Ever basked on a Basque beach? Nibbled on pintxos? Learned to surf with the pros? Biked from Spanish ports to French pastures? Never say never. Because you'll do all this and more in Basque Country, a region that's Spanish, but not exactly. French, but somehow different. You've enjoyed family adventures, but none quite like this.
Days
1-2 Hike in the vast Basque Coast Geopark, one of the world's most unique environments 
Towering like giants above the sea, the spectacular Flysch cliffs are more than 60 million years old and tell a fascinating geologic story Stroll along the beach to an atmospheric fishing village Share the path with pilgrims walking the St. James Trail en route to Santiago de Compostela In San Sebastián, spend family time exploring town, hanging out on the beach or paddling a sea kayak to a little island that offers views of the bay and nearby mountains Today's your chance to try delicious pintxos, the popular local snacks.
Days
3-4 You're in one of Europe's top surfing spots—care to give it a try? 
Afternoon brings a leisurely ride along the coast into France and the seaside resort town of St-Jean-de-Luz Hike through France's beautiful Basque landscape Follow trails past rolling sheep-dotted hills and quaint farmhouses Savor views of the sea from our hotel's lovely terrace, or perhaps pamper yourself with a visit to the spa Explore St-Jean-de-Luz's narrow streets and enjoy a family dinner along the town's picturesque waterfront.
Days
5-6 Explore the countless charms of the French Basque Country on a multitude of bike paths Pedal along the coast and through colorful fishing communities Get to know the lavish seaside town of Biarritz, dubbed the "queen of beaches and the beach of kings" ever since Empress Eugénie de Montijo and her husband Emperor Napoleon III made Biarritz the favorite resort of the European aristocracy Visit the old port and the impressive covered marketplace, Les Halles de Biarritz—where all the locals gather to eat, drink and shoot the breeze.
We thoroughly enjoyed having our adult children with us on this trip. We would love to have more multi-sport Breakaways trips for families. We couldn't imagine a better way to travel. Next time, we are bringing our parents with our kids to make this a multi-generational trip. What a wonderful way to travel with your family and meet other families with the same goal for their travel experience. We hope to make this an annual excursion with our family and we will never take a family trip without Backroads.- San Francisco
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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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.
Built in 1901, this hotel has retained the charm of the belle epoque while seamlessly incorporating modern luxury. (spa)
Rich in history and charm, this 19th-century oceanfront hotel has a grand design, spectacular views and a Michelin-starred restaurant. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Comments about Basque Country Family Breakaway Multisport Adventure Tour:
We thoroughly enjoyed having our adult children with us on this trip. We would love to have more multi-sport Breakaways trips for families. We couldn't imagine a better way to travel. Next time, we are bringing our parents with our kids to make this a multi-generational trip. What a wonderful way to travel with your family and meet other families with the same goal for their travel experience. We hope to make this an annual excursion with our family and we will never take a family trip without Backroads.
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking/Hiking | 2* | 300 | 4 | 800 | ||||||
| 2 | Walking/Hiking | 4 | 500 | ||||||||
| Kayaking | around San Sebastián (1.5 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Biking | 16 | 900 | 22 | 1900 | ||||||
| Other | Surfing Lesson (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Walking/Hiking | 5* | 800 | 7 | 1500 | ||||||
| 5 | Biking | 13* | 800 | 24* | 1500 | 40 | 2200 | ||||
| 6 | Walking/Hiking | 4 | 300 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
During your stay in San Sebastian, the historic resort town on the Bay of Biscay, we introduce you to a unique dining experience: a tour of local bars and bistros to try pinxtos, the Basque version of tapas. Your Trip Leaders know the best spots to rub elbows and raise glasses with the locals as you sample every manner of small-plate specialty – all in the quest for the ultimate pintxo epiphany.
On our French and Spanish Pyrenees trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road and trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Only Backroads offers active trips in French and Spanish Pyrenees designed for families with older teens and 20-somethings. Our Family Breakaway trips are aimed at you and the amazingly grownup members of your clan—whether they're almost high school grads, already in college or further along. Find out more in this blog post.
We design and support our French and Spanish Pyrenees trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
In French and Spanish Pyrenees you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Coordinating multiple activities throughout a single day can be tricky, but with Backroads you'll never know it. When you explore French and Spanish Pyrenees with us, you switch activities seamlessly without missing a beat. We invented the multisport concept, and we're constantly adding new dimensions and fine-tuning the experience to make it even more enjoyable.
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in French and Spanish Pyrenees, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for a single family of three or four people, subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
After 30 years of creating Backroads Multisport Adventures, our trip designers know how to blend the perfect balance of biking and hiking with other activities to showcase the best of a region. And then they arrange the seamless transitions that would be so hard to orchestrate on your own—adding dimensions to your trip that are exciting, inspiring and just plain fun.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
