Europe

Beaches & Bulls

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Take your bull running to the next level and add on a surfing experience at the nearby S-Trip surf camp. This trip gives you a great chance to pick up a new skill that you take with you (and we don’t mean the bull running).

Before you hit the craziness that is the Festival of San Fermin we suggest you start your tour on the stunning French Atlantic coast by learning to surf at our surfcamp. Check out some spectacular beachside towns such as San Sebastian, Biarritz or Hossegor.

Whilst the bull run is certainly the most internationally renowned event of the festival of San Fermin, there is much more to San Fermin than running bulls. The festival of San Fermin has been an annual event since the middle-ages and was originally intended to celebrate the patron saint of Pamplona. Nowadays, despite the preservation of traditions such as the opening day procession, San Fermin represents a wild Basque celebration manifested in red-wine, ‘Kalimotxo’, the mandatory white t-shirt/ red bandana and daily traditions dating back hundreds of years.

From surf to festival in the Spanish mountains….. really blew my senses away!

Day 1
Pick-Up from Biarritz (France) or San Sebastian (Spain). Head to the beachside surf camp in France to meet the rest of the camp, your instructors, the chef, the yoga teacher and the mad larrikins who organize the parties. The crew will have you settled and in the water from day 1.

Day 2
Depending on your surf experience and the ever-changing surf conditions of the day, we’ll cruise in vans to find the best spot. Sun-bathing, surfing and beach volleyball should occupy your day. Back at the campsite there is a rocking bar and dinner prepared by our live-in chef will be waiting for you.

Day 3
Between surfs take the time to check out Biarritz. This is where Napolean built a beach house (palace) for his wife. The French-Basque capital city, Bayonne, is just down the road and features chocolate factories, pirate museums and the old-roman wall. By night we’ll let loose on a Biarritz pub crawl.

Day 4
Surf in the morning. If you’re a beginner you’ll be gaining in confidence now. After lunch we’ll drive from the beach up through the Pyrenees mountains to our San Fermin running of the bulls campsite in Pamplona. . . the week is only just getting started! Party that night with a live-band and 3000 other travelers.

Day 5
06:00 AM Dig into a huge breakfast in preparation for the day ahead. It’s an early rise today as the bull-run commences at 08:00 AM. Whether you’re observing or participating it’s good to get in there early to get the best-spots. You’ll either return to the campsite swimming pool in the afternoon or party on throughout the day and familiarize yourself with Pamplona’s magic. With your guides, check out the town hall celebration, the giant-man street procession and the statue diving.

Day 6
Take-it easy this morning and prepare yourself for the all-night party ahead. Fire-works commence in the main park at 11:00 PM. There will be champagne and sangria raining all-over, a kind of flour and corn meal thrown everywhere and any of the 750,000 partyers from the Basque country and all over the world will be your best friend.

Day 7
Recuperation day. Afternoon drop-off available for San Sebastian or Pamplona so that you can get to your next destination....or you can perk up and party on in Pamplona for extra nights!

Trip includes
3 meals / day whilst at the surf camp. Surf lessons, equipment and guiding. Internet cafes are readily available nearby. Daily all-you-can-eat breakfasts. Camping accommodation set up for your arrival. BBQ dinner every second day (Pamplona). Expert local guiding. A festival within a festival atmosphere and international crowd. Unlimited beer & sangria for 5 Euro / day.

Highlights
Interaction
****
Culture-Shock
**
Experience
*****
Beaches
*****
Nightlife
*****
Trip Info
  • Trip Dates
    05 Jul 2009 – 11 Jul 2009
  • Duration
    7
  • Starting Price
    $520
  • Countries Visited
    France, Spain
  • Language
    Spanish, Euskera (Basque), French
  • Currency
    Euro
  • Travel Time to Starting Point
    From Vancouver: About 9 hrs to London and 1.5 hrs from London to start,
    From Toronto: About 9 hrs to London and 1.5 hrs from London to start
  • Climate
    Temperate. Summer - 17 to 30 degrees Celsius
  • Transportation
    Highway Coach
  • Accommodation Type
    Twin share tents/w mattresses in rocking beachside campground and mountain campground
  • Starting Point
    Pickup from San Sebastian or Biarritz
  • Finishing Point
    Drop off in San Sebastian or Biarritz
Travel Info
  • Passport
    A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to travel on this itinerary. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country.
  • Visas
    Please note that visas are not required for those traveling on a Canadian Passport for this trip. This visa information is correct at the time of writing however, visa requirements can change and you should check with the relevant visa office before departure.
  • Health Insurance
    Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been provided.
  • Additional Information
    This trip is for the adventurous independent traveller, to fully experience the festival you must be prepared to immerse yourself in the local traditions.