Private French Basque Country Food Tour from San Sebastian
Description
'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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?).
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from different locations is possible for an extra charge.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Wheelchair accessibility is extra paid - contact for details
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Please carry your passport or your European Union ID
Reviews(41)
This tour is the most beautiful, curated experience and left my friends and I in awe of the region- for its stunning landscapes, history and of course, food. Malena, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and engaging and we loved every bit of it. 10/10 tour, 10/10 guide, and a wonderful small company.
Melissa, reviews like this are exactly why we love doing what we do :) The French Basque coast has such a special atmosphere, dramatic landscapes, deep traditions, incredible food and that mix of elegance and authenticity that surprises so many people. We’re very happy Malena helped bring all of it to life for you and your friends in such an engaging and memorable way. And thank you as well for noticing the care and personality behind our small company. That truly means a lot to us.
A spectacular tour of the French Coast with Ernest Guide! I want to sincerely thank you for the excellent experience we experienced on the French Coast tour, especially in Biarritz. Everything was perfectly organized, and the tour was simply unforgettable. Our guide, Ernest, was exceptional: friendly, professional and with a deep knowledge of the area. He was able to convey his passion for the region, telling us interesting stories and details that made each stop come to life. Thanks to it, the tour was not only informative, but also very entertaining and unforgettable. The landscapes of the French Coast are breathtaking, and being able to discover them with someone as dedicated as Ernest was a real privilege. I definitely recommend this tour 100% and give it the highest score. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Qué gusto leer una reseña así :) Ernest vive esta tierra con muchísima pasión y nos encanta saber que consiguió transmitir toda la esencia de la Costa Vasca Francesa durante el día. Biarritz, los paisajes, las historias y esa mezcla entre cultura vasca y ambiente atlántico hacen esta zona realmente especial. Muchísimas gracias por vuestras palabras y por valorar tanto el trabajo de Ernest. Aquí os esperamos para seguir descubriendo más rincones del País Vasco juntos!
A spectacular tour! It was a very complete visit to various places in the area and tasting incredible gastronomy. Listening to Ernes is a real pleasure, rating that he knows a lot, loves what he does and conveys so much passion that makes the tour more than interesting! Most recommended!
Qué bonito leer esto, Virginia. Nos alegra muchísimo que disfrutaras tanto del recorrido y de la gastronomía, y que la pasión de Ernes hiciera la experiencia aún más especial. Comentarios así significan mucho para nosotros. Muchas gracias por tu recomendación.
I can say it was the best tour I've ever been on. Even knowing that whole area by heart has managed to surprise me. He has told us a lot of story while giving us a taste of a mix of top quality local products. I finished the tour wanting to repeat. Thank you so much!
Qué bonito leer esto. Nos alegra muchísimo que incluso conociendo la zona hayas podido vivirla de una forma diferente y con sorpresa. Y que disfrutaras tanto de la historia como de los productos locales durante el recorrido. Gracias de verdad por tus palabras.
Magnificent tour of the Basque-French coast, being able to get to know the culture and gastronomy on both sides of the border with a local guide of 10. Eskerrik asked for the day.
Without a doubt, one of the best tours I have done in my life. Despite being from the area I was surprised and made me discover places I did not know. Ernes ensures that an all-day tour doesn’t get heavy or boring, quite the opposite. Each stop of the tour is thought out to detail and with very different contributions. Also, it was the first time I tasted oysters and I loved them:) The best part of the tour: a very balanced mix of culture and gastronomy (plus Ikusnahi’s professionalism).
Qué ilusión leer esto, especialmente viniendo de alguien de la zona :) Eso es exactamente lo que buscamos, que incluso personas que conocen el País Vasco descubran rincones, sabores e historias nuevas durante el día. Ernes tiene una manera muy natural de mezclar cultura, gastronomía y buen ambiente, así que le encantará leer tus palabras. Y muy felices también de haber conseguido convertirte al mundo de las ostras ;)
We had an absolutely wonderful day with Ernes!! It was the highlight of our trip…. He is very knowledgeable about the wine, cheese, history and politics of the region and provided us with an excellent culinary experience at every stop. This tour is worth every cent!
Really lovely to read this. We’re genuinely happy you had such a great day with Ernes and that it became a highlight of your trip. He puts a lot of care into each experience, so your words will mean a lot to him. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
What an amazing tour! We felt so special, like spending the day with a friend. Ernes was very knowledgeable about the basque culture and history. We sampled local regional cuisine, toured the gorgeous countryside. And learned about the history and culture of the region. Honestly it was incredible. Can’t wait to come back.
This is exactly how we hope these days feel :) Relaxed, personal and full of good conversations, beautiful landscapes and local food shared more like friends than a traditional tour. Ernes will be very happy to know you connected so much with the culture, history and atmosphere of the French Basque Country. We’ll be waiting for you when it’s time to come back for another Basque adventure!
Absolutely amazing tour with Ania, she wonderful guide, so knowledgeable and very responsive to guests' requests. During the tour we tasted amazing cheeses and very good red we .food markets and market halls each experience separately , absolutely fantastic. In Biarritz we ate the most amazing oysters we 've ever eaten ( we 've eaten a lot of oysters in our lives ) . The tour is perfect for figs who love wine and food, you will not be disappointed. Annia is the super guide, we are grateful that we got to spend a memorable day with her.
We had a great time! We loved the selections of cheese, seafood, pintxos, wine, and sweets. Our guide Martin, was passionate about Basque culture and generous with sharing insights about the region's history, origins, and food trends. We got special access into a parador to see its tapestry exhibits as well as a panoramic birds eye view of the Basque coastline. Highly recommend this tour! Looking forward to more experiences from Ikusnahi tours.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the experience and Martin’s passion for Basque culture. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to share more experiences with you again soon.
