
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.

Beyond the Basque Country

There’s certainly enough to keep you going in the Basque Country for a week or two, with plenty of downtime and the freedom to set your own pace.
If you want to mix and match bits of it with other regions, or have the luxury of more time to explore beyond the Basque Country, let’s finish by looking at where else your travels might take you.
One enticing route leads east, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, from the Basque Country to Catalonia, along the length of the Spanish Pyrenees mountains.
You'd start and end in two resolutely distinct regions, where Spanish is not the lingua franca and where history, cuisine and culture have developed along very different lines to the rest of the country. In between, the Pyrenees rise from green pastures and peaceful beech forests up to high alpine mountains, glacial lagoons and pine forests. On Catalonia's Costa Brava, they sink into the sea at a rocky headland forever associated with Salvador DalÃ, who made his home here.
All told it's a journey of three weeks or so, which looks something like this: Bilbao to Barcelona: Pyrenees Drive & Explore Vacation.


Looking west, the mountains and meadows of the Picos might be calling if walking is your priority. Our Picos de Europa Inn to Inn walk takes you across the national park, following the soft clang of cowbells from open spring meadows and thick forests up to the high peaks and out along the beautiful Cares Gorge, one of the most famous paths in Spain.
A week exploring the Picos on foot, followed by another exploring the Basque Country by vehicle, makes for a tempting combination.
Or for something grander in scale, take a look at Our Ultimate Northern Spain Drive & Explore Vacation.


Finally, for a complete contrast, we could also link the Basque Country with AndalucÃa. Down here, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you'd entered another country. The contrasts are stark, with the two seemingly bound together by the Spanish flag and constitution more than cultural commonalities. Sherry, flamenco, dancing horses and Moorish palaces are all AndalucÃan by origin. Just as with pintxos, vintage Riojas and the Basque markets, all are best enjoyed at source.
Tying these two regions together can be done as a two-three week vacation, or as part of a longer journey on Spain's Greatest Road Trip: A Month of Wonders.
Let us know if that sounds interesting.
Great Road Trips: Spain's Month of Wonders
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£6,900 pp$9,600 ppn/a
- 31 days
Great Road Trips: Spain's Month of Wonders
When: Apr-Jun; Sep-Nov
Price: US$ 9,600 per person
Duration: 31 days
Everything we love about Spain in four epic weeks on the road. Let us immerse you in its cultures and cuisines, tales and trails, on a journey tailored to you.
Walking Highlights of the Pyrenees: Bay of Biscay to Costa Brava
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£3,600 pp$4,900 ppn/a
- 17 days
Walking Highlights of the Pyrenees: Bay of Biscay to Costa Brava
When: Apr-Jun; Sep-Oct
Guide Price: US$ 4,900 per person
Guide Duration: 17 days (can be made longer or shorter)
Basque Country to the Pyrenees to Catalonia, we bring you a rich journey of storied cities, mountain wonders and generous hospitality along Spain's historic frontier.
Across Northern Spain: Drive & Explore Vacation
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£2,950 pp$4,100 ppn/a
- 18 days
Driving holiday
Across Northern Spain: Drive & Explore Vacation
When: May-Oct
Guide Price: US$ 4,100 per person
Guide Duration: 18 days (can be longer or shorter)
Hikes along pilgrim paths; cheese from mountain caves; wine by sunny vines. Trace a coastal Camino course on this deliciously indulgent drive to Santiago.