Baserri Ulle Gorri

Ana and Inaki made this trip feel personal from the start. I contacted four Basque tour companies while planning our trip, and Ana stood out for being responsive and taking time to understand what we wanted. Their prices were reasonable, so we invited more couples to join us. Ana organized everything, while Inaki guided us around the region he grew up in. He knows the history and traditions inside out, and his love for Basque Spain comes through. He also sings opera as a baritone, and before long the whole van was singing along to the songs he added to his playlist each day. We went to famous places like Bilbao, San Sebastian, Bermeo, and St. Jean-de- Luz, along with lesser-known spots locals know. Ana also worked with me on a custom itinerary and made thoughtful edits along the way. It included pintxos in Bilbao, their town of Untza, Basque bowling at their village txucko, a sheep cheese farm where we tasted cheese with Maider, the 2012 Olympic medalist, and a Basque Ciderhouse. We saw the salt flats, where salt is still made as it was 6000 years ago, and had a special lunch Ana arranged with a chef who serves just one meal a day to 16 guests. Beatrice’s small restaurant isn’t Michelin-starred, though I think it should be. We also toured Getaria, visited a local Txokoli winery, spent an afternoon in Ainhoa France, learned about making and eating pintxos, and went back in time at the Albaola whaling ship project. On our last night, we joined Ana and Inaki at the Bilboa Opera for a wonderful production of la Boehme. Our group was four active couples, and all of us stayed at Ulle Gorri. The farmhouse is charming, peaceful, and a comfortable size for a group, with gorgeous sunset views and sustainable accommodations. Ana and Inaki were warm and upbeat throughout, and the whole experience was thoughtful and memorable, the best we’ve had. We’ve traveled for years and take 2-3 international trips a year, so that says a lot. Other reviews call it a “can't-miss once-in-a-lifetime experience,” and we agree.

The days can run long, usually starting around 8:30am and ending between 9-11pm. I loved that as part of discovering the Basque Country, though some people may not have the energy for it. Ulle Gorri and the Land of the Basques Experience are easy to recommend. What stood out most was how readily Ana and Iñaki adapted the days to me when I was touring with them on my own. They added plants or long hikes when they noticed my interest, and scaled back shopping or big cities when those weren’t my thing. They’d also try to cook or find food I preferred. If weather spoiled the view from a mountain, they had other interesting options ready. Their knowledge of the area made those changes feel effortless. When the second guest arrived, we switched to English because she didn’t speak Spanish. Ana and Iñaki also know French and English, and I’d been speaking more Spanish with them earlier to practice. That kind of flexibility would be harder with a larger group, but I appreciated their attention to detail. I was with them for ten days, six days by myself and then with another guest, exploring many beautiful parts of the region. They know an enormous amount about its history, culture, food, and local life, and answered every question I asked. When I got sick for 1.5 days near the end, they arranged a visit to an emergency clinic while still looking after the other traveler. Their historic home has been remodeled in a strikingly creative way, and you feel at home as soon as you enter. It sits in a quiet pastoral landscape that looks like a painting. The animals’ bells in the surrounding fields are faintly audible in the morning, and sleep is peaceful. I arrived after dark and only saw the view at breakfast: green hills under a thin layer of fog, then mountains and a nearby hamlet beyond them. Ana and Iñaki, who own Ulle Gorri, are caring, knowledgeable, attentive, flexible, generous, and kind hosts.

The last night’s highlight was La Boheme at the Bilbao Opera House, and on the drives Inaki’s baritone voice would sometimes appear in the comfortable Mercedes van. We spent six nights at Inaki and Ana’s farmhouse, with walks and day trips to historic sites, restaurants, and cities. They also picked hotels for us in Bilbao and St Jean de Luz, both of which we loved. Inaki led informative walking tours in Orduña, Guernica, Bilbao, Bermeo, Vitoria, San Sebastián, Ste Jean de Luz, Sare, and Ainhoa. He patiently answered literally hundreds of our questions about the region’s geography, history, and culture. The 12-day tour that Inaki and Ana put together was full of music, local food, history, and culture. We met artists, winemakers, boat builders, shepherds, cheese makers, orchard owners, and chefs, with the visits planned really well. Ana had delicious local home-cooked food ready when we got back in the evenings. Both she and Inaki were organized, kind, fun, and deeply knowledgeable, and they clearly care about giving people a unique experience in the Basque region. We recommend them without reservation.

We trusted Ulle Gorri Travel to plan a custom trip for my family, my husband and two kids, and a friend. Ana took my requests seriously and shaped and revised the itinerary with care. We started with pintxos in Bilbao, then visited their town of Untza, tasted cheese with Maider at her farm, and went to the Basque Ciderhouse, the salt flats, and a pottery center. We also toured Getaria, San Sebastián, French Basque, and the Albaola project, including a boat ride. Each stop felt memorable. Ana looked after us with breakfast, dinner, and snacks, helped with our laundry, and paid lovely attention to our daughters. She’s a thoughtful planner. Iñaki was a patient, flexible guide and a wealth of information. He drove and showed us around northwest of Ulle Gorri, and spent time with us enjoying the Basque Country like a long-lost friend. He was unflappable and always ready to belt out a tune. They’re both warm, generous, kind, and fun. I can imagine having a quiet week at Ulle Gorri, with its gorgeous sunset views, sustainable accommodations, and peaceful town, or filling the days with activities exploring Basque history and traditions. Either way, I’m sure Ana and Iñaki would make visitors feel welcome and well cared for. I called this a can't-miss once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I know we’ll be back to see them. It was such a unique and soul-filling trip that I’m not sure words do it justice.