BIARRITZ

BIARRITZ - SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Known for its famous beaches, therapeutic water and a thriving surf scene, Biarritz offers visitors a unique atmosphere. This is a place were posh restaurants and spas live harmoniously side-by-side with laid-back pizza joints and surf shops.
The atmosphere in Biarritz is rather mixed, but in a good way. The town is comprised mainly of grand houses used by the wealthy as summer retreats. It has an upscale feel to it that is balanced off nicely with a more relaxed and easy-going surf culture that has a long history here. This interesting contrast forms part of Biarritz’s identity.

You will visit:

• The legendary hotel Du Palais 5*
• Old Port and Fishhermen Port ("Port Vieux" and "Port des Pêcheurs" in French)
• The monumental orthodox church ("église orthodoxe" in French) that was erected and dedicated to "Saint Alexander Nevski" and Saint Eugénie Church
• The Rock of the Virgin ("Rocher de la Vierge" in French), the symbol of Biarritz
• The mysterious Villa Belza etc.
• "Miremont" pastry shop

On request you can visit:

• The Chocolate Museum ("Planète Musée du Chocolat" in French). Tickets: EUR 6.00 for adults, EUR 3.50 for children
• "Asiatica" Oriental Art Museum. Tickets: EUR 7.00 for adults, EUR 2.00 for children
• Sea Museum ("Musée de la Mer" in French"). Tickets: EUR 7.50 for adults, EUR 4.60 for children
• Biarritz Historical Museum. Tickets: EUR 3.00 for adults, EUR 1.00 for children
• The Imperial Chapel. Tickets: EUR 3.00 for adults, free for children
• Biarritz Lighthouse. Tickets: EUR 2.00 for adults, EUR 2.00 for children

• Duration (walking sightseeing tour): 2 hours
Guide services: EUR 100.00
• Duration (walking sightseeing tour + visit to the Biarritz Historical Museum): 4 hours
Guide services: EUR 175.00

BAYONNE

BAYONNE (5 km. from Biarritz): TRANSFER + WALKING SIGHTSEEING TOUR

When not hosting the largest summer festival of France, Bayonne is a relative stress free city, filled with slender Basque houses, each with colorful wooden beams and shutters. The most picturesque area is next to the Nive River, where the views are reminiscent of a Basque styled Amsterdam. Bayonne is also home to chocolatiers and the infamous Bayonne ham. Aand the beach resort of Biarritz is just a few kilometers away!

You will visit:

• Grand Bayonne - the more commercial part of town but also the ancient heart
• Sainte Marie Cathedral, which dominates the city’s skyline
• Château-Vieux ("Old Castle"). Built in the 12th century by the Viscounts of Labourd, this was originally the official residence of the governors of the city
• "L'Atelier du Chocolat". Tickets: EUR 4.00
• The Basque and History of Bayonne Museum. Tickets: EUR 5.50 for adults, free for children
• Bonnat-Helleu Museum. Tickets: EUR 5.50 for adults, free for children

• Duration (walking sightseeing tour + transfer): 3 hours
Guide services: EUR 150.00
• Duration (walking sightseeing tour + visit to The Basque and History of Bayonne Museum + transfer): 4 hours
Guide services: EUR 175.00

SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ

SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ / CIBOURE (15 km. from Biarritz): TRANSFER + WALKING SIGHTSEEING TOUR

What was once the center for Basque corsairs in the 17th century has now become an easy going beach resort town. Saint-Jean-de-Luz sits on a gentle, crescent-shaped bay with fine sand and has an old town that is filled with colorful timbered Basque houses. It is the perfect place for families or couples who are seeking to relax in the sun while experiencing the charm of a gone-by era.
Although Saint Jean de Luz is located a mere 20 minutes away from Biarritz and both are famous beach resorts, the atmosphere in St Jean de Luz is completely different, somehow more relaxed. It is busy but not overcrowded, beautiful but not overly luxurious. There are large beautiful Basque houses that form the old part of the town. Many of the buildings date back to the 17th century, a time when Saint Jean de Luz was one of the most important fishing ports of France.

You will visit:

• the Church of Saint John Baptist
• "Maison de l'Infante"
• "Maison Louis XIV"

After Saint-Jean-de-Luz you will head to Ciboure.
Ciboure is the quiet twin to its northern neighbour Saint-Jean-de-Luz to which it is joined by a road bridge, and separated by a harbour, close to the border with Spain in south-west France. Both towns face onto the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a natural bay that is sheltered from the larger Atlantic waves.
Ciboure today is once again much quieter than Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and is now essentially a suburb of the larger town, although the latter town is easily reached from Ciboure. It is a small, pleasant town with interesting streets to explore which has managed to maintain its own identity.
The town has its own main beach, sandy and supervised in summer, and two smaller beaches near the fort.
Away from the beach it is the attractive harbour front area in Ciboure that holds most interest to visitors, with a few shops and cafes around the harbour itself and the Fort de Socoa, reinforced by the military engineer Vauban, on a promontory.
In the town behind Ciboure harbour the imposing Church of Saint-Vincent dates from the 16th century and has an unusual octagonal belltower and a decorative entrance while inside there is a magnificent altarpiece, many wall paintings, and the three rows of wooden balconies that are a common feature of basque churches.
You can also explore the streets lined with traditional old houses as they climb the hill behind the harbour.

• Duration (walking tour in Saint-Jean-de-Luz + transfer): 4 hours
Guide services: EUR 175.00

SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT

SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT (53 km. from Biarritz): TRANSFER + WALKING TOUR

Deep in the French Basque Country’s hinterland lies Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It’s an unspoiled village that is surrounded by a green landscape making it great place for those wanting to go hiking or those in search of solitude & relaxation.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the capital of the historical Basque province of Lower Navarre. Donibane Garazi as it is also known in Basque, is a small town located on the Nive River, only 8 kilometers away from the Spanish border.
The town is famous for being one of the traditional starting points of the Way of St. James (the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela). It is located on the Roncevaux Pass at the base of the Pyrenean Mountains and the name "Pied-de-Port" actually means "foot pass."
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a walled town and has numerous gates. The most well known is the Porte St-Jacques which was, along the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, made a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1998. Inside, the town is pretty small but nonetheless charming. The Pont d’Eyheraberry (Eyheraberry bridge) over the Nive River is a romantic roman bridge and one of the highlights of the town.
You shouldn’t leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port without walking up the Rue de la Citadelle (Citadel Street) to the Mendiguren Citadel. From there, you get a nice panorama view of the town and the surrounding green countryside with the mountains in the background. The citadel, built in 1628 by Antoine de Ville, now houses a school.

• Duration (walking tourу + transfer): 6 hours
Guide services: EUR 265.00

HENDAYE

HENDAYE, ISLA DE LOS FAISANES (30 km. from Biarritz): TRANSFER + WALKING TOUR

Hendaye is a French town located right on the border with Spain, just in the other side of the river from Hondarribia. Its 3 km long sandy beach offers something for everyone, including families and surfers alike. The town is also full of beautiful Basque style houses and is the origin of the so called neo-basque style. And we cannot forget to mention its impressive castle, the Château Abbadia.
Hendaye’s location on the border has made it an important point for commerce between both Spain and France. Historically speaking, this location has also proven to be problematic for the town since it has been involved in every conflict between the two countries.
Today, Hendaye is a beach resort town with a beautiful 3 km sandy beach, frequented by both French and Spanish alike. In addition to the beach and town, there is also the impressive Château Abbadia located on the outskirts of the town. And if that wasn’t already enough, Hendaye also boasts some gorgeous views of the flysch rock formations that are easily accessible on coastal walking paths.

The points of interest:

• Old Town. The older part of Hendaye is located next to the train station. This train station actually witnessed a historic event at the beginning of World War II when Francisco Franco, the dictator of Spain met with Adolf Hitler to discuss the possibilities for Spain to join the conflict and become a part of the Axis powers. Franco and Hitler met at an armored wagon on the tracks, however, no agreement was reached as Franco’s demands were too high.
• The Place de la Republique is in the center of the town and the atmosphere here is generally cosy and quiet. It is the perfect place to enjoy a drink or a meal on one of the many terraces.
• Right next to the Place de la Republique stands the Church of Saint Vincent (“Église Saint Vincent” in French) that was built in the 16th century. Its exterior is characterized by white walls, exposed stone in the corners and red shutters, fitting in perfectly with the houses that surround it. Its interior, features a 13th century cross over the chapel and wooden galleries that stretch along the side and back wall. These galleries were originally reserved for men attending mass.
• On the side of the old town, in the direction of the beach, you will find the fronton of Hendaye, called “Gaztelu Zahar.” This fronton was built in 1899 and it was named after the fortress built by Vauban that previously stood in the same location but was destroyed after numerous battles between France and Spain.
• Across the street from the fronton, there is a pretty walking path known as the "Bay Path" ("Chemin de la Baie" in French). This path goes along the the water, where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Bay of Txingudi and the town of Hondarribia, just on the other side of the river. Along the path, you will also find some ruins of the walls built by Vauban and several cannons still pointing in the direction of Hondarribia.
• One of the Hendaye’s main attractions is the 3 km fine sandy beach, called Ondarraitz. This beach is popular among families and surfers alike, since there is plenty of space for everyone and some nice waves to surf.
• "Old Croisière Casino," a building that stands out, not just because it is the only building located on the beach itself but also because it has its own particular style. Built in 1884, this is the only building in Hendaye that has an arabic architectural style. For over 70 years, until 1980, the Old Croisière Casino was used as a casino, which is where its name comes from. Today, it is a luxury residence and also a shopping mall.
• At the end of the beach, stands another symbol of Hendaye, the two rocks just off the coast called "The Twin Rocks" ("Les Deux Jumeaux" in French).

• Duration (walking tour + transfer): 4 hours
Guide services: EUR 175.00

BIDART / GUETHARY

BIDART / GUETHARY (7,8 km. from Biarritz): TRANSFER + WALKING TOUR

Bidart is a small hill top town located between the road to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the sea, with charm and tranquility in abundance, no hustle and bustle here in comparison to the larger resort town of Biarritz, just on its doorstep to the North.
Most of the beaches are found at the base of a cliff (which, even in the height of the summer are not crowded), with the exception of two, the Plage d'Ilbarritz and Plage de l'Uhabia which are large open normal beaches.
The principle Architecture here is typically Basque (as the Mairie picture), white facades, Basque red shutters and colombage timbers and red pan-tiled roofs (when the sun is shining, the brightness from these houses is astounding), all the way from Bidart to Saint-Jean de Luz and Hendaye.
Bidart & Guethary are where the Pays Basque countryside and coast meet to create a magical mix.

• Durationии (walking tour + transfer): 4 hours
Guide services: EUR 175.00

The rates are valid till до 31.12.16

Maximum commission to agencies - 15%

For more details about transfers from Biarritz - please read here.