October 15th to October 22nd
Price $3,200.
Meeting city is Bilbao and departing city is San Sebastion

DAY 1

Today we meet at our hotel, the Bilbao Carlton, and enjoy our first lunch together at the Guggenheim Bilbao, a Martin Berasategui restaurant located inside Frank O. Gehry’s architectural marvel. Following lunch, we enjoy a visit of the Guggenheim museum and a walking tour of Bilbao. Dinner tonight we be a feast of pintxos, miniature creations of all varieties, in the bars and taverns of Bilbao, accompanied by the finest wines.

DAY 2

Today we drive to La Rioja, the most celebrated wine producing region in Spain, to visit several wineries. After a wine tasting at the Mayor de Migueloa winery in Laguardia, we indulge in a sumptuous lunch of regional specialties and enjoy a walking tour of the town. After lunch we stop in the town of Haro, home of many of the most famous wineries of the region, and visit the Enological museum. Dinner is on your own this evening in Bilbao.

DAY 3

Today we leave Bilbao behind as we drive to Gernika In Gernika we enjoy a walking tour of this historic town, known as the site of horrific bombing by German planes during the Spanish civil war. After lunch in Gernika, we continue on to our spa hotel in Zumaia Those who wish can enjoy a guided hike along the dramatic cliffs of the coast. This evening, we pamper ourselves at the spa in our hotel. Included in the tour is the 1 ½ hour heated seawater pool circuit with underwater jets and massaging waterfalls. Dinner is at the restaurant in our hotel, which specializes in healthy traditional and nouvelle cuisine.

DAY 4

This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Zumaia, including the Zumaia Museum showcasing the works of Ignacio Zuloaga, Basque painter and contemporary of Van Gogh, Gaugin, Degas and Rodin among others. We also visit the Beobide Museum, and the church of San Pedro with its splendid alterpiece by Juan de Antxieta. In Getaria, we enjoy a lovely lunch of fresh fish accompanied by Txacoli, a delightful Basque white wine. After visiting a txacoli winery, we continue to our hotel in Zarautz, owned by renowned Basque chef Karlos Argüiñano. Dinner is an authentic extravaganza of tastes accompanied by the finest Spanish wines.

DAY 5
This morning we drive to San Sebastian, our home for the next three days. Today we visit the Museum Chillida-Leku highlighting the works of sculptor Eduardo Chillida. Lunch is at a typical Sidreria, or cider house, where we feast upon the set menu of cod omelette, cod with peppers and fried onions, “chuletón,” the most typical basque preparation of grilled beef, and cheese with quince jelly and walnuts for dessert-all washed down by Basque cider. This cider doesn’t come it bottles! You bring your glass to the keg, catch a stream of cider and drink it on the spot! The afternoon and evening are free to stroll and shop San Sebastian. Dinner is on your own

DAY 6

Today we enjoy a true treat of lunch at a typical Basque Gastronomic Society. We will begin our day with a visit to the La Bretxa market to buy the freshest ingredients for our feast. Together, we help prepare our meal, and enjoy our surroundings at the Society. After many hours cooking, eating, cleaning-up and playing cards, we take a walking tour of San Sebastian, dining on typical pintxos in the bars of the old town.

DAY 7

Today we visit the seaside fishing village of Hondarribia, continuing along the coast into French basqueland and St. Jean de Luz, where we taste the typical Gateaux Basque and enjoy lunch in France. We then take in the surreal caves of Ikaburua and a tram ride up La Rhune for beautiful views of the Basque coast and the majestic Pyrenees. We return to San Sebastian in time for a spectacular goodbye dinner at Arzak a three-star Michelin point-of-reference in Basque and international gastronomy, which promises to be a meal never forgotten, and a fitting end to a wonderful week in the Basque Country.

DAY 8

End tour.