Zegama-Aizkorri 2026 Guide: the Basque Country's legendary skyrace

The Zegama course circles the Aizkorri massif. From the village, it climbs sharply to the ridgeline, crossing several summits including the Aizkorri at 1,528 m — the highest point in the Spanish Basque Country — before long technical descents bring it back. The race is known as much for its spectator experience as for its athletes: thousands of supporters crowd the ridges to cheer runners at close range.

That format sets Zegama apart. It is not an endurance ultra in the accumulative sense: 42 km is a distance managed at a much higher intensity than a 100 km. The terrain demands precision, very strong descending and good reading of non-runnable sections. For the majority of participants, Zegama is an opportunity to test yourself on a world-class skyrace format in a uniquely convivial Basque setting.

Preparation for Zegama should include uphill speed work, technical descending on wet and rocky terrain, and the capacity to hold a high-intensity effort for several hours. Because the course is shorter but more intense than a classic ultra, training calls for more intensity and less raw volume than a 100 km build-up. The point is not to carry much, but to run fast while still respecting a minimalist safety list. With a well-marked course and a competitive format, the emphasis is on performance quality and precise movement.

Zegama is a village in the Gipuzkoa province, easily reachable from San Sebastián (Donostia). By car from France, the drive from Hendaye or Bayonne takes about one hour via the A8 motorway into the Spanish Basque Country. By public transport, Renfe trains run from San Sebastián to Beasain, then a local connection reaches Zegama. The race weekend draws thousands of visitors and the village is overwhelmed: accommodation in Zegama itself is extremely limited. San Sebastián, Tolosa and Ordizia are the practical bases.

Official logistics are centred on Zegama village. Bib pickup, the race village and shuttle-return information for remote finish zones are all published on the official site zegama-aizkorri.com. The organisation is well-established and communication is generally excellent: joining the newsletter list early ensures you receive registration and rule-update notifications.

The simplest flight access is through Bilbao or San Sebastián. After that, the cleanest logic is to reach Beasain by rail or road, then solve the final short stretch to Zegama.

Driving from the French border is fairly straightforward via the A8 and Basque inland roads. On public transport, Beasain is the real logistics hinge: once that is solved, the rest becomes much lighter.

Zegama itself is tiny and fills immediately. Ordizia, Beasain, Segura and even San Sebastián quickly become the realistic bases depending on budget and how much race-morning transfer you accept.

The main criterion is not only price. You need reliable sleep, easy bib-pickup access and a race morning that does not become a stress test before the first climb.

Zegama-Aizkorri is an objective that stays with you. If you arrive with preparation that matches this terrain, have your travel to the Basque Country organised and are ready to enjoy the spectacle as much as your own race, you will experience one of the most unique events in world trail running.