Basque Cultural Walking Adventure

DAY 1 – SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ
Our tour of the Basque country meets in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (1 night), where we take an afternoon walk in this French resort and fishing village. Just north of the Spanish border, our seaside hotel reflects the water with its crisp blue and white tiles.

DAYS 2-3 – BIDARRAY
The ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela all converged on Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port…and we visit this town with its singing church bells, too. In the afternoon, our hosts arrange a game of pelota (similar to jai alai) for us, then we settle in for the first of two nights at Bidarray. The next morning, we travel east into the heart of Basque country. On a countryside stroll in the rolling green foothills of the Pyrénées, we visit a local farmer and see how he makes goat cheese.

DAYS 4-7 – SAN SEBASTIÁN / BILBAO
One of our favorite footpaths takes us from Ustaritz, the first capital of the province, to Bayonne, where along the way we sometimes spot miniature wild horses and stand with one leg in Spain, the other in France. We'll explore the seaside resort of San Sebastián—enjoying its elegant corniche (beach) and a lunch of tapas. Other highlights include a walk to the top of Jaizkibel, as well as a guided exploration along the cobblestone streets of Hondarribia. On our final day, we spend time at Bilbao's futuristic Guggenheim museum before parting company in the afternoon.

Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here’s what that access means for you.

• Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
• Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
• Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
• Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
• Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
• Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
• Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.