Ulle Gorri Travel - The Land of the Basques Experience
Ulle Gorri Travel - The Land of the Basques Experience
Ulle Gorri Travel - The Land of the Basques Experience
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Live a Travel Experience in the Basque Country with "Local Eyes".
Discover our fascinating culture from one of the most spectacular natural sceneries of the Basque Country.
- exclusive and customized guided visits and travel programs
- sustainable and ecotours
- cultural immersion and genuine local hospitality
- traditional and sustainable rural accommodation only 50 km from Bilbao
Izarra, Basque Country, Spain
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Ulle Gorri Travel - The Land of the Basques Experience
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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where d
Minneapolis, MN9 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
5 friends + 1 week in Ulle Gorre = 7 friends and great memories!
We had a great time visiting the Basque Country under the guidance of our hosts Ana and Inaki. We chose to make the farmhouse our base camp as we would not have to change accommodations frequently. Besides enjoying the pastoral setting and the comfortable beds at Ulle Gorre, we were guided by Inaki through the cities of Bilbao, San Sebastian, and Vitoria-Gasteiz as they were less than 1 hour by car. We toured famous, scenic, and historic sites all along the Basque coastline. 2 of us extended the guided tour across the Pyrenees to visit the French Basque countryside and coast.
You come to Basque to enjoy the food, which we did! Between making multiple stops at cafes for pintxos, a gastronomic cooking demonstration, sampling several restaurants, daily breakfasts, a barbeque at the farm with Ana and Inaki, and a cooking lesson with Ana, we all came away with full stomachs and an appreciation as to why the Basque region is known for its food and why its residents are so proud of their culinary heritage.
Inaki is an extremely knowledgeable tour guide about all things Basque. Whether it be about history, culture, or food. Both Inaki and Ana are extremely personable and friendly. They were constantly trying to optimize our itinerary on any given day so that we could could get the most out of our visit. Their extensive personal travel experience made them perfect hosts as well as dinner companions and new friends.
It was very clear, from my very first communication with Ana and Inaki, that they wanted to design a tour for us that met our interests and energies. They wanted to create the perfect vacation for us.
We had a great time visiting the Basque Country under the guidance of our hosts Ana and Inaki. We chose to make the farmhouse our base camp as we would not have to change accommodations frequently. Besides enjoying the pastoral setting and the comfortable beds at Ulle Gorre, we were guided by Inaki through the cities of Bilbao, San Sebastian, and Vitoria-Gasteiz as they were less than 1 hour by car. We toured famous, scenic, and historic sites all along the Basque coastline. 2 of us extended the guided tour across the Pyrenees to visit the French Basque countryside and coast.
You come to Basque to enjoy the food, which we did! Between making multiple stops at cafes for pintxos, a gastronomic cooking demonstration, sampling several restaurants, daily breakfasts, a barbeque at the farm with Ana and Inaki, and a cooking lesson with Ana, we all came away with full stomachs and an appreciation as to why the Basque region is known for its food and why its residents are so proud of their culinary heritage.
Inaki is an extremely knowledgeable tour guide about all things Basque. Whether it be about history, culture, or food. Both Inaki and Ana are extremely personable and friendly. They were constantly trying to optimize our itinerary on any given day so that we could could get the most out of our visit. Their extensive personal travel experience made them perfect hosts as well as dinner companions and new friends.
It was very clear, from my very first communication with Ana and Inaki, that they wanted to design a tour for us that met our interests and energies. They wanted to create the perfect vacation for us.
Written September 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy V
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We have been on an extended vacation is Spain. When we got here our plans were not set, however we knew we had to visit the Basque Country, (my husband has long ago experience working with sheep herders in southern Idaho). He found this tour and it turned out to be much better than we could have dreamed of.
If you enjoy learning new culture, understanding of history, exploring beautiful countryside, touring to interesting Villages and Cities, we couldn’t recommend more.
Ulle Gorri is located in the center of some of the most spectacular, open, sparsely populated country I have ever experienced. Inaki took us on some incredible hikes through different wooded areas. Horses in pastures, flocks of sheep and cows, with bells on (literally).
Ana is a wonderful cook ad we had the pleasure of eating some scrumptious meals in their lil hideaway.
Inaki and Ana are both originally Basque, Inaki is very knowledgeable about the history of this area and Spain as well. There were tears is my eyes when we had to say goodbye, we will be back.
Footnote: while driving Inaki has a fine baritone voice that he’s not shy about, we were singing along the way.
If you enjoy learning new culture, understanding of history, exploring beautiful countryside, touring to interesting Villages and Cities, we couldn’t recommend more.
Ulle Gorri is located in the center of some of the most spectacular, open, sparsely populated country I have ever experienced. Inaki took us on some incredible hikes through different wooded areas. Horses in pastures, flocks of sheep and cows, with bells on (literally).
Ana is a wonderful cook ad we had the pleasure of eating some scrumptious meals in their lil hideaway.
Inaki and Ana are both originally Basque, Inaki is very knowledgeable about the history of this area and Spain as well. There were tears is my eyes when we had to say goodbye, we will be back.
Footnote: while driving Inaki has a fine baritone voice that he’s not shy about, we were singing along the way.
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian E
Superior, CO3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Anna and Inaki took very good care of us on our 9 day trip to the Basque country. We are a family with two teens from the United States. We speak a very tiny amount of Spanish. On our trip, we stayed in the costal village of Mundaka, their lovely farm house inn in the highlands, and Saint Jean de Luz (on the beach in France). We took a family surf lesson, an electric mountain biking tour, a basic canyoneering trip, some short scenic hikes, and lots of food experiences. They arranged everything and drove us around in their electric touring van. The Basque country is beautiful and fascinating.
Anna is very warm and well organized (and an excellent cook). Inaki is funny and easygoing and has lots of interesting stories and history tales.
We wanted to make sure our teenagers didn't get bored and we over-planned the activities a little bit. Anna and Inaki were flexible and helped modify the plans later in the week. I'm sure if you wanted to go the other way and increase the activity level mid trip they could do that too.
We have numerous severe food allergies (gluten, tree nuts, and fruits). This normally makes travel extremely stressful and tiring. Anna called and visited all of our hotels and restaurants before we arrived and spoke with the cooks. She had everything arranged and having Inaki to translate for us when we arrived at restaurants made this trip very easy and non-stressful (and nobody accidentally ate anything they were allergic too). Anna decided that one of our hotels was not perfectly set up for a gluten free breakfast so she brought special bread from a bakery and delivered it to the hotel for them to keep specifically for me.
I highly recommend visiting the Basque country and having Anna and Inaki be your guides.
keywords: celiac, gluten free, tree nut allergy, family, teens
Anna is very warm and well organized (and an excellent cook). Inaki is funny and easygoing and has lots of interesting stories and history tales.
We wanted to make sure our teenagers didn't get bored and we over-planned the activities a little bit. Anna and Inaki were flexible and helped modify the plans later in the week. I'm sure if you wanted to go the other way and increase the activity level mid trip they could do that too.
We have numerous severe food allergies (gluten, tree nuts, and fruits). This normally makes travel extremely stressful and tiring. Anna called and visited all of our hotels and restaurants before we arrived and spoke with the cooks. She had everything arranged and having Inaki to translate for us when we arrived at restaurants made this trip very easy and non-stressful (and nobody accidentally ate anything they were allergic too). Anna decided that one of our hotels was not perfectly set up for a gluten free breakfast so she brought special bread from a bakery and delivered it to the hotel for them to keep specifically for me.
I highly recommend visiting the Basque country and having Anna and Inaki be your guides.
keywords: celiac, gluten free, tree nut allergy, family, teens
Written September 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ernie W
9 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Ana and Iñaki were amazing hosts for our trip to the Basque Country. They thought and planned carefully for our needs and interests from arrival to departure. They also adjusted our itinerary after learning more about us to provide an exquisite introduction to Basque life, replete with food, drink, explanations, and song. As soon as they found out we had adventurous palates, Ana made plans for us to experience an array of dining experiences. It ranged from home cooked meals (grilled meats!) to hidden restaurants tucked into the mountains. Iñaki could be a history professor with his comprehensive knowledge of and love for the history of Basque Country. They both love their heritage and are eager to share it with a smile and a great sense of humor for the little things that can pop up unexpectedly. It's hard to imagine a better trip and, rather than do that, I'm going back for more!
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jjkso
New York3 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Reading all the excellent reviews I can only say , I totally agree. Book with them. You will absolutely not regret it. Inaki and Ana, our hosts and guides, crafted for us, a group of four retired couples, an immersive, 12 day tour chock full of history, culture, music, and wonderful Basque food. We enjoyed excellent planned visits to local artists, winemakers, boat builders, shepherds, cheese makers, orchard owners and chefs. We spent six nights at the amazing farmhouse of Inaki and Ana and enjoyed walks and day trips to historical sites, great restaurants, and lovely cities. Inaki led us on informative walking tours of Orduña, Guernica, Bilbao, Bermeo, Vitoria, San Sebastián, Ste Jean de Luz, Sare and Ainhoa. He answered literally hundreds of our questions on the history , geography and culture of the Basque region. When we returned in the evening Ana had wonderful local home cooked food ready for us to enjoy. We loved the hotels that were chosen for us in Bilbao and St Jean de Luz and we especially loved Inaki’s amazing baritone singing voice that sometimes emerged for us during our drives in the comfortable Mercedes van. A highlight was seeing La Boheme in the Bilbao Opera House on our last night. In summary, Inaki and Ana are incredibly organized, fun, full of knowledge and passionate about providing a unique experience in the Basque region. We recommend without reservation.
Written June 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie5466
Guanajuato Municipality, Mexico1,151 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Ana and Iñaki, owners of Ulle Gorri, are the most amazing hosts and experts in their field. Caring, knowledgeable, attentive to details, flexible, generous and kind. I spent ten days with them (first on my own for six days then with a second guest) galivanting around many of the beautiful areas of the Basque Country. Their historic home has been remodeled in an incredibly creative and stunning way.
You feel at home the moment you walk in. It is located in a very quiet and scenic pastoral environment that looks like art and where the light sounds of bells worn by the various animals in the surrounding fields, greet you in the morning. Guaranteed to have a peaceful sleep. The first day, I arrived in the dark of night and didn’t see the surroundings until breakfast the next morning. The green hills were layered with a light fog – dreamlike. It wasn’t until the following morning that I could see the mountains further away, the nearby hamlet, the whole charming picture.
Between the two of them they have a huge repertoire of historical, cultural, culinary, and local knowledge. I can’t think of a question I asked them for which they didn’t know the answer. But all that isn’t sufficient if you can’t rise to unforeseen occurrences. I became sick for 1.5 days towards the end of the trip and they were able to accommodate my visit to an emergency clinic while the need of the other traveler was still attended to without a glitch.
What I enjoyed the most was the complete flexibility when I was touring with them by myself. If they noticed I was into plants or long hikes, they would change the route to include more of that. If they noticed I wasn’t into shopping or big cities, they would also change the route to a certain degree to include less of that. If they noticed I prefer some type of food, they would see if they could cook it or find it.
When I was alone with them, we spoke more Spanish (although they also know French and English) because I was also here to practice that language. We turned to English when the second guest arrived since she didn’t speak it. (Please understand that this level of flexibility would be difficult to do for larger groups but I needed to say how attentive to details these two were and I appreciated every bit of it). If the weather didn’t allow for a good view from the top of a mountain, we would do something else just as interesting. You need to have a plan B, C, and D already lined up and a thorough knowledge of the area to achieve this so seamlessly.
Finally, be prepared for long days but isn’t that what you are here for? Complete discovery of an amazing place? Many days would start at 8:30am and end around 9-11pm. I see that as part of the adventure and loved it, some may not have the energy for it.
I can’t recommend Ulle Gorri and it’s the Land of the Basques Experience enough. They are simply top notch incredible hosts. Enjoy!!!
You feel at home the moment you walk in. It is located in a very quiet and scenic pastoral environment that looks like art and where the light sounds of bells worn by the various animals in the surrounding fields, greet you in the morning. Guaranteed to have a peaceful sleep. The first day, I arrived in the dark of night and didn’t see the surroundings until breakfast the next morning. The green hills were layered with a light fog – dreamlike. It wasn’t until the following morning that I could see the mountains further away, the nearby hamlet, the whole charming picture.
Between the two of them they have a huge repertoire of historical, cultural, culinary, and local knowledge. I can’t think of a question I asked them for which they didn’t know the answer. But all that isn’t sufficient if you can’t rise to unforeseen occurrences. I became sick for 1.5 days towards the end of the trip and they were able to accommodate my visit to an emergency clinic while the need of the other traveler was still attended to without a glitch.
What I enjoyed the most was the complete flexibility when I was touring with them by myself. If they noticed I was into plants or long hikes, they would change the route to include more of that. If they noticed I wasn’t into shopping or big cities, they would also change the route to a certain degree to include less of that. If they noticed I prefer some type of food, they would see if they could cook it or find it.
When I was alone with them, we spoke more Spanish (although they also know French and English) because I was also here to practice that language. We turned to English when the second guest arrived since she didn’t speak it. (Please understand that this level of flexibility would be difficult to do for larger groups but I needed to say how attentive to details these two were and I appreciated every bit of it). If the weather didn’t allow for a good view from the top of a mountain, we would do something else just as interesting. You need to have a plan B, C, and D already lined up and a thorough knowledge of the area to achieve this so seamlessly.
Finally, be prepared for long days but isn’t that what you are here for? Complete discovery of an amazing place? Many days would start at 8:30am and end around 9-11pm. I see that as part of the adventure and loved it, some may not have the energy for it.
I can’t recommend Ulle Gorri and it’s the Land of the Basques Experience enough. They are simply top notch incredible hosts. Enjoy!!!
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saric
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Couples
My husband and I spent a wonderful week with Ana and Iñaki, staying at their farmhouse and discovering the Basque Country with them. As others have said, they are gracious and generous hosts who are passionate about sharing the history and beauty of their culture and homeland with others.
What made this trip so special was that Ana and Iñaki treated us as friends, not just clients. On days that we had lunch or dinner at the farmhouse, we ate with them. One day when no touring was planned we decided to go for a walk - Iñaki joined us and afterwards the three of us met Ana in a nearby town where we shared pintxos and visited the local market. When Ana had business in Bilbao she went shopping for me so I could bring home some conservas, a taste of Bermeo. I could go on.
We had an unforgettable experience. Thank you Ana and Iñaki!
What made this trip so special was that Ana and Iñaki treated us as friends, not just clients. On days that we had lunch or dinner at the farmhouse, we ate with them. One day when no touring was planned we decided to go for a walk - Iñaki joined us and afterwards the three of us met Ana in a nearby town where we shared pintxos and visited the local market. When Ana had business in Bilbao she went shopping for me so I could bring home some conservas, a taste of Bermeo. I could go on.
We had an unforgettable experience. Thank you Ana and Iñaki!
Written September 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas R
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Family
For someone with Basque ancestry or even just an interest in the Basque country of southern France and northern Spain I cannot imagine a better choice than Ulle Gorri Travel. The eight days we spent with Ana and Inaki were the greatest vacation experience of my life. At the beginning of the tour we were met by Inaki at the Pau airport in southern France and taken in a comfortable Mercedes electric van to the ancestral homeland of my Basque ancestors in the village of Lescun. The entire area was familiar to Inaki and his multi-lingual capabilities in French, Euskara, Spanish and English gave us access to everything we could have hoped to see, including graves in the village churchyard with my ancestors' names. Even the hotel he booked for us had an ancestral name. He led us up mountain trails to amazing views of the cirque of Lescun and the spectacular peaks of the Atlantic Pyrenees that surround it. Following visits to neighboring communes, he took us to Pied de Port for a short walk on the Camino de Santiago and a longer one as we crossed the Pyrenees into Spain at historic Roncesvalles. At each stop and along the road through Pamplona we were treated to the historic events and peculiarities of the land of the Basques. On arrival at the Ulle Gorri farmhouse we were warmly received by Ana, who had prepared a typical Basque dinner for us. The house, built in 1860, has modern facilities, but maintains the character of a typical farmhouse of the area. Located just a short walk away from a small village, it is ideally situated to give visitors immersion into the traditional Basque way of life in the region. It was also an excellent departure point for daily excursions to the principal cities and attractions of the Basque provinces, including Vitoria, Guernica and Bilbao as well as off the beaten path forest hikes and places such as the ancient Salt beds of Anana. He arranged guides to the major attractions and even a session with a gourmet chef who let us watch her prepare our eight course Basque meal. The final two days were spent on the west and east coastal areas visiting fishing villages and interacting with the remarkable women net menders and sorters of the catch. Our final stop was in San Sebastian, where we reluctantly took leave of our wonderful guide. This brief account cannot do justice to the experience, but I hope it gives some idea of what Ana and Inaki offer their visitors. We were treated like family. Ana even let us help prepare pinxtos and Spanish Tortillas in the kitchen and made us feel like American cousins visiting our Basque relatives. I highly recommend their services for anyone who is looking for a deep immersion into Basque history and culture. To enjoy the full experience, be prepared for hikes and walks averaging four or five miles per day.
Written October 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cristina A
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Family
Our tour and stay with Ana and Iñaki was everything that we had hoped for and more. Their home in the countryside was picture perfect! The accommodations were clean and comfortable in their enchanting farmhouse. We enjoyed many delicious meals while visiting with Ana and Iñaki in their beautiful sunroom with spectacular views.
Our days were spent visiting the many Basque sites in the area. Iñaki shared his love and knowledge of this beautiful part of Europe. Our travel was done in their comfortable van while listening to a fun playlist. On special occasions we were fortunate to hear Iñaki sing with his professionally trained opera voice.
Everything about our trip was a 10/10!
Our days were spent visiting the many Basque sites in the area. Iñaki shared his love and knowledge of this beautiful part of Europe. Our travel was done in their comfortable van while listening to a fun playlist. On special occasions we were fortunate to hear Iñaki sing with his professionally trained opera voice.
Everything about our trip was a 10/10!
Written October 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
My experience with The Land of the Basques was phenomenal. I particularly enjoyed our visit to the artisanal sheep milk cheese producer, and the Sidra house with the gorgeous view. Iñaki, our guide, did a great job explaining the historical significance of various places and attractions we visited during our excursions.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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