Basque Country of Spain & France in 8 Days Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Basque Country

We'll gather at our hotel in Bayonne, France at around 5 p.m. for a Basque Region welcome meeting. Then we'll take a neighborhood orientation stroll, and start getting to know one another over dinner together. Sleep in or near Bayonne (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

Day 2: Bayonne, Capital of French Basque

This morning we'll take a walking tour through half-timbered Bayonne, the capital of the French Pays Basque. We'll enjoy the cobbled-street ambience of the city's Old Town, and stop to visit the gothic Cathédrale Ste. Marie, bankrolled by the medieval whaling industry once based here. We'll end with a tour of the superb Museum of Basque Culture — setting the stage for all we'll learn during the next week about Basque history and culture. You'll be free for the rest of the day and evening to wander through more of Bayonne — or hop an easy train or bus to explore the nearby beach towns of St. Jean-de-Luz or Biarritz (each within 25 minutes of Bayonne). No bus. Walking: moderate.

Day 3: Villages of the Pyrenees

Today we'll board our bus and drive to El País Vasco — the Spanish Basque Country. En route we'll stop in the walled French town of St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, a traditional starting point for hiking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. Here your guide will enlighten you with details about the humble pilgrims who have trod across the north of Spain since the Middle Ages to pay homage to the remains of St. James. We'll follow an easier path this afternoon, with a scenic mountain drive over the Pyrenees and down to seaside San Sebastián. For fun-loving diners, your guide will be happy to help organize a tasty tapas crawl tonight. Sleep in San Sebastián (3 nights). Bus: 3½ hrs. Walking: moderate.

Day 4: Savoring San Sebastián

We'll start our day with a walking tour of elegant, prosperous San Sebastián (Donostia in the Basque language). We'll get a Spanish view of Basque life and culture today as we tour the lively Old Town, step inside the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, and walk the promenade down to the town's beautiful crescent beach. You'll be free this afternoon to spend more time in the Old Town, at the beach, ride the funicular up to Monte Igueldo's viewpoint, or hike around Monte Urgull. Tonight we'll get to do what most travelers can only dream of: dine at a members-only gastronomical society (txoko) and learn why San Sebastián is the culinary capital of Spain. No bus. Walking: moderate.

Day 5: All Day on the Camino de Santiago

We'll spend our day along the camino that leads to Santiago de Compostela, and experience first-hand the historic path trod by a thousand years' worth of pilgrims. This part of the trail is also a popular recreational hiking route, surrounded by vineyards that produce some of Spain's finest wines. We'll walk a level section of the trail, meeting a mix of devoted pilgrims and happy day-hikers. We'll stop for a well-deserved lunch and tasting of Navarre vintages at a local winery, then resume our pilgrimage. We'll return to San Sebastián in time for you to sample more of the region's gourmet cuisine. Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Day 6: Guernica and Bustling Bilbao

We'll drive along the rugged coastline of the Bay of Biscay this morning, stopping at a fishing village or two. This afternoon we'll learn more about the independent Basque spirit with a visit to the town of Guernica (Gernika), site of the infamous 1937 air raid that inspired Picasso's anti-war masterpiece (now housed in Madrid). Today, Guernica is considered the very heart of the Basque nation. We'll learn more about the Spanish Civil War and today's political issues as we tour the Assembly House and its symbolic Oak Tree, where Basque leaders have met since medieval times. We'll then make a beeline for Bilbao, and get acquainted with Spanish Basque's most important city during our walking tour of the Old Town and its pristine Gothic cathedral. Sleep in Bilbao (2 nights). Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: moderate.

Day 7: Bilbao's Dazzling Guggenheim Museum

We'll devote our morning to Frank Gehry's dazzling temple of modern art: The Guggenheim Bilbao. We'll take a tour of the museum's best architectural and artistic attractions, then set you free for more museum meandering — or to explore more of the city's Old Town maze, its Maritime Museum, and other sights. Tonight, we'll rendezvous for a last dinner together, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. No bus. Walking: moderate.

Day 8: Tour Over After Breakfast

Bilbao's airport provides easy connections to Madrid and all major European airline hubs. Your guide will help you get pointed in the right direction for home, or to continue your travels in Europe. Agur!