Pre-BEX Tours
TBEX Europe 2024 Pre-BEX and Post BEX Tours .
Tours are avlalible for sign ups until May 13th
Pre-Bex and Post-BEX Tours – Sign ups are now closed, if you need to cancel a tour please email donna@tbexcon.com. If you are interested in a tour, please come to the Pre-BEX Tour desk on site the day of the tour, there are VERY LIMITED spots left for walk on.
- Only registered conference attendees can sign up for a Pre-BEX Tour.
- IMPORTANT! – You may only sign up for ONE PRE-BEX Tour, in total, per registered attendee.
- Pre-BEX Tours are open to both Content Creators and Industry Professionals and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. No guests, companions, or plus-ones are permitted unless they, too, are registered. There are no waitlists once a tour becomes full.
- Please sign up with the same email address used when you registered for TBEX Europe 2024. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in TBEX activities.
- If you need to cancel any Pre-BEX Tour you have signed up for at any time before the event for any reason PLEASE email donna@tbexcon.com ASAP to do so. Others can then take your cancelled spot(s). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this.
- Occasionally a PRE-BEX tour has to be cancelled, re-scheduled, or altered. You will be advised if this happens, and we appreciate your understanding.
- Many tours are offered on multiple days to best fit your preferred conference and travel schedule.
Pre-BEX Tour #1
San Sebastian and Pintxos Tour
Date
Tuesday, May 28th, Wednesday, May 29th and Saturday, June 1st.
Number of Participants
30 each day
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 10:45 am for a 11 am AM departure. Return approximately 3 pm.
Highlight
Discover the top sights of San Sebastian with a guide and dive into the old town to taste the most delicious Pintxos
Notes
Lunch Included *This tour is ADA accessible.
Sign Up →
On this tour we want to give you an introduction to San Sebastian and the Basque Country. We suggest therefore to do the tour of the city on foot as San Sebastian is small and can easily be discovered this way.
We will stroll along the beautiful Concha bay and beach, dive into the Old Quarter and of course we will see all major attractions such as Cathedral, the San Telmo Museum, Kursaal, the fishing harbor and the town hall. In San Sebastian, time goes a little bit slower than in the rest of the region.
Once lunchtime is approaching, we will convert the tour into a Pintxos tasting tour. We will taste some delicious Pintxos, those small bites that you will see in most bars of the city that are not only very tasty but some real gastronomic miniature masterpieces!
While it’s hard to have a bad meal in town, knowing exactly where to go for the best, freshest and most exciting Pintxos takes local and inside knowledge. Our guides are here to help and show you what a night on the town in San Sebastian style is all about!
Come thirsty too as we’ll be pairing each Pintxo with the perfect pour from cider to local white and red wines, no one goes home hungry or thirsty.
Pre-BEX Tour #1
San Sebastian and Pintxos Tour VIDEO Tour
Date
Wednesday, May 29th
Number of Participants
10
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 10:30 am to talk through your video tips then depart for a 11 am AM departure. Return approximately 3 pm.
Highlight
Calling all video creators. Discover the top sights of San Sebastian with a guide and dive into the old town to taste the most delicious Pintxos. Learn video tricks and tips along the way.
Notes
Lunch Included. You need to bring your own video equipment.
Sign Up →
On this tour we want to give you an introduction to San Sebastian and the Basque Country. We suggest therefore to do the tour of the city on foot as San Sebastian is small and can easily be discovered this way.
We will stroll along the beautiful Concha bay and beach, dive into the Old Quarter and of course we will see all major attractions such as Cathedral, the San Telmo Museum, Kursaal, the fishing harbor and the town hall. In San Sebastian, time goes a little bit slower than in the rest of the region.
Once lunchtime is approaching, we will convert the tour into a Pintxos tasting tour. We will taste some delicious Pintxos, those small bites that you will see in most bars of the city that are not only very tasty but some real gastronomic miniature masterpieces!
While it’s hard to have a bad meal in town, knowing exactly where to go for the best, freshest and most exciting Pintxos takes local and inside knowledge. Our guides are here to help and show you what a night on the town in San Sebastian style is all about!
Come thirsty too as we’ll be pairing each Pintxo with the perfect pour from cider to local white and red wines, no one goes home hungry or thirsty.
Pre-BEX Tour #2
Chef for a day! Let´s cook!
Date
Tuesday, May 28th, Wednesday, May 29th and Saturday, June 1st.
Number of Participants
20 on each day
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 10:15 am for a 10:30 pm departure. Return approximately 2:30 pm.
Highlight
Don’t miss the chance of becoming a Basque chef and visit the market of San Sebastián, one of the city with most Michelin stars.
Notes
Sign Up →
Lunch Included *This tour is ADA accessible.
San Sebastian and gastronomy are deeply linked and inseparable from each other. That is why we offer this culinary activity with a lot of fun, action and of course gastronomic delights.
The activity starts with a visit at the local market to select the ingredients for the following meal we will prepare. Afterwards we will head to our state-of-the-art cooking facility where we will put on our aprons and where everything is ready to start the action.
Small bites pack a powerful punch when it comes to the Pintxo, Basque Country’s most famous culinary export. At its most basic, a Pintxo is a small bite, but with a world of knowledge, tricks and tips behind its preparation. From the simple gilda, the city’s emblematic Pintxo, to the elaborate creations that inspired by avant-garde cuisine, the world of Pintxos is demystified and made easy and fun in our cooking school. Learn the basics and beyond in this Pintxo cooking class.
The cooking class ends with a delicious tasting of the prepared Pintxos with chosen wine pairings. You will gather to enjoy what you and your fellow classmates have cooked using your newly acquired knowledge
Pre-BEX Tour #3
Open Air Art
Date
Tuesday, May 28th, and Wednesday, May 29th
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 9:15 am for a 9:30 am departure. Return approximately 1:30 pm.
Highlight
We take you to the most important sculpture, up the Igeldo mountain for a breathtaking city view and to the Chillida Leku open air museum
Notes
Sign Up →
Lunch NOT Included
On this tour we take you to the most scenic points in town where art plays a mayor role. We start by visiting the “Wind Comb” by Eduardo Chillida, a fascinating sculpture sitting on the rocks and overlooking the entrance to the Concha Bay.
Afterwards, a cable car will take us up the Lgeldo Mountain for the most breathtaking view of the entire city and its surroundings.
As a last stop of the tour, we want to take you to Eduardo Chillida and his Open Air Museum. The museum should inspire us as the ideal ending to this tour.
“I’m of the opinion, and this is very important to me, that we are from somewhere. Ideally, we are from one place, where our roots are, but we should reach out to the entire world and borrow ideas from other cultures. “
Eduardo Chillida
Eduardo Chillida’s wish to share his work resulted in the foundation of Chillida-Leku Museum, in the Zabalaga Farmhouse, dating back to the 16th century. The adjoining lands are home to over 40 large-size pieces created by means of iron and granite. Within the building are located works of smaller sizes, such as drawings and even his first chest sculptures. But the real nature is found outdoors, where not only his most beloved sculptures are displayed but also the essence of his work.
Pre-BEX Tour #4
Rowing like the Basques
Date
Tuesday, May 28th.
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am departure, Return approximately 2 pm.
Highlight
Learn how to row like the Basques in the traditional “Trainera” boats. Afterwards we learn about the ancient Txalaparta instrument
Notes
Sign Up →
Food TBD
Many many years ago, the Basques were a nation famous for hunting fish and whales. They even went to America, long before Columbus went there with his expedition.
But also in the waters right along the Basque Coasts, whales were caught. Therefore, people jumped in their “traineras”, their traditional rowing boats and chased the whales. You can image how quick you have to row to catch a whale…?! Ever since, the rowing has been a Basque tradition and is now converted into a popular sport all year round with professional competitions all along the coast.
For the activity today, we get into one of the traditional “traineras” and Orio is without any doubt the cradle of this sport in the Basque Country. While learning the technique and the difficulty of a synchronized effort, you will enjoy the beautiful views on the village and the surrounding landscape.
Afterwards we will get to know a typical Basque instrument, the Txalaparta, a wooden instrument played with wooden sticks that produces delightful sounds. Two professional players will show you the tricks and how it is played and you can try yourself with this unique Basque instrument.
Pre-BEX Tour #5
Getaria – Discover the Basque Coast
Date
Tuesday, May 28th and Wednesday, May 29th
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 9:45 am for a 10:00 am departure. Return approximately 3 pm.
Highlight
Discover the stunning Basque coastline from the sea while we make our way to Getaria, home of the Txakoli wine
Notes
Sign Up →
Snacks and Drinks provided
On this tour we will get on board of a motorized catamaran. The boat will be hired in exclusivity to transport us along the coast for a wonderful ride. After only a few minutes there will be nothing but blue sea ahead of us. The Basque coastline is beautiful here and can be enjoyed from this unique angle today.
The cruise lasts about 1h 15 minutes and takes us out on the sea. Our destination is Getaria, a beautiful small fishing town with a nice old part and beautiful buildings. The town famous as it is the birthplace of a sailor and a couturier: Juan Sebastián Elcano and Cristóbal Balenciaga.
Also is Getaria home to an endemic wine grape that can be only found here, in the Basque Country. With these grapes, the wineries produce a light and fresh white wine that goes on the name “Txakoli”. This local Basque wine is cultivated on the steep hills overlooking the town. Time to get to know this local delight a little bit better.
We will visit a Txakoli winery, learn all about the process and facts about wine making in this region and of course finish the tour with a well deserved tasting of Txakoli wines paired with some local specialties. Afterwards return transfer by coach to San Sebastian.
Pre-BEX Tour #6
Riding Basque Waves
Date
Wednesday, May 29th
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am departure. Return approximately 2 pm.
Highlight
Learn how to catch the best waves on the legendary Zarautz beach. Afterwards we head up the steep hills to get to know the Txakoli wine
Notes
Sign Up →
Snacks and Drinks provided
Enjoy the morning on the water and learn to ride the waves with a surf class at the legendary Zarautz beach, the region’s most popular spot for riding waves.
Surf plays a major role in the Basque Country. Thousands of surfers from all over the world make their way to the Basque beaches every year. That’s why the Basque Country is the setting for dozens of local, national and international championships mainly held from spring to autumn. During these months, it becomes easy to confuse the beaches and their surrounding areas with any surf city in Australia or California.
The local passion for surf is so great that recent years have seen it become a way of life, and it’s common to come across some kind of surfing event on the beach. In small groups and with your private surfing instructor you will learn the best technique to catch the waves rolling in and soon you will feel part of this fantastic community.
Also is Zarautz home to an endemic wine grape that can be only found here, in the Basque Country. With these grapes, the wineries produce a light and fresh white wine that goes on the name “Txakoli”. This local Basque wine is cultivated on the steep hills overlooking the town. Time to get to know this local delight a little bit better.
We will visit a Txakoli winery, learn all about the process and facts about wine making in this region and of course finish the tour with a well deserved tasting of Txakoli wines paired with some local specialties. Afterwards return transfer by coach to San Sebastian.
Pre-BEX Tour #7
Hiking the Basque Mountains
Date
Saturday, June 1st.
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am departure. Return approximately 1 pm.
Highlight
Walk the coastline and enjoy the stunning landscape.
Notes
Sign Up →
Food TBD
In the morning we start our day-tour along the coast. We will go hiking the Basque Coastline. Starting point with our local is the Kursaal Congress Centre and from here we will start our walk, climbing up the Ulia mountain The coastline between San Sebastian and Pasaia is about 4 kilometres long and of peculiar, unique and spectacular beauty.
From the Zurriola beach and along the Ulia mountain, the path takes you around a number of vantage points along the coast, giving you the chance to enjoy fantastic views of a wide variety of different landscapes.
In around around 4 hours, with multiple stops along the way for pictures we will arrive in Pasaia, an lovely village within a protected bay. Crossing the bay in a small taxi boat will take you to the coach to make your way back to San Sebastian.
Pre-BEX Tour #8
Pasaia – Discover the Basque coast
Date
Saturday, June 1st.
Number of Participants
20
Meeting Location & Time
Kursaal Congress Centre – Check in at 9:45 am for a 10:00 am departure. Return approximately 2 pm.
Highlight
Discover the stunning Basque coastline from the sea while we make our way to Pasaia to discover Albaola, the sea factory of the Basques
Notes
Sign Up →
Please bring water, no food or drinks provided.
On this tour we will get on board of a motorized catamaran. The boat will be hired in exclusivity to transport us along the coast for a wonderful ride. After only a few minutes there will be nothing but blue sea ahead of us. The Basque coastline is beautiful here and can be enjoyed from this unique angle today.
The cruise lasts about 1 hour, in minutes you will be out on the sea. Our destination is Pasaia, a beautiful town hidden in a well protected bay. Upon arrival, we will head straight to Albaola, the Basque Maritime Factory.
There we get the chance to witness the building of a replica of the San Juan Galleon, an iconic whaleboat of the 16th century. Once finished, the vessel will be the roving ambassador of San Sebastián and will sail around Europe to promote knowledge, connection and cooperation.
The museum allows you to discover the history of the San Juan whaleboat, an example of the first transoceanic cargo vessels setting sail from Euskadi to Terranova, as well as the handcrafted works that will be performed during the next years. For building its replica, the same handcrafted materials are used and the historical process of building is also respected.
