Basque Country Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Basque Country Family Multi-Adventure Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jul2026: May-Jun, Aug
Bilbao to San Sebastián & Biarritz
Picture it: basking on a Basque beach. Sampling savory pintxos. Biking along the coastline from peaks to ports to pastures. Bring it to life on this family adventure by the sea and in the mountains of France and Spain.
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in rich and colorful Basque culture, with its own language, customs and gastronomy
- Discover the glamorous beaches of dazzling Biarritz, once a vacation destination of the European aristocracy
- 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 the rugged Basque coastline and explore ancient border watchtowers along the Jaizkibel coastal mountain range
- Surf 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 colossal Basque Coast Geopark • Gaze at spectacular 60-million-year-old flysch cliffs towering like giants above the sea • Walk along the beach to an enchanting fishing village • Share the path with pilgrims following the St. James Trail and enjoy the views of the Bay of Biscay • Learn to ride the waves in one of Europe's top surf spots • Taste delicious pintxos, the popular local snacks • Unwind at our palatial hideaway.
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
A peaceful ride into France leads to the seaside resort town of St-Jean-de-Luz • Hike trails through beautiful Basque landscapes • Bike by sheep-dotted hills and quaint farmhouses • Take in views of the sea and nearby mountains on a sea kayaking adventure • Enjoy the vistas from our hotel's lovely terrace or opt to visit the spa • Wander St-Jean-de-Luz's narrow streets and savor a family dinner along the town's picturesque 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 • Explore the old port and covered marketplace, Les Halles de Biarritz, where locals gather to eat, drink and shoot the breeze • Linger over a family breakfast at our chic cliff-top retreat.
Nights 4-5
Seafront luxury and art deco elegance await at this historic hotel, with sweeping bay views and located just across from the iconic Biarritz lighthouse. (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.
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.
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).
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
Seafront luxury and art deco elegance await at this historic hotel, with sweeping bay views and located just across from the iconic Biarritz lighthouse. (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
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop 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 4 customers
Fantastic trip to the Basque Region
We took our son on this trip to celebrate his college graduation. It was our 3rd Backroads trip and was great. We really prefer the multi sport adventure over a full week of biking, as you get variety and a break from the bike seat. We went in the summer and the weather was nice and cool compared to the summer heat we were used to. Highlights of the trip were the beauty of the region, the food and accommodations. I personally enjoyed the surfing lesson in San Sebastián, the Maria Christina Hotel, and the lunch picnic spread during one of our hiking days. And of course the guides are probably the best part of the trip. Friendly, knowledgeable and always there with information and support.
This was our fifth Backroads trip and the best one yet.
Beautiful location, great variety of activities, fantastic food and stellar accommodations. Couple that with Backroads organization and attention to detail and wonderful leaders and you have a recipe for a fantastic family vacation. If you are thinking about this trip, just go - you will not be sorry.
Fabulous Family Active Vacation
Absolutely loved this trip and our leaders. They make everything run so smoothly and keep the atmosphere light and fun!
Exceptional Family Vacation
Verified Buyer
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.
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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