The border is just a few minute-drive from the French Basque country, so get ready for Spanish pace! Discover the Spanish way of life and feel the difference! San Sebastian is considered one of the nicest cities in the world, with its charming market and old town, beautiful bay of La Concha and last but not least, its rows of tapas bars…so enjoy the visit!
Off to Spain to discover San Se, as locals call their city.
For a good start, visit San-Sebastian market, a special place in all the townspeople's hearts, where locals meet to look for the freshest produce and most tasty food. Watch and chat with producers to find out about their high-quality produce that will make your mouth watering.
Then take a stroll in the old part of the city, led by your Basque guide who will give you useful information about the history of San Sebastian. Walk along the elegant Concha Bay, one-mile-long of pure sand beach that offers a unique urban chic landscape in the heart of the city.
Now plunge into the real local culture, and treat yourself with what will remain one of the highlights of your stay in the Basque country: a Tapas hop in San Se old district, one of the cornerstones of Spanish foodie culture. Bar counters are lined with hundreds of home-made pintxos (tapas is Basque language), all different in size, shape and taste. More than food specialities, this tapas experience gives you a genuine insight of Spanish art de vivre. Traditionnally, tapas are eaten standing at the bar counter with a glass of Spanish wine or a fresh beer. Expert assistance is really helpful there! For the best range of local tastes, you will try one specialty in each of the three top Pintxo bars carefully selected by our team. A unique chance to immerse yourself in traditionnal Spanish way of life: tasty for sure, and definitely friendly! Salud, Amigo!
To fully enjoy these two jewels of the Basque coast, wouldn’t it be nice to have a second pair of local eyes? History, anecdotes, architecture, panoramic views, and a good taste of local products...Get the insider’s view of Saint-Jean-de-Luz – the typical fishing village- and Biarritz – the trendy beach resort!
Off to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the corsairs’ town, for a journey into history and local gastronomy. Take a good look at the main square, Place Louis XIV, and the elegant Spanish infante’s mansion where King Louis XIV stayed for his wedding. Then take a stroll around typical charming narrow alleys, before a nice stopover and gourmet break, where you will meet one of the best producers of the region and enjoy Basque food specialties.
Off to Biarritz now, for a unique visit of this imperial town! Your guide will share his passion for the “Queen of the beaches and the beach of Kings”. Walk through the town, its beaches, discover its most stylish villas which still show Biarritz’s prestigious past. Climb to the iconic lighthouse that marks the limit between Landes sandy beaches and Basque rocky coast.
Take a stroll around the picturesque Fishermen’s Harbour (Port des pêcheurs), The Virgin on the Rock (Rocher de la Vierge), and Port Vieux, the Old Harbour. Feel the unique atmosphere of the town, wandering around its many charming little streets. Before the end of the tour, share with your group a gourmet aperitif with local delicacies in a wonderful and unique place!
Discover the Basque inland valley and its typical villages, some boasting the official title of the most beautiful villages of France: Arcangues, Espelette, Ainhoa, Sare... You will feel the strong identity of this land of traditions and be charmed by the typical village squares and churches, half-timbered houses, pelota outdoor courts. You will meet farm producers all along the way and stop over to taste their home-made food specialties: famous piment d’Espelette (a hot pepper produced around Espelette village), Basque charcuterie and cheese...
It takes local insider knowledge to fully grab Basque culture, so come with us for this spicy journey! While driving you to different places, our guide will share with you his passion and explain what makes Basque identity so unique. Along the way, you will discover a nature of stunning beauty and walk around 4 true local villages (Arcangues, Espelette, Ainhoa, Sare) deeply rooted in their traditions.
We will make three stops at the most interesting villages and drive through many others. Discover the old thick-walled houses which are so representative of the Basque culture.
Enjoy the nice gourmet break that a local producer will have prepared for your group with delicious home-made products. Your friendly guide, a true local, will show you the most charming side of those typical villages: the church, the narrow streets lined with red or green Basque houses and most of all the fronton in Arcangues (Pelota outdoor court). So be ready to have a go! There is no way round! This local sport has been played by all among family and friends for generations. Learn the basics firsthand from your guide, turn into a true local, and have fun!
The last stop of this tour will be at a farm producing famous piment d’Espelette, the hot pepper that makes Espelette chili powder. Through this journey into local terroir and timeless values, you will discover everything about this Appellation product and the way it is made, from the fields to your kitchen. The producer you will meet is unique. You will be truly moved by his passion and the way he talks about his land, his work and the precious spice his family has grown for generations. The visit will end with a friendly and very tasty aperitif together. After this tour, Basque food specialties will have no secret for you!
Discover Bayonne, the iconic French Basque capital, with its charming, typical architecture. A City of Art and History, Bayonne is also the best place for French local gastronomy and folklore. With its typical small winding alleys, old Basque houses and French little boutiques, Bayonne should definitely be on top of your list. So come with us and get a taste of the place! An exciting program for this special morning: Bayonne ham, Basque pelota games, local sheep-milk cheese, colourful houses and delicious chocolate!
Take a few-minute-drive by minivan from Biarritz to Bayonne, before you start exploring by foot all the charms of this picturesque city. Discover a place full of treasures and hidden corners. First step: the pedestrian historical center called Grand Bayonne, just next to Sainte-Marie Cathedral and its Cloister. The best place in town for Jambon de Bayonne is just round the corner! Enjoy the savory taste of this exceptional ham, try some famous sheep-milk cheese, and learn about the passion and know-how of one of the most-prized Bayonne ham-producers of the region. Second step: under the arches, find out about the best artisan chocolate-maker in town.
Did you know that Bayonne used to be the French capital city for chocolate in the 19th century? Enjoy this five-sense-experience into the fascinating tradition of Bayonne chocolate. This chocolate-maker is the heir of valuable secrets passed down through generations. The owners of the place will offer you to taste and compare different kinds of chocolate: some dark, some bitter, some with high cocoa content... A real treat to your senses!
In between these deligthfull stops at local producers, your guide will give you tons of information about the city of Bayonne and its history. He will even bring you on top of the city walls from where you will get a wonderful view of the traditional red and green half-timbered houses lined up along the Nive River banks.
Now, cross the Nive - one of the two rivers that go through Bayonne - and stroll along the narrow picturesque streets that will take you to our 3rd fun and tasty stop in the district called Petit Bayonne. You are now facing Trinquet Saint André, a genuine enclosed court built back in the 18th Century to play Jeu de paume, a game which then transformed into today's Basque Pelota. A special place in all the townspeople's hearts, this trinquet is the oldest Pelota court in France. For generations, family and friends have gathered to play this popular local sport together. It is now your turn to feel like a true local! You may get a chance to watch a game in progress...or even better: learn how to play Pelota with your guide and challenge anyone in your group!