Self-Launched: Hike, E-Bike & Wine in Spain's Basque Country

Land at Bilbao Airport or arrive at Bilbao Abando station. Take the Alsa or La Unión bus from Bilbao's Termibus to Logroño (roughly 2 hours, ~£12), then a local bus or taxi to Laguardia (~£6). Check into a guesthouse, pensión or small hotel in Laguardia or nearby Elciego — the walled old town is the cheapest base and puts you right in the vineyards. Spend the late afternoon on a self-guided walk among the vines and into the medieval lanes, then book a place on a short winery tour and tasting at a bodega in Laguardia or Elciego (~£12–18 direct booking). Dinner in Laguardia: pintxos and a glass of Rioja Alavesa (~£15).

🚌Public bus Bilbao Termibus → Logroño (~£12), local bus/taxi → Laguardia (~£6)

🛏Pensión or guesthouse in Laguardia (twin/private), ~£45–60

• →Self-guided vineyard walk around Laguardia
• →Winery tour & tasting at a Laguardia/Elciego bodega (direct booking)
• →Explore the medieval old town

Take the early bus from Laguardia/Logroño to Nájera (Riojano regional bus, ~£3–4). Walk the Camino de Santiago out of town past the Santa María la Real Monastery, then follow the Via Verde del Najerilla — an old railway line turned walking and cycling path — through vineyards and rolling hills to Badarán (7 miles, 3–4 hours, mostly gentle). In Badarán, book a winery visit and tasting directly (several bodegas offer cellar tours for ~£12–20) and take a simple menú del día lunch in the village (~£12). Late afternoon bus back to Laguardia (~£4), then a wander of the cobbled streets and a relaxed dinner.

🚌Regional bus Laguardia/Logroño → Nájera (~£3–4 each way)

🛏Pensión or guesthouse in Laguardia, ~£45–60

• →Self-guided Camino de Santiago / Via Verde del Najerilla hike (Nájera–Badarán)
• →Bodega cellar tour & wine tasting in Badarán
• →Explore Nájera old town and monastery

Take the bus from Logroño to Arnedillo (Riojano/La Estellesa service, ~£5, roughly 1h15). Hire an e-bike locally in Arnedillo or Calahorra for the day (~£30–40 including helmet) and ride the Via Verde del Cidacos through almond and olive groves and farmland toward the towering rock formations around Arnedillo (14 miles, 3–4 hours). Leave the bike and take the short riverside walk to the Arnedillo thermal pools — free natural hot springs on the banks of the Cidacos, with water up to ~48°C and the option of jumping in the cold river between soaks. Late tapas lunch in the village (~£14), then bus back to Logroño. Evening: pintxo crawl along Calle Laurel, arguably Spain's best cheap tapas street (~£15–20).

🚌Bus Logroño → Arnedillo (~£5 each way)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Logroño, ~£50–70

• →E-bike hire and ride on the Via Verde del Cidacos (self-guided, ~14 miles)
• →Arnedillo natural thermal springs (free riverside soak)
• →Calle Laurel pintxo crawl in Logroño

Start from Laguardia and walk the GR38 — the Camino de la Rioja, or 'Wine and Fish Route' — an old trade path linking La Rioja to the Biscay seaports. Much of the route around Laguardia is self-navigable with a phone map; figure on 4 hours / 7 miles through vine-covered hills, passing the protected Laguardia lagoons and wetlands used by migratory birds. Lunch back in Laguardia (menú del día ~£15). Afternoon: regional bus from Laguardia/Logroño to San Sebastián (changes at Vitoria-Gasteiz or Logroño; La Estellesa/Alsa, roughly 3–3.5 hours, ~£25). Check into a budget hotel or hostel in San Sebastián and spend the evening: pintxo-hopping through the cobbled old town, a txakoli or Rioja at each stop, and a slice of the original Basque cheesecake (~£20).

🚌Regional bus Laguardia/Logroño → San Sebastián (~£25)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in San Sebastián, ~£70–90

• →Self-guided GR38 Wine & Fish Route hike around Laguardia and its lagoons
• →Laguardia medieval old town
• →Pintxo tour of San Sebastián old town

Take the early E1 Euskotren train or the Lurraldebus along the coast to Deba (~£3–4). Walk the GR121 Flysch Route between Deba and Zumaia — 6 miles, ~4 hours, 984ft of ascent and 1,476ft of descent — where the Bay of Biscay meets dramatic tilted rock strata, dropping down to wild beaches beneath the cliffs. Bus back to San Sebastián from Zumaia. In the evening, take the short bus or taxi out to Astigarraga — the heart of Basque cider country — and book a table at a traditional sidreria (~£25–35 for the set menu of salt cod omelette, grilled steak, walnuts and cheese, with cider poured straight from the barrel).

🚌Euskotren/Lurraldebus to Deba (~£4), bus back from Zumaia (~£4), bus/taxi to Astigarraga (~£4)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in San Sebastián, ~£70–90

• →Self-guided GR121 Flysch Route hike (Deba–Zumaia)
• →Wild beach swimming stops beneath the cliffs
• →Sidreria dinner and barrel cider tasting in Astigarraga

Last breakfast in San Sebastián, then use your remaining time: the La Concha promenade, Monte Igueldo funicular for the bay views (~£4), or a swim at Zurriola beach. Then take the Pesa or Lurraldebus coach from San Sebastián to Bilbao (roughly 1h15, ~£8) for onward flights from Bilbao (BIO) or train from Bilbao Abando. Staying on? The Picos de Europa are a few hours west by bus and train, and the Asturian coast makes an easy extension.

🚌Pesa/Lurraldebus San Sebastián → Bilbao (~£8)

🛏None included (departure day)

• →La Concha promenade and Monte Igueldo funicular
• →Zurriola beach swim (weather permitting)
• →Onward bus to Bilbao for flights/trains