Your Gourmet Adventure – Food & Wine Tour

Coloured by the flavours of nearby Spain and the traditional tastes of the Pyrenees, the food and wine of the Basque country boasts a long and illustrious history. Highlights of our 7-day-all-inclusive escorted tour to Basque Country include:

• Tasting the famed Espelette chilli pepper, pride of the Basque Country. Red, lustrous, gently spiced and full of fruity flavour, it forms the basis of many Basque recipes, including the famous piperade, an omelette of peppers and tomatoes.

• Enjoying jambon de Bayonne, well-known for being one of the best hams in the world! Our guide, Pierre, will show you how this beautiful meat is produced – from field to the plate.

• The local culinary scene is a combination of French and Spanish dishes and you will get to enjoy it as part of our tour. Vibrant and brightly coloured, sea fish is a hero ingredient in the cuisine of the Basque coast, as well as the dish of marmitako, a stew of Atlantic tuna fish cooked with olive oil and vegetables, and a plate of chipirons, small local squid served in their ink or with a serving of onion and pepper marmalade.

• As well as the pork used for making ham and charcuterie, other meats also occupy an important place in Basque cuisine. Poulet Basquaise is a dish of chicken pieces sautéed with onions and peppers, then cooked slowly with a glass of white wine.

• A trip to this region would not be complete, without trying the famous gâteau basque dessert - filled with custard or, more traditionally blackcherry jam.

• We will also visit Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz and St Jean Pied de Port markets and fill our baskets with cheeses, fresh vegetables and seafood.

• At the end of our day, we will sample a few pintxos (like our Spanish cousin would say, or snacks) paired with a glass or two of Irouléguy, the only AOC-certified wine in Basque Country.

• You will visit two of our favourite restaurants in France. The first, Chez Mattin in a small Ciboure village. On the menu, there is duck confit, their legendary ttoro (pronounced “tioro”), an excellent, spicy multi-fish ragout (conger, hake, monkfish, with mussels and langoustines as well) served in the pot it was cooked in. The second in Navarre mountains, close to the Spanish border, where you will enjoy locally produced sheep’s milk cheeses from Iraty, seated on the terrace around a pink sandstone table, perfectly golden croquettes (ham and salt cod) superb plancha-grilled cod with potatoes, sweet chilies, parsley and onion, and finally a homemade “bukatzeko etxeko gozoak” (dessert) - a rich chocolate tart.

Sweet or savoury, everything in the Basque country is an excuse for playing with flavours and having a party. Each evening Francois will cook dinner for you using local recipes and seasonal produce.

YOUR BACKROAD ADVENTURE - Sightseeing & Exploring

With its own language, unique climate and a very distinct cultural identity, Basque Country is a special part of France and our 7-day-tour will cover the very best of this region.

A beacon of beauty the Basque Region, or Euskadi as it is known in its local language, is unlike the rest of the French regions. The Basque people are very proud and they captivate all who visit.

From the dramatic cliffs to the sandy beaches, there is nothing not to love about the landscape here. In just one hour you can go from the rugged Pyrenees Mountains to the Atlantic Coastline.

Biarritz is an exceptional destination located in the heart of the Basque Country. Recently, the French Government has chosen the brand Biarritz-Basque Country, a jewel of international tourism, to underline the advantages of tourism in France, along with 19 other destinations.

Bayonne owes its significant architectural heritage to its rich history. Bayonne has strong policies on heritage and culture and obtained France's official “Town of Art & History” status in 2012, in recognition of 2,000 years of history and rich heritage. We will visit typical Basque villages and country landscapes.

San Sebastian is incredible, but if you really want to sink your teeth into Basque culture then a day trip to one of its quaint little villages is also a must. Espelette and Ainhoa are amongst the most well-known – mostly because of their famous peppers. The houses there are built in the traditional Basque manner and the streets are lined with boutiques and artisanal markets selling homemade chocolates among other delights.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz is another village worth visiting, if only for its beautiful beach. This glimmering, gold beach is right in the centre of the town and is perfect for lying out in the sun, listening to the waves lap the shore.

Around 40km – 30 miles to the east of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. This town is imbued with historical significance because it is a strategic point on the Camino de Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage route.

Buying a traditional product in the Basque Region allows you to take a part of this fascinating region home with you, together with great memories from France. A popular gift to take home is a pair of authentic Basque espadrilles sandals, “handicraft” household linen or a traditional Basque Beret. As part of our tour, you will get to visit workshops where these beautiful items are made.

Your Basque Country Accommodation

MODERN CONVENIENCES, YET TRADITIONAL CHARM, IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE OUR ACCOMMODATION IN BASQUE COUNTRY!

Our home away from home is a local traditional home in one of the most beautiful villages in the Basque Country, only 15 minutes from Bayonne, Anglet and Biarritz.

The home showcases the charming countryside, yet is close to the beaches of the Basque Coast.

It is located on a hectare of wooded grounds and features a heated salt-water pool and stunning décor.

The home is a true ode to country life, with a carefully thought-out interior design that reminds you of the farms of yesteryear, while offering all modern conveniences. Its atmosphere is one of great warmth and refinement. The house is set up on two levels, with the upper level reserved for the bedrooms - five spacious suites with tremendous charm, each with its own ensuite bath or shower room. All suites overlook the lush Basque mountains of the Pyrenees range.

The ground floor is dedicated to the shared living areas, including a furnished veranda with a summer kitchen, a living area with a table and a gorgeous living room opening on to the terrace, with a fireplace and bar.