Topa! Basque Country
Spain & France
with Chef Kelly Unger
Topa! Basque Country
I’m excited to introduce you to Basque Country, a region of ancient, pre-Christian peoples that straddles the western border of Spain and France between the Pyrenees mountains and the Bay of Biscay/North Atlantic Ocean. Topa (TOH-pah) means “cheers” in the Basque language, and we will be saying this a lot during our delicious journey.
I’ve been obsessed with Basque Country for years and have taught several cooking classes about this region. What draws me to this area is the Basque obsession with their food culture - fresh, hyper local, made by hand, untouched by machinery, traditional ways preserved, cheeses you’ve never heard of, Bayonne ham, chocolate, cider from apple varieties only found there and a deep commitment to preserving their foodways. The Basques are the originators of the Supper Club idea. And in Basque Country, everyone cooks, especially the men. Add to that, the Rioja wine region on the Spanish side that we will be visiting. We’ll get a taste of the city, the seaside towns, wander the countryside visiting ancient villages, wineries, dine at a Michelin starred restaurant, visit the source of the Espelette pepper, feast on pintxos, and of course, take a few cooking classes.
Join me for this ultimate food and wine obsessed journey through two countries and a land few people know exist.
Kelly Unger
Everything Basque
September 18-27, 2027
We’ll begin our journey into this fabled land in Bilbao, home to the famed Guggenheim museum and the amazing seafood-packed La Ribera market. Next stop San Sebastian, considered one of the world’s top food destinations. With its elegant Belle Époque architecture and medieval center, you’ll have time to explore and enjoy all the town has to offer. From here, we’ll head into the nearby countryside with its green valleys and rugged seaside cliffs. We'll visit wineries, fishing villages, and learn the secrets of the Basque kitchen.
In France, we’ll meander through charming villages nestled amid the Pyrenees. We'll walk a part of the historic Camino in St. Jean Pied de Port, a town pilgrims have passed through for centuries. We'll visit Espelette with its dried chile-adorned homes—a gift from the New World along with the chocolate that fills the stores in Bayonne. This ancient town, full of colorful half-timbered houses, is where shiploads of cacao first arrived from Mexico. Roam the medieval streets of Hondarribia and dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant. After crossing the border, we’ll relish every minute at the Hotel Arraya in Sare. The historic family-run establishment dates from the 16th-century and has all the charm you can imagine and more.
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Experience
Basque Country
$5300 pp--Double Occupancy
$1000--Single Supplement
Extra night in Bilbao upon arrival:
$265 single; $280 double
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INCLUDED in our Basque Country tour:
9 nights accommodations--2 nights at the Secrotel Arenal Hotel in Bilboa, 4 nights at the Villa Katalina in San Sebastain, and 3 nights at the 4-star Hotel Arraya in Sare, all meals specified in the itinerary (9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 2 dinners), 2 cooking classes, professional guides, all listed activities, taxes and gratuities, and group transportation after arriving at the hotel in Bilbao and until drop-off at either the Biarritz train station or airport.
NOT INCLUDED in our tour:
International airfare, airport transfer in Bilbao, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages beyond wine tastings and house wine with meals.
A $1000 deposit is required to secure your place in Chef Kelly's Basque Country tour.
Click here to see our
TERMS AND CANCELATION POLICY.
Since the number of participants is limited to 14 people and accommodations vary, early registration is advised.
“... truly extraordinary.”
"This trip to the Basque country was truly extraordinary. We had marvelous culinary experiences - including two cooking classes - but I loved the fact that our activities were balanced with discussions of the historical significance of the area and regional cultural. Plus, there was plenty of time allotted for shopping and wandering independently. Our guides were an excellent resource and clearly knew their homeland well. The selected hotels were charming and unique, and certainly nothing I would have found on my own. I look forward to booking another travel experience with Kris who created an amazing adventure."
Kathleen McFarlin—Los Angeles, California
Read more testimonials here and see for yourself why Delicious Expeditions are trips of a lifetime!
A Culinary Journey into a Fabled Land
¡Bienvenidos!
Arrive to Bilboa and the Secrotel Arenal Hotel, located along the river in el Casco Viejo, or Old Town. We’ll meet in the late afternoon for a guided walking tour that will morph into a moveable feast of pinxtos and wine. Discover the tapas of the Basque Country with its many delicious incarnations.
See Basque Country photo gallery
Meals: Dinner
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Learn to Cook like a Local
Tour Bilbao's amazing La Ribera market before a cooking class lunch featuring a traditional Basque menu. Free afternoon and evening to explore—take the funicular to Mount Artxanda for sweeping views of the city, or head to Puente Colgante, the world's oldest transport bridge. Optional add-on private tour of the Guggenheim Museum.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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The Rioja Wine Valley
We'll journey into Rioja with its rolling hills and picturesque vineyards. Visit two wineries to taste the fruits of their labor. Enjoy a countryside lunch at a tavern tucked into the mountains. Explore LaGuardia, designated one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Roam its cobbled alleyways and peak into its many wine cellars before heading to San Sebastian, where we'll settle in the Villa Katalina, located beside the Cathedral. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Discover San Sebastian
Enjoy a walking tour of San Sebastian, a noted European city of royalty and beauty. Lunch in the seaside neighborhood of Gros, followed by a free afternoon to discover more of this amazing place on your own--walk La Concha beach, take a boat to Santa Clara Island, or wander the grounds of Miramar Palace. Free evening to book a top-rated restaurant or bar hop in Old Town to discover more pinxtos.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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The Basque Seaside
Head into the countryside for a tour and tasting at a traditional cider house before perusing the streets of Getaria, a fishing village known for its seafood restaurants. Lunch along the water. Afternoon visit to a Txakoli (regional white wine) vineyard with its sweeping views. Walk the rugged coast of Zumaia and Flysch, an UNESCO Geopark.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Cheese Tasting & Paella Making
Discover smoky Basque Idiazabal cheese at a sheep farm known for its award-winning products. Meet "the ladies" and sample their products. Lunch of traditional fare at a countryside tavern with breathtaking views. Explore the towns of Tolosa and the amazing Basilica of Loyola. Evening paella cooking class.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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Fortress Towns
We’re off to France by way of the scenic Bay of Biscayne. Tour Hondarribia with its 10th-century castle and medieval center. Free time to explore on your own. We'll continue our drive, jouneying through the mountains of Navarre, stopping to lunch in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Settle into our new accommodations at the Hotel Arraya in Sare, one of France's designated most beauitufl villages. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Fine Dining & Chocolate
Explore the quaint seaside village of Saint Jean de Luz with time to roam its narrow alleyways. Visit Egiategia, an aquatic winery that is experimenting with under-the-sea fermentation. Lunch at Gaztelur, a Michelin-recognized countryside restaurant that has its own garden and shop. Discover the many chocolate shops of Bayonne, an ancient village filled with half-timbered homes.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Village Life
Drive through beautiful rolling hills to Saint Jean Port de Pied, for many the starting point of the famed Camino into Spain. Walk the path of the Pilgrims before exploring the towns of Baigorry and Bidarray, lunching along the way. Multi-coursed farewell dinner at the Hotel Arraya.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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Bon Voyage!
After breakfast, we’ll pack our bags and head to Biarrtiz for a drop-off at either the airport or train station. An add-on private shuttle can be arranged for anyone who would prefer to return to the Bilbao.
Meals: Breakfast
Our itinerary is designed to showcase the best of the Basque Country while allowing enough free time for you to also explore on your own.
The above is a sample itinerary. Minor adjustments might be made depending on local events and festivals. Hotels may be substituted depending on availability.
Physical Requirements:
Walking 1-2 miles a day, standing at least an hour at a time, and climbing 2 flights of stairs.