The Basque Country

A Euskadi Adventure

10 days, 9 nights

August 31 – September 9, 2027

These are genuinely small group, all inclusive tours for no more than 6 people.

The Basque Country, Euskadi, is located in the western Pyrenees Mountains, straddling the border of France and Spain meeting at the Atlantic coast’s Bay of Biscay. Emerald landscapes, distinctively rugged mountains, precipitous shorelines and the rich heritage of the Basque people has kept this area uniquely singular in a world of vanishing cultures. Proudly independent, the Basque people have been living in this secluded corner of the Pyrenees since the earliest known modern man was discovered in France some 45,000 years ago.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Following your arrival to Bordeaux’s Merignac Airport we will drive to our hotel, La Reserve, just outside the charming city center of St. Jean de Luz, one of the many iconic Basque fishing and historic whaling villages in the Bay of Biscay. Depending upon your arrival time we will check into our rooms, then stroll along the protected coastline walking path from the hotel to downtown for a welcome drink at one of the many colorful cafes situated alongside the port. Diner will be at one of local, St. Jean de Luz Basque restaurants.

St. Jean de Luz is an active fishing village at the mouth of the Nivelle River in the French Pays Basque and is without a doubt one of the most attractive seaside resorts nestled against the doorstep of The Atlantic coast. History and tradition shape the heart of the old town.

Day 2

We will drive along the Basque Corniche that hugs the edge of the French coastline, offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean towards the village of Urrugne. Situated along the old route to Spain, we’ll discover Château Urtubie. The château has been in the same family since its construction in 1341. We’ll have a private tour by Count Laurent de Coral, the last of the 24th generation of lineage owners belonging to the same family since its construction in 1341.

We’ll visit the Saint Jean de Baptiste Church where in 1660 Louis XIV married the Infanta of Spain, Marie-Therese to see its unusual vaulted ceiling and altar renowned for its carved gilded wood. We’ll enjoy lunch at one of the many village restaurants.

Day 3

An essential stop on our tour is the village of Espelette. Espelette is famous for its red peppers, PIment d’Espelette, which hang in decoration throughout the village. Originally from Mexico, this prized pepper is protected with an AOC label. In the heart of the village sits the seigneurial castle built in the year 1000, destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War, rebuilt, then bequethed to the inhabitants of the village in 1694. We will lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch we’ll drive through the countryside to the nearby village of Cambo-les-Bains to tour the Villa Arnaga, one of the earliest examples of neo-Basque architecture. It was the home of Edmond Rostand, the playwright who wrote Cyrano de Bergerac. After contracting pleurisy, he moved to Cambo with his family and built the house of his dreams. The exquisite home contains trompe l’oeil, Art Nouveau motifs, and frescoes by fashionable painters. French and English gardens surround the 15 hectare estate.

Day 4

Today we’ll drive along the lower Pyrenees to the fortified town of Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port. Since the 12th century the village has been the starting point of passage for thousands of pilgrims headed toward Santiago de Compostela, some 466 miles west. It is the last stopover
on the camino in France before embarking on the mythical crossing to Roncesvalles, Spain. We’ll stroll through the old town’s cobblestone streets, visit its farmers’ market, and shops and have lunch, riverside.

Once we return from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port you’ll have a free afternoon to wander Saint Jean de Luz to your heart’s content, sit at a local cafe in the port-side square and watch the world go by, read in the gardens of the hotel, swim in their pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, or book a relaxing Thalassotherapy Spa treatment that is rooted in the synergy of marine elements – seawater, algae, sea mud, and the coastal climate – to revitalize body and mind. We’ll gather together in the early evening for dinner.

Day 5

Bayonne began in the 3rd century as a strategic Roman port. In 1151 the British ruled the city, followed by the French in 1578. The city’s passions were trade, weaponry, and chocolate.

We’ll explore Bayonne’s gem of a historic center, visit its beautiful Cathedral Sainte Marie, and leisurely stroll through its gourmet food shops, boutiques and lively Saturday farmers’ market that spans both sides of the Adour and Nive Rivers.

After lunch at a riverside café, we’ll have a guided tour of the Musée Basque, a small, but beautifully realized museum of the history of the Basque people.

We won’t leave Bayonne until we’ve tasted the organic chocolates from Cazeneuve, one of the oldest purveyors of chocolate in France, and the exquisite chocolates from Puyodebat, hand made in the village of Cambo-les-Bains, after a tour of their Musée du Chocolat.

Day 6

Donostia, as San Sebastián is called in Basque, is a vibrantly blended traditional and modern Spanish city just over the French border on the Bay of Biscay. Its circular bay is rimmed with picturesque promenades and pristine white beaches. The Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta have attracted beach goers looking for sophistication and sunshine since the end of the 19th century. In the old town, Parte Vieja, clothing boutiques rub shoulders with wine bars and bakeries. This
morning we’ll take the commuter train from Hendaye to San
Sebastián, a short 30 minute ride, then leisurely walk through the city
to meet our fabulous guide at MIMO, San Sébastián’s premier gastronomic tour company.

Two of San Sebastián’s culinary trademarks are pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, and the famous Basque Cheesecake from La Viña. Mimo’s local, insider knowledge and connections allows us to jump to the head of the lines. There’s no better epicurean experience.

Day 7

Today we’ll visit the little known, unspoiled village of Ainhoa. The old village was founded in the 13th century. We will walk along its main street lined with traditional white-washed houses trimmed with red, blue, and green timbering. We will stop at the medieval church, and visit Its small, but unusual cemetery dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Lunch will be at the Basque restaurant, Ithurria.

After lunch we’ll drive to the village of Sare, to ride Le Petit train de la Rhune. The train climbs 2,970 feet to afford a 360 degree, unobstructed view of the Pays Basque, Les Landes, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 8

After an early breakfast at the hotel we will drive to the Grottes d’Isturitz et Oxocelhaya, one of the most important prehistoric sights in the Basque region. Tools, paintings, and other relics, including a musical instrument, have been found here dating back 40,000 years. We will walk through the underground stretch of the Abéroue River and the amazing stalagtite and stalagmite cave formations.

After lunch we’ll drive through the lush countryside to La Bastide Clairence another beautiful village with Basque charm. Founded in 1314 by the King of Navarre, Its arcaded square is lined with arts and crafts workshops.

Day 9

We’ll continue along the coastline to the village of Hendaye from whose marina we’ll ride the harbor ferry to Hondarribia, Spain, just over the French border. Sainte Maria’s gate is the main entry to the old walled town, site of the castle of Carlos V and the 18th century Iglesias del Manzano church. We’ll indulge at one of the many restaurants that have made this Spanish town famous for its gastronomy.