From Bordeaux to Bilbao: a Great Discovery of the Basque Coast

Greeting on arrival in Bordeaux and transfer by your private driver to your accommodation.

In the afternoon, make your own way to the meeting point with your guide for your Gourmet stroll in Bordeaux (small group of 8 people max. / approx. 3h30).

You will explore, by foot, and enjoy the charms of an iconic area, the wine and gastronomy showcase of town. Bordeaux and its gastronomy are rich in history and... stories... You will discover the local people’s Bordeaux and meet some of the passionate people who create this French art of living. Your guide will share with you an iconic district of Bordeaux, known as the Golden Triangle, and also some other emblematic places that are not to be missed! The area’s heritage is from 18th century and houses, in a somewhat hidden part of the city, a trove of wonderful local specialty shops.  Your tastings will be of course both sweet and savoury... You'll taste wine on the docks and enjoy a beautiful european cityscape. Inside the shops or out on the streets surrounded by awe-inspiring monuments, you'll taste only artisanal products well-known to Bordeaux's foodies. This tour shows you how to discover a city of taste, and a little bit of ‘Art de Vivre’, all the while having a lot of fun with your guide!

In the morning, make your own way to the meeting point for your Wine and Bike Tour in Saint Emilion (small group / approx. 9 hours).

Explore Saint Emilion region and ride along the beautiful vineyards, visit two superb wineries and learn how to taste these elegant wines from this famous region...

Discover with your friends the famous vineyards of Saint-Emilion by bicycle! You will ride through the vineyards and properties of the famous chateaux of this region. During the day you will visit two chateaux: a beautiful family-run estate & a top domain (listed as a Grand Cru Classé). During your private day tour, get to know and understand the diversity of Bordeaux wines. Enjoy seeing some prestigious properties such as Chateau Petrus or Cheval Blanc! 

Stop in a charming Classified Estate of Saint-Emilion. Enjoy a lunch in the garden of a lovely family-run chateau (or in the dining room of the chateau in case of bad weather). After lunch you will visit the and discover a traditional way of making wine!

Back on your bike, you will take an easy route back through the beautiful vineyards. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the charming village of St. Emilion dating from Middle-Ages and ranked by UNESCO as World Heritage.

Visit and enjoy a tasting session at a Grand Cru Classé estate.

After breakfast in your hotel, you and your friends make your way to the always central meeting spot. Meet your driver-guide, and your fellow excursionists for a day-to-remember: Beaches and Vineyards (small group / approx. 10 hours).

The Bay of Arcachon is a beautiful bay located at 55 minutes' drive away from Bordeaux. Arcachon is a bay of 1500 hectares fed by the Atlantic Ocean forming an inland sea with the colors of a lagoon, bordered on one side by a blond fine sand dune culminating at 110 meters. Climb the the biggest Sand Dune in Europe, enjoy amazing views over the ocean, the bay and the forest! Be brave enough to walk down the dune and put one foot (or more!) into the water! You’ll then savour an oyster's tasting at a local producer with a glass of white wine. Share a nice moment of conviviality overlooking the bay.

You’ll have a picnic together (included!) then drive through the "Chateau Route" of the Medoc.  Arriving in a charming and authentic family-run estate (Chateau Lamarque, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Chateau Siran...). Feel the intimacy and authenticity of a private chateau run by a passionate family for generations. Start the visit in the vineyards, in front of the château, tour around the traditional vat room and discover the cellar.The final visit is of a Grand Cru Classé estate (Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Lagrange...). Enjoy some explanations about their wine making process.

Pick up at your accommodation by your driver and private transfer to the train station.

Take your train to Biarritz and then check in at your centrally located hotel.

Rest of day at leisure to explore Biarritz on your own.

Until World War II, Biarritz was the Monte Carlo of the Atlantic Coast, transformed by Napoleon III in the mid-19th century into a playground for monarchs and the glitterati, including Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth and Ernest Hemingway. Today, the town has an air of faded glamour and is a charming blend of both the chic and the shabby. Its shore remains truly beautiful, with white breakers crashing on sandy strands.  The focus of Biarritz is the Casino Municipal, on Grande-Plage. The loveliest places to stroll around are the streets between here and the Plage du Port-Vieux.

Enjoy some relaxing time on the beach. Here, the Basque Country coastline stretches for 110 miles (175 km) along the Bay of Biscay, from France into Spain's Cantabria region. There's plenty of beaches to choose from, from wild, windswept shores to idyllic golden crescents and sandy urban playgrounds.

In the morning, meet up with your guide in the lobby of your hotel or entrance to your accommodation.

Sare, Espelette and Saint Jean de Luz (private tour / 8 hours):

Experience a full day between the Basque coast and the countryside. Starting with the heart of Sare guided tour of the village, its history, the church, and the typical Etxeak (farms in the Basque language). Then you will go to Espelette to discover the village but also the main specialty in town, the red chili pepper. 

The afternoon will be dedicated to the coast with the main visit in Saint Jean de Luz considered as a typical Basque seaside town with a lovely harbor, narrow streets, and a small beach. Last stop isto take pictures in a perfect spot along the Corniche (stunning view along the coast).

Evening at leisure for a nice meal somewhere along the beachfront in Biarritz.

Meet up with your guide in the lobby of your hotel or entrance to your accommodation and embark on a great exploration of French and Spanish culture.

San Sebastian and Marine History tour (private / approx. 9 hours):

Discover one of the most beautiful bays in the world and the culinary capital of Donostia/San Sebastian. First, stop at the top of the mount Igueldo and then guided tour of the historical city. Of course you will taste the famous tapas in a local bar. You will continue to the fishing village of Pasaia to discover this picturesque village and a small local museum where carpenters are rebuilding a galleon from the XVIth century.

After the tour, the guide drives you to your new hotel in Bilbao.

Evening at leisure.

What’s great about Bilbao?

The best part of Bilbao might be that the city—and especially the outskirts, which are definitely worth visiting—are largely untouched by tourists. It’s the kind of place where you’ll rarely hear English, or even Spanish, spoken. The natives speak Basque!

Meet your guide in the morning for a dazzling art experience at the Guggenheim Museum (private / approx. 4 hours).

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao hardly needs an introduction. It is stunning, a marvel of contemporary architecture with constant changing reflections and fleeting colors. Treat yourself to a personal and private guided visit to Frank O. Gehry´s masterpiece and the permanent and temporary exhibitions of world-class contemporary art.

Afterward, wander with our expert guide through the Abandoibarra district. The old industrial area & docklands have been splendidly converted into Bilbao´s new art district of which the Guggenheim is the brilliant flagship. The extremely successful transformation of the city has become known internationally by city planners as the Bilbao Effect.

Afternoon at leisure for your own discovery of Bilbao. 

Optional (if you want to add an extra-day in the Spanish Basque country): Full day wine tour to Rioja (private / approx. 8 hours).

It's time to say farewell to Spain! Depending on the time of your flight or train reservation, squeeze in one more morning of sightseeing, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs. At the designated time you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your departure onwards.