on these suspended monotracks.
