Day 1. (Saturday) BILBAO

Welcome to Bilbao, the vibrant capital of Biscay and the most populous city in the Basque Country! Upon arrival, you will enjoy a comfortable transfer from the airport to your hotel, ensuring a stress-free start to your trip. Once settled in, we recommend you start exploring the charms of this city that fuses tradition and modernity. As a guided tour of Bilbao is included the following day, we recommend taking advantage of this day to visit places and museums or do alternative activities to make the most of your stay in Bilbao. You can visit the Guggenheim Museum, a world-renowned architectural gem, or the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, which has an impressive collection of art from the Middle Ages to contemporary art. If the weather is nice, you can visit Doña Casilda Park, a green lung in the city centre, perfect for quiet walks and enjoying nature. And to delight in Basque cuisine and try the famous “pintxos”, we recommend visiting the Mercado de la Ribera, the largest covered market in Europe. Don’t waste any time and start enjoying Bilbao’s unique energy from the very first moment! Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2. (Sunday) BILBAO – BISCAYAN COAST – BILBAO

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we have a day full of impressions ahead of us. In the morning, we take a beautiful half-day excursion to discover the Biscay Coast. We begin the day with a fascinating tour of the Bilbao Estuary, witness to its industrial past and the main route through which ships arrived in previous centuries. The first stop takes us to the emblematic Biscay Bridge, known as the Hanging Bridge, an impressive work of engineering declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which connects the towns of Portugalete and Getxo and reflects the seafaring legacy of the Euskadi (Basque Country’s name in local language). We continue our route towards the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a natural area of ​​singular beauty. On the way, we will enjoy the panoramic views of the majestic Butron Castle, a medieval fortress surrounded by forests. We continue towards one of the most iconic points of the Basque coast, the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe viewpoint, whose impressive hermitage on an islet was the setting for the famous Game of Thrones series. Here, we will admire the dramatic cliffs and wild beaches that surround it. Our next stop will be in Bermeo, one of the most charming fishing villages in the region, where you can immerse yourself in its authentic atmosphere and enjoy a pintxos tasting, included in the experience. To end the day, we will visit Gernika, a city full of history. Here we will visit the Casa de Juntas (the Assembly House) and the emblematic Tree of Gernika, a symbol of Basque freedoms. At midday, we will return to Bilbao, where you will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will take a guided walking tour of the historic centre of Bilbao, visiting the famous Old Town and its Seven Streets, full of shops, traditional taverns and the lively atmosphere that characterizes the city. Return to the hotel and accommodation in Bilbao.

Day 3. (Monday) BILBAO – BIARRITZ – SAINT JEAN DE LUZ – SAN SEBASTIAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we cross the border into France into the French Basque Country. We will start the day with a guided tour of Biarritz, a luxurious holiday destination that was chosen by European royalty for its charm and sophistication. In Biarritz, we will enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and visit its main tourist attractions, such as the Rocher de la Vierge and the Municipal Casino. Our second stop will be Saint Jean de Luz, a picturesque coastal town famous for its seafaring history and charming traditional houses. There, we will take a walk through its cobbled streets and taste a delicious sweet typical of the region. Afterwards, we will head to San Sebastian, one of the most beautiful cities in northern Spain, where we will take a walking tour of its famous Old Town, known for its traditional taverns and exquisite pintxos cuisine. After lunch, we will climb Monte Igueldo to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of La Concha Bay, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 4. (Tuesday) SAN SEBASTIAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will have a full day to discover Donostia, as San Sebastian is known in Basque. Below you will find some suggestions of what to do in San Sebastian in one day. You can stroll through the Plaza de la Constitución, a historic square located in the heart of the Old Town. Look at the old numbers on the balconies, which indicate that they were once used as boxes for bullfights. Nearby is the San Telmo Museum, an excellent place to better understand the identity of San Sebastian and the Basque Country. After that, you can visit the Buen Pastor Cathedral, a beautiful neo-Gothic building, which is the largest in the city. At lunchtime, it is essential to take a gastronomic tour based on pintxos, the famous Basque appetizers. And in the afternoon, you can walk along the famous promenade of Playa de la Concha, considered one of the most beautiful urban beaches in Europe. And to end the day, you can climb Monte Urgull, where you can enjoy a walk in nature and visit the Mota Castle, with stunning views of the sea and the city. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 5. (Wednesday) SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to do some shopping or enjoy Playa de la Concha. At the agreed time, meet up with the guide and the rest of the group to take the bus to Bilbao. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.

Day 6. (Thursday) BILBAO – LA RIOJA – VITORIA

Breakfast at the hotel. After a few days of relaxation, today we get back on track and head into the famous wine region of La Rioja, where we will enjoy stunning views of an extensive sea of ​​vineyards and discover charming little towns dotted with traditional and modern wineries. Our first stop will be in Laguardia, considered one of the most beautiful towns in La Rioja. We will take a walking tour of its medieval historic centre, with its narrow streets and charming squares. In addition, we will visit a traditional winery where we will enjoy a tasting of local wines, appreciating the exquisite flavours that make this region a world reference in wine production. Free time in Laguardia to continue exploring the city and have lunch on your own. Later, we will arrive in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country, where we will take a panoramic tour of Vitoria and a walking tour of its interesting historic centre, also called the Medieval Almond because of its shape, it is one of the best preserved in Spain. Its narrow cobbled streets and stately homes will transport us back in time. We will see the Virgen Blanca Square, the heart of the city of Vitoria, the Cathedral of Saint Mary or the building of the Basque Parliament, located in the former convent of Santa Clara. We will also include a delicious tasting of a typical sweet in a quality Basque artisanal confectionery. Accommodation at the hotel in Vitoria.

Day 7. (Friday) VITORIA – BILBAO

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to enjoy Vitoria at your own pace. You can visit the interior of the Cathedral of Santa María, known as the Old Cathedral, which served as inspiration for authors such as Ken Follett or the local novelist Eva García Sáenz de Urturi, or visit the Basilica of San Prudencio de Armentia, a 12th-century Romanesque church that is an important pilgrimage centre and a masterpiece of Basque Romanesque art. For art lovers, we recommend visiting the Artium Museum of Contemporary Art, its collection features works by contemporary Basque and Spanish artists, and there are always interesting temporary exhibitions. If you want to enjoy nature, we recommend touring the Green Ring of Vitoria, a network of parks and natural areas that surrounds the city, it is perfect for enjoying a walk or renting a bicycle. Salburua Park, with its wetlands and migratory birds, is one of the most visited. At the indicated time, we will begin the return trip to Bilbao. Arrival and end of services.