French Basque Country or Iparralde, meaning ‘Northern Lands’ in Basque, is a small region in the very south-west of France about 90 mins drive from Bilbao and much less from Donostia/San Sebastián. Green and verdant, the mountains and coast which characterise this peaceful and ancient land are home to some familiar names; Biarritz, the elegant coastal resort, town of the French aristocracy, Bayonne and its ‘ham’ and St Jean de Luz with its charming port.
Your private tour will see us collect you from your accommodation in either Bilbao or San Sebastián and drive to Biarritz where your bilingual English/French guide will you introduce you to this elegant city. The central market is a must (and the shopping isn’t bad either) before we head to the small town of Bayonne, steeped in history and with a fantastic Cathedral, where we will take you to an of-the-beaten-track restaurant, frequented by the locals…
Afternoon and we head into the villages of the foothills of the Pyrenees where the folk preserve centuries–old cultural traditions as well as cheese and wine making, and whose caves are home to stone-age paintings. With 4 separate ‘Appelation de Origen Controlee’, (Wine, Cheese Peppers and now a breed of Pig) the food and dining always surprises. Your visit can take in one of these gastronomic experiences where you will sample learn and taste some of the magic of this land
Excellent small boutique hotels, fantastic golf courses, charming fishing villages, great hiking and traditional farmer’s markets ensure our guests taste and experience the French Basque Country, a less visited part of our beautiful corner of the world.