Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Bilbao. Check into your 4-star hotel located in the heart of Bilbao's main shopping and financial district. Join Maribel on a late afternoon tour of the Old Quarter, the Casco Viejo, with a sampling of pintxos (tapas) for dinner at the restaurant Berton in the Siete Calles, or the Seven Streets, the historic quarter of Bilbao

Day 2

Enjoy a morning guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum. There will ba an optional guided tour of the city's unsung gem, the Museum of Fine Arts, following the visit to the Guggenheim. Take a stroll through the beautifully renovated Dona Casilda Park before lunch. Lunch today will be at a typical Basque "asador", Guetaria, Curia or similar, in the heart of the modern city. There will be an evening trip up the Artxanda funicular for a stroll through the park or we can take the metro out to Las Arenas for a trip on the unique "Hanging Bridge", the Puente de Vizcaya, dubbed Bilbao's Eiffel Tower (the horizonal version), which takes you from Las Arenas to the fishing quarter of Portugalete. Dinner tonight will be at the seafood euporium, Serantes, located near the hotel.

Day 3

We depart this morning for an excursin to the historic city of Gernika-Lomo, home of Basque Independence. Visit the fabled Monday market followed by a tour of the memorable Museo de la Paz, the noted Pease Musuem and the "Tree of Gernika", the Basque symbol of heritage, law and freedom. Lunch today will be with our friend and chef Inigo Ordorica at his family owned restaurant Zallo Berri. After lunch we'll take a drive through the lush and beautiful Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, past the surfers paridise of Mundaka, the whaling port of Bermeo, the shrine of San Jan de Gaztelugatxe and resort of Bakio, with a stop at a local vineyard to taste txakoli, the slightly effervescent and fresh, young Basque white wine that is growing in popularity.

Day 4

This morning we begin a full-day excursion to the Rioja Alavesa wine country. You will first visit the oldest winery in the Rioja, the venerable Marques de Riscal, along with the architecturally stunning Frank Gehry designed spa-hotel City of Wine, in the village of Elciego. We then venture a few kilometers away to one of the newest and most innovative temples of wine, Bodegas Baigorri, designed by award winning Basque architect, Inaki Aspiazu. Following the visit to Baigorri, we head for the ancient bastide hill town of Labastida for a tour of the beautiful wine estate of La Granja Remelluri, followed by a hearty Riojan rustic winemakers' lunch of baby lamb chops grilled over vine shoots. After the feast, we move to the medieval fortified walled village of Laguardia for a tour of this unique town. We will then return to Bilbao in the early evening for dinner on your own.

Day 5

This morning we transfer by private bus to the beautiful Belle Epoque seaside resort city of Donostia (San Sebastian) and check into your 4-star hotel facing La Concha beach. There will be a morning visit to the acclaimed indoor markets of La Bretxa and San Martin, where the city's many Michelin starred chefs choose their provender. There will be time for shoppin on Avenue Libertad and surrounding arteries; fine leather good, Basque handicrafts or gourmet foods and wines. Lunch today will be at one of Donostia's critically acclaimed gourmet restaurants in the Old Quarter (Parte Vieja). Your afternoon will be free to enjoy La Concha beach, just a few steps away from your hotel. Dinner this evening will be miniature haute cuisine pintxos (tapas) sampling in the Gros quarter, famous for its creative and elaborate pintxos that sweep the annual Donostia pintxos competition awards.

Day 6

Today will be an all-day excursion to the Pays Basque, with the first stop in regal, elegant Biarritz on the Cote Basque. The days events include a late morning visit to the market, shopping on the Rue Gambetta, followed by a walk to the Rocher de la Vierge and a longer stroll along the Grand Plage, past the Casino and the Hotel du Palais, the former playground of Empress Eugenie, the Russian aristocracy villas, ending at the lighthouse for stunning views of the Basque coast. There will be a casual seaside lunch in Port de Pecheurs followed by an optional afternoon visit to the art deco Musee de la Mer-Aquarium, of the Planete Musee de Chocloat. We'll return to Donostia in the late afternoon after a stop to wander the charming streets of the atmospheric fishing village-resort of St. Jean-de-Luz, just south of Biarrtiz.

Day 7

Later this morning we will visit the renowned Fundacion Chillida Liku outdoor sculpture museum located south of the city. Lunch today will be at an embalematic, ancient Basque cider house, or sideria, where the customary cider house menu consists of a cod omelte, house salad, grilled cod and inimitable T-bone steak, the famed "chuleton". The rest of the afternoon and evening is at your leisure, perhaps with a Thalassotherapy treatment at La Perla Spa. A farewell dinner will be at the popular La Brasserie Mari Galant.

Day 8

Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for you flight home.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Dinner (5 days)

Exclusions -

Domestic airfare

Extras -

Transportation will be provided for the day tours.

Tour will depart based on a minimum of 4 people in the group.