Spain’s Basque Country, La Rioja and Burgos
Experience Basque culture, captivating towns and cities along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, spectacular scenery, Rioja wines, an inspired gastronomic heritage, and one of the world’s most avant-garde museums.
Our no-fly tour begins in San Sebastián, a coastal beauty where you’ll find some of Spain’s finest food. We spend time in Bayonne, one of the prettiest cities in the French Basque Country, to observe the fascinating cultural differences across the border, and ascend the sacred Basque Mountain of La Rhune for unforgettable views (2025 only). Back in Spain, we discover mighty Pamplona, the capital of the once-powerful Kingdom of Navarra, and Burgos, crowned by its magnificent Gothic cathedral. We drive through La Rioja, Spain’s most famous wine-producing region – and of course, we stop at a renowned bodega for a tasting. Our journey continues off the beaten path to Santillana del Mar, a charming medieval town seemingly unchanged for centuries, and to Altamira, renowned for its prehistoric cave paintings. In bustling contrast is modern Bilbao, where we stay and visit the outstanding Guggenheim Museum.
At a glance
*Maximum of 36 on a Classic tour and maximum of 25 on a Signature tour.
Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour of Pamplona, the capital of the Basque-based Kingdom of Navarra, and discover San Sebastián, an alluring coastal beauty.
- Ascend to the peak of La Rhune mountain by vintage cog railway for superb panoramas of the Pyrenees (2025 only), and explore Santillana del Mar, a picture-postcard medieval town.
- Take a guided walking tour of Burgos and explore its outstanding Gothic cathedral (audio guide included), and marvel at the superb prehistoric cave paintings of UNESCO-listed Altamira at a remarkably reproduced replica cave museum.
- Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and tour one of Rioja’s most revered vineyards with delicious wine tasting.
- Enjoy a guided tour of beautiful Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque Country and a former English stronghold, and sample delicious pintxos at a traditional bar in San Sebastián.
Upgrade to our Signature Tour to also get:
- Savour the flavours that define the Basque region with an upgraded selection of pintxos made with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.
- Indulge in an authentic wine-tasting experience followed by lunch pairing locally produced wine with mouth-watering Spanish cuisine.
- Experience a more exclusive atmosphere of travelling in a small group with an average of 22 guests.
Offers
Whether you’re an organised club, a society or even just a group of friends, arranging your group holiday or cruise has never been easier than with Riviera Travel.
Any group of 8 or more people travelling together can book through our dedicated Groups Department. If you’re a larger group we can look at operating your preferred holiday as a private one for just your members only. Smaller groups can travel together on any of our regular tours with other like-minded Riviera guests.
What's better than exploring worldwide destinations for the first time? Doing it all with your friends.
You and nine or more of your friends or family can travel for less with our group offer, available on all tours and river cruises of 6 nights or less.
Choose to receive 10% off your group’s booking costs back or one free place – simply call 01283 901216 and speak to a member of our dedicated groups team.
Hand-picked hotels
Abba Burgos Hotel
Burgos, Spain
Chosen for its perfect location along the Pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela.
Silken Amara Plaza
San Sebastián, Spain
Chosen as a great place to grab dinner before another busy day of travel.
Extras & upgrades
Opt for a convenient door-to-door service with transport from your home to your choice of regional airport or train station, available as an added optional with every holiday. This can be added to your booking after you've booked online by giving our reservations team a call, or when you're booking over the phone.
Travel connections
These are the local airports and approximate transfer times (dependent on traffic).
| Arrival airport | First hotel location | Transfer time | Final hotel location | Departure airport | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao Airport | San Sebastian | 1 hr 35 mins | Bilbao | Bilbao Airport | 30 mins |
| Santander Airport | San Sebastian | 2 hrs 30 mins | Bilbao | Santander Airport | 1 hr 45 mins |
Rail only option journey times
Journey to destination
| Departure station (UK) | Arrival station | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| London | Paris | 2h20m |
| Paris | Hendaye | 4h40m |
30 minute coach transfer from Hendaye to hotel in St Sebastian.
Journey home
| Departure station (UK) | Arrival station | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Hendaye | Paris | 4h40m |
| Paris | London | 2h20m |
1hr coach transfer from hotel in Bilbao to Hendaye.
FAQs
- Currency: Euro
- Flight time: Approx. 2 hrs 45 mins to 3 hrs 30 mins
- Language: Spanish
- Time zone: GMT+1
- Country: Spain
The price of this Spain tour is per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
- Return flights
- Seven nights’ accommodation
- Daily breakfast and one dinner at a local restaurant
- All local taxes and transfers
- All tours as mentioned
- Entrance to Guggenheim Museum, Burgos Cathedral, Altamira Cave Museum and La Rhune Railway (2025 only)*
- The services of a Riviera Travel Tour Manager
*On some departures it may not be possible to visit the Altamira Cave Museum and/or La Rhune Railway (2025 only), therefore an alternative itinerary will be offered.
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns. General information on mobility in connection with our tours can be found on our Passengers with Reduced Mobility FAQs page.
Irish Citizens do not require a visa to enter Europe however must have a valid passport.
For the most up-to-date passport and visa information visit www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/
We are unable to accept responsibility if you are unable to travel because you have not complied with any passport/entry/immigration requirements.
The deposit for this holiday is €250pp, then the remaining balance of the holiday is due a minimum of 90 days before you depart.
Availability
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We've found you 2 holidays
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Classic Tour
Classic Tours available
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Signature Tour
Signature Small Group Tours of max 25 people and added extras
| Tour style | Date | Departs | Departing from | Accommodation | Price from | Call to action |
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Classic Tour
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03/May/2026 | 14:20 |
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Silken Amara Plaza 4* | €1,879 pp | Book now |
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Classic Tour
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13/Sep/2026 | 14:20 |
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Silken Amara Plaza 4* | €2,129 pp | Book now |
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