Ready to explore the Basque Country? Discover some of its most beautiful places with this excursion to Elorrio, Oñati and the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, departing from Bilbao. You will discover amazing landscapes, rural villages, imposing palaces and important historical monuments, such as the Sanctuary of Arantazazu and the University of the Holy Spirit in Oñati .
We will depart from Bilbao to explore the most traditional areas of the Basque Country. First of all, we will get to know the municipality of Durango, which has an important medieval historical legacy. Continuing within this area, we will enter the Gorbea Natural Park, where you can still find traditional artisanal cheese factories.
Then, we will enter the Urkiola Natural Park, characterized by its high wisty peaks and its immense forest, full of fabulous legends of witches and ghosts.
Leaving from Durango, we will reach the Durango-Atxondo Valley. There we will stop in Elorrio, a town renowned for its palaces and carved stone houses, where we will make a visit to the historic center.
After touring Elorrio, we will stop at Oñati, another small town, known as the “Basque Toledo”, due to the number of historical monuments it houses and its distinguished Baroque architecture.
After taking a walk through the most emblematic places of Oñati, such as the University of the Holy Spirit (the oldest in the Basque Country), we will start climbing a path surrounded by cliffs, which will take us to the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Arantzazu , the most important in Gipuzkoa, which we will visit inside. It is located 750 meters above sea level and is surrounded by high mountains covered by lush vegetation.
Finally, we will start the way back to Bilbao, arriving at approximately 14:00 hours.
