The Beautiful Basque Country

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.

• Eurostar Meal

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.

• Breakfast, Lunch

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast, Lunch

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal