A Basque Culinary Experience

Highlights

The Place

The Basque Country, situated on the Spain’s northern Atlantic coast, balances a perfect blend of the traditional and the modern with a particular flair for all things culinary. The vibrant local culinary scene revolves around small, old-world restaurants and pintxos bars on one hand, and star chefs and an international culinary scene without par in Spain. San Sebastian is one of the culinary Meccas of the world, and La Rioja wine region is home to Spain’s most renowned wines. These two neighboring regions will satisfy professional and budding gourmets alike, providing an enthralling and vibrant world of food and wine.

The Trip

This gastronomic voyage explores the fascinating world of Basque and Riojan food and wine. Enjoy unique Basque cuisine in San Sebastian, including pintxos, the Basque variant of tapas. Visit Bilbao, with its Guggenheim Museum, and indulge in gastronomic excellence at the recently Michelin-starred Etxebarri restaurant. Then head to La Rioja to explore some of the best wineries in Spain and fantastic Riojan cuisine, including both traditional fare and lunch with the Michelin star chef of Echaurren restaurant.

Itinerary

Day 1 San Sebastián

Private transfer from San Sebastián airport to your luxury hotel. Evening escorted pintxos tour in the historic Parte Vieja. Let your guide introduce you to the best pintxos in San Sebastián. Each bar has one or more specialties.

Day 2 San Sebastián

Your guide picks you up and takes you to La Bretxa Market to shop for the day’s cooking class with Basque chef. After your meal paired with Rioja wines, stroll along the oceanfront promenade. For dinner choose among the many Michelin-starred restaurants in San Sebastián, including Arzak, Mugaritz, Martín Berasategui and Akelarre.

Day 3 Bilbao – La Rioja
This morning you will drive along the Basque coast to Bilbao for a tour of the Guggenheim Museum (building designed by Frank Gehry).
Next, drive into the mountains for a unigue culinary experience at 1 Michelin star Asador Etxebarri. Overnight at the five-star Frank Gehry designed winery hotel in La Rioja.

Day 4 La Rioja

Private Rioja winery tours with your guide. Lunch will be traditional Riojan cuisine. Overnight at the five-star winery hotel in La Rioja.

Day 5 San Sebastián
Visit a stunningly modern winery followed by one of the region’s oldest and most venerable wineries. Enjoy stellar modern cuisine at the hand of Francis Paniego, the first Riojan chef to receive a Michelin star. Return to San Sebastián. Choose a Michelin-starred modern restaurant or a traditional Basque dining experience.

Day 6 Departure
Private transfer to San Sebastián airport

2010 Dates

• September 6 – 11
• October 12 – 17

Other dates available upon request.

Prices

• $3995 per person.

Minimum 4 people for this trip. Prices based on double occupancy rooms. Single supplement of $875

Included

• 5 nights luxury accommodations
• 4 lunches/2 dinners
• Pintxos tour
• Basque cooking class
• Rioja wine tour
• Airport transfers
• All private transport
• Restaurant reservations in San Sebastián

Not included: Flights to/from San Sebastián. Travel insurance. Tips to guides and drivers.

Reservation

Please fill out the form below to reserve your place on the tour.

Terms and Conditions

All Terms and Conditions and Waiver and Release of Liability apply to each trip participant once the reservation form has been submitted. Read Terms and Conditions.

Forms

The Terms and Conditions Agreement and Waiver and Release of Liability Form must be signed and returned via email, fax or mail to Epicurean Ways with your trip reservation. See the Agreement here.

Deposit

A deposit of $750 per person is required in order to reserve a trip. After we receive your reservation form we will send you an invoice via email for the deposit. You may pay securely through PayPal via credit card, by bank transfer, or by check. We will confirm your reservation upon receipt of the deposit.

Full payment for the trip is due 60 days before the program begin date. For reservations made less than 60 days before the program begin date, full payment is due at the time of booking.

Travel Insurance

You must indicate on this form whether you accept or decline travel insurance. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance because of the protection it offers you in the case of travel emergency or need to change your travel plans. Epicurean Ways offers our travelers TravelGuard travel insurance. Click on the TravelGuard logo for a customized no-obligation quote based on your total trip cost. You can also contact us and we will give you a quote for insurance. You may purchase travel insurance through Epicurean Ways or independently.

Thank You

We are pleased that you have decided to travel with us. Do not hesitate to call or email with any questions you might have about your trip.

Epicurean Ways

Toll free: 866-642-2917
Mobile: 434-228-0641
In Spain: 951-190-478 or 635-468-938

Contact Info

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Upon receiving this reservation form, we will email you an invoice. Please tell us how you would prefer to pay:

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Credit card payments and bank transfers will be securely processed through PayPal.Payments may be made in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

Trip Info for The Basque Country and La Rioja

Dates	Select a date: September 6 – 11 October 12 – 17
Preferred Date 1:
Preferred Date 2:
Number of travelers:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Room Type:	Select a Room Type: double single

If you are a single traveler, do you prefer a single room (single supplement applies), or would you like us to pair you with another traveler of the same gender to share a room if possible?

single room share a room

Special Instructions/Comments

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Epicurean Ways has recommended that I purchase travel insurance.

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