Tabor in Spain

Location: San Sebastián, Spain and surrounding towns; St. Patrick’s English School  

Dates: June 1-11, 2025 

Program Leader: Laura Espinel

Description: The Basque Country is unique among Spain’s 17 autonomous communities. With its fascinating pre-Indo-European language (hola = kaixo), world-famous gastronomy, rich folkloric traditions, fast-paced sports, and widespread embrace of mother nature, it has something to offer everyone! We will explore Euskadi in the seaside city of San Sebastián, living and learning alongside new friends at St. Patrick’s English School. During one week of homestays and school-based learning and cultural activities, such as playing traditional Basque sports, doing a river clean-up via kayak, and discovering 50-million year-old cliffs from the sea, we will begin our adventure along the Camino del Norte, one of the paths of the Way of St. James (or Camino de Santiago), a pilgrimage dating back to the 9th century leading to the shrine of St. James the apostle in Santiago de Compostela. Starting in San Sebastián, we will travel 70 km (~43 mi) over three days (4-6 hours per day, guided), staying overnight in Zarautz, Deba, and Bilbao.

Itinerary: 

• DAY 1: Sunday, June 1
  • Depart Boston Logan Airport (BOS) in late afternoon
• DAY 2: Monday, June 2 
  • Arrive in Bilbao (BIO) 
  • Bus transfer to St. Patrick’s English School in Donostia-San Sebastián 
  • Welcome from school partners and hosts 
  • Tour of school from hosts 
  • Lunch 
  • Basque language and culture crash course 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• DAY 3: Tuesday, June 3 
  • Reflection time at nearby café 
  • Bus to Orio, a town known for its strong rowing culture 
  • Kayaking activity along River Oria, collecting and categorizing rubbish as part of regional project 
  • Picnic lunch at Orio beach 
  • Reflection time at SPES 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• DAY 4: Wednesday, June 4 
  • Bus to Zumaia to see Flysch cliffs 
  • Boat excursion to observe the Flysch from the sea, as well as more of the northern Basque coast 
  • Time on Itzurun beach to explore and document wildlife  
  • Picnic lunch at Parque de Aiete near SPES 
  • Play traditional Basque sports with SPES students 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• DAY 5: Thursday, June 5 
  • Reflection time at nearby café 
  • Bus to Bilbao 
  • Walking tour of city center 
  • Guided visit at Guggenheim Museum 
  • Pintxos lunch in Caso Viejo neighborhood 
  • Bus to SPES 
  • Extracurricular activities 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• DAY 6: Friday, June 6 
  • Reflection time at nearby café 
  • Walk to Reale Arena (stadium of Real Sociedad Football Club) 
  • Guided tour of stadium and Real Sociedad Foundation, which is committed to the preservation of Basque language and culture 
  • Time to explore la Parte Vieja in downtown Donostia 
  • Pintxos lunch  
  • Final afternoon at SPES; farewell from school leaders 
  • Dinner and evening with homestay families 
• DAY 7: Saturday, June 7 
  • Family day with homestay families 
  • Pack backpack for Camino portion of the program 
  • Group farewell dinner 
• DAY 8: Sunday, June 8 
  • Final farewell from Hotel Leonardo 
  • Luggage transfer. 
  • Begin trek along the Camino del Norte form Donostia-San Sebastián to Zarautz 
  • Pilgrim lunch (menú del día) along the Camino 
  • Stamp pilgrim passport 
  • Family-style dinner at Zarautz hotel 
  • Evening in Zarautz 
• DAY 9: Monday, June 9 
  • Family-style breakfast in Zarautz 
  • Walk along Camino from Zarautz to Deba 
  • Pilgrim lunch (menú del día) along the Camino 
  • Family-style dinner at Deba hotel 
  • Evening in Deba 
• DAY 10: Tuesday, June 10 
  • Family-style breakfast in Deba 
  • Walk along Camino from Deba to Markina-Xemein 
  • Lunch and time to explore Markina-Xemein 
  • Bus transfer to Bilbao hotel 
  • Celebratory final dinner in Bilbao 
• DAY 11: Wednesday, June 11 
  • Early bus transfer to Bilbao Airport 
  • Return flight to BOS or other final destination  
  • Arrive BOS

Requirements: A passport valid for 6 months after the conclusion of the program; certain countries may require a visa for entry. Students must have passed the Tabor swim test in order to participate in water-based activities. Students must have at least one year of high school-level Spanish (or the equivalent). This program requires sustained physical activity (walking) for 4-6 hours per day for the final three days of the program. Students must be in good academic and community life standing to participate. Students will be covered by school trip and travelers’ insurance that covers emergency care and evacuation, although they must also have personal health insurance.