
Basque Country Vacations
Hiking vacations, road trips & tailormade tours to the Basque Country
Good food, good company Market day in Ordizia Golden Guugenheim The oak of Guernica First vineyard view Giants & Big Heads Idiazabal cheese The Bay Running with the bulls Pelota with Xabi
From San Sebastián, Basque Country
Of the many ways to cook cod, the Basque have mastered one that beautifully reflects its culture; bacalao al pil pil. It is simple and honest, with nothing artificial nor overly elaborate. And the slow cooking allows space for the other main characteristic of Basque food… socialising!
Food in Spain is not only about what you eat, but who you eat it with. More than anywhere else, in the Basque country food is an excuse to share.
From Ordizia, Basque Country
In days gone by, for the rural Basque population the weekly visit to the local market was not only to sell and buy, but also to socialise, close deals and learn the latest news.
This joyful ambiance is still felt in today's Basque markets in towns like Gernika, Tolosa or Ordizia. And with colourful peppers, aromatic cheeses and autumnal mushrooms on display, browsing the market is always one of the highlights of any visit to the Basque Country.
From Bilbao, Basque Country
The Guggenheim's exterior has stood the test of time remarkably well. Frank Gehry always said that the dramatic shining silver of the titanium cladding would age slowly and gracefully to exude a more golden glow.
I remember thinking at the time that it would most likely become grubby and neglected-looking. Guess who was right? It wasn’t me. I’ve been seeing the Guggenheim for 16 years and it looks more beautiful each time.
From Guernica, Basque Country
In age, the Sacred Oak of Guernica is not an impressive tree today, the young teenager that he is... But like the Basque culture, the tree has a strong character rooted in is history and its values.
Traditionally, the oak of Guernica was were the Medieval lords of Vizcaya would swear to respect the local rights and traditions, something that has extended along the centuries to represent the freedom and traditions of the Basque culture. It's a symbolism strengthend by the oak surviving the infamous bombing of the village on a market morning of 1936.
From Basque Rioja
I remember walking up and over a forested ridge from Navarre into La Rioja. Literally, as you go over the crest of the hills, the landscape switches and you suddenly look down over sun-soaked vineyards rolling over the sides of the valley below.
It’s a memorable view, made sweeter by the tingle of anticipation for the food and wine waiting in the pretty hilltop town of Laguardia.
From Pamplona, Navarre
Pamplona's Running of the Bulls is no longer the rite of passage that it was for me. Now I prefer watching the Sanfermines de la Mañana, when the tourists are asleep.
Giants dance to traditional folk melodies and Big Heads run behind young children, just as they ran behind me, preparing me for the bulls. Parents still hang their children's dummies around the Europeo giant's sword to show they don’t need them anymore, just as mine did.
From the Aralar hills, Basque Country
The shepherd, his dog and his flock of latxa sheep remains an iconic Basque image. Both the dogs and the sheep are still protected breeds. The dogs still take part in contests and the flocks still pasture in the hills. All to create the local cheeses, of which Idiazabal is my favourite.
It's a beautifully creamy ewes’ milk cheese, reminiscent of Manchego but far smoother and richer. I love it even more when washed down with a refreshing cider.
From San Sebastián, Basque Country
A beautiful sweep of white sands, a turquoise blue ocean, gently bobbing yachts and lush green vegetation all watched over by a dominating statue of Christ.
For a minute I thought I had stumbled back to Rio de Janeiro. But we are still in Spain, in stunning San Sebastián in the Bay of Biscay, looking down the over the Concha beach from Monte Igueldo on a crisp September morning. I can't wait to go and have a look around.
From Pamplona, Navarre
Eight days of terror, every year. Yet in every group there'd be one who kept running - the prestigious corredor. That was me. Because amid the fear, without knowing how, something changes...
Instead of separating from the pack, you begin to run ahead of it. You look straight into the eyes of a 600kg bull, just a metre or so behind you, and sense that they consider you another member of the pack - a human with a magical connection with beasts.
From San Sebastián, Basque Country
Xabier Etxarri is a proud Basque. His knowledge of its history, language and traditions is a gift for all who share his company. As part of my own Basque induction with him, I was once coerced into playing an impromptu game of 'pelota' - a bit of a mix of squash and handball - against him.
We had a good laugh, mainly about my skills, but I believe ever since that day my right hand has always been bigger than my left hand!
Let us introduce you to the people and places of the storied Basque Country, a grand old region of lively produce markets and elegant old towns, of sunny vineyards and lush green hills.

March to June

Cider season
Late January to early May
The first seasonal highlight of the Basque calendar is the txotx. It’s actually easier to pronounce than it looks - a simple ‘choch’ will suffice - but let’s call it what it really is: cider season.
The word translates directly as the stopper which holds the cider in its barrel and its this stopper which is first removed towards the start of the year for the first taste of the new batch. People gather in cider barns across the region, but especially in the villages near San Sebastian, to fill their jars with the cider and their plates with delicious seasonal food - cod, steak and all.
If you’re thinking about an early spring break, you might not need a lot of convincing to coincide it with the opening of the barrels. Let us know if we can get you out there and into one of our favourite cider barns.
Trip idea: Basque Cultures & Cuisines: A Private Guided Journey


Perfect walking weather
Late March through June
Boots on. Walking poles dusted off. Open trails ahead.
Like the rest of Spain, springtime is a truly wonderful time to go walking in the Basque Country. Pastures are rich and green, meadows are carpeted with wildflowers, vineyards are gaining colour and the weather is usually on its best behaviour, with temperatures on the up and rainfall dipping.
Go for a walk through Basque Rioja, or tie together three ancient Caminos, starting on the green hills of the Basque Country
Trip idea: Basque Rioja Inn to Inn Walking Vacation
Trip idea: Three Caminos Inn to Inn Walking Vacation


Birdwatching bonanza
April through May
If you’re a keen birdwatcher, or want another way to connect with the nature which surrounds you, consider the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve a compulsory stopping point as you weave your merry way through the Basque Country. This beautiful coastal wetland estuary bursts into avian life each spring, making these months the best times to visit. Storks, spoonbills and bittens have strongholds here, as do raptors like black kites, osprey and marsh harriers.
Heading out in your boots, with binoculars in hand, is the simplest way to explore, but do consider a guided or self-guided kayak trip for a very different perspective. Your Vacation Guide will tell all.