Culinary Tour to the Basque Country in San Sebastian, Spain with Salt Water Farm [waitlist only]

... at a glance

Group Size

16 people

Duration

5 nights/6 days

Departure Date

April 26 - May 1, 2025

More Information On Where You Are Going...

San Sebastián is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s mountainous Basque Country. It’s known for Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta, beaches framed by a picturesque bayfront promenade, and world-renowned restaurants helmed by innovative chefs. In its cobblestoned old town (Parte Vieja), upscale shops neighbor vibrant pintxo bars pairing local wines with bite-size regional specialties.

San Sebastián, located in Spain's Basque Country, is renowned as one of the world's premier culinary destinations. Its vibrant food scene is anchored by the region's deep-rooted gastronomic traditions, combined with an innovative approach to fine dining. The city boasts an exceptional concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, including legends like Arzak and Akelarre, where chefs masterfully blend traditional Basque flavors with avant-garde techniques. This has cemented San Sebastián's reputation for world-class cuisine.

However, what makes the city truly special is the ubiquitous love of food, found not just in haute cuisine but also in its humble pintxo bars. Pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, are meticulously crafted small bites often served on bread, and the city is teeming with bars offering endless varieties, from classic cod pil-pil to more inventive combinations. Paired with local Txakoli wine and set against the beautiful coastal backdrop of La Concha Bay, San Sebastián offers an unparalleled culinary experience that appeals to both casual food lovers and fine-dining enthusiasts alike.

Tour Highlights

Cooking classes, tastings and wine visits
Boutique, central and exclusive home-away-from-home accommodations
Hyper-local guides and experiences
Private ground transfers
Oohing and aahing (while learning!) over the beauty of the flavors, sceneries and culture of the Basque region.

Accommodations

Settle in so you can enjoy the luxury of enjoying the city like a real local. Your accommodations will be at the stunning, Small Luxury Hotel, VIlla Soro. You will feel like you are in the countryside, yet just a few steps from Old Town.

Itinerary

For a full day-to-day itinerary, please reach out directly to us via the "Request To Book" button.

Get To Know Annemarie from Salt Water Farm...

Raised in Milwaukee, Annemarie spent her childhood summers in Maine at her family’s blueberry farm on Blinn Hill in the town of Dresden, where she and her cousins spent days picking blueberries and building forts in the woods.After attending Colorado College, her interest in food developed while living in Aix-en-Provence, where she studied Provincial cuisine and visited the open-air markets. She also worked in Paris at a little bistro beside Notre Dame, where she would filet flounder table-side for the priests’ afternoon lunch.

After attending the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, Annemarie cooked in the kitchen at Blue Hill and then went on to work as a personal assistant to Tom Colicchio, owner of Craft restaurant. She volunteered at Union Square Farmers Market with her sister, teaching people how to use kohlrabi, among other ingredients. She spent some time in Barcelona, helping to teach cooking classes at “Cook and Taste,” a little cooking school across from La Boqueria, her favorite food market.

In 2009, Annemarie moved to Maine to build a recreational cooking school, with the help of her family. Salt Water Farm is the culmination of her experience in the food industry, her culinary travels, and a deep appreciation for traditional methods of cooking locally sourced ingredients. Through the school, Annemarie shares the pleasures that come from sowing, growing, preserving, foraging, brewing, stewing as well as eating locally raised and farmed dishes.

Salt Water Farm Cooking School opened its doors in the summer of 2009, on an old sheep farm on the Maine coast. Annemarie Ahearn, the founder and cooking class instructor, shared with her students fundamental cooking and gardening skills in her family’s antique post and beam barn, overlooking the Penobscot Bay. In the fall of 2009, she began hosting a Full Moon Supper series, which she continues to host on every full moon between June and October. The supper club became so popular, that In May of 2013, Annemarie opened Salt Water Farm Cafe & Market in beautiful Rockport Harbor, expanding her audience. Salt Water Farm’s continues to serve local, seasonal fare to guests at both the school and the restaurant.

I'm ready for adventure...

Request To Book

I'm interested in a planning a trip from scratch, can you do this? How does the process work?

Tell us where you want to go (and a bit about you!) You'll complete our Travel Planning Form and let us know where you want to go. We’ll work on crafting selections for you: hotels, activities, etc. We will email you to confirm we've received your form Then, we will present you with the preliminary plans for your chosen destination (Crafting + collaboration time!) You’ll send us feedback and we’ll work through edits together Once decisions have been made, we'll start booking and squaring the pieces of the puzzle away. After we finalize details, we will deliver the final digital itinerary to you. The countdown is on!! We hope you will keep in touch during and/or after your trip so we can live vicariously through your travels, but don't forget to tag @saltsanctuarysoul in your travels!
This sounds fun. How much does it cost?

Here's the breakdown: Hotels: We may earn a commission on paid hotel bookings (paid by the hotel). So, for hotel direct (and only) bookings, this is complimentary, no extra fee is charged. Trip Planning Guarantee Fees: For services that require research for flights, multiple destinations, home rentals, and/or usage of points/miles, we charge a planning fee and may increase depending on the complexity of the booking. This will always be transparently presented at the first stage at contact and agreed upon before proceeding. This amount will only be charged if you decide not to move forward and book with us. Please understand that a lot of work happens behind the scenes and sometimes in the industry we are not getting paid 30-90 days after a client departs (!) from their trip. If you choose not to move forward with the trip, we are out time, energy and money. Thank you for your understanding - and your support in our small business! Flights: Clients typically book flights on their own and it is something that we suggest doing. However, if you need assistance, please let us know. Please note that ticketing fees apply. There is a ticketing fee of $50/per person depending where you are flying internationally. We can always search and suggest routes on our end for you if you want to book on your own. You can always consult our flight partner directly and begin with an online quote here.
Do I pay anything upfront?

Well, this is a two part question... If your trip is highly detailed and results in a trip planning fee, you will pay the trip planning fee up front before we can get started on a first round proposal. Please note, each itinerary is built from scratch and we invest an amount of time before we deliver the final product. For other bookings, this is a case-by-case basis. Some partners require full-payment up front, but others may only require a small deposit. Others just might require a credit card on file to reserve your spot/room and payment on arrival. As you can see, there are many moving pieces as it is dependent on what you are booking and at what level. Before moving forward and collecting any payments, we will talk through the options and what's required at the time of moving forward to the booking step.
Do you book flights?

We currently only book premium economy, business and first class flights through our AirDesk. There is a $50/ticking fee per person. If you are not interested in business class, but still want a vetted team managing your reservation, we have partnered with Exito Travel for this exact request. Please follow this link here to be directed to start an easy, online quote.
Do you work with AirBnBs or VRBOs?

No, we do not work with AirBnBs and VRBOs specifically, but we do work with vetted villa companies. On top of that, with our relationships of family-run and preference for small, boutique properties, we do have a plethora of recommendations that might fit just what you are looking for!
Why are hotel bookings free?

Well, did you know? Travel advisors (that’s us!) earn a commission from our suppliers—whether it’s a hotel, tour, transfer, or just about anything in travel! This makes up the majority of our income, so there’s no extra cost to you. The only time additional planning fees apply is when we’re crafting a fully custom trip. Please review our services and have a chat with us to see which is the best fit for you!
Can we still work together if my hotel Is booked?

It depends! Send us an email at hello@saltsanctuarysoul.com, preferably with your booking confirmation, and we will see if we can do a “takeover booking.” By doing so, we will be added as the agent of record and you get the relevant partner perks! Think, free breakfast, resort credit, upgrades, etc. No change is made to your booking and there’s no additional cost — so win win!
Can you link my hotel loyalty accounts so I can earn status and points? And, am I able to use my credit card points on hotels?

First question, yes, of course! You’ll still earn points PLUS status by booking through us PLUS the perks through our partnerships. Again, win win! Second question, unfortunately, we are unable to work with clients that use points towards hotels, but we HIGHLY encourage them to be used on flights (where you get the biggest bang for your buck anyways!).
Okay, so, why should I work with you instead of booking the trip myself?

Easy! The obvious bit first: we work together taking the hours of research off your plate. We know that organizing a trip can be time consuming... and a lot of deep breaths! If you have a number of tabs open on your computer, then it’s your sign, let's work together. In the end, you’ll save time and energy and your travels will be seamless and memorable. It may be the yogi in us , but we have a knack for listening to your story and translating that into finding authentic experiences that fit what you are looking for; thus you’ll travel confidently knowing everything has been taken care of for you. We have a community to back us and together, are well versed in the travel and tourism industry. Meaning, we remain at the forefront of emerging destinations and travel trends. Perks, freebies, upgrades, etc are just the icing on the cake! Trust us, we take pride (and have so much fun!) doing what we do. P.S. As an affiliate of Fora, we have access to a global network of hotels and preferred partner programs and can enrich your trip with VIP perks like room upgrades, early check-in/late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and resort credit - all at no additional cost to you! If that’s what you fancy!
What is your cancellation policy?

This is dependent on the scale of your trip and how far along we are in the planning and reservation process, but long story short: we want you to be happy and we want to see you experience your dream trip. But, please note that every booking style comes with its own terms and conditions - this will be reviewed with you in writing before moving forward. We always recommend travelers insurance as that would have your back due to extenuating circumstances. Click here to learn more about travelers insurance.
I almost forgot! Can you tell me more about travelers insurance?

Certainly! Bottom line: We strongly recommend, if not require, our travelers secure travel insurance to cover you should the unknown hurdles present itself - which happens more often than you’d think! Travel insurance helps protect the financial costs you have paid into your trip as well as provides medical coverage for when you are traveling, if necessary. Traveling, near or far, without insurance can be a gamble... what if someone gets sick? What if the weather has a mind of its own on your travel day? What if you lose your checked luggage? What if there is a medical emergency and you may need to be transferred to a better hospital? Situations like these happen more often thank you think and without insurance, they can add up! Plus, you might lose any non-refundable deposits/payments on top of it. We are a proud partner of Travel Insured International. We have partnered with this company for one shining reason: their customer service is outstanding. In short, travel insurance will help protect the financial costs you have paid into your trip, as well as provide medical coverage for when you are traveling, if necessary. We are happy to walk you through the steps or answer any questions you might have. Please click here to begin your quote. To purchase travel insurance from our partners at Faye, you can click here for more information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly and we will be able to walk you through next steps.