We had a great custom trip. Our guide picked us up after we finished a Viking tour and we spend most of the day traveling south to Spain. Our guide researched if there were any special regional events happening in any of small towns along our journey and he did find one and took us there. It was pretty special to see such a big day in that little town that was celebrating the day that they were able to liberate themselves from France. He also found us a nice restaurant in a small town that could accommodate us -- it was a Sunday and he was concerned that we may have trouble finding a place to eat. So overall very happy.

We arranged a private tour of the countryside, which included most of the "market and kitchen" parts of the tour and added a short hike. We had a marvelous day! Julen is a great guide and truly loves this region. He picked us up at our hotel and we headed to a lovely small organic farm, where we had the opportunity to get to know the farmer, his work, the climate, and the general growing region. It provided context to the food we had been enjoying in San Sebastian. From this farm, we left with a lot of vegetables. We then visited a couple of butcher shops to get chorizo and meat (plus a coffee in the morning and some wine in the afternoon). It was fun to see a bit of village life in a way that we wouldn't have observed if we were driving through ourselves. Our hike came next, which was short and easy because we were saving time for cooking! We went to the Gastronomical society of which Julen is now a member in the village where he grew up. We enjoyed learning cooking methods and approaches and also observing different members of the club come and go with their families and friends to prepare meals and socialize. It was a window into life in the smaller towns of the region. I would book a tour with Julen again and highly recommend Aupa Hi for unique experiences in this region.

Julen organized an amazing weekend for us in San Sebastian. We have done 20 years of epic weekends with our group of friends from Amsterdam, but he made this one the best🔥 Aupa rocks and would recommend Julen any day of the week!!

Julen was a fantastic host, arranging a session for us at the last minute. He provided top quality ingredients for us to create 6 Pintxos which we ate together whilst he filled us in on the history of the area. We had so much fun learning this new skill and look forward to recreating the dishes back in London to impress our friends 😉. Would most definitely recommend

Fun experience with grocery shopping for our dinner and then taking it back to secret kitchen and watching the cooking . Everything was delicious and wonderful with wine and our host, Colm. Highly recommend!

Had a fantastic time with Julen on our producers tour in the mountains. Julen went above and beyond not only in the producers he introduced us to, but in sharing his town, family recipes, and cooking us a fabulous meal! Everyone had an amazing time, including our 4 year old daughter who loved seeing all the animals and playing around the gastronomy club grounds. Thank you Julen for the lovely day that we’ll always remember!

Best part of our trip. Easily the most authentic. We did the pintxo tours, but this was 10 hours and only 300 each. Julian is from the area. He took us to all these places you won’t find in the city or books. He loves his region. He knows all about the history. And just look at my pictures. Where else can you get that? It was like a religious experience going to the peak.

June our guide was fantastic introducing us to the local walking scene but also giving us a fun historical and cultural description of the area. I wish we could have stayed longer and done another tour with him as his friendly demeanor made us feel like we were his friends! Thank you! M

We went on a customised hike planned in details through great dialogue with Julen. He was amazing at understanding our needs as a family (children aged 11 and 15) and planned a three days' trip which included hikes, sleeping in guesthouses and visiting hidden gems such as spectacular views and cosy local restaurants. We met for a warm welcome and instructions, and after that we were on our own - with Julen only a WhatsApp or phonecall away to help us. By the end of the trip, we met again for a cosy wrap up and sharing of stories. The most personal, local and spectacular experience that we can highly recommend.

Julen is the greatest! He customized a private tour for us after our original activity had been cancelled last minute by another tour company. He took us to tour the local markets, buy ingredients and then go learn how to make some classic Pintxos. He also gave us a lot of information on other things to go see & do in San Sebastián. We learned so much about the Basque food, culture, history and traditions. We were in Europe for 21 days a did a lot of awesome things, but this was one of the most memorable experiences we had! Thank you Julen. We are back in the U.S now making our own Pintxos almost every weekend to enjoy here at home

Julen is one of the finest people I've ever met. A Basque native he is a true Renaissance man with a proud passion for his homeland people and culture. From hiking, biking, pintos to a cooking class at a secret gastronomy society, Julen does it all!! But Surfing is his passion, and Nature his religion. Not a tour guide, but a friend. No matter what experience you choose, Any experience with Julen is worth it. A kind humble man you can Trust him to take of care of you and give you a lifelong memory of happiness. Im going back to book another excursion as soon as I learn Spanish,lol Aupa HI!!

Julen is an amazing guide and knows all the rich history of the Basque Country. My partner and I were looking for an excursion/day trip in the Basque Country that centered around food, wine, meeting locals, and learning about the life of the folks that live in this beautiful area, and that’s what Julen delivered, plus more! I really appreciated how Julen was incredibly flexible, and we collaborated on the vibe throughout the day! As a person, Julen is incredibly kind, outgoing, and popular! He knew so many people and introduced us to the locals. He was super responsible (while we drank like fish), and we felt super safe and comfortable hanging out with him all day! Do it! Book a day with Julen! You won’t regret it! Best, Mary & Greg

Julen’s food tour of San Sebastian was the absolute highlight of our trip! Our whole family had so much fun exploring the city and learning about the unique history and culture, all while trying delicious new food and drinks. It was such a fabulous introduction to the region and an absolute joy to spend time with Julen who was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a lots of fun. Not only did Julen teach us about the region’s food and drinks, he had lots of great recommendations for our stay and made us feel like friends visiting, not just tourists. I cannot recommend his tours highly enough! Totally worth the splurge and a great way to get to know the surrounding area.

Julen was great right from the moment he hoped out of the van. Such a sweet person. He is very knowledgable and passionate about this region. We first went to a beach cafe outside of San Sebastien for breakfast. After that the drive to our hiking destination was as beautiful as the hike in the Basque Mountains. Just Gorgeous. The clouds were coming in and out as we hiked with glimpses of valleys well below us. The horses and sheep roaming on the mountain side made the experience even better. After getting to the summit we hiked down a little and had lunch at a refugio ( great food which made this experience even better). Julen is one of the Best hosts we have ever had! Highly recommended.

We were a family of 6 visiting San Sebastián for the first time. Our trip lived up to all of our (high) expectations. We booked a half day with julen & it was certainly a highlight of our time there. We’re a mixed bunch…..parents, young adult, teenagers & a 12 year old! Julen managed to keep us all very happy & entertained. As well as being an excellent guide & ambassador for the Basque region he’s also great company & fun to be around. We spent a few hours surfing - first timers. Some of us did better than others but we all loved it! Afterwards Julen brought us to the best pincho bars in the old town. He showed us how the locals eat & drink. Was really enjoyable & it also meant that for the rest of our stay we made better food choices. Would thoroughly recommend booking one of the packages on offer. Money well spent!