French Basque Countryside Tour from San Sebastian
Description
A wonderful way to take a day off from exploring San Sebastian and head into the peaceful countryside of the French Basque region. You will cross the border into France through a mountain pass used by smugglers in the past and visit the typical villages of the French Basque Countryside. During the journey, you will learn about the way of life of local farmers and the importance of this charming area to the Basque Country, all while encountering beautiful mountainous and countryside scenery.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Sara, a Charming Mountain Village Our first stop is Sara, a beautiful mountain village surrounded by green hills and famous for its traditional whitewashed houses with red or green shutters. Sara is a delightful place to dive into Basque culture. Stroll through Sara's old town, filled with traditional Basque homes, offering a peaceful atmosphere perfect for relaxation.
Next, we head to Espelette, a village renowned for its Espelette pepper, a protected agricultural product and a symbol of Basque cuisine. In this charming village, you can: Wander through streets adorned with red peppers drying on the facades of houses. Learn about the production of this famous spice by visiting a pepper farm or the Pepper Museum. Explore local shops, where you can find regional delicacies like pâtés, jams, and, of course, Espelette peppers in many forms.
Final Stop: Saint Jean Pied de Port, a Gem of the Camino de Santiago We finish our day in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a charming medieval village and one of the most iconic stops on the Camino de Santiago. This historic walled town offers a unique atmosphere filled with history and beauty. In Saint-Jean Pied de Port, you can: Walk along the famous Rue de la Citadelle, a cobbled street lined with stone houses, artisan shops, and traditional restaurants. Visit the Citadel of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a fortress atop a hill with stunning views of the Pyrenees. Discover the Navarre Gate, one of the main village entrances that marks the starting point of the Camino de Santiago in France.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please provide your Hotel name or accommodation details at time of booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Reviews(38)
Fabulous day with Ander as our guide. Great communication with pickup instructions, explaining cultures, region, food... Also, Ander was very accommodating with my brother who has some health issues . The tour was great and loved the drive and small towns!!! I would definitely recommend the tour and Ander!
Eskerrik asko Linda! Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a real pleasure spending the day with you and your family. Wishing you all the best, and you’ll always have a place to return to here in the Basque Country.
We had such a great time! Ander was friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable. He made exploring the beautiful countryside an unforgettable experience.
Eskerrik asko Kimberly! I also had a really good time exploring the French Basque region with you and the rest of the girls. Thank you for your booking and take care!
Absolutely beautiful tour! I wish I could give it 10 plus stars. We are so grateful to Anders for the most wonderful tour of the French Country Basque region. He was so nice and very informative. Anders went out of his way to show us the best time, truly authentic, kind and very knowledgeable of the region. He showed us an amazing time. We learned so much and even had a nice coffee and special treat of the region in a cute local spot that we will always have a fond memory. The region is absolutely beautiful. We would never have experienced without this tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and it was extra special and delightful in every way! Do not miss the opportunity for this amazing tour and charming region. We loved it! Highly recommend and this tour company is the best!
Thank you so much for your wonderful words Pete! I’m truly happy to hear how much you both enjoyed the French Basque Countryside Tour. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you and sharing some of my favorite local spots. I’m also glad you loved that coffee stop too! Thank you again for your kindness and for taking the time to share your experience. Warm regards from San Sebastián and hope to see you back soon!
We had a terrific day with our guide, Ander, who is from this region and filled the day with fantastic commentary about the history and culture of the Basque region. We saw such beautiful countryside, quaint villages, tried local specialties and met some local shopkeepers. We loved it! We had a fabulous lunch right along the river in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and learned all about the history of this region as the gateway to Spain, along the Camino Santiago. Ander was so gracious, flexible, informative and positive—we had lots of time to linger and poke around, never feeling rushed. This day trip was a true highlight of our trip!
Eskerrik asko for your nice review Terri! I also enjoyed the day in the French Basque countryside with you both! Big hug from San Sebastian and hope to see you back again!!
What a great day we had with Ander!!! He was very informative and quite entertaining!! We enjoyed all the tastings he arranged for us - what beautiful countryside!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our day!!! Highly recommend!!!
Eskerrik asko Clara. I akso enjoyed the day with the 6 of you! Really nice group of friends! I hope you had fun during your holidays in Spain. Big hug from San Sebastian and thanks again for your beautiful words.
My husband and I had fabulous Txakoli hiking and French Basque market tours with Go Basque in May. I returned with my elderly mum and sister to visit yer more markets this time. Go Basque specially introduced us to yet more gems of market places in the Basque region and opened our world to yet more Basque Culinary specialties and ingredients!! Thank you so much for accommodating my mum’s pace and the flexibility to make our food tasting and market tours so enjoyable and comfortable trip for us all!!
Micheal (I hope I’m spelling it correctly) was the perfect guide. His knowledge of Spanish and French history was very good, and he was able to explain so much to us about the Basque culture and help us understand this part of the world. The towns he took us to were all beautiful and had meaning. We especially enjoyed his lunch recommendations and insights into the local people. This was a highlight of our trip
Thank you Susan! We are happy to read that you enjoyed the French Basque Countryside with Mikel!
My husband and I took a tour of the French Basque countryside with Ander, and we had a wonderful time. We visited the villages of Sara, Espelette, and St. Jean Pied de Port. Ander gave us great insight into the culture and history of the Basque region, and explained some of the similarities and differences between the Spanish and French Basque regions. He also offered to take pictures of us throughout the day to make sure that we could have some beautiful couples-photos. Tip: Remember to bring your passports! You are crossing into a different country, and sometimes the French government sets up checkpoints.
Thank you for your comments Joan! I also had a nice day with you both. Really nice couple! Thank you also for the tip... you never know what might happen with the gendarmerie! ;)
We had a wonderful time in the French Basque Countryside. It was picturesque and peaceful. Ander was an excellent guide who was full of knowledge, thoughtful, and accommodating. We would go on a tour with Ander again anytime.
Eskerrik asko Angelica! I also had a wonderful time! I am glad to read that you and the rest of your family enjoyed the tour and the landscapes of the French Basque Countryside. Thanks and warm regards from San Sebastian. Ander
We had an amazing day with Ander in tge Basque lands. His knowledge of history and the area was great. We enjoyed sampling local cheeses and pickles from the farmers and Ander bought us a great cherry pie baked by a local lady in one of the villages. It was simply a fab day and would recommend to anyone!
Thank you very much! We are glad to read that you enjoyed your French Basque Countryside Tour.
