Sanctuary of Loyola

For solo travelers

We will depart from Bilbao and will pass by unique towns nestled between mountains before arriving to Loyola, hometown of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Here we will visit the impressive Basilica and the tower house where he was born and lived. Our next stop will be Getaria, a unique medieval fishing village and hometown of famous figures like captain Juan Sebastian Elcano, the first man to travel around the world by sea, and Cristobal Balenciaga, the famous designer. Afterwards we will pass by Zarauz, a beautiful tourist spot with the largest beach in the province of Gipuzkoa and will later arrive in San Sebastian, where we will go on a walking tour in the Old town and will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will go to mount Igeldo to see the incredible view of La Concha Bay before returning to Bilbao in the evening.

Visit the highlights of the Basque Country on a tour of its main cities and unique places. Stay at Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria, and go on daily guided excursions where you will discover the most beautiful places of the destination. Day 1: Bilbao Arrival in Bilbao and private transfer to the hotel. Free time in Bilbao. Visit the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum with the entrance ticket included in the program. Day 2: Bilbao - San Sebastian Breakfast at the hotel We will leave Bilbao and pass through unique villages nestled among mountains before arriving in Loyola, birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Here we will visit the impressive Basilica and the tower house where he was born and lived. Our next stop will be Getaria, a unique medieval fishing village and birthplace of famous people such as Captain Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first man to circumnavigate the world by sea, and Cristóbal Balenciaga, the famous designer. We will then pass through Zarauz, a beautiful tourist spot with the largest beach in the province of Gipuzkoa and arrive in San Sebastian, where we will take a walking tour of the Old Town and have free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will go to Mount Igeldo to contemplate the incredible view of La Concha Bay before returning to Bilbao in the evening. Day 3: San Sebastian Breakfast at the hotel Enjoy a free day to explore San Sebastian. Visit San Telmo Museum with the entrance ticket included in the program. Day 4: San Sebastian - Rioja - Vitoria Breakfast at the hotel Our first stop will be Ordizia, where we will go on a walking tour to discover this beautiful town with many ancient buildings and monuments. Our next stop will be Oñati where we will visit the Sancti Spiritus University, one of the gems of the civil architecture of the Basque Renaissance. Later we will head to Arantzazu Sanctuary, where we will visit the majestic monument and example of contemporary sacred architecture. Our last stop will be Laguardia, where we will go on a guided tour around the beautiful medieval town and we will have free time for lunch. Finally we will take a panoramic tour of Vitoria,on our way to the hotel. Day 5: Vitoria - Bilbao Breakfast at the hotel In the morning we will visit Añana Salt Valley, where we will learn about the historic salt mining industry. We will continue to Orduña, where we will take a guided walking tour of the town. We will then stop for lunch in Balmaseda, and finally we will visit the Bizkaia Bridge, the oldest transporter bridge in use before heading back to Bilbao. Day 6: Bilbao Breakfast at the hotel Enjoy some free time in Bilbao before leaving to the airport/station. Private transfer to the airport/station.

Explore the Basque Country on a week-long journey to the sites of historical and cultural importance on a trip that includes 4-star accommodation. Using Bilbao as your base, enjoy daily half-day and full-day excursions. Travel along the coast to see fishing villages, old ports, and picturesque beaches. Spend time inland visiting mountains, wineries, and remote villages. Day 1: Bilbao After arriving in Bilbao, private transfer to your hotel. Depending your time of arrival, free time to explore the city. Day 2: Gaztelugatxe – Bermeo – Gernika - Bilbao Breakfast Depart to Bizkaia Bridge to discover the oldest transporter bridge and continue to Butrón Castle a beatiful castle of medieval origin. Afterwards, discover San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, famous for being one of the filming locations of Game of Thrones, Bermeo, a beautiful fishing town and Gernika, the town that gives name to Picasso's famous picture. Return to Bilbao and walking tour to discover the highlights of its old quarter. Day 3: Biarritz – San Sebastian Breakfast Departure to Biarritz and walking tour to discover the higlights of the city. Continue along the coast to visit Saint Jean De Luz and in the afternoon, arrive in San Sebastian, where you will have free time and will go on a panoramic tour of the city’s mountain and historical quarter. Return to Bilbao in the evening. Day 4: Vitoria – Rioja Breakfast Travel to Vitoria for a tour of the city and discover the best preserved old town in the Basque Country. Then follow the route towards the wine region to arrive in the medieval village of Laguardia. Enjoy a walking tour and a visit a traditional Rioja winery. By mid-afternoon you will go back to Bilbao passing by Elciego, where you will see the magnificent architectural work of Frank Gehry at the Marques de Riscal Winery. Day 5: Sanctuary of Loyola – Getaria – Zarautz – San Sebastian Breakfast Make your way to the Sanctuary of Loyola, then visit Getaria, a charming fishing village and the birthplace of Juan Sebastian Elcano. See Zarautz, home to the longest beach in Basque Country. Then go to San Sebastian for a city tour, followed by a walking tour in the historic center, before returning to Bilbao in the evening. Day 6: Elorrio – Oñati – Sanctuary of Arantzazu Breakfast Head towards Durango, located near Urkiola Natural Park. Stop in Elorrio, a town characterized by the abundance and slenderness of its palaces and manor houses of stone and carved stonework. Continue to Oñati, home to the oldest university in the Basque Country. Travel up a road between cliffs to reach the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, where you can discover the grounds and enjoy the view, before returning to Bilbao in the afternoon. Day 7: Bilbao-Departure Breakfast Private transfer to Bilbao Airport or Station.