Basque in the Glory Tour 2023

In the afternoon, we meet our group in Bilbao, the one-time industrial powerhouse which is currently undergoing its own Renaissance. After introductions, your Fresco Tour guide will meet and greet you at your Orientation Meeting. Afterwards, we will take you for a stroll, to discover the charm of Bilbao’s Old Quarter – the city’s medieval enclave. Travel back in time to the 6th century and visit ancient landmarks like the Cathedral of Santiago and Plaza Nueva. Admire the sacred beauty of the Church of St Anton, wander the site of the Mercado de la Ribera, and enjoy picturesque views of the port. We finish our evening with a lovely dinner.

After our delicious breakfast, our local art historian takes us on a guided visit of the internationally acclaimed Guggenheim Museum. Frank Gehry's titanium masterpiece evokes images of a flower and a ship – you decide what comes to mind! In the afternoon, we hop in the van and head for the pleasant fishing village of Hondarribia, where we stretch our legs and take our first steps on the Northern Camino de Santiago with a short climb to the Sanctuary of Guadalupe. We finish our day in the old quarter of town, where medieval walls have protected the villa for centuries.

Starting from Guadalupe, the yellow arrows take us a bit higher as we cross along the mountain of Jaizkibel enjoying the views of the beaches and sea below! After strolling the ridge, we work our way down to the port of Pasajes de San Juan, decorated with small fishing boats of another time. After a zurito (small glass of beer), we return to Hondarribia, where we finish the evening with a fine meal of Basque cuisine.

This morning, we return to Pasajes de San Juan and cross over to San Pedro on the other side of the port like the pilgrims did a thousand years ago - via boat! We then work our way past large caseríos, old stone Basque farm houses, and are soon greeted by the stylish resort town of San Sebastián, a place that has long been popular with the Spanish bourgeois. Here the beauty of La Concha beach makes it a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll.

With boots on, we leave San Sebastián to ascend Monte Igeldo and stop to enjoy the views of the bay below. The rocky coast of the Basque Country has us going up and down hills and through small hamlets. The many flocks of sheep remind us that the Basques are not just men of the sea, but also pretty good shepherds! With the sea to our right keeping us company, we quickly make our way to the fishing port of Orio. Here we regroup and return for another evening in San Sebastián.

Returning to Orio, we pass through Zarautz and continue along the seaside walkway to Getaria, whose famous sailing son, Juan Sebastián Elcano, was the first to sail around the world. We follow the Northern Camino de Santiago passing the local vineyards of txakoli, the local white wine, until we reach the village of Zumaia, a Basque port famous for its whaling and now its shipbuilding.

Our day begins on the beach in the Basque Coast Geopark, where we’ll see 60 million years of history written in the layer-cake rock formations of Zumaia. On today’s walk we alternate between cliffside paths, rolling green farmland and views of the blue sea. Greet a local with Kaixo - Basque for hello - and watch them warm right up! Our day on the trail ends in Deba, where we can dip our feet in the Cantabrian Sea, and get ready for a Basque meal that you won't forget!

This morning, we head inland to visit the Basilica of Saint Ignacio of Loyola nestled in the mountains of the Basque Country. Here, we visit the birthplace of the founder of the Society of Jesus, and learn about his life and his impact on the world! After lunch, we return to the yellow arrows of the Camino and get some km's in before finishing up the day.

After a lighter day in the boots, we finish off our Camino de Santiago along the Northern Coast with a hike into Guernica, a name made famous around the world by Pablo Picasso's dramatic anti-war painting of the bombing of the town during the Spanish Civil War. Today we will pass through small hamlets and their caserios (large farm houses) and enjoy views of the Balcony of Biscay!

This morning after breakfast, we head to Punta Galea for our last walk of the tour. La Galea is a walk along the Getxo coast, where you can enjoy the best bird’s eye view of the El Abra Port. Very similar to the famous white cliffs of Normandy in France and Dover in England, this recreation area for locals and visitors alike offers extensive natural spaces to enjoy nature. In the afternoon, your guide will take you for a stroll in Portugalete. The medieval narrow and steep streets of Portugalete's old town are full of interesting buildings. At the highest part of it, we can visit the Salazar Tower (15th c.) or the basilica of Santa María. Afterwards, enjoy a fantastic farewell dinner feast!

After breakfast, visit the Biscay Bridge (Puente Colgante). This impressive 125-year-old structure links Getxo and Portugalete and was declared a heritage monument by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Designed by the architect Alberto Palacio, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, it opened in 1893. After the tour, we say Agur, goodbye in Basque. We hope you have enjoyed your visit of our backyard! (B)

On the Road
Getting There & Back
Before You Go / Preparing
Miscellaneous

On the Road

What is the weather like on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

The Camino del Norte covers over 790 km of Northern Spain and therefore has very different weather conditions depending on the region.

Fresco Tours Basque in the Glory Tour covers a portion of the Camino del Norte. Here we enjoy a more temperate climate than other parts of the Camino de Santiago and in July and August the heat is not overwhelming.

For current and average monthly temperatures of Bilbao, please click here.

What is a typical day like on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

After breakfast, we lace up and get the blood going with a walk for a couple hours, where we will do a check point to make sure that everything is OK. You then continue along the trail for another 1-2 hours where you will come across a complete gourmet picnic prepared with the all the freshest local ingredients. On some days, we continue for 1-2 hours more after lunch to burn off dessert.

In the afternoon, we go to our hotels, where we take a shower, siesta and just relax! We finish our day with a glass of tinto and a feast of the local gastronomy. We then retire for the night and get ready to do it again! On some afternoons, we have planned excursions, such as a visit to a winery or perhaps a massage!

Does the group stop for breaks on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

The great thing about the Camino is that it is very well-marked and we encourage people to walk at a pace that is comfortable for them - this is not a race! We want you to enjoy the route and we also like to stop with our clients for a coffee or cerveza along the way and take everything in!

What is the terrain like on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

In the Basque country, the region where we walk, the terrain is green rolling hills - there are neither steep climbs nor treacherous descents. The trail itself is a combination of very well maintained compact dirt and stone footpaths with some impressive views of the coast.

What is the change in elevation on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

We will be walking from Hondarribia to Guernica. For a detailed map of the distances between towns along the Basque in the Glory trail and their respective altitudes, please click here.

How many kilometers are walked each day on the Basque in the Glory Tour?

The amount of km's scheduled for each day varies from 5 km to 20 km. We have designed this tour to allow the possibility to walk a portion of the Camino del Norte. However, the walks are accompanied by a support vehicle and options for less (or more!) km's are possible on a daily basis. We can tailor the walk to suit your needs!

How can we sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights and still walk approximately 70 km?

Since the distances that we walk during the day on the Basque in the Glory Tour can be covered quickly in the van, we take advantage of this and stay in the same hotel for 2 nights on multiple occasions. Our walk always starts at the point where we finished the previous day to maintain our continuity along the trail. We believe that the time (and energy) saved packing and unpacking everyday makes these shuttles a great convenience for everyone.

Will I have access to WiFi?

Yes, but you will be walking in some rural parts of Spain so the service may be a bit difficult or slow in certain locations. Nonetheless, many cafes along the way also offer Wi-Fi so you'll have several opportunities to be online. Finally, remember that one of the greatest joys of the trail is cultivating the ability to disconnect and enjoy your immediate surroundings!

Getting There & Back

How do I get to the Basque in the Glory starting point?

Bilbao (Spain) is the official starting point of the Basque in the Glory tour and can be reached via plane, train, or bus. Bilbao International Airport has service throughout Europe. For those looking to fly into Bilbao, please see the following link for all airports serviced.

Traveling from Madrid, one can choose between the RENFE or the bus (ALSA).

For a sample of prices and timetables, please see:
Train Madrid to Bilbao
Bus Madrid to Bilbao

If you need assistance with these travel arrangements, we will be happy to help.

How do I get from Bilbao to Madrid and other cities?

There are now RENFE trains that will get you from Bilbao to Madrid in less than 7 hours. While routes and availability may vary upon time of booking, there are several daily trains from Bilbao to Madrid. If you are looking to fly, there are excellent internal flights that fly Bilbao to Madrid.

Can you help with purchasing online train tickets?

Unfortunately, the RENFE website can be a bit temperamental and is not very user friendly. However, all is not lost! If you are having difficulties, we like the Rail Europe website for purchasing tickets. Keep in mind that train tickets cannot be purchased until 60 days prior to departure. Routes and availability are subject to vary based on maintenance needs.

How do I get from the Bilbao Airport to the City Centre?

From the airport, you can take Bizkai Bus #3247, which connects the airport with the center of town. There are buses every 30 minutes (from 6:20am to 00:00am). For complete details, please click here.

How do I get to and from the Airport?

The national organization of airports in Spain (AENA) has a great website that explains how to get to and from the major city for your airport of choice. It also has information regarding the routes serviced, the corresponding airlines, terminal information, and much more. You may have to re-click the "English" tab at the top once you have chosen your airport.

Before You Go / Preparing

What type of boots do I need for the Basque in the Glory Tour?

Footwear is a very personal question - depending on how active you are and how much support you will need. Since we will be walking on a daily basis on the Basque in the Glory tour, I believe that comfort is key - you do not want to get blisters. You probably won't need a full high boot that covers your ankle (unless you need this support), but rather light trail walkers or even running shoes if you are used to walking. In the spring, there may be mud and water along the trail, so keep that in mind. Most important: Make sure that they are well broken in!

What sort of conditioning do I need to undertake the Basque in the Glory tour?

We encourage you to walk before and be prepared for your own enjoyment. However, this is your vacation and not boot camp! During your walk, one of the two guides will be on the trail with the group to keep an eye that all is well. Also, we have planned check points along the way with our support van to make sure you have plenty of water, if you need a change of shoes, or just feel like taking a break. In most cases, you will see the van at a minimum every couple of hours.

How do I purchase travel insurance?

If you are interested in travel insurance, we like TravelInsurance.com, which allows you to compare various policies across the top Insurance Providers. With the current situation, make sure to review their section regarding "Coronavirus Information" to select a policy that fits your needs.

Miscellaneous

Where do Fresco Tour clients come from?

We are very fortunate to have had clients join us from around the world giving us a wonderful mix of diversity. The internet allows us access to the world, and since 2006 we have had travelers from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, the United Kingdom (England & Scotland), Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, India, South Africa, Namibia and even Egypt! It truly is a small world after all!