Private French Basque Country Food Tour from San Sebastian
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
31929P11
Overview
Tour at a glance
What's included
- High quality local food specialities all day long
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Wine, beer or cider with the meals
- Driver/guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified in the description
- Gratuities
Itinerary
-
1
Hendaye
Getting up early to embark on a gastronomic adventure through the Côte Basque, one of the most picturesque areas of the Atlantic coast, shouldn’t be too difficult. Likewise starting the day by heading to San Juan de Luz to visit a cheesemaker.
Pass by (no stop) Admission free -
2
The ‘affineur’ is the person who, once the cheese is received from the producers, stores it until the piece reaches its point of maturity, suitable for sale. In Saint Jean de Luz we’ll try a selection of cheeses specially ‘refined’ by our affineur and pair them with – of course - a good French wine from Irulegui.
30 min Admission included -
3
Protected by a bay, Saint Jean de Luz is a peaceful summer and fishing village. We’ll visit the Maison Adam pastry shop where, in 1660 (!) they created the famous ‘macaron’. At the same time, a certain Johannès de Suhigaraychipi, a French corsair who captured more than 100 British, Dutch and Spanish ships, was sailing through the area.
10 min Admission included -
4
We’ll also talk about this on our walk through town, while we visit the Church of St. John the Baptist, a church with spectacular polychromed woodwork and miniatures of ships that remind us of just how appreciated miracles of the sea were back in the day.
20 min Admission free -
5
Phare de Biarritz
Biarritz is many things: Europe’s gateway to surfing in the mid-50s, one of the pioneers of beach tourism (they started promoting it 200 years ago!) And one of the most desired places to see and be seen. We’ll walk along the promenade admiring the sea and the sumptuous hotels until we reach the 44-meter-high lighthouse.
5 min Admission free -
6
Mercado Les Halles
We’ll visit the colorful market of Les Halles to take the pulse of daily city life and get in touch with the greatest that France has to offer: its cheeses, charcuterie, and bakeries / patisseries. If you've waited the whole trip to do your gastro shopping, this is the time. We’ll stop at the best bar in the market, try the famous Arcachon oysters, prawns, and escargots (if you’re one who, like us, not only dares to eat them, but adores them) and we will accompany it with a prodigious Bordeaux white wine (what Bordeaux isn’t wonderful, eh?).
45 min Admission included -
7
Hondarribia
We’ll finish the route on the other side of the border, beyond the Bidasoa river. The last (or the first, depending on how you look at it) city on the Spanish coast is a privileged place with sea, river, bay, mountains, a fishing district that is at the forefront of world cuisine (says the New York Times!), and a medieval walled neighborhood (with streets not suitable for heels) at the top. In Hondarribia we’ll try some of the best pintxos in one of the most prize-winning restaurants, and with a full stomach we’ll be able to discuss the differences between Basque-French and Basque-Spanish cuisine. We doubt you’ll ever find a reason for such a juicy discussion. Conclusion: we’ll return home with a full stomach and a wide-open mind.
1h 15m Admission free
Meeting & pickup
Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.
Pick up from different locations is possible for an extra charge.
Schedule
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Wheelchair accessibility is extra paid - contact for details
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Please carry your passport or your European Union ID
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
Together with my family we thoroughly enjoyed the French Basque Gourmet Tour with guide Inigo. The tour was very diverse from a gourmet perspective, from trying the original macaron and local deserts, to local cheeses paired with wine to seafood from the local market. The other highlight was our guide Inigo. Inigo is full with positive vibes and made the tour very interactive by getting us to guess different ingredients and cheeses for example. Secondly, travelling with elderly, he was very accommodating in considering their needs regarding walking and made sure they were comfortable throughout the day. The tour was a lot of fun, filled with beautiful views, great food and added history regarding the Basque country and French Basque area. Highly recommended!
We absolutely loved this tour! We fell in love with the French Basque region thanks to Martin. He took us to three different towns, each with its own completely unique character and atmosphere, which made the day feel incredibly varied and special. Martin was a fantastic guide. His knowledge of the history, culture, and traditions of each place was amazing, and he shared it in a way that was interesting, engaging, and never felt like a history lesson. You can tell he genuinely loves the region and enjoys sharing it with others. The food was wonderful, the vibe throughout the day was relaxed and fun, and everything felt thoughtfully planned without ever feeling rushed or overly touristy. We got to experience the personality of each town and really came away with an appreciation for the French Basque region that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. Martin truly made the experience. This was one of the highlights of our trip, and we would absolutely recommend this tour!
We had the most wonderful tour to the Basque country with Iñigo as our guide. His knowledge and attention to detail was amazing and he was so helpful , even playing our favourite music in the car. We couldn’t recommend this trip enough and if you are lucky enough you might also get the Basque gastro and history expert Iñigo as your guide.
This was a private tour with an amazingly knowledgeable guide, Iñigo. His enthusiasm was infectious, making every moment engaging. We did some cheese and wine tasting and toured the market in St. Jean de Luz. He had some great stories about the region and the history of the Basque people. It lasted 7+ hours but it went by in a flash.
This tour is the most beautiful, curated experience and left my friends and I in awe of the region- for its stunning landscapes, history and of course, food. Malena, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and engaging and we loved every bit of it. 10/10 tour, 10/10 guide, and a wonderful small company.
We had an absolutely wonderful day with Ernes!! It was the highlight of our trip…. He is very knowledgeable about the wine, cheese, history and politics of the region and provided us with an excellent culinary experience at every stop. This tour is worth every cent!
What an amazing tour! We felt so special, like spending the day with a friend. Ernes was very knowledgeable about the basque culture and history. We sampled local regional cuisine, toured the gorgeous countryside. And learned about the history and culture of the region. Honestly it was incredible. Can’t wait to come back.
We had a great time! We loved the selections of cheese, seafood, pintxos, wine, and sweets. Our guide Martin, was passionate about Basque culture and generous with sharing insights about the region's history, origins, and food trends. We got special access into a parador to see its tapestry exhibits as well as a panoramic birds eye view of the Basque coastline. Highly recommend this tour! Looking forward to more experiences from Ikusnahi tours.
Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this experience last?
It lasts 9h.
Is hotel pickup included?
Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.
Which languages is the guide available in?
Guide languages: EN, ES
On which days does it run?
It runs Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Starts 09:00
How fast is the booking confirmed?
Instantly. Your e-ticket arrives by e-mail right after booking.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, this is a private experience for your group only.
Where do I complete the booking?
On viator.com, a Tripadvisor company, with live availability and secure payment. TourViaGo is a Global Partner of Viator.
Product code 31929P11
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