Bicycle the Basque Country: France and Spain

Highlights: Bayonne, Basque Cultural Museum, Jambon de Bayonne, Bayonne chocolate, and the Gateau Basque

Built at the confluence of the Audour and the Nive rivers, Bayonne served as an important hub for trade between the 12th and 17th centuries, exporting wine, salt and wool, and importing spices, textiles, and other luxury goods from distant lands. For instance, Portuguese Jews, who had fled the inquisition, imported the art of chocolate-making to Bayonne – the first city in France to produce the delicacy. Take time before our bike fitting to learn about the subsequent and controversial history of chocolate-making in Bayonne , or dip your toes into the region’s rich culture and history with a visit to the Basque Museum. We’ll kick off our tour with dinner together.

Highlights: Rolling Basque countryside, La Bastide and typical Basque villages.

Today we immerse ourselves in the lush pasture lands, evergreen forests and villages of the Basque countryside. Enjoy La Bastide Clairance – designated one of the most beautiful villages in France. Its well-preserved buildings, including half-timbered houses and stone churches, offer a glimpse into the town’s medieval past. At the local trinquet – the playing court for the typical Basque game, jai alai, or pelota Basca – you might enjoy some action before heading back to Bayonne.

Highlights: The Atlantic coast, Biarritz, and the French villas on the Riviera, the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Leave beautiful Bayonne and head inland for more rolling Basque countryside as you cycle towards Biarritz, one of the most prized towns of coastal Atlantic France. This seaside destination in southwestern France has been a popular vacation spot for the well-to-do since the 19th century, thanks to a mild climate and beautiful, sprawling beaches and scenic cliffs atop which French and international aristocracy built luxurious villas overlooking the ocean. Continue along the coast for dramatic views all the way to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, our destination for the next two days.

Highlights: Spectacular hills and farmland, colorful Espelette, Sare and the witches of Zugarramundi, underwater winery.

Today’s loop ride through the French Basque countryside – with a brief dip into Spain – features colorful farms, black-headed “latxa” sheep, lush meadows, and small villages. The long tentacles of the Inquisition reached Zugarramundi where one of the largest witch trials in the history of Spain occurred. On the way to back Sant-Jean-de-Luz, take a walk in Espelette, famous for the “piment d’Espelette” a staple ingredient of Basque cuisine that was introduced from the Americas. This afternoon we’ll visit a unique local winery that incorporates the power of the ocean in its vinification process.

Highlights: Corniche Basque and Jaizkibel coastal riding, entering Spain’s Pais Vasco, Hondarribia and Pasaia Basque ports. Vibrant Donostia-San Sebastian

Spectacular coastal ride today as we pedal into Spain. Great views over the ocean along the Chamin de la Corniche all the way to Hendaye, the last town in France. Enter Spain and take a rest in the fortress town of Hondarribia before an exciting ride over the Jaizkibel ridge. Tonight we’ll be in beautiful Donostia-San Sebastian. Uniquely set in a bay protected from the ocean by a peninsula, the city thrived as a fishing and industrial port that attracted architects and artists from across Europe. Today, Donostia-San Sebastian is revered for exceptional restaurants and its extraordinary, gourmet “pinxtos,” a tapas-like delight. Dinner tonight is a special gastronomic experience.

Highlights: Explore Donostia-San Sebastian, La Concha Beach. Optional ride in the hills.

Choose your own adventure today. Stroll the cobblestoned streets of old town, relax beside the crystal-clear waters of the crescent-shaped La Concha Beach, or take an invigorating ride into the surrounding hills. Immediately you will notice a change in the terrain from France, as the Spanish Basque territory is more challenging, but very rewarding. Back in Donostia-San Sebastian, you’ll embark on a once-in-a-lifetime tour de “pinxtos.”

Highlights: Farewell!

Your tour ends after breakfast.