Basque Country Travel Forum

My wife and I want to plan an end of June/ July 2008, vacation to the Basque country touching France as well as spanish soil, continuing and making stops through northern Spain to Santiago the Compostela. This has to be a tour or private tour since we do not drive. What is out there that is recommended, on middle to a higher end of a budget.We are plannning on 2 full week vacation departing from NYC,US.
Our focus would be on sightseeing,gourmet,tastings;local flavor and living;food markets;
history and art, etc;
Thanks
Walter
PS:Any suggestions are most welcome

being frm there and again visiting in summer, but tours? do not know, best is to contact a travel tour operator base in spain like Marsans or el Corte ingles travel, look up google for them.

best of luck, its a beautiful region.

We have done this route in different stages and at different times. But we drive - and take our own car through France to Spain and,in Spain book overnight stops at Paradors where - as Seniors - we get a very generous 35%discount.
I feel sure a good American travel should be able to put a package together for you starting in France - maybe at St Jean Pied de Port - though I think you would probably have to fly Paris - Pau.

I found this NY Times article whih may give you a few pointers

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/travel/23paradorside.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Doing it this way you would be looking at the higher end budget.
The discounts I mentioned are only for individual travellers; I suspect tour operators get and keep their own!

It is a trip you would never forget so do pursue it.
An alternative would be to fly to London and join a tour there. Let me know if you would like me to dig up more info on that possibility.

Whist we are willing to point out some highlights to you in the end what you see will be done to the route the tour takes and how long the tour stops at any one location.
Maybe it is best to pre-book some thing from your home country. That way you can ensure the guide speaks your language.
The best site for more information about Spain and somewhere to book up an organised trip is the following web site.
http://www.spain.info/

This may be a nice option: http://www.transcantabrico.feve.es/index.asp