Essential Basque Country (trip)
Essential Basque Country
- San Sebastián airport, Spain
- Culinary & Wine Travel
| from $2,400* per person | 7 Days | Year-round |
| Luxury accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Epicurean Ways | 16 people max | |
The Region and the Cuisine
The Basque Country, situated on the Spain’s northern Atlantic coast, balances a perfect blend of the traditional and the modern with a particular flair for all things culinary. The vibrant local culinary scene revolves around small, old-world restaurants and pintxos bars on one hand, and star chefs and an international culinary scene without par in Spain. San Sebastian is one of the culinary Meccas of the world, and La Rioja wine region is home to Spain’s most renowned wines. These two neighboring regions will satisfy professional and budding gourmets alike, providing an enthralling and vibrant world of food and wine.
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Locations visited/nearby
Spain
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Epicurean Ways:
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Reviewer: Carl
located in
NYC,
San Sebastian’s charm and having eaten at Etxebarri that day definitely made a positive impression. Everything was wonderful and perfect. Gabriella was a delight, generous, and so well connected. Thank you so much for such a fantastic trip. We could not have done it without you and Gabriella, and everyone else involved with the tour.
–Carl, NYC -
Reviewer: Deborah
located in
Indiana
Just returned from a fabulous trip to Spain. Thanks to Jane and her superb connections with great tour guides, my husband and I enjoyed a trip of a lifetime! We visited 7 wineries, learned much about Spanish wines, history (including my Sephardic Jewish ancestory) and culture and ate delicious food. The arrangements and accomodations were perfect. Will go back, hopefully soon!
–Deborah, Indiana -
Reviewer: Manuel, Viridian Farms
located in
Oregon
I just wanted to let you know how delighted we were with our cooking class in San Sebastian. Chef Haritz did an incredible job of exposing us to what San Sebastian has to offer on a deeper, market-driven level—and made our day with him at the market and cooking class the highlight of our trip.
By introducing us to various fish mongers, farmers, produce importers, and specialty food shopkeepers, we gained a greater understanding of how Donosti chefs acquire the raw products for their culinary creations. Later, the dishes we prepared during our cooking class were inspired by what we selected at the market in the morning—improvised and truly driven by what was fresh and in season. His friendliness, professionalism, culinary knowledge, and sincere enthusiasm in helping us learn about gastronomy in San Sebastian were outstanding.
We typically shy away from organized tours, but we were so impressed with our Epicurean Ways experience that we will definitely “travel” with you again whenever we go to Spain.–Manuel, Viridian Farms, Oregon
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
Itinerary
Essential Basque Country
Itinerary
7 Days/6 Nights
San Sebastián
Day 1
Arrive in San Sebastián. Private transfer from the airport to your five star hotel. Consider having lunch at Rekondo Restaurant, a traditional Basque restaurant with an 80,000 bottle wine cellar. Or eat one Michelin star Zuberoa Restaurant, a modern restaurant located in a 600-year-old caserío twenty minutes from San Sebastián. In the early evening your guide will pick you up at your hotel for a private guided walking tour of the elegant seaside city of San Sebastián. Next you will be guided through the maze of pintxos (tapas) bars in San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja. Choose from the display of pintxos covering the bars, ranging from seafood, Iberian ham, Basque peppers–all beautifully displayed.
San Sebastián - Getaria
Day 2
Your guide will pick you up for a morning of artisan producer visits. Visit a cheese maker who uses ancient methods to produce both sheep and cow’s milk cheeses. After a tasting of the cheese, travel down the coast to Getaria, a fishing village known for its fabulous grilled seafood and the newly opened Balenciaga Museum. Visit an artisanal anchovy producer and see how they prepare the salt-cured and oil-cured anchovies. Lunch in one of the famous seafood restaurants in Getaria. Return to San Sebastián after lunch. You might enjoy a walk along the famous La Concha beach or a stroll through the elegant streets of San Sebastián. Dinner at the most famous three Michelin starred restaurant in San Sebastián, considered one of the best in Spain: Arzak Restaurant run by Juan Mari Arzak and daughter Elena.
San Sebastián
Day 3
Your guide picks you up and takes you to La Bretxa Market to shop for the day’s cooking class with Basque chef. After your meal paired with Rioja wines, stroll along the oceanfront promenade. For dinner choose among the many Michelin-starred restaurants in San Sebastián, including Arzak, Mugaritz, Martín Berasategui and Akelarre.
Bilbao - La Rioja
Day 4
This morning you will drive along the Basque coast to Bilbao for a private Guggenheim Museum (designed by architect Frank Gehry) tour followed by lunch at Nerua Restaurant, headed by Chef Josean Alija, and located within the Guggenheim Museum. Chef Alija received a Michelin star in 2011 just six months after opening his restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a private tour of the Guggenheim Museum. The Museum was the catalyst for the so-called “Bilbao effect”, transforming Bilbao from industrial city to a delightful 21st century success story visited by tourists from across the globe. After lunch your guide will drive you to the Rioja wine region for two days of winery visits, fantastic food and relaxation in the five-star Frank Gehry designed winery hotel Marqués de Riscal. Transfer to Logro;o in the evening for an astounding outlay of tapas along the streets of this Riojan town. Your guide will lead you through the bars as you choose specialties in each one.
La Rioja
Day 5
A day of exclusive winery visits. Your guide will pick you up for private winery visits. You’ll meet the winery owners/makers and taste the wines together. A cornerstone of Riojan gastronomy awaits you for lunch—baby lamb roasted over grapevine cuttings. The tender milk-fed lamb and sweet smoke of the grapevines create a unique savory flavor unlike any you’ve experienced before. Return to the stunning hotel for time in the spa. Dinner in Laguardia.
La Rioja
Day 6
Visit a stunningly modern winery followed by one of the region’s oldest and most venerable wineries. Enjoy stellar modern cuisine at the hand of Francis Paniego, the first Riojan chef to receive a Michelin star. In the evening visit the underground wine cellars in the medieval village of Laguardia. Afterwards enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Dearture From La Rioja
Day 7
Private transfer to San Sebastián or Bilbao airport.
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