SAVEURS of French BASQUE COUNTRY - Private Gastronomic Adventure
Overview
'Gourmet' is a French word because our neighbors to the north know something about eating (well) and drinking (very well). We go to Gaul to have a few things explained to us about their national treasures. Namely: cheeses, wines, charcuterie and The Good Life in general. We’ll end the day in Hondarribia with some pintxos. Nothing can go wrong.
Inclusions
- Driver/guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- High quality local food specialities all day long
- Wine, beer or cider with the meals
- Entry/Admission - Les Halles de St Jean de Luz
- Entry/Admission - Mercado Les Halles
- Entry/Admission - Maison Adam
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Hendaye, Hendaye, Basque Country, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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.
Stop At: Les Halles de St Jean de Luz, Bd Victor Hugo, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Maison Adam, 4, 6 Rue de la République, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Rue Léon Gambetta, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Phare de Biarritz, Espl. Elisabeth II Pointe St-Martin, 64200 Biarritz France
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Mercado Les Halles, Rue Les halles, Biarritz France
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?).
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Hondarribia, Hondarribia, Province of Guipuzcoa, Basque Country
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.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Hendaye, Hendaye, Basque Country, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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.
Stop At: Les Halles de St Jean de Luz, Bd Victor Hugo, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Maison Adam, 4, 6 Rue de la République, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Rue Léon Gambetta, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Phare de Biarritz, Espl. Elisabeth II Pointe St-Martin, 64200 Biarritz France
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Mercado Les Halles, Rue Les halles, Biarritz France
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?).
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Hondarribia, Hondarribia, Province of Guipuzcoa, Basque Country
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.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Wheelchair accessibility is extra paid - contact for details
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Our vehicles and offices are cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the cleaning and disinfection protocol certified by the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE). We also use an ozone air purification treatment in our vehicles before every tour.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
L634WQjimm
April 2023
We had a fantastic day touring through Basque country with Ania. She was fun, knowledgeable and a great driver too! The food experience was diverse and yummy. It was particularly fun to learn more about the Basque culture. I would highly recommend this tour!
We had a fantastic day touring through Basque country with Ania. She was fun, knowledgeable and a great driver too! The food experience was diverse and yummy. It was particularly fun to learn more about the Basque culture. I would highly recommend this tour!Cristina_R
March 2022
Ernest excelente, las degustaciones de queso, ostras, pasteles espectacular, los pueblos visitados preciosos. Un di inolvidable
Ernest excelente, las degustaciones de queso, ostras, pasteles espectacular, los pueblos visitados preciosos. Un di inolvidable211madelynh
March 2023
We had the most amazing time on our tour. As two food lovers we were not disappointed. We enjoyed learning about the wine in the area as well as the local cuisine. It was a very unique experience to visit various markets. Additionally, Ernes was a phenomenal guide. We loved learning about the his...
We had the most amazing time on our tour. As two food lovers we were not disappointed. We enjoyed learning about the wine in the area as well as the local cuisine. It was a very unique experience to visit various markets. Additionally, Ernes was a phenomenal guide. We loved learning about the history of the basque region through his familial history and local background. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting! We are so grateful for this experience as we saw so much.Yelin L
March 2023
My husband and I just came back from a 3 night San Sebastian trip and we spent 2 whole days with Ania from Ikusnahi and this was the highlight of our trip. We did the French Basque country tour after the Rioja wine tour and had a great time. We didn't even plan to go to France on this trip but we...
My husband and I just came back from a 3 night San Sebastian trip and we spent 2 whole days with Ania from Ikusnahi and this was the highlight of our trip. We did the French Basque country tour after the Rioja wine tour and had a great time. We didn't even plan to go to France on this trip but were so impressed with Ania that we decided to give it a try. The tour started at 9AM and we drove to the French border right away. Ania also adjusted our itinerary as we have a big dinner that day and had to finish eating everything by 2:30 PM. The small towns we visited were very charming and we were one of the few tourists due to low season. It was also stress free as Ania knew where to park and made it very efficient. At the end of the trip, both of us agreed that the French basque country is great for sightseeing and snacks but we preferred the Spanish side for food and wine and the relaxed atmosphere. Ania also helped us order wine and gave us local recommendations. We'd recommend her in a heart beat for anyone coming to visit San Sebanstian.christiandC6176CB
September 2023
Very interesting tour from both cultural and gastronomic perspectives. Shout out to our guide Markel who showed us great local markets in St. Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Hondarribia as well as Txakoli wineries. He was super knowledgeable about Basque history and culture on both sides of the border. ...
Very interesting tour from both cultural and gastronomic perspectives. Shout out to our guide Markel who showed us great local markets in St. Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Hondarribia as well as Txakoli wineries. He was super knowledgeable about Basque history and culture on both sides of the border. Highly recommend this tour for those interested in Basque cuisine and culture! It is a great taste of the area/French side of Basque country - particularly if you don't have time to leisurely explore the region over a few weeks.278erinf
June 2022
Ania was the most amazing tour guide! She was very educated on basque history and the region, along with the region’s wine and cuisine. Not only did we learn a lot, we had the best time her all day tasting amazing food and seeing the best areas of this spectacular region. I would highly recommen...
Ania was the most amazing tour guide! She was very educated on basque history and the region, along with the region’s wine and cuisine. Not only did we learn a lot, we had the best time her all day tasting amazing food and seeing the best areas of this spectacular region. I would highly recommended this tour. It’s worth every penny and more. I wish we would have done it at the beginning of our trip in San Sebastián because Ania had fantastic recommendations that I wish we had more time to explore.