Departure from the U.S.A. for overnight flight to Bordeaux via Paris. Airfare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can help you get the best airfare and schedule.
Meal: dinner
Transfer to hotel upon arrival at Bordeaux airport, or Bordeaux Gare Saint Jean. (not included). We can make these arrangements if you send us a copy of your airline or train tickets
Check-in for 3 nights at our centrally located hotel.
Afternoon introduction to Bordeaux, a cultural walking tour with an English speaking local guide.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant serving typical Bordelaise cuisine.
Meals: B, L
Departure to the wine town of Saint Emilion. We‘ll visit the nearby “Château Ambe Tour Pourret” where they practice biologic (organic) agriculture. Meet one of the Chefs (Jerome Oillic or Quentin Novelle) for a hands-on cooking class. Enjoy your own cooking for lunch paired with wines of the Chateau.
https://celene-bordeaux.fr/chateau/chateau-ambe-tour-pourret/
In the afternoon visit the small town of St. Emilion and its famous church, the largest monolithic church in Europe carved into the earth in the 12th century. Afterwards, we’ll have time to explore St. Emilion, the perfect place to purchase superb wines and wine-related gifts.
Return to our hotel in Bordeaux
Meals: B, L
Our guide meets us at the hotel to visit the city’s largest local market, “Le Marche des Capucins”, the belly of Bordeaux where people have been buying food for centuries.
Then, like a true “Bordelais” we’ll take the tram to go and visit Les Halles de Bacalan, the newest covered market which opened in 2017. Here 23 artisan-producers offer a display of delicious local prepared foods and baked goods. We’ll meet Chef Frédéric Coiffé “Maître Cuisinier de France.” He will take us through “Les Halles” and to his restaurant where you will enjoy delicious food and wines in a pleasant and quiet garden with the “retro chic” decor of old time sailors!
After lunch, we’ll visit “La Cite du Vin” (entrance tickets and audio guide) across the street. Walk or take the tram back to the hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Check-out and departure by minivan to SAS Caviar de France in Bigamos, a sturgeon farm where they produce caviar. Learn the history of caviar and farming and production methods. Finish the experience with a caviar tasting accompanied by wine.
We proceed to Gujan-Mestras, the capital of oyster farming, less than 7 miles away in the Bay of Arcachon. Also known as the Basin of Arcachon, this large tidal lagoon is an important center of oyster farming with more than 300 producers. We will learn about oyster cultivation and the fascinating story of the Basin. Afterwards, we will enjoy a simple oyster and shrimp lunch with wine while overlooking the bay.
We leave our driver from Bordeaux and board our minibus and continue to the charming seaside town of Arcachon to stroll around, visit the many boutiques, and perhaps find a café for a beverage. If time allows, we may take a ride on the Little Train to circle Arcachon and learn about its history (no advance reservation is available).
10 miles South is another surprise as we stop at the Dune du Pyla and take the time to climb the dune to discover a magnificent view of the Basin of Arcachon.
We continue driving south along the Atlantic Coast to the French Basque town of Bayonne. (115 miles /about 2 hours).
Arrival in Bayonne. Check in for 3 nights at the charming Hotel des Basses Pyrenees
Dinner nearby at Restaurant Sequence prepared by Chef Sebastien Grave, known to be a spontaneous, impetuous, and elegant cook who specializes in food with Basque roots and a modernist twist.
Meals: B, D
After breakfast, we leave with our local guide for Biarritz, a town frequented by European royalty in the eighteenth century. Still very elegant and popular, this seaside town located in the Bay of Biscay attracts wealthy tourists who stay in its many luxury hotels. Our guided tour will end at the local covered market.
Lunch on our own near the market.
Return to Bayonne and learn about the local famous specialties: ham and chocolate. The famous “Jambon de Bayonne” has a long history; the process of using salt to dry cure legs of pork goes back for more than 1000 years in Bayonne.
Cooking class and dinner with a local Chef.
Meals: B, L
The French Basque Country
Enjoy a full day tour to the beautiful villages of the French Basque country.
Attend a private Jai Alai match, the typical sport of the Basque Country and known as “The world’s fastest game.” Jai Alai is played with a ball, called a small, very hard ball called pelota, The cesta is the handmade curved basket used by the players to throw the ball, which produces a loud whipping sound that can be heard on the “cancha” (court) and even in the stands. When the ball smashes against the front wall it produces a gunshot-like sound. The wall must be made of granite to withstand the impact. Saying that this is an intense sport is an understatement.
After the match, continue to the towns of Sare and Ainhoa for a visit, then onto Espelette for lunch at the beautiful and historic restaurant Euskadi, a local favorite. The restaurant’s name refers to the local’s word for Basque Country.
In the afternoon, our guided visit of Espelette will include a visit to the “Atelier du Piment.” If it is not raining, we will begin in the pepper field followed by a presentation on the history, culture, and cultivation of the Espelette pepper. We end with a tasting of products derived from Espelette pepper. This is a great place to purchase gifts.
Our last stop is the village of La Bastide de Clairence, a member of the “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France Association.” We return to Bayonne for dinner on our own.
Meals: B, L
Check-out and departure for San Sebastian, a 1-hour drive just over the French border in Spain. After a guided tour of San Sebastian, also known as Donostia, famous not only for its numerous Michelin starred restaurants (as of 2022, there were 8 with 16 stars altogether) but also as one of the best city-beaches in Europe.
After our tour, we will enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the top restaurants of San Sebastian for a tasting of its internationally renowned cuisine with perhaps a stroll through the town’s old quarter afterwards. We then continue to Bilbao (65 miles /1h ¼ drive), a city full of architecturally significant buildings.
Check-in at Hotel Miro for 2 nights, very close to the Guggenheim. Dinner is on our own.
Meals: B, L, D
After breakfast, meet your local guide and start your city tour beginning with the world-famous Guggenheim Museum conceived by Canadian American Architect Frank Gehry who creates buildings as sculptural objects.
After the museum, we continue our tour walking along the Nervión River to arrive in the Old Quarter of Bilbao, named Casco Viejo. In this historical center of the city most streets are pedestrian only. We will combine our walking visit with a Pintxos tour for lunch, hoping from bar to bar for 6 pintxos and 3 drinks
After lunch, the rest of the afternoon on your own for shopping and leisure time and a return visit to the Guggenheim if desired.
We’ll meet in the lobby and walk for our farewell dinner.
Walk back to the hotel for our last night in Spain.
Meals: B
Transfers to Bilbao airport for the various departures.
Your safety and comfort are our top priorities and final confirmation of hotels will depend on a careful selection related to the appropriate health regulations.
Proposed hotels:
BORDEAUX 3 nights Hotel de Normandie (or similar)
BAYONNE 3 nights Hotel des Basses Pyrenees (or similar)
BILBAO 2 nights Hotel Miro (or similar)
This itinerary is subject to possible changes or adjustments due to weather and traffic conditions or other unpredictable events. We will make every effort to ensure that any substitutions are of equal value and interest.
This trip is offered by Aliza Green Culinary & Cultural Tours
Reservations are made through Celestial Voyagers
Price per person $6975 (double room occupancy)
Single supplement + $1275
Deposit $750
Final payment due: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
| This trip is a land only program. You can book your airline ticket prior to travel. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, the best routing and best value for your ticket. Your round trip ticket leaving from the USA will arrive in Bordeaux, France and leave from Bilbao, Spain. Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own, please provide us with a copy of your schedule. You may have to book additional private transfers between the airport and your hotel. |
Aliza Green Cultural & Culinary Tour: Bordeaux, Basque & Bilbao and Celestial Voyagers Terms & Conditions relating to specific contracts with their partners. Aliza Cultural & Culinary Tours, Celestial Voyagers, and all their partners in France & Spain will surpass your expectations and deliver a trip of superior quality.
We may adjust the program, but we will commit to creating the best possible program for guests with safety, comfort, and ease our top priorities.
A deposit of $750 is paid on line at time of registration and will guarantee your space and the type of room you wish to reserve. We do recommend registering as soon as possible.
Final payment is due by Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Should you register after Tuesday, March 5, 2024, full payment is due; deposit can be paid on line and the balance due should follow as soon as you receive your invoice.
CANCELLATION BY THE PARTICIPANT:
Your deposit is refundable up to Friday, February 16, 2024 minus $350 processing fee.
For cancellation received in writing between Saturday, February 17, 2024 and Tuesday, March 5, 2024 , the deposit is non refundable.
For cancellation received in writing between Wednesday, March 6, 2024 and Thursday, April 4, 2024, the penalty is 50% of the trip value.
For cancellation received in writing after Thursday, April 4, 2024 and in case of no show the penalty is 100% of the trip value.
Should you be able to provide a new participant to take your place the name change fee will be waived and no penalty will apply.
We highly recommend to take a travel insurance to protect yourself from these penalties.
CANCELLATION BY TOUR OPERATOR:
All trips will operate with a minimum of 6 participants. We do recommend whenever you can to register early.
If by Tuesday, March 5, 2024 the minimum number of participants has not been reached the trip will be postponed and you will receive a full refund.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://keyword.celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
. 
Passport
Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before November 28, 2024, you must apply to renew your passport.
Visa
If you are not a US citizen please check with the consulate of Portugal or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Aliza Green is a renowned chef, an award-winning author of 15 cookbooks, and a certified tour director who is experienced in planning and leading international culinary tours. She loves to share her deep culinary knowledge, her fascinating stories, and kitchen tips and tricks gained from her extensive experience in the kitchen.