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This six-day Basque Country private tour will take you to the most important corners of the most gastronomic and greenest region of Spain. During daytime you will be exploring the region with customised day trips guided by one of our expert guides and in the evenings you will have free time to enjoy and explore the lovely cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian on your own.
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On this six-day Basque Country private tour, you will visit Bilbao and the glorious Guggenheim Museum, you will cook in a traditional Basque cooking school, you will visit La Rioja which is the most important wine region of Spain, you will walk along the walls of the historic San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, you will immerse yourself in the Pintxo-hopping tradition of San Sebastian and many other unfrogettable experiences.
The cuisine here draws on an abundance of fresh local produce from the land and sea. From the famous Basque beef and the prized goose barnacles, to Idiazábal cheese, spider crabs, chorizo and anchovies, we will try it all.
* This private tour can be adapted to your specific preferences and requirements.
Visit Bilbao, San Sebastian, Getaria & Rioja Wine Region
Amazing lunch in each destination
Expert Local Guides
4*+ Boutique Hotels in Bilbao and San Sebastian
Private tour with high end transport
Day 1: Bilbao
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Our Basque Country private tour will start exploring the Old Town of Bilbao (dated from the 13th century), the Ribera food market known as the biggest covered market of Europe and the iconic Plaza Nueva where you will be introduced in front of the Euskalzaindia building to the Basque language, the local dialect of our region.
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The sound of the Nervion river will guide us to the Funicular of Artxanda. Along the river we will be delighted with architectural pieces such as the the impressive "Spider" of Louise Bourgeois, the "Puppy" of Jeff Koons or the stunning "Zubizuri" bridge designed by Calatrava.
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For lunch we will grab a selection of the delicious Basque bites (pintxos) paired with a couple of the local wines such as Rioja or Txakoli.​
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The tour will continue walking along the Nervion river to the famous Guggenheim Museum, which is housed in an unusual structure by the architect Frank Gehry.​
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Stay in a lovely boutique hotel in Bilbao*. Bilbao is the best location to base yourself when discovering the Basque Country as it´s within one hour drive from the most important attractions of the region!
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*If you like cooking you will be able to join in the evening a small cooking class in the heart of Bilbao at the school Gastronomía Bilbao. The experience will consist on cooking your own dinner with the assistance of a local Basque chef!
Day 2: Rioja
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Day two of our Basque Country private tour will take us to visit Spain’s most famous wine region – La Rioja DOCa. Learn everything about our local grapes such as the Tempranillo, Garnacha or the white Viura grape, if this last one doesn´t ring a bell you can think of it as the main grape to make Cava.
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We will visit between 2-3 local wineries with different styles so you can understand the region as a whole. All our guides have studies in the world of wine so you will be properly looked after at all times.
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For lunch we will arrange a superb lunch overlooking the vineyards to taste the delicacy of the Riojano gastronomic scene
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To finish the day, we will take you to Laguardia, one of the most beautiful places in Rioja Alavesa with its fortified wall, narrow cobbled streets and vineyards and mountain views. You will see why it’s known as one of the most stunning towns in all of Spain.​
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Stay in a lovely boutique hotel in Bilbao*. Bilbao is the best location to base yourself when discovering the Basque Country as it´s within one hour drive from the most important attractions of the region!
Day 3: GAZTELUGATXE AND GERNIKA
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If you like beauty, you cannot leave the Basque Country without visiting the beautiful San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. It is for sure one of the most impressive places in the Basque Country located at the UNSCO Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve with a breath-taking coastal landscape with stunning beaches and white cliffs.
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San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is connected to the mainland by a stone bridge and a stretch of land forming impressive two arches. There is a 241 step footbridge to make it to the top. You can either do the whole hike (around 2 hours) or we can do a lighter walk to get some pictures and move on to our next stop, you decide!
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Our next stop is the village of Gernika, the living history of Basque people. It is here where the fueros, the set of special laws of the Basque people were originated and where the Lords of Biscay and Kings of Castile swore their respect to the liberties of Biscay. Today, the tradition is still alive and by the famous Tree of Gernika is where the Lehendakari (the Basque president) swears his oath as the leader of the Basque Government.​
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Eat in an authentic stone Baserri, the traditional Basque houses located in the middle of the countryside. A homely meal based in the Basque vegetables, seafood and meats of the region.
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Stay in a lovely boutique hotel in Bilbao*. Bilbao is the best location to base yourself when discovering the Basque Country as it´s within one hour drive from the most important attractions of the region!
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Day 4: SAN SEBASTIAN
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We will use the fourth day of our Basque Country private tour as a transfer day so you can enjoy a couple of nights in this magical city. The drive itself it is spectacular crossing the Basque natural parks so you can appreciate the beautiful landscape.
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Your driver will pick you up in the morning and take you for a private walking tour in San Sebastian - Spain's foodie capital. Explore the Old Town, the beautiful 'Petit France', The Comb of the Wind and the picturesque Concha Beach.
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For lunch we will do as the locals hopping from bar to bar grabbing the food speciality and a drink in each place. We will teach you the local rules and protocol so you can manage when on your own. ​
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Stay in a lovely 4* boutique hotel in San Sebastian within walking distance to all the major attractions but avoiding the noisy parts of the city. We will share with you a couple of options so you can decide which alternative is best for you.
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*We can make this day even more gastronomic adding either: 1) a visit to a Basque cheese farm so you can discover the taste of the Idiazabal cheese made with the local Latxa sheep 2) a visit to a local Basque pork farm (Euskal Xerria) making exceptional charcuterie products.
Day 5: FREE DAY IN SAN SEBASTIAN
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San Sebastian is a place to relax, to enjoy walking and standing upon lovely boutique shops, markets and art galleries. If the weather is nice you can ride a bike in the promenade or have a swim in the Concha beach (the locals swim all year round so bring your swimming kit). The town is vibrant and has plenty of hikes, bars and restaurants (if you like fancy food you can try one of the Michelin starred restaurants).
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That´s why day 5 is to relax and to enjoy by yourself. We can assist with recommendations for food/museums/shops.
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Stay in a lovely 4* boutique hotel in San Sebastian within walking distance to all the major attractions but avoiding the noisy parts of the city. We will share with you a couple of options so you can decide which alternative is best for you.​
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Day 6: GETARIA & THE FLYSCH
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On our last day and on our way back to Bilbao we will visit the fisherman village of Getaria, the Basque port with most flavour of the region. Fishing boats arrive to the port constantly bringing the local specialities such as the Basque crab, the turbot or the monkfish. The cobbled streets are filled with parrillas where the locals cook the fish with holm oak adding a very special flavour.
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The special white wine Getariako Txakolina D.O. is produced in the rolling valleys of Getaria so we will stop for a quick tasting in a family winery with fabulous views over the ocean and the Basque cliffs paired with local anchovies and bonito (the local tuna).
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For lunch you will enjoy the traditional grill fish in a terrace of one of the top restaurants of the village. If you want we can even reserve a table for you in the famous Elkano 1* Michelin ranked in the top 50 best restaurants in the world. ​
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Our last stop will be the Geoparkea, the Basque coast UNESCO natural park with incredible cliffs where to take the last pictures of the trip.
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The tour will finish in your next destination/airport.
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