French-Basque Pyrenees Villages Tour

Fall in love with the beauty of the villages of the French Basque Pyrenees by booking this day trip from Bilbao. We’ll visit Espelette, Ainhoa, and Sare, three of the most beautiful villages.

Day Trip Details

At the scheduled time, we’ll meet at 66 Mazarredo Zumarkalea. Would you like to discover three of the most beautiful villages in the French Basque Pyrenees? We’ll leave Bilbao behind and make a brief stop in San Sebastián to pick up more passengers. Once everyone is on board, we’ll head toward a region that perfectly blends the traditions, culture, and gastronomy of both countries.

First, we’ll make our way to Espelette, famous for the red peppers that hang to dry on the façades of its houses. We’ll spend 30 minutes exploring the charms of this village, where we’ll see the 16th-century Church of Saint Étienne, the Castle of the Barons of Espelette, and of course the typical white houses with timber frames.

We’ll then continue traveling through the French Basque Pyrenees to Ainhoa, just 15 minutes from Espelette. Here, we’ll enjoy a 30-minute guided tour of this village located right on the border with France. We’ll stroll through this small town to see its highlights, such as the Church of the Assumption and the old washhouse. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to keep exploring this beautiful village.

Finally, we’ll stop in Sare. When we arrive in this little mountain village at the foot of the La Rhune massif, you’ll have 2.5 hours of free time to try the delicious local cuisine in one of its restaurants and go for a walk. Don’t miss the Ortillopitz House, the Church of Saint Martin, or the Sare Caves. And if you’d like, you can go up La Rhune by tourist train or hike along its trails.

We’ll meet up again and leave the French Basque Pyrenees behind as we return to Bilbao. On the way, we’ll pass through the Navarrese village of Bera, where we’ll enjoy a beautiful panoramic view from the bus.

We’ll stop in San Sebastián to drop off the passengers who started there and finally arrive back at the starting point in Bilbao 10.5 hours later.

How It Works?

During this day trip, you will visit the picturesque villages of Espelette, Ainhoa, and Sare in the French Basque Pyrenees. The excursion begins at our designated meeting point in Bilbao, where you will board a vehicle for a comfortable journey towards the Basque region.

Our first destination is Espelette, where you'll have 30 minutes to explore the village known for its iconic red peppers. Next, we will head to Ainhoa for a 30-minute guided tour that showcases the village's historical sites like the Church of the Assumption.

In Sare, you'll have 2.5 hours of free time to indulge in local cuisine, visit attractions such as the Ortillopitz House and Sare Caves, and consider taking a tourist train up La Rhune or choose to hike the nearby trails.

Inclusions:

• Transportation from Bilbao
• 30-minute guided tour of Ainhoa
• Free time in Espelette and Sare
• Panoramic views during bus journey

Exclusions:

• Meals and drinks
• Entry fees for attractions
• Train fare to La Rhune

Meeting Point:

66 Mazarredo Zumarkalea