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Self-Guided Bike tour San Sebastian and French Basque Country

Discover the best of the French Basque Country starting from San Sebastian while visiting historic fishing villages, enjoying the verdant countryside and savoring the region’s rich gastronomy.

Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Level: 2 or Recreational, 3 or Intermediate, 4 or Advanced
Price from: 1290€
Dates: Any day from April to October
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Discover the best of the French and Spanish Basque Country on an unforgettable luxury cycling journey.

The tour begins in the elegant city of San Sebastián, renowned worldwide for its gastronomy and cultural charm. Famous for having more Michelin stars per square meter than anywhere else, it is also the birthplace of the “new Basque cuisine” movement. Sampling the region’s legendary pintxos, crafted with the finest local ingredients, is a delight for both locals and visitors. Framed by the dramatic mountains and the sparkling Bay of Biscay, San Sebastián is a natural amphitheater of beauty and sophistication.

From there, cycle along the French Basque coast to the luxurious seaside town of Biarritz, passing through historic fishing villages, golden beaches, and lush, rolling landscapes. Enjoy scenic rides along the coastline, with breathtaking views at every turn, and take time to explore charming harbors and the refined culture of this iconic destination.

The journey returns to Spain via inland Basque villages, where time seems to slow among traditional stone houses, verdant valleys, and quiet country roads. Each day combines invigorating cycling with the opportunity to savor local gastronomy, experience the region’s rich culture, and unwind in carefully chosen luxury accommodations that blend comfort with authentic Basque charm.

This tour offers the perfect balance of adventure, culture, and relaxation, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in one of Europe’s most captivating regions. We tailor every detail to your preferences, creating a bespoke cycling experience that is truly unforgettable.

Highlights

  • The boat to visit the colorful town of Pasajes de San Juan
  • The ferry to cross the border on the Bidasoa River
  • The fortified town of  Hondarribia/Fuenterrabia
  • The luxury town of Biarritz and its northern beaches
  • Traditional French Basque Towns ( Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette)
  • The Caves in Sare
  • The delicious, local cuisine

Gastronomy

The coastal French Basque Country features dishes like chipirons (baby squid) and ttoro, a rich Basque fish stew. Across the border in San Sebastián, pintxos bars serve iconic bites such as gilda, grilled seafood, and slow-cooked meats. Both regions highlight fresh Atlantic fish, peppers, and cider or txakoli wine as essential parts of their food culture.

Wines

The coastal French Basque Country is known for crisp Irouléguy wines, Basque sagardo (cider), and herbal liqueurs like Izarra. In San Sebastián, locals enjoy chilled txakoli, regional ciders poured from height, and classic Basque digestifs such as patxaran. Across both areas, drinks tend to be fresh, lightly alcoholic, and made to pair with seafood and pintxos.

Average climate in Bayonne, France (past 12 months)

DataJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Max Temp (°C)12.215.916.219.220.126.3252723.121.216.613.9
Min Temp (°C)5.98.77.510.612.517.618.218.714.812.49.16.7
Rain (mm)256.8228.179.6164.197.457.576.695.372.596.4201.3100

Day by day

Day 1: San Sebastian

Accomodation: Hotel Codina

Your arrival in San Sebastián today is at leisure.

Day 2: San Sebastian – Hondarribia

Route: 43.1 km/26.8 miles Elevation: +820 m/+2692 ft

Accomodation: Hotel Jauregui

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning, you will meet our local partner, Miguel, in the lobby of your hotel for your bike fitting. He will assist with your bikes and answer any last-minute questions.

Day 3: Hondarribia – Bayonne

Route: 49.3 km/30.6 miles Elevation: +536 m/+1759 ft

Accomodation: Villa Koegui

Meals included: Breakfast

Bonjour and welcome to France!

Day 4: Bayonne – Bera de Bidasoa

Route: 53.3 km/33.1 miles Elevation: +653 m/+2144 ft

Accomodation: Hotel Churrut

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

From Bayonne, you’ll leave the coast behind and head inland, following a bike path along the River Nive that winds through charming French Basque villages.

Day 5: Bera de Bidasoa – San Sebastian

Route: 40 km/24.8mi Elevation: +460 m/1510m

Accomodation: Hotel Codina

Meals included: Breakfast

Today we cycle from Bera de Bidasoa back to San Sebastián, the final stage of your trip.

Day 6: Departure

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will bid farewell to your bike and the beautiful Basque countryside. Please get in touch if you are interested in extending your stay or spending a few extra nights in any of the charming cities or villages around the Basque Country.

[readmore]Arrival/departure airport

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) or Bilbao (BIO) or San Sebastian (EAS).

Direct flights to Madrid are available from a number of destinations in the USA, and direct flights to Bilbao are available from Newark (EWR), as well as from many destinations within Europe.

From Madrid, you can travel  by high-speed train to Bilbao or San Sebastian. The journey takes approximately 5 hours, and direct connections are available throughout the day. There are also buses that go from Madrid to both cities.

If you opt to start in Bilbao there are various possibilities to transfer to San Sebastian. You could also spent a night, or two, in Bilbao at the end of the tour.

Please consult with your Bike Spain Tours travel coordinator if you wish to book extra nights in Madrid before, or after, your tour. Some of our favourite hotels are:

City centre

Chamartín train station

Hotel The One Chamartín****: Comfortable modern property conveniently located inside Chamartin Clara Campoamor train station.

Accommodation

Hotel Codina

Hotel Codina

Hotel Codina is a fully refurbished classic three‑star hotel situated just steps from Ondarreta Beach and the historic palace of Miramar.

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Hotel Jauregui

Hotel Jauregui

The Sercotel Jauregui is a cozy 3 star hotel located in the center of Hondarribia, whose architectural features reflect a kind of mixture between Spanish and French Basque characteristics.

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Villa Koegui

Villa Koegui

Villa Koegui Biarritz is located in a small and quiet street, just 2 minutes from the city center and lively places. Originally two "Biarrot's" houses transformed into a hotel. Today, after refurbishment at the start of 2021 and decoration by Atelier Pascal L., the hotel reopened its doors in April 2021 to the delight of its customers.

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Hotel Churrut

Hotel Churrut

The Churrut Hotel is a relaxing three star boutique hotel ,which is located In a 18th Century Manor House , in the heart of the old town quarter of Bera, which is a peaceful town surrounded by spectacular country side. This family- run Hotel was lovingly restored to an 18 bedroom hotel in 2002. The charm and character of the hotel extends to all its bedrooms, every one different, in which it is combined traditional decor with modern facilities.

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Photos

Guest Reviews

★★★★★

The route was incredible! We loved the greenways along rivers through countryside. We loved the rural roads and stays in the countryside. We are all very experienced riders and appreciated the work you put into making this such a magnificent trip. We loved the riding and Spain and the area and would do the same trip again in a minute. e-bikes definitely made the trip easier!

— Jenn K., 07/10/2025

★★★★★

It was a good trip. Really enjoyed the scenery and the riding. The food was wonderful! It’s a great part of Spain (and France). And, the e-bikes were great: they worked well, were easy to charge, and came in handy!

— Bill B., 26/09/2025

Inclusions

Included

  • ✅ 5 nights accommodation in double room with continental breakfast
  • ✅ One dinner in the hotel (Bera)
  • ✅ Personalized day to day itinerary and routes on RideWithGPS, bikefitting and 24h support and assistance
  • ✅ Luggage transport between each hotel

Not included

  • ❌ lunches and dinners (except in Bera)
  • ❌ Bicycle rental
  • ❌ Holiday extension

Optional

  • ✳️ Single room supplement: 260.00€
  • ✳️ Single departure supplement: 270.00€
  • ✳️ For groups of 4, or more, the tour can start any day. For smaller groups, the standard start day is TUESDAY. For groups of 2-3 people there is a 99€ per person fee for a non-standard start date. For a solo traveler there is a 300€ fee for a non-standard start date.

Bikes

road-bike-tour-specialized-tarmac

Specialized Tarmac Carbon road Bike

The Tarmac Disc Sport SL7 is the perfect bike for high performance road cycling. With a state-of-the-art FACT 9r carbon fibre frame, a list of highly reliable components such as powerful...

From: 340.00€

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Touring bike. Specialized Sirrus 3.0

Touring bike. Specialized Sirrus 3.0

This is an ideal hybrid bike. Quick, sturdy and light: we can´t think of a better description for this all-purpose bike! It´s also got a flat handlebar. A must on...

From: 240.00€

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Electric Bike Specialized Vado Turbo SL

Electric Bike Specialized Vado Turbo SL

There’s no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this, at a weight that’s light enough to carry. The Turbo Vado SL 4.0 is best for...

From: 440.00€

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🎒 Self Guided
📍 Green Spain
1290€

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Activities and extras

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Extra night in Bilbao at Hotel The Artist

The Artist Grand Hotel of Art is a 5-star hotel in the heart of Bilbao facing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, offering rooms with striking design by Javier Mariscal and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. Guests can enjoy Basque cuisine in its on-site restaurants, unwind in its wellness area or browse a library of design and architecture books.


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