Bordeaux, Basque & La Rioja Food & Wine With a Chef

Arrive in Bordeaux, France this morning. A Premier Tours & Travel representative will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your accommodation — a favorite boutique hotel in Bordeaux — for a four-night stay, including breakfast. Spend the day at leisure becoming acclimated to your splendid new environs and time zone.

Connect with the group for a Welcome Dinner at a local bistronomic favorite.

*Please coordinate with Premier Tours & Travel on arrival / departure windows for group transfers.

Depart from the hotel on a private panoramic and walking tour of Bordeaux to immerse yourself in the history and sites, including the treasured UNESCO World Heritage Cathédrale Saint-André, the stunning Place de la Borse — the symbol of Bordeaux with is elegant, glass-like water feature, Place du Palais, the Pont de Pierre connecting the left and right banks of the Garonne River and commissioned by Napoleon in 1882, the Grosse Cloche (one of the oldest belfries in France), and Port Cailhau with its spectacular views of Bordeaux, among others.
Following, enjoy a wine tasting workshop with local cheese and charcuterie platter to introduce your palette to the Bordeaux experience!

Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure to dine, shop or rest in this magical city.

This morning, set off on a full-day tour to discover Saint-Emilion, its wines, and its history. Immerse yourself in the history of this UNESCO World Heritage site and its historical monuments through a village visit. You will discover the secrets of this medieval town, which is the birthplace of Bordeaux viticulture.

Visit hand-selected chateaux and enjoy tastings throughout the day. A hands-on cooking class with our Expert Host and the Chef of Château at one of our favored properties.
Afterwards, you will visit a second castle and enjoy a tasting of 2 wines. You will learn more about the specificities of this appellation, including the grape varieties and the wine making techniques used to create these unique wines. To finish the day, you will go to another chateau for a final tasting of three wines.

Return to the hotel for the balance of the day at leisure.

Depart with your driver and guide on a half-day tour this morning to the Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux wine region. Located on the Left Bank, known for its gravelly soils and producing both red and dry white wines, Pessac-Léognan is a subregion of the larger Graves area, and is particularly famous for its Grand Crus Classés.

Following your hand-selected tasting experience, return to Bordeaux for the balance of the day at leisure to explore, shop and dine.

Enjoy a leisurely morning until check out. Our private driver and guide will escort the group from Bordeaux to Biarritz upon hotel checkout. Upon arrival in Biarritz — the pearl of the French Basque coast, check into our accommodation for two nights, including breakfast daily.
Following check-in, spend the afternoon at leisure meandering the seaside streets of Biarritz visiting the cafes and shops.

Reconnect with the group this evening for a quintessential French Basque dining experience.

This morning our guide will embark on an introduction to this elegant seaside town on the southwestern Basque coast. Biarritz has been a popular resort town since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. Explore the historic light house, and enjoy tastings as you explore Les Halles de Biarritz, the acclaimed local fresh food market. Discover the symbol of Biarritz, Rocher de la Vierge, which is a rocky outcrop topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary. Reached via footbridge, it offers sweeping views of the Bay of Biscay. Meander the quaint streets of this whaler’s village-cum-aristocratic playground.

Say au revoir to our expert French tour leader today! The balance of the day in Biarritz will be at leisure.

This morning, depart with our driver and hand-selected, expert Spanish tour leader, who will accompany the group from day 6 to 11 to ensure the most authentic, locally influenced experiences in the Basque country and Rioja.
A guided tour of the covered market in the capital of the French Basque region, Bayonne, awaits you this morning. Taste its world-famous pate, ham and renowned chocolate — Bayonne is historically the French capital of chocolate. Tour the old town and view the Cathedral, which is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy market tastings along the way.

Continue on to San Sebastian and your accommodations for the following four nights. Take time to refresh and relax before reconnecting with the group to experience a Pintxos (Basque-style tapas) walking tour with our local expert guide. The guide will lead you through the old quarter of San Sebastián to enjoy the famous Pintxos at the most characteristic bars and Basque cheesecake to top it off.

Embark on a half-day guided panoramic and walking tour of San Sebastian. Drive along the Bay of Biscay and the glistening beaches of San Sebastián: Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola. Pass the Town Hall, which is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain. It was originally designed as a casino in 1886 during the Belle Epoque and became the Town Hall in 1947. View San Sebastián’s fishing port and world-famous marina overflowing with colourful fishing boats. Stroll the narrow streets of Parte Vieja — the Old Town — with the stunning baroque Basílica de Santa María del Coro. Visit La Calle 31 de Agosto — the 31st of August Street and learn about the historical significance of the street and the annual tradition honoring it.

Following the tour, the balance of the day is at leisure.

Enjoy one of the finest cooking school experiences today. Explore the market with our local culinary expert and experience a quintessentially Spanish Basque culinary event at one of the 10 best local cooking schools in the world, according to National Geographic. Truly a Premier Experience.

In this unique experience, enjoy a tour of the local market, with a special focus on seasonal products. The markets are full of fresh, local products, and the chef will show how to select them to create dishes full of flavor and authenticity.
Once back at the cooking school—the best-equipped in San Sebastián— prepare dishes using the highest quality seasonal products. This class is ideal for understanding the tradition of Basque cuisine, which is essential for mastering more modern techniques.
Following lunch, the balance of the day will be at leisure.

Explore the La Rioja region of Spain today on this full-day tour. Visit Haro, a town that has become the epicenter of wine, wineries, and gastronomy of the La Rioja region due to the concentration of world-class centenary wineries all within walking distance. Enjoy the flavors of iconic vineyards and family-owned estates on this full-day exploration of Spanish wines, as well as a Farewell Culinary Experience.

Following spend time exploring the walled city of LaGuardia with its magnificent views of the vineyards. Return to San Sebastian for the evening at leisure to do any final packing or exploring of San Sebastian.

As you know, all good trips must come to an end. Transfer to the airport this morning in a group transfer.*
Bon voyage / ¡Buenos viajes!

*Please coordinate with Premier Tours & Travel on arrival / departure windows for group transfers.