Small Group Flavors of the French Basque Country Wine & Food Tour

It’s a full-day journey through the best of southern France, served on a platter of rolling hills, coastal views, and world-class flavors. Traveling with a small group (maximum 8 people), you’ll explore the most beautiful villages of the French Basque Country with a local expert who knows all the best stories, spots, and specialties. Add in cheese, oysters, wine, and pastries? Voilà—c’est magnifique.

Morning Magic in Saint Jean de Luz

We start the day in Saint Jean de Luz, a colorful fishing town with a sweet secret and a salty past. First stop: a guided cheese tasting, where an expert affineur has hand-selected a few French beauties just for us—paired with white wine from Irulegi. Creamy, bold, nutty… this is France on a plate.

Afterward, we stroll through town, stopping by Maison Adam, where the original macaron recipe was created in 1660 (yes, before Paris made them fashionable). You’ll hear tales of corsairs like Johannès de Suhigaraychipi, see the harbor where they once anchored, and step inside the Church of Saint John the Baptist, where Louis XIV was married in royal splendor.

Biarritz: Surf, Style & Oysters

Next, it’s off to Biarritz—France’s elegant beachside jewel and the birthplace of European surfing. We’ll walk its stunning promenade, see its grand hotels from the Belle Époque, and hear about its transformation from royal retreat to surfing hotspot.

Then it’s time for Les Halles, Biarritz’s buzzing market filled with the sights, smells, and sounds of French food culture at its best. At the market bar, we’ll stop to taste oysters from Arcachon Bay, fresh shrimp, and escargots—washed down with a crisp glass of local white wine. Think of it as your passport to French flavor.

A Basque Finish in Hondarribia

To close the day, we return to Spain—just barely—and arrive in Hondarribia, a postcard-perfect Basque town with cobbled streets, colorful fishermen’s houses, and panoramic views over the Txingudi Bay. We’ll take a cultural walk through the medieval upper town and lively fishing district before enjoying a relaxed pintxo tasting and paired with a glass of crisp, effervescent Txakoli wine.

It’s the perfect ending: a mix of French finesse and Basque warmth—shared with new friends, one bite at a time.