Ever basked on a Basque beach? Nibbled on pintxos? Surfed on Spanish waves? Biked along the sea from ports to 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 Walk along the beach to an atmospheric fishing village, sharing the path with pilgrims hiking the St. James Trail en route to Santiago de Compostela In San Sebastián, spend 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 Now'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? Professional surfers from the world champion Pukas Team take you out in beginner's waves Savor a last slice of tortilla española before heading from Spain to France Bike along the spectacular French coastline, then hike in the beautiful countryside Explore the Pyrenean foothills filled with steep green pastures, sheep and the remarkable Pottok, an endangered breed of pony Enjoy a family dinner in charming seaside St-Jean-de-Luz.
Days
5-6 From Saint-Jean-de-Luz, set out along the coast and through colorful fishing communities Learn to play pelote basque, a favorite regional pastime Get to know the lavish 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 In town, explore the old port and the impressive covered marketplace, Les Halles de Biarritz—the place where all the locals gather to eat, drink and shoot the breeze.
I really can't rave enough about our Basque Country trips—especially for families! From the magical Rioja region to the French Pyrenees, the landscape is truly spectacular. The ancient villages are fascinating to explore. And the cuisine and wine are out of this world. These trips offer the perfect introduction to all that Basque Country has to offer, including hidden spots that the locals know well but visitors don't often see. To top it off, Bilbao and Biarritz are your gateway cities and perfect places to extend your vacation before or after your trip.- France
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 Multisport Adventure Tour:
I really can't rave enough about our Basque Country trips—especially for families! From the magical Rioja region to the French Pyrenees, the landscape is truly spectacular. The ancient villages are fascinating to explore. And the cuisine and wine are out of this world. These trips offer the perfect introduction to all that Basque Country has to offer, including hidden spots that the locals know well but visitors don't often see. To top it off, Bilbao and Biarritz are your gateway cities and perfect places to extend your vacation before or after your trip.
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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: The hiking terrain on this trip includes a mix of level in-town walks, hilly coastal paths and rugged mountain trails. The biking routes range from level to rolling with challenging climbs for those who opt for longer options.
* 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 this Premiere Inn trip, you can count on the best lodgings French and Spanish Pyrenees has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
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.
A great bike is obviously critical for a great multisport trip; you don't want to gamble on one that's been sourced locally to trim costs. This trip features our acclaimed Backroads Custom Titanium bikes, expertly tuned and fitted, and included in your trip price. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in French and Spanish Pyrenees—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
This Family Adventure, with its blend of challenging activities and cool places to explore, is ready to erase the doubtful looks of the toughest travel critics around: teenagers. We're not saying there won't be a single eye-rolling response (or the odd WhatsApp exchange with the gang back home), but this trip has plenty to keep teens in the moment and part of the family.
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.
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.
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.
It may be hard to imagine being on a family trip with no other families on it—but it happens regularly with some companies. On a Backroads Family Adventure there are typically several families on each departure, creating more opportunities for your kids to make new friends as they try fun things together – which is a big part of the experience.
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.
Thanks to our extensive connections in French and Spanish Pyrenees, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
The activities on Backroads Family Adventures are designed with all of you in mind. We've got easier routes designed for younger kids' abilities – and attention spans—and great longer options scaled to fit the tastes and energy levels of tweens, teens and adults. To narrow down the best choices for your family, take a look at our age guidelines.
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 the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
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
