A Toast to the Basque Country

An 11-day Basque Country and Rioja wine tour in Spain for small groups (6 to 16 guests), with fixed 2026 departure dates, private transfers, and guided visits in English throughout. Expect landmark bodegas, Basque food rituals, cinematic landscapes, and a pace designed to feel effortless.

Tour at a glance

Why choose this tour

This itinerary is built where Rioja meets the Atlantic. You taste wine in its true context, from underground cuevas in Laguardia to landmark bodegas in Rioja Alavesa. You cross the Bardenas Reales by 4x4, then see the Flysch cliffs from the sea. San Sebastián becomes the gastronomic chapter, with pintxos in the Parte Vieja, the txotx ritual in a traditional cider house, and a one-Michelin-star lunch. The finale is Bilbao, where the Guggenheim and the city’s contemporary energy belong to the same conversation.

Private transfers are arranged throughout, with a dedicated tour lead keeping the rhythm smooth and unhurried. You never have to manage logistics, reservations or timing.

A sensory arc across art, nature and gastronomy, designed for curious travelers who want authenticity with comfort.

From contemporary Bilbao to the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa. From the desert silence of the Bardenas Reales to the Atlantic edge of Zumaia.
Then on to San Sebastián, the pintxos capital.

Each stop is territory. Deep reds and saline Txakoli, cider houses and gastronomic societies, landscapes that shift with every curve of the coast.

To receive pricing, availability and room options
Email [email protected] and include your preferred date, number of travelers, and room type.

Logistics & Comfort

• 10 nights in centrally located 4-star hotels in Bilbao, Logroño, Pamplona and San Sebastián

• Private transfers throughout the tour, including airport transfers

• Dedicated coordination and on-trip support

Guided visits and cultural experiences

• Guided city tour of Bilbao

• Guided visit of Laguardia and a full Rioja Alavesa day tour

• Guided walking tour of Pamplona (3 hours)

• Guided walk in Hondarribia

• Guided visit of San Sebastián plus a pintxos experience

• Guided day tour to Guernica and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

• Guided visit of the Guggenheim Museum

Food and wine experiences included

• Bodegas Ysios “Only You” private experience

• Eguren Ugarte winery visit and tasting, plus a winery lunch

• Pacharán experience with tasting and cocktail workshop

• Bardenas Reales 4x4 excursion with countryside grill lunch

• Guided pintxos dinner in San Sebastián

• Boat trip along the Flysch cliffs of Zumaia

• Traditional txotx lunch at Sidrería Petritegui

• One-Michelin-star lunch in San Sebastián

• Panoramic lunch near Gaztelugatxe 

• Farewell dinner in Bilbao

What “All Included” Really Means on This Trip

On this itinerary, “included” isn’t just a list of booked services—it’s a travel design choice: a seamless, no-stress experience.

Private transfers, guided visits and selected culinary moments are pre-coordinated day by day, so you can focus on the experience rather than logistics, reservations, or timing.

All experiences highlighted in the programme—tastings, excursions, guided visits and key food moments—are included unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The result is a natural, well-paced rhythm: more time to taste, observe and truly enjoy the Basque Country.

• Flights or transport to reach Bilbao

• City taxes (tourist tax), where applicable

• Meals not listed as included

• Optional activities

• Personal expenses

• Anything not explicitly mentioned

• Want a premium, zero-stress group journey with private transfers and end-to-end coordination
  
  

• Love food & wine and culture—together, not as separate “modules”
  
  

• Prefer a small, well-managed group (smoother timings, better tables, less downtime and dispersion)
  
  

• Like the idea of a complete, varied itinerary with a few genuine surprises
  
  

• Seek authenticity with comfort: cider houses, gastronomic culture, bodegas, Atlantic landscapes, and standout dining

Not the Best Fit If…

This may not be the right trip if you:

• Want a fully DIY holiday with no schedules—or a beach-only holiday

• Are looking for an ultra-budget tour or a quick hit / fast-paced “see it all” style trip

• food and wine are not part of what you enjoy traveling for

Pace and walking level

• Pace: moderate, with free time built into every day

• Walking: moderate. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe includes steps and uphill sections, taken at a comfortable pace

• Practical tips: comfortable shoes, a windproof jacket for the Atlantic coast, and layered clothing

Is this tour suitable if I don’t drink wine?

Yes. Wine is one lens to read the territory, but the experience also includes towns, ocean landscapes, nature, Basque food culture and contemporary art. If you don’t drink, you can still fully enjoy winery visits and tastings, with non-alcoholic alternatives available where possible.

Are guided tours available in English?

Yes. Key guided visits and tours are provided in English throughout the itinerary. In a few specific experiences, such as at wineries or local activities, you may also meet local hosts. Your tour lead supports when needed, and the flow remains smooth.

How demanding is the walking, especially at Gaztelugatxe?

The tour includes city walks and scenic strolls at an easy pace. The visit to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe involves steps and a steady uphill section.
It is not a strenuous hike, but it does require comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of mobility. If you have specific needs, tell us when you inquire and we will advise the best option.

How do you choose restaurants and food-and-wine experiences?

We curate places that match the identity of the tour. Alongside local restaurants, cider houses and historic pintxos bars, the itinerary includes a one-Michelin-star lunch. In the Basque Country, fine dining grows out of tradition and reinterprets it, so this is a natural way to understand how Basque cuisine has evolved.

How does rooming work (double, twin, single)?

You can choose a double room, twin beds, or a single room. Single rooms are subject to availability and may require a supplement. We will share options when we send pricing and availability.

Can you accommodate vegetarian or vegan diets?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan options can be arranged and we can often accommodate other needs as well (allergies, intolerances, no-alcohol requests). Please tell us at the time of inquiry so we can notify hotels and restaurants in advance.

Do I need a passport or is an ID card enough?

For EU and Schengen citizens, Spain typically requires a valid national ID for travel. A passport is also fine. In any case, we recommend checking that your document is valid and in good condition before departure.

How are transfers and day-to-day logistics handled?

The tour is designed to be simple and stress-free. Private transfers and dedicated coordination mean timing and logistics are taken care of in advance. You can focus on the experience rather than on planning and reservations.

How do I book, and how far in advance should I contact you?

Start by emailing us with your preferred date, number of travelers and room type. We reply with pricing, availability, room options and practical details. Once availability is confirmed, we secure your place with a deposit and send clear deadlines and next steps. For March and August departures, we recommend contacting us early to access the best options.

Every journey starts with a conversation

Write to us with no commitment for availability and details.

This itinerary is a complete, carefully designed experience. The pace, the experiences, the encounters and the logistics are all built to let you live the Basque Country naturally, without friction.

If you would like to tailor a few elements, such as room type, dietary needs, or small personal preferences, we can align everything before confirmation.
A short conversation turns a well-crafted tour into one that feels perfectly yours.

The silence of the Bardenas and its pinnacles fading into the horizon. The Atlantic under the Gaztelugatxe steps.

The conviviality at a pintxos bar, a slowly poured glass, a table where tradition meets the future.

The Basque Country is not simply visited. It is understood, gradually, through encounters, flavors and landscapes that change light every day.

You return home with something rare: the feeling that you truly lived a place, not just passed through it.