From Biarritz

3 days


San Sebastian by Night

... French & Spanish Basque countries


Price: 800 €

San Sebastian Nights ... French & Spanish Basque countries

French Basque valleys, Spanish Seaside & Inaccessible Villages Tour

Departure Biarritz / Bayonne
arrival Biarritz / Bayonne

journey Thema:   Santiago Pilgrimage Route, World Heritage Site, Spanish, French Basque Specialty
local scenery:      Vineyards, sea and mountains, meadows, beautiful villages

Price
per person : 800 €
Charter : 2,000 € (1 to 4 people) 2,800 € (5-7 people) 

French driver will guide you in english.
*Customers' meals, lodging and entrance fees are not included.

Mileage  380Km

Day 1

Head to Espelette, the production center of peppers witch have little spiciness and fragrance .
Espelette peppers, that can be collected in designated areas, are certified under the French Quality Assurance Label AOC (Control of Origin).
There are specialty stores in the village colored with pepper, so please enjoy your shopping slowly. Visit the mountain village of Saint Jean Pied de Port, which flourished as an important post town for pilgrimage to Santiago . ( Three of the four French pilgrimage routes pass nearby) From the castle located on the top of the village, take the hill like a pilgrim, and think through the Spectacle Bridge over the Nive river. Also Visit Pierre Oteiza's shop in Aldudes Village with its production area of ​​Basque pigs, which is a topic in the worldwide restaurants. If the weather is nice, you can have a picnic at the view spot on the farm hill. You may be able to see, sheeps, eagles and small horses called pottock.

Cross the Espeguy pass, a hinterland of mountain Basque, and descend to the Bastan Valley until the French & Spanish borderline.
Along the way, you will pass through small villages in Spain and stay at Ainhoa, the most beautiful village in France, lined with lovely Basque Maisons .

Day 2

Take the La Rhune mountain's train to climb it. From the top, you can overlook the majestic mountains of French Basque, Spain, and the sea that extends to the backside. *From March 26 to early November, then, drive along the beautiful coastline, which cannot be reached by train or bus, and head to Hondarribia on the Spanish Sea Basque. The coastal landscape and far-flung pasture landscapes are registered as protected areas.

In the small port town of Hondarribia , you will enjoy exploring the old town as well as spanish activities, different than the french places, will give you a funny sensation to distinguish both side. Take a stroll through the colorful Maison Basques and plazas from the Parador in the Old Town.

Have lunch at the bar of the famous "tapas bar" (thin sliced ​​bread with anchopi and cod side dishes).
If you would like to dine at one of the world's most delicious fish soup restaurants, we will make a reservation. In a small bay called Pasea, which once flourished as a shipyard, you can take a small boat from Donebane to San Pedro on the opposite bank. After arriving in San Sebastian , we will visit the igueldo observatory overlooking La Concha Bay, which means scallop in Spanish. There are many tapas bars in the old city. Known as a gastronomic town, many people from all over the world gather and live late into the night. Enjoy the famous pinchos "tapas bar" (thin sliced ​​bread with anchopi and cod side dishes), and a slightly sparkling white wine called Txacoli.

Day 3

Visit Getaria, the producing place of Txacoli, a sparkling white wine made from green grapes .
Also registered as a pilgrimage route to Santiago, this vineyard extends over the steep cliffs of the Bay of Biscay.
If you wish, you can also visit the winery.

Travel to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, famous for the wedding of Louis XIV and Queen Mary Therese . In addition to a tour of the church built for the wedding ceremony, enjoy shopping cotton shoes called espadrilles, basque linen, and some rustic almond flavour cookies that Louis XIV preferred.

Visit Bayonne, which was created at the confluence of two rivers. The old town flourished as a trading port. Take a tour of the Sainte-Marie Cathedral and cloister, and take a walk through the famous ham and chocolate shop. The tour will end in Biarritz.

program

Day 1
09:00 Biarritz Departure
9:30-10:30 Espelette

13:00-14:30 Aldude
14:30-16:45 Ispegy Pass & Bastan Valley
17:00 arrival at Ainhoa (hotel)

Day 2
09:00 Ainhoa
09:30-12:00 La Rhune Mountain Railway 
13:00-16:00 Hondarribia
17:15 San Sebastian Arrival (hotel)

Day 3
09:30 Departure from San Sebastian
10:15 to 11:45 Getaria
12:30 to 15:00 Saint Jean de Luz
15:30 to 17:00 Bayonne
17:30 Arrival at Biarritz (hotel)