Northern Spain is best experienced slowly.
Food is never rushed. Wine is always shared. And the best moments happen somewhere in between.
Over 11 days, you’ll move through the Basque Country and La Rioja, from the elegance of San Sebastián to the vineyards of Rioja and the creative energy of Bilbao. Along the way, you’ll step inside kitchens, cellars, and long lunches that reveal the culture of this part of Spain through food and wine.
Hosted by Lyndey Milan, whose decades in food and wine bring another layer to the experience, this is a journey designed to be immersive, generous, and deeply connected to place.
More than anything, this trip is all about how it feels to be here — unhurried, welcomed in, and part of it, even if just for a little while.
The Details
A Bite of Basque Country is your chance to experience life the way it’s meant to be.
Expect late starts, long lunches, spontaneous sobremesas, and evenings that stretch late into the night.
With plenty of free time to explore (or simply rest), the pace reflects the way locals live and invites you to do the same.
This is a special collaboration with Lyndey Milan, who will escort this trip.
Dates: 18 May to 28 May 2027 (11 days)
Starts in: San Sebastián > Ends in: Bilbao
Price: 7985€ per person, twin share
Single Supplement: 2500€
Please note: This trip can also be reimagined for private groups.
The Highlights
The Wines of La Rioja
La Rioja reveals itself slowly. You’ll explore medieval underground cellars, historic wineries, and time among the vines, learning what shapes each bottle. More than wine tasting, it’s an introduction to the land, the people, and the traditions behind one of Spain’s most celebrated wine regions.
A Gourmet Journey
You’ll experience northern Spain through its food, wine, and the people who shape them. From pintxos bars in San Sebastián to long lunches in La Rioja, private cooking experiences, seafood by the coast, and meals shared around the table, this is a journey deeply connected to place and flavour.
Travelling with Lyndey Milan
Travelling with Lyndey Milan brings another layer to the journey. With her deep knowledge of food and wine, and a natural instinct for storytelling and flavour, she helps bring each experience to life in a way that feels engaging, relaxed, and deeply connected to place.
The Accommodation
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SAN SEBASTIÁN
In the heart of San Sebastián, where the city’s charm and coastal beauty blend seamlessly, Room Mate Gorka offers a contemporary escape with a warm, inviting atmosphere. The hotel’s rooms are designed with sleek, modern touches, creating a peaceful haven to unwind after a day spent exploring the city’s vibrant streets and stunning beaches.
Step outside, and you’re immersed in the local buzz—cafés, boutiques, and the iconic La Concha beach. Inside, the welcoming vibe and thoughtful details make Room Mate Gorka the perfect base for your San Sebastián adventure.
LA RIOJA
La Rioja – Áurea Palacio de Correos
Set in Logroño’s historic heart, Hotel Áurea Palacio de Correos is a beautifully restored former post office dating back to 1932. Its grand façade, with arched wooden doors and lion sculptures, still hints at its past.
Inside, subtle nods to that history remain — vintage postcards, stamp-inspired details, original post boxes — all woven into a design that feels calm, modern, and quietly elegant.
With just 41 rooms, a small spa, and a rooftop terrace, it’s an easy, comfortable base right in the centre of it all — steps from the cathedral, museums, and the lively tapas streets that define Logroño.
BILBAO
Bilbao – Hotel Miró
Tucked between the river and the museum, Hotel Miró is a calm, design-led base in Bilbao’s cultural quarter. Soft lighting, warm tones, and thoughtful details create a space that feels easy to return to after a day out.
Rooms are simple and inviting, with plenty of natural light. Breakfast is relaxed and generous, and there’s a small wellness space to help you unwind.
Step outside and you’re moments from the Guggenheim, the riverwalk, and some of the city’s best food.
The Full Itinerary & Inclusions
Day 1 – Tuesday 18 May 2027: Arrival to San Sebastián
Welcome to San Sebastián, where this special journey begins.
On arrival, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your boutique hotel sits just moments from La Concha Bay. The afternoon is yours to settle in and begin exploring at your own pace.
Tonight, you’ll step straight into the heart of local life with your first pintxos experience. With our expert local guide, you’ll learn not just what to eat, but how it all works. The crowded counters, the rhythm of the bars, the unspoken etiquette of stepping forward and claiming your place. A lively, delicious introduction to San Sebastián and the Basque way of eating together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Wednesday 19 May 2027: San Sebastián
Today, you’ll begin to understand what makes San Sebastián so special.
With our expert local guide, you’ll explore the city on foot, from the elegance of La Concha Bay to the stories and hidden corners tucked inside the old town. Along the way, you’ll stop at the local market for a small taste of the ingredients and flavours that shape everyday life here.
This evening, you’ll experience one of the Basque Country’s great food traditions with dinner at a traditional cider house. Think long communal tables, hearty local dishes, and cider poured straight from the barrel in the lively Basque way.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3 – Thursday 20 May 2027: The Basque Coast
Today, you’ll explore one of the most beautiful stretches of the Basque coastline.
Your destination is Getaria, a small fishing village known for its seafood, maritime history, and Txakoli wine. Set between the hills and the Cantabrian Sea, it’s the kind of place that still feels deeply connected to its traditions.
You’ll begin at a local Txakoli winery overlooking the coastline, learning about this fresh, slightly sparkling wine that is unique to the Basque Country. Afterwards, there’s time to wander the medieval streets of Getaria before settling in for a long seafood lunch by the water, where fish is still famously cooked over open flames.
This evening is all yours to test out those Pintxos skills you’ve been learning!
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4 – Friday 21 May 2027: Behind-The-Scenes at a Txoko
Today, you’ll step inside one of the Basque Country’s most unique culinary traditions: a txoko, or private gastronomic society.
Usually closed to outsiders, these societies have long been places where locals gather to cook, eat, drink, and spend time together. They sit quietly at the heart of Basque food culture.
With our expert local guide, you’ll join a hands-on cooking class inside one of these private spaces, preparing traditional Basque dishes together before sitting down to enjoy the meal with local wines in the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that makes these societies so special.
A deeply local experience and one of the true highlights of the journey.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5 – Saturday 22 May 2027: Welcome to La Rioja
Today, you leave the Basque coastline behind and make your way south into La Rioja, Spain’s most celebrated wine region.
As the landscape begins to change, vineyards slowly replace the sea and the rhythm softens once again. On arrival in Logroño, there’s time to settle into your hotel before heading out into the old quarter with our expert local guide.
The evening unfolds through the streets and bars of Logroño, where food and wine are woven into everyday life. You’ll taste local specialties, explore the city’s lively atmosphere, and begin to understand why this region is so deeply connected to the table.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6 – Sunday 23 May 2027: An Introduction to La Rioja
Today is your first real immersion into La Rioja and the traditions that define it.
You’ll begin beneath the surface in a medieval underground cellar, where wine has been stored and shared for centuries.
Then there’s time to wander through a medieval village and settle in for a long traditional lunch paired with local wines.
The day finishes at a small family-run winery, where the stories feel personal, the welcome is warm, and the connection to the land is unmistakable.
A relaxed and generous introduction to the wines, history, and way of life that shape La Rioja.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 7 – Monday 24 May 2027: Flavours of La Rioja
Today is about experiencing La Rioja beyond the wine.
Your morning begins in the countryside with a visit to a local jamón producer, where you’ll learn about the region’s unique approach to cured meats and the traditions behind them. Afterwards, you’ll taste some of the exceptional local products produced here.
Lunch is served in a small village, where local dishes and regional wines are enjoyed slowly, just as they should be.
This afternoon, you’ll head into the olive groves to learn about olive cultivation and production before finishing with a private tasting of extra virgin olive oils and artisan olives.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 8 – Tuesday 25 May 2027: The Idiázabal Story
Today, you leave La Rioja behind and make your way north towards Bilbao, stopping for a very special local experience.
In the hills of Idiazábal country, you’ll visit a cheese farm where traditions have been passed down through generations. You’ll meet the animals, learn about the region’s famous Idiazábal cheese, and step inside the workshop to see how it is made.
Then it’s your turn to get hands-on, trying the early stages of the cheese-making process for yourself before tasting local cheeses and regional specialties together.
From here, you’ll continue on to Bilbao, arriving into a city where creativity, food, and Basque identity all come together in a completely different way.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 9 – Wednesday 26 May 2027: Art & Architecture in Bilbao
Today, you’ll discover Bilbao through the eyes of a local who knows the city well.
Once industrial and hard-working, Bilbao has transformed itself into one of Spain’s most creative and culturally vibrant cities. As you explore the old town, riverfront, and striking architecture, you’ll begin to understand the layers that make this city so unique.
Along the way, you’ll stop for a light pintxos lunch, the Bilbao way. A few small plates, a glass poured, stories shared between stops.
Your experience finishes at the Guggenheim Museum, where you’ll have time to explore at your own pace with an audio guide. From Richard Serra’s monumental installations to the building itself, the museum is one of those places that stays with you long after you leave.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10 – Thursday 27 May 2027: A Day at Leisure in Bilbao
Today is yours to enjoy Bilbao at your own pace.
You might spend the morning wandering the riverfront, exploring galleries and boutiques, or settling into a long lunch in one of the city’s many excellent restaurants. Perhaps there’s a pintxos bar you’d like to revisit, or another corner of the city waiting to be discovered.
Bilbao is the kind of place that rewards slow wandering, so we encourage you to follow your curiosity and enjoy the city however you please.
Tonight, we gather one last time for a very special farewell dinner. We’re keeping the location a surprise for now, but expect beautiful food, great wine, and the perfect final evening together.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 11 – Friday 28 May: Farewell …
After breakfast this morning, it’s time to farewell Northern Spain and all the moments, flavours, and friendships gathered along the way.
Your driver will transfer you to Bilbao Airport for your onward journey, leaving with a deeper connection to this part of Spain and the many experiences shared around the table throughout the past 11 days.
Meals: Breakfast
PRICE INCLUDES:
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Fully Hosted in Spain by Lyndey Milan
- Bilingual Spanish Escort
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24/7 support by a Biznaga representative from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave
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Private activities just for your group with expert local guides
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Private group transport throughout for activities included in the itinerary
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Private arrival and departure transfers
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Boutique Accommodation throughout:
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4 nights in an Executive Room at Room Mate Gorka in San Sebastián (or similar)
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3 nights in a Deluxe Room at Áurea Palacio de Correos in La Rioja (or similar)
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3 nights in an Urban Executive Room at Hotel Miró in Bilbao (or similar)
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Breakfast daily plus 11 main meals: 7 lunches and 4 dinners
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Entry Tickets with audioguide to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
- Porterage – 1 bag per person
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All taxes included – IVA + tourist tax
EXPERIENCES:
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Private Pintxos/Welcome Dinner
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Private Guided Walking Tour of San Sebastián
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Fun Dinner at a Cider House in San Sebastián
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Private Day Trip to Getaria with a Txakoli Winery Visit and Seafood Lunch
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Private Cooking Class in a Gastronomic Society in San Sebastián
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Private Guided Cultural and Tapas Tour in Logroño
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Private Introduction to La Rioja with 2 Winery Visits and a Rustic Lunch
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Private Flavours of La Rioja experience with Visits to a Jamón Producer and an Olive Oil Press.
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Private Cheese-Making Workshop
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Private Walking Tour of Bilbao with Pintxos Lunch
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Entry to the Guggenheim with Audio Guide
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Private Farewell Dinner with Wine included
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Surprises …
Not Included: International airfares to Spain; items of a personal nature; phone calls; passport and visas (if applicable); entry fees into countries charged at the airport; laundry or tips. Personal transport; excess baggage; security and additional government taxes not covered already; travel insurance. Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; beverages unless specifically described. Optional excursions or activities that may be offered but are not included in the tour price.
Past Trip Highlights
“Our trip to the Andalusia region of Southern Spain was wonderful. Casey and Laura planned our itinerary meticulously including several restaurants far from the tourist trail and informative cultural walks with local guides who were passionate and entertaining. We had many experiences that would not have been possible travelling on our own. Highly recommended.“
“What a fantastic trip! Simon looked after us very well and opened doors for us to interesting food and drinking experiences that we would never have had a chance to do without his expertise. The trip moved along at the perfect pace, time to relax and explore but also wonderful meals and cultural experiences each day. Highly recommended!“