Basque Country and Rioja Alavesa[COMPLETO]
Travel to the Basque Country (Euskadi) and marvel at some of the most photogenic places in Europe. And all along the way, discover millenary traditions, beautiful architectural jewels, and a tasty culture of "going for pintxos" that you can share with the friendly Basque people. Travel this exciting route by car and feel the essence of the Basque Country.
Viaja al País Vasco (Euskadi) y maravíllate ante algunos de los lugares más fotogénicos de Europa. Y durante todo el camino, descubre tradiciones milenarias, hermosas joyas arquitectónicas y una sabrosa cultura de “ir de pintxos” que podrás compartir junto al acogedor pueblo vasco. Recorre esta apasionante ruta en coche y siente la esencia vasca.
We invite you to explore peaceful roads dotted with century-old vineyards in the beautiful wine region of Rioja Alavesa; discover unique landscapes featuring dizzying cliffs, cobbled farmhouses lost in the green of the mountains, windy coasts, unspoiled beaches, and picturesque towns like Getaria and Bermeo; explore the Natural Parks of Gorbeia and Urkiola, the Mairuelegorreta and Baltzola caves, the Ullibarri-Gamboa, Urrunaga, and Albina reservoirs, the Gujuli waterfall... The authentic green heart of the Basque Country is one of the most precious "eco" destinations in northern Spain. And in Gernika-Lumo, we will connect with the soul of Euskadi, after visiting the Casa de Juntas and the Peace and Basque Country museums. Discover this complete countryside, cultural, coastal, gastronomic, and wine route... You can eat at some of the world's most famous establishments or in traditional restaurants in remote fishing villages; discover the avant-garde Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the belle époque footprint in San Sebastian, the green charm of Vitoria, the mystical beauty of the spectacular hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe... Travel this exciting route by car and feel the essence of the Basque Country.
Day 1 - City of Origin - Bilbao
Departure on a flight from your home city to Bilbao and pick up the rental car. Your adventure begins here. Industrial, artistic, avant-garde, gastronomic, urban, renovated... Bilbao welcomes us with open arms. Its joie de vivre, its fabulous gastronomic universe, its excellent museums and its surprising naturalness in combining its past of blast furnaces with art nouveau jewels, baroque and contemporary monuments and buildings signed by the most famous architects in the world make the city a unique place. Don't miss its iconic Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry; the lively Abandoibarra promenade, shared by tourists, Bilbaínos, runners and families; the imposing Isozaki towers and its busy Azkuna Zentroa, a former wine warehouse converted by Philippe Starck into a genuine meeting place...
On this first stage of the trip, we will discover a welcoming Bilbao that invites you to navigate its estuary and cross its Bizkaia or Hanging Bridge, declared a World Heritage Site; to stroll through its lively Old Town and walk its bustling "Seven Streets"; to sit in front of extensive and appetizing pintxos bars while toasting with some txikitos (small glasses of wine); to go shopping in its genuine shops of yesteryear... As night falls, discover the most authentic Bilbao from the viewpoint of Mount Artxanda and its fun nightlife. Accommodation in Bilbao.
Day 2 - Bilbao - Gorbeia Natural Park - Vitoria
We bid farewell to the vibrant and urban city of Bilbao to venture into the bucolic Gorbeia Natural Park, a land of overflowing nature that seduces those who decide to explore it. Located in the green heart of the Basque Country, this 20,000-hectare paradise is one of the most precious eco-tourist destinations in northern Spain. Driving through it is an absolute delight. Here you will find nature, traditions, gastronomy, and leisure in its purest state. During the route, you can visit places as spectacular as the Gorbeia and Urkiola Natural Parks, the Mairuelegorreta and Baltzola caves, the Ullibarri-Gamboa, Urrunaga and Albina reservoirs, the Gujuli Waterfall, the Saldropo wetland... We recommend visiting a cheese factory, becoming a shepherd or beekeeper for a day, visiting museums such as the Honey or Traditional Basque Pottery Museum (in Ollerias, Elosu)...
Take the opportunity to taste Idiazábal cheese and Gorbeia craft beer! You can explore the park on your own or following one of the perfectly marked routes (Urkiola Route, West Gorbei Route, and 240 Route) that the Basque Government has enabled. Choose the one you like the most! After finishing the visit, we head to Vitoria, a green, modern, and welcoming city that surprises the traveler with its beautiful old town, lively atmosphere, and delicious cuisine. Follow the "Senda de los Elefantes" (Cuchillerías street) and savor its delicious tapas! Accommodation in Vitoria.
Day 3 - Vitoria - Rioja Alavesa (Elciego / Marqués de Riscal - Laguardia) - Vitoria
Today's stage will allow us to get to know the historic and photogenic wine region of Rioja Alavesa. Its particular wine tourism culture, its polychromatic landscapes dotted with beautiful vineyards and stone towns, its suggestive skies and radiant light will accompany us throughout the journey. It is a land of good wine and excellent wineries, some more avant-garde, others more traditional, but all encourage the traveler to learn about the history and process of making Rioja D.O. wine. And to enjoy a tasting! Between visits, we will come across castles, manor houses, and medieval towns; we will visit interesting wine museums and architectural jewels; we will enjoy quiet conversations with friendly locals and delicious cuisine paired with one of the world's best wines. We start this essential "Wine Route" in the charming medieval town of Laguardia, a fortified locality with a well-preserved old town and essential places such as the churches of San Juan Bautista and Santa María de los Reyes.
You will be surprised by its genuine underground layout and its labyrinth of galleries and passages where wine ferments in silence. On the surface, its narrow streets only allow the passage of pedestrians and bicycles. Here, road traffic is prohibited. Visit its wineries, bars, taverns, and haute cuisine restaurants. We continue the route. A delicious 15-minute journey through vineyards takes us to Elciego, our next stop. Here we will visit the avant-garde Marqués de Riscal winery, an incredible building designed by Frank Gehry. On our way back to Vitoria, we pass through the Balcony of La Rioja (Leza). Located on the road to the top of Herrera, the viewpoint offers a stunning panoramic view of all of Rioja Alavesa and part of the La Rioja Community. Accommodation in Vitoria.
Day 4 - Vitoria - San Sebastián
After enjoying the city of Vitoria, admiring its two cathedrals, Renaissance palaces and well-kept gardens and sharing its lively atmosphere, we head to San Sebastian. During the approximately one-hour car ride, we encourage you to enjoy the cuisine of this land by making stops at the Ondarre cheese factory in Segura, the Interpretation and Tasting Center of Idiazabal Cheese, the Interpretation Center of Food and Gastronomy in Ordizia, and the Basque cider museum of Sagardoetxea in Astigarraga.
We have the rest of the day free to enjoy the charms of San Sebastian, a romantic and stately city that surprises us with its elegant atmosphere, one of the most beautiful bays in Spain, the photogenic Concha beach, its vibrant cultural agenda structured around the Kursaal and the newly inaugurated Tabakalera Center, and which earned it the title of European Capital of Culture 2016... Buildings such as the Hotel Maria Cristina, the Victoria Eugenia Theater, the City Hall, or the La Perla Spa remind the traveler of the splendor of the belle époque when this city was the summer destination for the most select of European royalty and aristocracy. San Sebastian is a city for walking, eating well, relaxing, and enjoying life. Known as the world capital of "pintxos," its Old Town is dotted with traditional restaurants and taverns where you can experience authentic gastronomy. Accommodation in San Sebastian.
Day 5 - San Sebastián - Zarautz - Getaria - Gernika - Bermeo - Bilbao
We embark on one of the most photogenic stretches of the Basque coast. From the car, we admire a rugged and unique coastline with a taste of the sea, dotted with wild beaches surrounded by sharp cliffs, cobbled farmhouses lost in the greenery of the mountains, picturesque fishing villages... And, between stops, we savor the excellent cuisine of the area. In Zarautz, three and a half kilometers of beach, a lively historic center, and interesting Gothic and Renaissance buildings await you.
After a short car ride on a road over the sea, considered one of the best roads in the world according to a list made by a well-known car rental company, we arrive at Getaria, an old whaling town that saw the birth of Juan Sebastián Elcano and today captures travelers with its historic port, renowned fish restaurants, and the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. We leave the coast to visit Gernika-Lumo, a symbol of the freedoms and peace of this town, where we will visit the Casa de Juntas, the Museum of Peace, the Euskal Herria Museum, and the Jai-Alai fronton. We return to the coast to finish this intense day in the picturesque fishing village of Bermeo. There we will visit the spectacular hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Cape Matxitxako, the whaling ship Aita Guria, and the Fisherman's Museum, located in the Ercilla Tower. Accommodation in Bilbao.
Day 6 - Bilbao - City of origin
Arrive at the airport with enough time to return the rental car and take the flight back to the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
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