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The Beautiful Basque Country

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20242025
8 days From £2,595 per person
4.3 stars(30 reviews)
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A first class holiday, showcasing the unique culture and cuisine of the glorious Basque Country, which we explore from our hotel in a restored 10th-century castle, the stunning Parador of Hondarribia

Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: SEG25

About the tour

From our grand base, the fabulous Parador of Hondarribia, a fortified castle in the medieval town of Hondarribia - which has a global reputation for great food - we uncover the gems of the beautiful Spanish and French Basque country.

This gastronomy-packed tour includes visits to the cosmopolitan cities of San Sebastián and Bilbao, with tastings of local specialities, wines and ciders along our way. Trains also feature on our wonderful escape, as we take a special trip on La Rhune Mountain Railway for panoramic views across the French Pyrenees.

Unforgettable experiences

Enjoy lunch at a Rioja wine estate and visit medieval Laguardia
Enjoy lunch at a Rioja wine estate and visit medieval Laguardia
Take a trip into Spain’s finest wine region, La Rioja, visiting the medieval hilltop town Laguardia, and indulging in lunch at a winery – each course expertly paired with a special Rioja wine.
A walking tour and pintxos experience in world-famous San Sebastián
A walking tour and pintxos experience in world-famous San Sebastián
Enjoy a guided walking tour of this acclaimed city, the world’s food capital, then join the local tradition of a lunchtime ‘txikiteo’ - socialising while sampling Basque-style tapas – before exploring San Sebastián independently.
Take in incredible views from Le Petit Train de la Rhune
Take in incredible views from Le Petit Train de la Rhune
Journey aboard Le Petit Train de la Rhune, travelling in vintage carriages up to La Rhune, the emblematic mountain of the Basque Country, taking in fantastic views across the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean.
Step into the future and travel into the past, in fabulous Bilbao
Step into the future and travel into the past, in fabulous Bilbao
Visit vibrant Bilbao, the beating heart of the Basque Country, and discover the bold modern art of the Guggenheim Museum, then savour the cuisine, culture and shopping of the city’s beautiful old quarter.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – From London to Hondarribia, on the Basque Coast

We meet our Tour Manager and fellow travellers this morning at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class we are served a light meal at our seats. From Paris, we continue by First Class rail to the coastal French town of Hendaye, situated on a scenic estuary which marks the Spanish border. Arriving in the early evening, we're met by a coach to take us over the border to charming Hondarribia, where we spend the next seven nights.

Our fabulous hotel is the 4-star Parador de Hondarribia, a restored 10th century castle which overlooks the cobblestoned Plaza de Armas, the main square of the Old Town, and beyond to the Cantabrian Sea. Below us is the attractive La Marina, a vibrant neighbourhood whose pedestrianised avenues are lined with traditional Basque houses, with brightly-painted shutters and balconies overflowing with geraniums. La Marina has a lively but laid-back atmosphere with a great mix of restaurants serving high quality cuisine.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
Day 2 – Sampling pintxos and soaking up the culture of San Sebastián

Today we drive to the stunning city of San Sebastián. With its idyllic setting, overlooking the gorgeous La Concha Bay, the city has a glamorous past as a wealthy seaside resort. Today it is regarded as the culinary capital of Spain, and is celebrated for its pintxos, a Basque interpretation of tapas. This style of eating is so much a part of the local culture, it even has its own name - 'El Txikiteo' - a tradition which involves socialising while snacking on pintxos. After a guided walking tour of the city's sights we try it for ourselves over lunchtime.

After pintxos, your afternoon is free to soak up the fabulous atmosphere of San Sebastián. With the golden beach close by, you might enjoy a dip in the sea. Or take a boat trip out to the nearby island of Santa Clara. To learn about San Sebastián's heritage visit the San Telmo Museum in the Old Town, which is dedicated to Basque culture and history. We return to Hondarribia in the afternoon and your evening is free to spend as you wish.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Le Petit Train de La Rhune, and dinner in a French cider house

After a leisurely morning, we drive across the border to the vibrant French fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where you're at leisure to look around and maybe walk along the seafront promenade. This charming resort has a beautiful swimming bay, colourful Basque houses and highly rated cuisine, which you could try over lunch.

This afternoon brings two highlights. First we board the Petit Train de La Rhune for a journey to the summit of La Rhune, the symbolic mountain of the Basque Country. From our vintage carriages, we enjoy panoramic views across the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean. At certain times of the year, we may spot the semi-feral ponies named 'pottok' who graze here.

On our descent, we drive to an artisanal cider house and restaurant. Here, after a tour and introduction to traditional cider production, we enjoy an authentic Basque four-course meal. This includes a delicious variety of apple-based drinks and condiments with rustic appetisers of chorizo, tortilla with cod and potatoes, chargrilled prime ribs - rounded off with sheep's cheese, nuts, Basque cake and apple brandies - all produced on site.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – A free day in Hondarribia

Your day is free to get to know the coastal town of Hondarribia better. Considered to be one of the most beautiful Basque Country towns, this colourful fishing village has plenty to offer. As you may have noticed, the town is a characterful blend of French and Spanish Basque influences in its architecture, cuisine and culture.

The best way to explore is to walk through the well-preserved Old Town, signposted as the Casco Antiguo, from the Santa Maria Gate to the San Nicolas Gate of the fortified walls. Here you'll discover its main medieval street, with a mix of churches, traditional Basque-style houses and Baroque buildings which have stood for centuries.

This evening you could visit one of the pintxo bars to sample delicious flavours and a glass of local wine. Although much smaller than San Sebastián, the town has an excellent reputation for cuisine and - with at least one Michelin starred restaurant - attracts many aspiring chefs who gain valuable experience here. Wander through the Old Town or down to La Marina to find a variety of restaurants offering typical Basque dishes.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – A day to discover bold and beautiful Bilbao

This morning we drive to Bilbao, the creative heart of the Basque Country, where our destination is the avant-garde Guggenheim Museum. Featuring the work of contemporary artists, including Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois, the museum itself - with its curvy, titanium-clad exterior designed by Frank Gehry - is an architectural showpiece.

After viewing art, you're free to explore Bilbao independently. Cross the bridge to the Old Town where you'll find many restaurants or cafés with tempting pintxos or fresh seafood for lunch. On your way you could stop at the pretty Arenal Gardens, view the Baroque opera house, or look around Bilbao's cathedral. Alternatively, walk down to La Ribera market, on the riverside.

Another option is to ride to the top of Mount Artxanda by funicular railway, or take a boat ride along the Ría de Bilbao. Other modern buildings in Bilbao to see include the Alhóndiga Cultural and Leisure Centre, an innovative renovation of a former wine cellar by French architect, Phillippe Starck.

We return to Hondarribia and this evening we gather for dinner at a local family-run restaurant.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – A day in La Rioja winelands, Laguardia and lunch at a Rioja wine estate

Today promises to be a delightful highlight of our holiday in the Basque Country. We set out by coach after breakfast to our first destination, the medieval village of Laguardia, which has a dramatic mountain backdrop. This hilltop village is the gateway to the winelands, and there's free time to explore. We continue for a guided wine tasting in a fascinating cellar, beneath the Palace of the Samaniegos, where the 18th century writer Félix María de Samaniego was inspired to write his fabulist fiction.

Our day in La Rioja winelands continues as we drive into the surrounding countryside for lunch at a modern winery. The winery is housed in a fantastic building whose glass frontage offers beautiful views of the Rioja valley and Cantabrian hills, which we enjoy with our food, creatively paired with delicious local Rioja. We return to our hotel in Hondarribia at the end of the afternoon. With our last evening free, there's time to relax and revisit your favourite spot in the Casco Antigo, or La Marina neighbourhood.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – A full day at leisure in Hondarribia

With another opportunity to explore as you choose, you might like to walk along the Hondarribia seafront promenade. Starting from the marina, follow the Butrón Boardwalk along the waterside for wonderful views of the estuary across to Hendaye, on the opposite bank of the Bidasoa River. The Bay Path, or Camino de la Bahia, is a trail of around 14 kilometres that spans the waterfront between Hendaye's beach and Hondarribia's lighthouse. Hondarribia has an inviting sandy beach, where you could swim or relax on a sunbed with a book. Facilities include a lifeguard, bathrooms, showers and changing rooms, and the beach also has a few bars and restaurants.

If you'd like to venture further, there's both a ferry and a bus service from Hondarribia to Hendaye, where there are direct trains to French Basque towns such as St Jean de Luz and Biarritz. If you happen to be in Hendaye in September, this is the month of the fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the city's patron saint. Expect celebrations, colourful parades and fabulous displays of fireworks.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 – Homeward bound

We bid farewell to the Basque Country after breakfast today, transferring by coach to Hendaye for our First Class rail journey to Paris. Enroute there's time to reflect on the many experiences we have enjoyed on our holiday in the wonderful Basque Country - from the atmospheric setting of our base in characterful Hondarribia, the stunning coastal resorts of San Sebastian and Bilbao to the amazing scenery of the delightful Rioja wine region and views from La Rhune mountain - these memories are sure to remain.

In Paris we change trains to join the Eurostar to London St Pancras, travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats. We arrive in London St Pancras International in the evening and say goodbye to our Tour Manager, travel companions and new friends who have shared these memorable moments with us.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Parador de Hondarribia, Hondarribia

Parador de Hondarribia, Hondarribia

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Train

La Rhune Mountain Railway

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Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 30 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (18)
  2. 4 stars
    (7)
  3. 3 stars
    (2)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Richard Peel

5 stars

Submitted 03 Nov 2023

Hondarribia a lovely relaxed place surrounded by a host of interesting places to visit

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Peel, Thank you for your review. That is fantastic to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

N West

4 stars

Submitted 03 Nov 2023

An attractive venue. Interesting excursions. Local restaurants represented good value for money. A tourist friendly area

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr West, Thank you for your review. That is fantastic to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

P Harris

5 stars

Submitted 29 Oct 2023

Wonderful places, good food and near perfect experiences; really enjoyable holiday. The trip is well paced with just the right amount of free time and Hondarribia an exceptional town. If you go have a meal at la Perla at the end of San Pedro Kalea even when it’s raining it will make the sun shine.

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Mrs J Tattersall

5 stars

Submitted 29 Oct 2023

Beautiful area with stunning landscapes, long clean beaches and wonderful architecture. The Basque people in both Spain and France were very friendly and the food was delicious. I recommend the Parador we stayed at highly. A fascinating and unique building. The staff were uniformly friendly and helpful.

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Bill

5 stars

Submitted 29 Oct 2023

Fabulous holiday in a great hotel. Just a shame the printed itinerary did not actually mirror the holiday in some respects.

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Andrew Ings

5 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2023

Excellant trip with a first class tour leader

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