Rencontres · Wahou · Culinaire

The cheese route through the Pyrénées-Atlantiques by campervan

Dive into the heart of the cheese-making craft of the Pyrenees, following the Ossau-iraty cheese route in a 100% electric campervan for a unique tasting experience. Between full-bodied flavours and delicate textures, this journey will offer a memorable trip to cheese lovers. On the programme: Plenty of stops in picturesque villages such as Laruns and Etsaut where you can taste the famous Ossau-Iraty. Local producers, guardians of age-old traditions, will share with you the history and the making secrets of this famous cheese.

Itinerary & programme

  1. Province of Labourd

    Labourd is a historic province of the French Basque Country, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, known for its coastal towns such as Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, its lively Basque traditions and its rich gastronomy. The region offers a diverse range of experiences, from surfing beaches to cultural festivals and local markets.
  2. L'arbéroue Valley

    The Arbéroue Valley, located in the French Basque Country, is a picturesque region known for its lush green landscapes, prehistoric caves such as the Isturitz cave, and charming Basque villages. It offers a peaceful setting ideal for hiking and discovering the local natural and cultural heritage. Head to the Grottes d'Isturitz for a short guided tour, following in the footsteps of the region's history. This is followed by a visit to an authentic farm, where you can learn about dairy farming in accordance with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) specifications.
  3. Baigorry Valley

    The Baïgorry Valley, in the French Basque Country, is renowned for its rolling countryside, Irouléguy vineyards and the central village of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry. This region is ideal for hiking, visiting medieval castles and discovering authentic Basque culture. Following on from this trip in an electrically-powered van, visit a winegrower for a tasting of Irouléguy before setting off to visit a new farm, developed by people who care about the welfare of the animals.
  4. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

    Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, located at the foot of the Pyrenees in the French Basque Country, is a charming fortified town famous for its cobbled streets, ramparts and historic role as an important stage on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela. This destination offers a rich cultural and architectural heritage, as well as magnificent surrounding landscapes ideal for hiking. The next stop is all the more authentic! You'll be welcomed to visit a shepherds' hut perched in the mountains.
  5. Saint-Palais

    Saint-Palais, in the French Basque Country, is a small historic town known for its lively market, its Roman remains and its role as a crossroads on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela. It offers authentic charm with its ancient buildings and peaceful rural setting, ideal for walks and discovering the local culture. You'll also have the pleasure of visiting a cheese dairy that plays a key role in the Ossau-Iraty PDO industry. Its expertise was rewarded with a gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole for its Ossau-Iraty in 2014. We can't wait!
  6. La Soule

    Soule, one of the historic provinces of the French Basque Country, is renowned for its mountainous landscapes, pastoral traditions and picturesque villages such as Mauléon-Licharre. The region is also famous for its Basque festivals, traditional songs and pelota. Make your way to the Holzarte Gorge, where you'll have the chance to take in the breathtaking views and maybe even challenge yourself by crossing the suspension bridge if you dare!
  7. Aspe Valley

    The Vallée d'Aspe, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is famous for its picturesque villages that retain an authentic, traditional charm. These include Bedous, Accous and Lescun, each offering a glimpse of the rural life and architecture typical of the region. The valley is also renowned for its gastronomy, including artisan cheeses and local wines. Visitors can sample locally produced sheep's milk cheeses, such as the famous Ossau-Iraty, as well as Jurançon wines, the perfect accompaniment to regional dishes. As well as its culinary delights, the Aspe valley is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and hiking trails along the Gave d'Aspe.
  8. Le Béarn de Gaves - Pau

    Béarn des Gaves, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, is famous for its fish-filled rivers, picturesque bastides such as Salies-de-Béarn, and its thermal baths. This peaceful region is ideal for fishing, walking and discovering the historic and architectural heritage of the Béarn region. To round things off, head to the outskirts of Pau for a visit to a cheese-ageing cellar. There, you can discover the last stage before Ossau-Iraty is marketed.

They say it better than we do!

A superb electric van experience with TheFamilyVan!
We set off from Bordeaux and met Noémie just a one-minute walk from Dax station, where she showed us the campervan. Noémie is really lovely, welcoming and very helpful. After a quick and clear handover, we hit the road for a vantrip in the Pyrenees. On the programme: discovering magnificent lakes, lovely hikes and glorious sunshine throughout the trip. As for the campervan itself, no problem at all, everything was spotless and easy to use. It was perfect, thank you TheFamilyVan!
Maxime W.

Tailor-made trip

★★★★★
A breathtaking campervan adventure!
I would 100% recommend going for the tailor-made route. It is packed with gems found off the beaten track, perfect for a genuine experience :)
Antoine S.
★★★★★
Brilliant campervan trip!!
Wonderful experience, the campervan is fitted out perfectly! We followed the roadbook and Noémie's recommendations, it was spot on 😊 Can't wait for the next van trip!
Naomi M.
★★★★★
We had an excellent trip thanks to thefamilyvan. We went as a couple with our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, it was our first campervan trip and they played their part in making it unforgettable!
I had heard about this company on social media and I admit that the idea of travelling electric appealed to me from an ecological point of view.
Right from the booking, our questions about the car seat (which was bought for the occasion, thanks again!) and other details were answered very quickly.
The campervan was very pleasant to drive and everything you need was available. Camping chairs and a tent + sleeping bag were even provided. Everything is ultra practical and good-looking on top of that. The double mattress is very comfortable and suited all 3 of us!
You get used to electric very easily. We had a bit of a scare in the Spanish Basque mountains with the battery running down quickly, but if you know that, honestly we did not feel slowed down at all by the electric side. It is great to drive and to say to yourself that you can enjoy nature while polluting it a little less.

So we highly recommend the experience, and with thefamilyvan in particular. Thanks again to the whole team for the organisation and the quality equipment you make available.

Claire, Raphael and Alma
Raphael, Claire & Alma

Self-drive rental

★★★★★
We tried out TheVanFamily's electric campervan on a 4-day road trip in the Landes. We really enjoyed this eco-friendly and economical experience. Indeed, no need to fill up with petrol (that's the whole point) and for the charging, we stopped for the night at campsites or used rapid charging points during our lunch or sightseeing breaks. And what can I say about the layout of the van? Ideal for 1 or 2 people, it has a bed, a fridge and a kitchen area. A little studio flat on wheels, super practical. Personally, we're completely sold on this new concept.
EspritGlobeTrotteuse

Self-drive rental

★★★★★
A great experience
It was a great experience, a human, sporty and really enriching adventure. The idea of mixing a road trip in a campervan, with an electric vehicle, and all of it as a group makes the trip very interesting in every respect. As for the surf lessons, Antoine is quite simply the best! Both cool and a good teacher, he plays an important part in this trip by not limiting himself to his job as an instructor, he is a guide who is there from the beginning to the end of the trip. It was a real summer camp for grown-ups, I could not have hoped for better!!
Bastien B.

Surf camp

★★★★★
A first time in an electric campervan that went really well!

A friendly team, quick to respond and ready to listen. There was everything you need to travel for a few days. We'd taken an extra little blanket given the temperatures (February). We hadn't planned a precise itinerary and made it up as we went along with places that were recommended or found online. Would do it again!
Hortense B.

Self-drive rental

★★★★★
A really lovely discovery of the South West with the 100% electric campervan! Everything inside is well thought out and optimised. The campervan's range is enough for exploring the region over a few days. The The Family Van team took great care of us. Despite fairly chilly weather we made the most of it and we happily recommend them!
Bastien G.

Self-drive rental

★★★★★
A great week in a van 🔥
The van has every comfort, the team super quick to respond if needed, it was a great first vanlife experience 😎There were three of us, so we chose the mattress-on-the-front-seats option for the 3rd bed and it was very good. Driving-wise, it's child's play and so is charging the van! In short, no reason not to give it a go :)
Victoria

Self-drive rental

★★★★★
Vann well equipped and the battery has a good range. We were well looked after by WhatsApp and the Landes region is well set up for an electric road trip. Spot on and we'd do it again with the same family
Nathan C.

Tailor-made trip

★★★★★
We went as a couple for a week, roaming the French and Spanish Basque coast, as well as the Pyrenees. We came back with stars in our eyes:
- Very well equipped vehicles,
- magnificent landscapes,
- a tailor-made itinerary put together by the family van meaning we didn't have to ask ourselves a single question during the trip: a list of places to sleep and places to visit depending on what we fancied...

In short, all you have to do is let go and enjoy.
Gildas & Thais

Tailor-made trip

★★★★★
Great experience with TFV
Great experience with TFV! I really recommend it, an excellent opportunity to discover the south-west, "van life" and to meet some lovely people. A perfect balance between the van adventure, visits around the region, sporting activities and sociable moments. A special mention for Noémie for the organisation and for Ascelle for the pilates, they're perfect!
Mathilde L.

Pilates retreat

★★★★★

Budget

The price shown is based on low-season rates and covers only the campervan rental and the “tailor-made trip creation” service.
It will vary according to your wishes and to whatever you choose to add while building your tailor-made trip with our advisers (restaurants, activities, accommodation and so on).
This price includes

A 100% electric campervan

The creation of your tailor-made trip

A personalised roadbook for your journey

Comprehensive insurance for your vehicle

A concierge service available 7 days a week
Optional when building your tailor-made trip

Your own travel insurance (recommended)

Travel to and from Dax

Excursions, extensions, other activities and paid services

Personal spending (restaurants, cafés, and so on)

Accommodation (campsites, wild camping areas, and so on)

Your road trip will be like no other

Tell us what you have in mind: we build the itinerary with you.
  1. 1

    Inspiration

    Browse our trip ideas and pick the one that looks most like you.

  2. 2

    Personalisation

    Together we adapt the route, the stops and the length to what you want.

  3. 3

    Support

    You set off with a tailor-made roadbook, and we stay reachable throughout the trip.

Our campervans

100% electric Citroën ë-Jumpy vans, fitted out to sleep, cook and travel without constraints.
Inside an electric campervan with a wooden worktop, cafetière and made-up sleeping area
Fitted campervan kitchen: sink, slide-out hob, folding table and a striped bench seat
Camping table spread with cheese, charcuterie and white wine looking out over a country track
Bench seat inside a campervan with a patterned cushion, terracotta throw and curtains
  • 100% electric

    Up to 330 km of range, silent driving and zero emissions on the road.

  • Fitted kitchen

    Stove, sink, fridge and storage: everything you need to cook anywhere, at any hour.

  • Sleeping options for 2

    A bed made up on departure, a dry toilet and everything you need on board.

  • Automatic gearbox

    Air conditioning, cruise control and automatic gearbox: you are at home right away.

Practical information

Pyrenees Cheese Route by Campervan: Ossau-Iraty, 11 Days — The Family Van