Hike, Bike & Wine in Spain's Basque Country

Tapas and pintxos are both traditional Spanish ways of eating with very different origins, presentations and styles.

Tapas is the well-known 'small plate' form of Spanish dining, with options varying from olives and cheeses to squid and shrimp, hot and cold dishes, and can vary from a simple snack to a more elaborate mini-meal. The term tapas means 'covers' or 'lids' in Spanish, alluding to the origin story where slices of bread or meat were used to cover drinks to protect them from flies.

Pintxos (also spelled – and pronounced – 'pinchos') are less well-known and quite different. These are small snacks or appetisers usually served in bars in northern Spain, particularly in the Basque Country. The Basque word pintxo comes from the Spanish word pincho, which means 'spike' or 'skewer', as these snacks are often held together by a skewer or toothpick. While pintxos are similar to tapas in that they are small dishes served in Spanish bars, pintxos are generally more elaborate and feature a variety of ingredients piled on top of a slice of bread. Pintxos are more synonymous with the finer dining food scene to be found in San Sebastian and other parts of northern Spain.

Pintxos are typically displayed on the bar counter, and you select what you want by pointing. They are generally eaten in one or two bites, often while standing at the bar. In the Basque region, it is common to 'pintxo-hop' – moving from bar to bar, having a small drink and a pintxo at each stop. In some bars in this region, a customer's bill is calculated by counting the number and colour of the toothpicks that they have accumulated.

Pintxos can include a wide range of ingredients such as seafood, meats, cheeses, vegetables, and sauces, with hot or cold options. Some examples of pintxos that you will find on your hopping escapades are listed below:

Gilda: an anchovy, an olive, and a pickled guindilla pepper on a skewer. One of the simplest and most traditional pintxos, named after a Rita Hayworth character.

Pintxos Morunos: typically made with marinated pork (although chicken or lamb can also be used), meat is marinated in a mixture of paprika, cumin, coriander, and garlic, then grilled and served on a skewer.

Tortilla Española: like the classic tapas dish, this is a thick omelette made with potatoes and onions, served at room temperature; but for a pintxo a small slice of tortilla is cut and placed on a piece of bread.

Pintxos de Chorizo y Queso: spicy chorizo and a slice of creamy cheese on a piece of crusty bread.

Pintxos de Gambas: cooked prawns in olive oil with garlic and chilli, skewered with a piece of bread and a slice of roasted red pepper.

Bacalao a la Vizcaina: a more complex pintxo of cod cooked in a sauce made from onions, red peppers, and tomatoes, served on a small piece of bread.

Your host is an expert in all things Northern Spain, running many other Much Better Adventures in the area over the years – so if weather affects anything on this trip, they have ample knowledge of alternatives to pivot to. We don't run this trip in July and August, as the heat can make active adventures less enjoyable.

There will be two guides on the trip for all group sizes of six and above; there will be one guide for groups of fewer than six adventurers.

You'll be riding a BH Atom Pro - this is an electric hardtail bike, with suspension at the front. You'll be fitted with the correct size bike and given instruction on using an e-bike if this is your first time.

You'll have the same base for four of the five nights on this trip, so your main luggage can remain there until your final night in San Sebastian, when your luggage will be transferred to the hotel there.

We recommend checking out the country specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in this part of Spain. Bring along a water bottle to fill up throughout the trip to take with you on the activities.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion and are non-compulsory on this trip. Of course, if you feel that your guides provided an exceptional experience then you are welcome to tip as much as you feel is appropriate. You should factor in tipping 10% on top of the bill in any bars and restaurants during the trip.

This trip visits locations where daytime temperatures can be extremely high during the times of year when this trip operates. High humidity and limited access to shade can also be factors, and warm temperatures can continue into the nighttime, which additionally influence the body’s ability to cool down. Personal care should be taken to keep cool as best possible in the conditions, such as wearing appropriate clothing and proper hydration. Very high temperatures can impair an individual’s physical abilities to perform an activity that they may otherwise be able to do competently at cooler temperatures. People may experience symptoms associated with dehydration and Heat Stroke. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures, by carefully managing the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.