Arrive Bilbao, Spain
Arrive in Bilbao, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, gather for cocktails and a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Bilbao | Masterworks of the Guggenheim
Begin your exploration of the city with a tour of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Considered an architectural masterwork in and of itself, the Frank Gehry-designed structure boasts a world-class collection of modern and contemporary art. After lunch in a local restaurant, continue your exploration of old Bilbao with a local guide. Enjoy an evening at leisure.
Guernica & the Coast | A Legacy of Remembrance
Depart Bilbao for nearby Guernica, a city inextricably linked to the brutality of war and nationalism immortalized in Pablo Picasso’s masterwork, Guernica. Delve into the poignant history that so deeply inspired the master, seeing ground zero of the infamous bombing raid that leveled the city in 1937. Continue to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a towering islet capped with a 10th-century hermitage. Walk the islet’s switch-backed causeway, a stunning setting some may recognize from the series Game of Thrones. Next, embark on a private boat trip to a wine cellar sunken some 20 meters below the surface of the sea, where local wines are paired with lunch aboard. Proceed to San Sebastián, where you settle into your hotel. Tonight, experience one of the city’s renowned restaurants.
San Sebastián | Sun, Surf & Cider
After breakfast, explore San Sebastián’s local cider culture, learning how this delightful regional staple is brewed, poured and quaffed in the Basque tradition. Next, enjoy time at leisure to relax or explore this sophisticated city of sun and surf on your own. Later, join a private cooking class exploring regional favorites.
Pamplona | Hemingway’s Haunts
Set out for the countryside to visit a family-run dairy farm and taste their fresh cheeses. Continue to Pamplona, home to the annual festival of San Fermín (the running of the bulls) that inspired Ernest Hemingway’s classic, The Sun Also Rises. After lunch at leisure, your local expert reveals the city’s medieval lanes. Return to San Sebastián, where your evening is at leisure.
Bordeaux, France | Duet of Spicy & Sweet
Cross the border into France, pausing to take in the scenic fishing village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Continue into the foothills of the Pyrénées, stopping to try the local peppers of Espelette, an ingredient prized by chefs the world over. Next, explore the time-honored chocolate-making tradition of coastal Bayonne with a tasting led by a local expert. After lunch at leisure, continue northward to Bordeaux. Here, your guide reveals the city as you walk to a local restaurant for dinner.
Bordeaux | Wines of the Châteaux’s Cellars
Today, explore some of Bordeaux’s iconic châteaux, enjoying privileged access to areas otherwise closed to the public. Savor expertly curated tastings of some of the world’s most coveted wines. Pause for lunch at one of the châteaux, before returning to the city for an evening at leisure.
Bordeaux | Delicacy of the Coast
This morning, travel to Arcachon, a charming seaside town renowned for its oysters. Join an oysterman for a boat trip around his beds, savoring fresh oysters plucked straight from the sea. Following a lunch on board, head to shore for a guided tour of The City of Wine, a museum celebrating the region’s deeply rooted wine culture. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel’s renowned Gordon Ramsay restaurant.
Depart Bordeaux
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
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