Evening departure on the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Dinner on board, a good night's sleep, and you wake up in the Basque Country.
2
Bilbao → San Sebastián
Basque coast & pintxos
~65 miles
Easy, scenic start along the Basque coast road. San Sebastián for lunch — pintxos in the old town, walk the beach. Group dinner and early night before the mountains.
3
San Sebastián → Pyrenees
Into the mountains via Pamplona
~180 miles
South into Navarra, Pamplona for a coffee stop. Into the Pyrenees via the Roncesvalles pass. The roads get extraordinary. Hotel in the mountains tonight.
4
The Mountain Passes
Col du Tourmalet & Col d'Aspin
~160 miles
A full day in the mountains — Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, Col de Peyresourde. These are the legendary Tour de France climbs. In a hot hatch they're absolutely extraordinary.
5
Pyrenees → Andorra
Duty-free fuel & mountain roads
~120 miles
Into Andorra — fill the tank (cheapest fuel in Europe by a distance), do some shopping, and drive some genuinely brilliant mountain roads.
6
Andorra → Barcelona
Down to the Med
~200 miles
Out of the mountains and down to the Mediterranean. Barcelona for the night — group dinner on the Barceloneta waterfront. Cerveza bien fría. Well deserved.
7
Barcelona → Bilbao → Portsmouth
The long run home
~400 miles + overnight
Motorway north to Bilbao for the overnight ferry home. Arrive Portsmouth the following morning. Trip of a lifetime, sorted.
The Detail
What's Included
Included
6 nights hotel (twin/double rooms)
Welcome dinner night 2
Group farewell dinner night 6 (Barcelona)
Curated printed route book with all passes mapped
Hatch100 event pack
Dedicated WhatsApp group with pre-trip briefing
Ferry booking assistance (Portsmouth–Bilbao)
Full route support from the organiser
Not Included
Portsmouth–Bilbao overnight ferry (approx £300–£400 with cabin, book early)
Fuel
Meals & drinks (except 2 group dinners)
Travel insurance (required)
European breakdown cover (strongly recommended)
Vehicle insurance abroad including Spain, France & Andorra
Before You Book
Car Requirements
Hot hatch, sporty or performance car
Full valid UK driving licence
Vehicle insured for European travel incl. Spain, France & Andorra
GB sticker or UK number plates
MOT valid for the duration of the trip
Spare tyre or tyre inflation kit (mountain roads)
Quick Answers
What car do I need? Any hot hatch or sporty car. GTI, Type R, GR Yaris, ST — all welcome.
Can I come solo? Absolutely. Solo drivers pay the same price and make up a healthy proportion of our groups.
What if I break down? We never leave anyone behind. We strongly recommend European breakdown cover.