Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Oct2026: May-Oct
Bilbao to San Sebastián & Biarritz
Journey from Spanish ports to French pastures through seaside towns and the verdant Pyrenees. Ever basked on a Basque beach? Nibbled on pintxos? Learned to surf with the pros? On this adventure, never say never.
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in rich and colorful Basque culture, with its own language, customs and cuisine
- Discover the picturesque seaside town of St-Jean-de-Luz, where a scenic waterfront is the perfect backdrop to a memorable meal
- Journey back in time on a hand-picked section of the renowned Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, a World Heritage site
- Hike, bike and kayak along the rugged Basque coastline and explore the stunning Jaizkibel coastal mountain range
- Catch some waves with the pros in a fun-filled beginner's lesson at Pukas Surf Skola, one of the oldest surfing schools in Spain
StartBilbao
EndBiarritz
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Hike in the vast Basque Coast Geopark • Towering above the sea, the spectacular flysch cliffs are more than 60 million years old • Stroll along the beach to an atmospheric fishing village • Walk a coastal portion of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrim’s route • You’re in one of Europe’s top surfing spots—care to give it a try? • Sample local pintxos in San Sebastián, a city known for its vibrant culinary scene and high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants • Savor views of the sea from our hotel’s lovely terrace or pamper yourself at the spa.
Nights 1-2
Set in the city center, surrounded by gardens and overlooking the Urumea River, this elegant century-old hotel is just a short walk from sandy beaches.
Day 3
Enjoy a scenic drive across the border to the seaside town of St-Jean-de-Luz • Experience the French side of Basque country as you bike through sheep-dotted hills and bucolic farmland • Kayak through the sparkling waters of Saint Jean-de-Luz Bay • Wander St-Jean-de-Luz’s narrow streets and dine along the town’s attractive waterfront.
Night 3
Built in 1901, this hotel has retained the charm of the belle epoque while seamlessly incorporating modern luxury. (spa)
Days 4-6
Explore the countless charms of Basque Country • Hike verdant summits near Ascain and relish 360-degree views of the spectacular coast and Larrun Mountains • Ride along the Bay of Biscay and through charming ancient villages • Visit Bayonne, known for its splendid hams and chocolates • On a guided tour, discover the lavish coastal city of Biarritz, dubbed the “queen of beaches and the beach of kings” ever since Emperor Napoleon III made it a favorite of the European aristocracy.
Nights 4-5
Rich in history and charm, this 19th-century oceanfront hotel has a grand design, spectacular views and an exceptional restaurant. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
On many nights, the gourmet restaurants where we dine offer specially prepared, limited or fixed menus featuring a delicious selection of authentic regional cuisine.
While we always aim to get off the beaten path, this region is a popular coastal vacation spot for European tourists. You’ll be among locals and fellow travelers when we visit towns, and there can be moderate car traffic on some of the country roads where we bike (cars in this area are very respectful of bikers).
Amid Basque Country and the Pyrenees foothills, you can look forward to some great climbs and steep descents on our hike and bike rides. If you want a boost, e-bikes are available and we can flatten some of the more challenging portions of the routes with strategic shuttles, but you should be comfortable handling hilly terrain or hopping in the van for a lift.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
Set in the city center, surrounded by gardens and overlooking the Urumea River, this elegant century-old hotel is just a short walk from sandy beaches.
Night 3
Premiere Hotel
Built in 1901, this hotel has retained the charm of the belle epoque while seamlessly incorporating modern luxury. (spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
Rich in history and charm, this 19th-century oceanfront hotel has a grand design, spectacular views and an exceptional restaurant. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- Suited for a wide range of cyclists
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Long wheel base adds to the bike's control and stability
- Upright handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- One of the lightest e-bikes available
- Provides plenty of power and more than enough battery
- Lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting
- Upright handlebars only
- Limited availability on Unplugged Bike Tours; learn more
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 30 customers
Great group chemistry and perfect level of challenge
Leire (one of the group leaders) said at the beginning of the tour that the two key words were flexibility and communication, and the team delivered. We had a very warm feeling in the group and the leaders made sure that the level of activity challenge was right for every person by offering many options. It became obvious early on that the leaders were highly competent so we could just relax and enjoy each new adventure.
A superb introduction to the Basque Country
What a wonderful combination of excellent guides, gorgeous views, fine food, energetic hiking and biking, and luxury hotels. Add to that a friendly introduction to the Basque history, culture and cuisine and it made for a terrific trip!
Perfect Format for a wonderful, active vacation
We loved this trip! Everything was top shelf and so well organized. Our guides, Jaime, GiGi, and Javier had such fun personalities and knew so much about the Basque region. They made us feel special and made sure we were happy with every experience. The trip was even better than we expected.
When you know, you know... I know I'll be back!
Couldn't have been better. I booked this trip really last minute, and didn't know much about this region.. that perhaps led me to not having too many expectations- but rest assured, even if I had, they would have been blown away. The region was gorgeous, the people lovely, the food wonderful. That said, it was the trip leaders and Backroads group that really made the trip. Getting to share the experience with others, and be led and encouraged by two absolutely incredible trip leaders from the region, with a support leader who was the friendliest and most energetic you could hope for, truly made me fall in love with this experience. I also absolutely loved being on an "Active" vacation. Getting to see these countries by hiking, biking and kayaking through them, made the experience more exciting and fulfilling. It also made the constant food and drink opportunities that much more enjoyable :-). Cheers to Backroads. Hope to see you again soon!
First of many
We loved the experience. Looking forward to do it again.
Couldn't have asked for a more amazing experience!
This multi-adventure trip is the way to go! Great hiking and biking routes. The surfing and kayaking was nice too! The area is so rich in culture and the scenery was amazing. The food overall was great! Our trip leaders and support person made the trip amazing! They meshed so well and put together phenomenal picnics! Our group of travelers meshed well too! We all conversed with each other and shared our life stories. No one was a downer! Everyone was enthusiastic!
The most wonderful family trip experience
I can't explain fully how magical our week was. The entire family enjoyed the expertise of our amazing guides as we hiked and bikes through the beautiful countryside in Basque Country.. The hotels were luxurious and food was exquisite. The combination of activity all day and pampering throughout is impossible to replicate without the team behind Backroads. However, the trip leaders are the true standouts of the whole experience!
What a trip
Great trip
Great times!
Amazing trip.
This was great!
I really enjoyed it.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
