• Bidania - In Euskadi, straight roads are a rarity. We’ll take one to Bidania to explore the Basque inland scenery: isolated hamlets, quaint towns, lush forests, imposing mountains, and latxa sheep grazing peacefully in verdant fields. A stop at a fronton (nearly every Basque town has one, much like churches) will allow us to play Basque pelota, the region’s favorite sport before football’s rise. Striking the (hard) ball with your hand will reveal why Basques are known for their toughness.
• Hernio - From Bidania, we’ll navigate the quintessential Basque road (wet, steep, narrow, and winding) to reach Mount Ernio, known as “the balcony of Gipuzkoa.” After a brief pause and a walk to capture stunning views of the valley, mountains, and ocean, we’ll descend by car towards Azpeitia, passing through the picturesque town of Errezil.
• Santuario de Loyola - The Sanctuary of Loyola is multifaceted: a baroque extension of Rome nestled between mountains, a basilica with a dome so vast that 16th-century worshippers feared entering (rightly so, as the dome required repairs decades ago to prevent collapse), and the birthplace of the most renowned Basque saint, Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. We’ll spend half an hour uncovering the secrets of this site that literally surrounds the medieval birthplace of San Ignacio.
• Zumaia - The rocky mountain Izarraitz, a popular weekend climb for Azpeitia and Azkoitia locals, bids us farewell as we follow the Urola river to its mouth at Zumaia. Though challenging to pronounce, Zumaia is worth knowing as it forms part of Dragonstone from HBO’s Game of Thrones. The beaches of this UNESCO geopark served as the real-life setting for the series in 2017, boosting the area’s fame. We’ll share insights about this location and its peculiar terms (flysch? Karst? What ???) from two prime spots: the hermitage of San Telmo (precariously perched over the void) and along the cliff edges.
• Getaria - After Zumaia, we head to Getaria (we’re not making it easy with Basque names today): another charming fishing village, birthplace of Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe in the 16th century. Another globally recognized Basque, the designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, was also born here. The village boasts a church intersected by a tunnel within one of Gipuzkoa’s best-preserved historical centers. At lunchtime, the choice is yours: a countryside meal or one with a sea view? Both options offer a delightful selection of traditional, seasonal Basque cuisine.
• Monte Igueldo - We’ll conclude the day as it began: on another scenic road leading to the town of Aia, perfectly encapsulating the day’s journey: winding through mountains while keeping the sea in sight.

• • Hotel pickup and drop-off
• • Travel in comfort with a private tour
• • Enjoy the insight of a driver/guide
• • Ride in an air-conditioned minivan

• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Gratuities

The Rocky Mountains, a traditional Basque ball game, meandering paths, a fragment of Baroque Rome tucked within a gorge, rock faces that narrate the past 900,000 years of Earth’s history, a beach where dragons reside, a Basque seafarer who circumnavigated the globe for the first time… hold on! Can this all be real? Indeed, it is. Trust us, Ikusnahi does not deceive.

• Wheelchair accessibility is extra paid - contact for details
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.