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France
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Occitanie
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Aude
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Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude
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Tours & Activities
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ELORRIO, OÑATI, BASQUE SHEPHERDS AND SANCTUARY OF ARANTZAZU
5 h
Instant confirmation
About this activity
We will visit
Elorrio, a small inland village, surrounded by mountains and full of charm. The old quarter is one of the most interesting ones.
Oñati is also one of the most beautiful inland villages of the Basque Country. We will visit the University, the oldest in the Basque Country
and a jewel from the Renaissance.
High up in the mountains, we will visit the only
Shepherd School existing in Europe. In this idyllic location, we will dicover the secrets of the XXI century Shepherds. Moreover, we will enjoy a
tasting of the renowned Idiazabal cheese accompanied
with wine.
Finally, we will visit the impressive
Sanctuary of Arantzazu, a great reference for the modern Basque art.
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Elorrio, a small inland village, surrounded by mountains and full of charm. The old quarter is one of the most interesting ones.
Oñati is also one of the most beautiful inland villages of the Basque Country. We will visit the University, the oldest in the Basque Country
and a jewel from the Renaissance.
High up in the mountains, we will visit the only
Shepherd School existing in Europe. In this idyllic location, we will dicover the secrets of the XXI century Shepherds. Moreover, we will enjoy a
tasting of the renowned Idiazabal cheese accompanied
with wine.
Finally, we will visit the impressive
Sanctuary of Arantzazu, a great reference for the modern Basque art.
Included
- Local guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Food tasting
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Snacks
Not included
- Anything not detailed at inclusions.
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Features
Tourism
80%
Cultural
55%
Original
25%
Aquatic
20%
Reviews
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A very unique tour delving into the Basque countryside and up into the mountains. I loved walking through the small town of Elorrio and the nearby ancient cemetery with Visigoth tombs! and Onati with its beautiful former University of Sancti Spiritus. The highlight for me was the climb past traditional Basque homes and farms and some blah industrial buildings and apartment complexes into the mountains for the visit to the rustic School of the Shepherd. No classes were in session when we went, but the sheep were there! We had samples of cheese to eat and, of course, you could buy some if you wanted. A further climb up brought us to the mountain sanctuary of Arantzazu with the statue of the Virgin Mary found on a spike tree by a local shepherd as the story is told. Although the sanctuary is quite modern there's even a modern art mini-museum on a lower level, it fits in beautifully with the surrounding scenery such that it's not jarring at all and you feel like you're walking into a mountain as you enter the main room. Our driver was very good - never learned his name, but he handled the curves of the mountains very smoothly. Our guide was excellent - personable, with lots of information, could answer questions on a variety of topics, spoke English well 1 of several that he speaks. I only wish I could remember his name! Sorry about that. The trip was well scheduled I felt there was sufficient time for each location. One tip: confirm the pickup location once you're in Bilbao because they won't contact you. We had our hotel clerk do it. They do pick up at the larger hotels. Our guide even gave us a great recommendation for a restaurant for lunch and it was terrific! Highly recommend this unique tour.