Bilbao, San Sebastián & Rioja Signature Drive

The trip starts and ends in Bilbao, though you could drop your vehicle at San Sebastián and travel by train from there to Paris or Barcelona if you prefer. That would incur a small one-way fee for the vehicle hire, usually about €20-30.

If you are coming to Madrid or Barcelona, that's not a problem. You can travel by train or comfortable bus to Bilbao in a few hours and we'd love to host you for a few day in either or both cities.

If you want to start your travels in London or Paris, that's also an option using the train network - just share your ideas and we'll advise on the best option for you.

This trip can start any day of the week, from April through to early November.

The best months to visit tend to be in spring and fall when the temperatures typically range from 15-25°c (60-75°f). May and June can sometimes be a bit showery, but this is also one of the most beautiful times to visit. The driest month is usually September, with harvest usually towards the end of the month. October gradually gets more changeable but benefits from the beautiful colors of the fall forests.

Things can get hot in the summer and the cities will be at their busiest, but as long as you are prepared then it can be an enjoyable time to explore the Basque Country.

The hotels you will stay at on this trip tend more towards the premium end of the scale. That's not to say they're fancy for the sake of being fancy, but rather we know you'll have a warm welcome, a big comfy bed, a great location and a bit of peace and quiet too.

Please get in touch for full details.

This trip invites active discovery, with days spent exploring city streets and walking trails on foot. Naturally, there are ways for you to dial this up and down as you go though and a feature of this trip is its emphasis on food and wine experiences, which require little in the way of athletic prowess.

Away from the cities, the roads tend to fall quiet and traffic is usually very light. We love driving in Spain because of the freedom it gives you. That could mean changing plans over breakfast, or simply pulling over at the side of the road to soak in a view you might otherwise have sailed straight past.

As the roads are generally quiet, smooth and scenic, it's designed to be a pleasurable part of the experience, rather than a price to pay for said freedom.

You can expect a medium-sized vehicle such as a VW Golf, though we can’t guarantee a specific make or model. Where it is a realistic option, we will always try to provide a hybrid vehicle.

Some vehicles have sat nav built in, but we find the best way to navigate is simply to use Waze or Google Maps on your smartphone. These can both be used offline to avoid data charges and your phone can easily sync with your car's Bluetooth so that it talks to you through the radio. All in all, it's not really much different to navigating in a part of your own country you've not been to before.

For sure! As well as the time you spend with your guides and hosts, locals themselves of course, this trip gives you lots of opportunity to observe and interact with locals as much as you'd like to.

No, your hosts speak English perfectly well. In busier areas of the main tourist places like Bilbao and San Sebastián, English will be widely spoken. In smaller restaurants and in villages and the countryside, it is spoken infrequently but don't sweat it, you'll get along just fine.

Yes, as long as we retain the essence of this trip through the pacing and content. We can easily add an extra day in San Sebastián, loop in more time to explore along the coast or we can connect this trip with Barcelona, Madrid or Paris via the train network, as mentioned above.