Basque Country Spain : Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Includes

3 nights in a beach front boutique hotel in San Sebastian

3 nights in a 17th Century posada tucked into the charming village of Laguardia

Yoga classes as per the itinerary

Delicious Spanish style breakfasts daily & two lunches in wine country*

All dinners including pinxtos, cooking class, Chuleton and traditional Basque cuisine dining*

Opening dinner at 2 Michelin star restaurant Amelia*

Opening night happy hour and two exclusive wine tastings in wine country

Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian*

Unique boating excursion with pinxtos and wine

Walking city pintxos tour in San Sebastian*

Transportation from San Sebastian to Rioja and from Laguardia to Bilbao Airport

All hotel taxes & fees

What’s not Included :

Water and two glasses of wine are included with each dinner, any other beverages will be on your own

Airport transfers to San Sebastian hotel and from Bilbao hotel (if you add the extra night) to your return airport –

International Airfare

Two lunches (one in San Sebastian and one in Laguardia)

Optional wine tastings during free time

Gratuities for hotel staff, servers, drivers and guides

Additional night : Exclusive experiences at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (includes hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner private guided tour of the museum and yoga) see PRICING tab

– You can arrive on your own to the hotel in San Sebastian. A group shuttle will leave Laguardia on closing day to arrive at Bilbao airport around 12:30pm.

* Because of the nature of the cuisine in Basque country, accommodating vegetarian and vegan diets is not possible. Pescatarian, gluten free and specific allergies will be easier to consider but anything serious will be difficult to control given the risk of cross-contamination in the small kitchens while preparing meals.
Ideally guests have no dietary restrictions in order to fully enjoy the scope of the gastronomic experience.

Please note: the retreat is officially 6 nights long (3 nights in San Sebastian and 3 nights in wine country).

Please email us with questions or to clarify.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Itinerary

DAY ONE :

3pm Arrival to our oceanfront San Sebastian hotel, check-in & settle
5:30-6:30pm Opening circle and happy hour
7pm Opening dinner at Amelia by Paulo Airaudo, 2 Michelin starred dining experience with wine pairing

 DAY TWO :

Coffee in room
8:30-10am Yoga practice at a local studio
10:30am Gourmet breakfast at hotel
12-4pm Original Dutch sailboat built in 1927 excursion with bites & wine
6-9pm Walking pintxos tour with bar stops and local faves

 DAY THREE :

Coffee in room
8-9am Yoga practice at a local studio
9:30am Gourmet breakfast at hotel
Free time, beach strolls, massages, shopping, explore, relax
Lunch on your own in San Sebastian
6-9pm Authentic Basque Cooking Class with dinner

 DAY FOUR :

Coffee in room
8:15-9:30am Yoga practice at a local studio
10am Breakfast
12pm check out of hotel
12:15-2:15pm Leave for Laguardia
2:30pm Posada check in and bag drop
3pm Lunch together in Laguardia
7pm Exclusive wine tasting at Posada winery
8:30pm Dinner together at the posada

 DAY FIVE :

Coffee & fruit
8:30-10am Yoga practice
10:15am Breakfast
Free time to explore the village; hike the surrounding vineyards
1-5pm Exclusive wine tasting, vineyard tour & lunch in wine country
7-8:15pm Specialty workshop
8:30pm Dinner together at the posada

 DAY SIX :

Coffee & fruit
8:30-10am Yoga practice
10:15am Breakfast
Free time to explore, massages, rest
1pm Optional tour at Church of Santa María de los Reyes
Lunch on your own
Optional walk to tastings at nearby bodegas (on your own)
7pm Closing Circle
8:30pm Dinner together at the posada

 DAY SEVEN :

8:45am Breakfast
10:30am Check out of posada in Laguardia
10:30am -12pm Group shuttle to Bilbao Airport (plan to arrive by 12:30pm)
*****************************

OPTIONAL GUGGENHEIM EXPERIENCE

1:15pm Arrive Bilbao hotel; drop bags/check in
2pm Walk over to the Guggenheim
2:30pm Lunch at Bistró Guggenheim Bilbao — tasting menu
4:30-7pm Exclusive private guided tour of the museum
8:30pm Dinner together near the Guggenheim — tasting menu with wine pairing

 DAY EIGHT :

8am Breakfast
9:30-10:45am Outdoor yoga practice (weather permitting)
12pm Check out
Departures on your own

Please note: the retreat is officially 6 nights long (3 nights in San Sebastian and 3 nights in wine country).

Please email us with questions or to clarify.

BOOK NOW!

Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Accommodations

Donostia – San Sebastian Hotel :

At the end of the 19th century, little by little and under the heat of the court, the bay of La Concha was surrounded by elegant European-style villas, like a diadem of diamonds. And time, one by one, took them away too. To all, except one. The last town on the bay. The last jewel of the diadem. The most special. The favourite.
For the first three nights of our retreat we will stay at this gem of a property.

On one side of the glass, one of the most beautiful promenades in the world: the La Concha promenade in San Sebastián . On the other, the intimacy and charm of an original 19th century villa: a luxury hotel. On one side, life, light, sea and salt spray. On the other, two Michelin stars, a few good days and a cozy corner where you can enjoy the passage of time.

A cozy environment, a special place, where everything has been created around the same idea: that each day among us is unique.

Your room window opens to the heart of the city, to the best possible location on the bay.

We offer you a proposal of haute cuisine in each service, created by the award-winning chef Paulo Airaudo. In addition, the hotel has in its facilities the Amelia by Paulo Airaudo restaurant, with two Michelin stars.

Laguardia Posada & Winery :

For the last half of the retreat we will travel to Spain’s world-renowned wine country to stay in the Old Viana palace built in 1619 nestled into the heart of Laguardia, a fortified hilltop village in the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route. The posada is one of the most interesting historical buildings in Laguardia as it is still operational, producing incredible wines in the antique methods right in the cellar of the building, inside the town.

It was declared a heritage site of historical and cultural interest by the Government of the Basque Country. Rehabilitated in 1988 by Jaime Gutiérrez and Mery González, pioneers in Spanish wine tourism, Mayor de Migueloa offers a space full of history and full of corners where you can evoke flavors from other times and enjoy the environment, the local products and the nobility of the people.

In keeping with the idea of tradition, the hotel respect the architectural style of the palace with the original floors, wooden beams, stone walls and a staircase made with ashlar stones that show the wear and tear of thousands of footsteps over more than four hundred years. Seeking essence, not perfection, is the motto of this incredible gem.

The decoration in each of the eight unique guest rooms respects the style of the era, with antique furnishings and other decorative elements adorning the property. Guests are made to feel that they are staying in a seventeenth century nobleman’s palace but with the modern amenities of the 21st century. It is indeed a magical experience.

To complement the incredible wines that are still being made within these walls, the restaurant onsite produces some of the best traditional cuisine in the Basque Country. Highlighting quality ingredients and simplicity, dishes range from classic croquetas, tomato salad and seasonal vegetables to fresh seafood in the Rioja style and their famous dry-aged beef cuts of Chuleton.

Keeping with the family tradition of award winning wine making, Javier sources the vast majority of his grapes from right within Laguardia. He is the only winery in the town bringing grapes down the ancient streets, into a working cellar and creating incredible old and new style Rioja wines as he learned from his father.

Bilbao Guggenheim Museum Hotel :

For our OPTIONAL additional night and Guggenheim Museum experience we will stay very close to the museum, within walking distance and eye sight.

For May dates our hotel will be as follows. Comfortable rooms with Molton Brown bath products, delicious breakfast buffet and comfortable lobby and amenities.
You won’t be in the room for much time.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE!

Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Pricing

Standard City View Rooms

Standard rooms at each property with one king bed and ensuite bathroom. In San Sebastian rooms have city views.

$7,795usd Private

Deluxe Bay View Rooms

Deluxe rooms at each property with one king or two twin beds and ensuite bathroom. In San Sebastian rooms have bay views.

$8,315usd Private

$6,915usd per person Shared*

OPTIONAL GUGGENHEIM EXPERIENCE

Additional night (post-retreat) in Bilbao within steps of the Guggenheim Museum.

This add-on package includes one night accommodation, breakfast at the hotel, lunch tasting menu at Bistró Guggenheim Bilbao, Exclusive private guided tour of the museum, Dinner together at the Guggenheim’s exclusive restaurant NERUE — tasting menu with wine pairing and yoga outdoors the following morning (weather permitting). It includes the taxi to the hotel. Return transfers on your own.

 ADD $895usd Private room

ADD $615USD Per Person Shared ROOM*

All pricing is now in USD.

*We can pair roommates together looking to share a room with two twin beds. If a roommate is not available you will be required to take a private accommodation.

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Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Registration

MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT HERE :

Deposits of $1,000usd are due to secure your space in the retreat. Please check availability with us for accommodations before making your deposit.

Roommates should book together. If you would like to share a room and do not have a roommate we will provide one for you if possible. If you’d like us to pair you with a roommate for rooms with shared options we require a written consent with your vaccination status and preference regarding roommate’s status to pair you accordingly. We only pair roommates together, not bedmates. All guests are required to arrive to the retreat with a negative covid test result within 24 hours.

Please email us to confirm availability and make your deposit below.

Contact Us with questions

BALANCE PAYMENTS :

The balance of your retreat (minus your $1,000usd initial deposit*) is due 90 days prior to arrival. All details for this will be emailed to the group three months before the retreat.

You may pay with a credit card via PayPal, a bank wire transfer, Zelle, or deposit a check into our bank account to settle your balance. We also accept Bitcoin. We understand how much fees blow…though some of these options do incur a fee that will be passed on to you. Please see the itemized list below.

PayPal = Pay using your credit card. 4% fee is applied.

Bank Wire = Pay online with a wire. Please add $20usd to your total for wire fee.

Zelle or dropping a check into our Chase account = No charge to pay with this method. Daily limits apply with Zelle.

Bitcoin = Modern payment methods in cryptocurrency. Any transaction fees your wallet requires are applied.

Please let us know your preferred method of payment and we will send you the appropriate information right away.

POLICIES

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations made within 90 days or less of arrival are 100% non refundable. All initial deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY

The acceptance of a verbal or written confirmation from YOGA & ADVENTURES WORLDWIDE (Y&AWW) constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions listed herein. Participants are responsible to be adequately insured, therefore Traveler’s Insurance is strongly recommended*. Y&AWW and its staff assume no responsibility nor liability for any delay, loss, damage, injury or accident with regards to persons or property which may be caused by fault or negligence of any third party vendor. This includes hotels, transportation providers, and local operators participating in part for our services. Y&AWW shall be held harmless for any expense caused by injury or accident, to any participants as well as any loss or damage of personal items while on our tours. We reserve the right to make any changes to services and itineraries, with or without notice, which may become necessary.

Yoga & Adventures Worldwide, its affiliates, retreat facilitators, hotels, third party vendors, and tour providers, the ownership, or staff, of course, cannot be held responsible for events that are outside of our control. There are no refunds as per our cancellation policies. We highly recommend that all of our guests secure a quality travel insurance that will cover them for ANY event which may cause for a change of travel plans, or for ANY unfortunate event including but of course not limited to:

– Transportation delays, cancellations or changes due to strikes, labor disputes, or lockouts from airlines, boats, ferries or any type of transportation
– Any inconvenience or complication caused by bad weather, storms, and hurricanes : a direct hit, near miss, or significant threat of a hurricane strike
– Government/political actions, events or situations; threats or acts of terrorism, acts of war or declared war.
– Personal health issues or personal situations in general which may affect travel plans
– Any loss, theft or damage of personal items at any stage of your trip
– Any accident causing injury during any stage of your trip
– Travel restrictions or illness associated with COVID-19.

All travelers may join our retreats “at your own risk”, but should continue to take precautions such as wearing masks in public, avoiding crowds, maintaining social distance and washing hands frequently. Any Covid testing will be determined by the countries through which the traveler must pass. All testing requirements are at the travelers expense and are not included in our packages. Please stay up to date with current travel related requirements.

We are not able to refund payments or extend credits due to complications in travel, rescheduling or closings due to Covid-19 therefore we recommend that you cover yourself and your trip at the link below. We also recommend that you consider Trip Cancellation insurance in case of any unforeseen issues. Agents are available online to help with your specific needs.

Cover your retreat here!

In addition to travel insurance, we require that you are covered with medical insurance while on retreat. Please check your health insurance policy regarding treatment outside your home country in the rare case you would need care while away from home. We recommend and use IMG Travel Medical Insurance to cover us around the globe. Please consult with the agent to make sure the plan you choose covers medical care in the country you are visiting. We will ask for proof of medical insurance prior to the retreat.

By submitting payments toward your retreat you accept these Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions regarding the details of this retreat please feel free to contact us to set up a call or to receive further info via email.

Contact Us with any questions

Basque Country Spain : A Yoga & Gastronomy Retreat

Travel Tips Guide

Please note: the retreat is officially 6 nights long (3 nights in San Sebastian and 3 nights in wine country).

Please email us with questions or to clarify.

• AIRPORT OPTIONS : The cheapest international airport to fly into is Bilbao (BIO). It is located approximately one hour from our hotel in San Sebastian. Alternatively you can fly directly into San Sebastian (EAS).
• AIRPORT TRANSFERS : We can help with airport transfers from Bilbao to San Sebastian (also known as Donostia-San Sebastian) at an additional cost depending on how many people are in the ride. We will do our best to pair travelers arriving at a similar time but most guests plan to arrive a day or two before the retreat starts in order to try and adjust to the new time zone. If we have others arriving on your time table we are happy to help organize this service or you can use Uber.com on your own. A taxi should cost you between 155-200 euro depending on the day and time of your trip. You can negotiate at the airport with one if you like.

• ALT TRANSPORTATION ON YOUR OWN : If you’d like to save a bit on travel between the two cities, the main bus companies which run services between Bilbao and San Sebastian are ALSA and PESA. ALSA has up to 3 buses an hour, taking between 1hr10m and 2hrs with two different classes of travel, and PESA has a bus every hour on the hour and sometimes also on the half hour, again taking between 1hr10 and 1hr30.

• WEATHER : San Sebastian can be rainy so please bring along a rain jacket and a collapsable umbrella in case of showers. May temps range from the high 60s during the day to high 50s at night, while October is in the low 70s during the day and the high 50s at night.

• WHAT TO PACK : Layers are always recommended to transition from sunny days to cooler evenings. Jeans, light sweaters or jackets should be handy for cooler evenings while day time can be sunny and mild. Comfortable shoes are recommended and heels should be carefully considered because of the uneven cobblestone streets that you will surely encounter. We will be near the beach so if you would like to take a swim bring along your bathing suit and something to lay on top of in the sand or your beach chair. Our boat tour also will provide a swimming opportunity if the weather allows and you are up for it. Don’t forget your yoga mat!

• YOGA PROPS : We will be practicing at a studio in San Sebastian so mats and props are provided. In wine country and Bilbao you will need to bring along your own yoga mat and any props you like to use while in class. We find that folding our mat flat in the bottom of our suitcase is the most space efficient way to travel. If you are looking for an amazing travel mat we highly recommend Liforme mats and knee pads. You can use this link to get a 5% discount on your order.

• DIETARY CONCERNS : Because of the nature of the cuisine in Basque country, accommodating vegetarian and vegan diets is not possible. Pescatarian, gluten free and specific allergies will be easier to consider but anything serious will be difficult to control given the risk of cross-contamination in the small kitchens while preparing meals. Ideally guests have no dietary restrictions in order to fully enjoy the scope of the gastronomic experience.

Contact Us with any questions