Northern Spain Tour: Basque Country and Castilla

Day 1 – ARRIVAL BILBAO
Firstly, catch a flight to Bilbao Airport, pick up your rental car as you leave customs and check in at your hotel. Take the evening on your own to acclimatize. Get started with this northern Spain tour where you will experience on your own Spain itself.

Hotel Miró 4*

Included: lodging in double room

Day 2 – BILBAO
Firstly, visit the Guggenheim Museum on your own and tour this century’s art. Secondly, walk through the 7 streets to see the Archaeological Museum and eat at a Michelin-star restaurant for dinner.

Included: breakfast, Guggenheim tickets, Michelin-star dinner and lodging

Day 3 – BILBAO AND COAST
Enjoy your way to San Sebastian and firstly stop at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Game of Thrones film site) and Lekeitia (famous for its whalers and for being a summer spot for royalty). Meanwhile, you will discover the beauty of nature on this part of northern Spain.

Hotel Inglaterra y Londres 4*

Included: breakfast and lodging in sea view double room

Day 4 – SAN SEBASTIAN
Spend the day on your own in San Sebastian. Firstly see the Romantic Quarters, San Telmo Museum, La Concha Bay, the Port, Kursaal Palace and the Cathedral. Along the way, stop in at several famous pintxo bars to experience the city’s pintxo culture over lunch. Secondly, we´ll include funicular tickets for you to head up Monte Igueldo in the afternoon. Don´t miss the interesting Peine del Viento sculptures on the beach.

Included: breakfast, funicular tickets and lodging

Day 5 – ST. JAMES WAY HIKE (8.5 Km)

Meet your guide at the hotel for a hike of a portion of the mystic St. James Way, one of the most important and enigmatic places in northern Spain. This hike is medium difficulty and so it’s not for people with knee or heart problems. Firstly, head along coastal paths seeing beautiful scenery. As you crest the Mt Ulia above San Sebastian, look back for views of the bay. Pass the La Plata Lighthouse and descend to Pasaia San Pedro. Secondly, cross the sea inlet on a small boat and rest as you soak up the sun in Santiago Square. Finally, have lunch on your own before returning by local bus to San Sebastian.

Included: breakfast, guided hike, boat crossing and lodging

Day 6 – COOKING CLASS
Meet your guide at the hotel and walk to one of San Sebastián’s many fresh markets. Firstly, see how differently Spanish meats, fish and vegetables are displayed. Secondly, your guide will explain basic ingredients for classic Basque dishes. Finally, purchase what you need for the meal and head to the Basque Cooking School where you will learn to make traditional dishes and enjoy your meal!

Included: breakfast, market tour and cooking class and lodging

Day 7 – HONDARRIBIA
Drive to nearby Pasai Donibane, a village with only one street and later visit a completely walled-in medieval village Hondarribia. Firstly, walk through the old town to Plaza de Armas and then visit the fishermen’s quarters. If you want something else, we could add, for example, a sailboat ride from Hondarribia to the nearby fjords.

Included: breakfast and lodging

Day 8 – FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY
Today leave northern Spain behind and take a drive north into French Basque Country. Steeped in folklore, the Basques are among the oldest people groups in the world. Firstly, begin with a walk through medieval Bayonne, UNESCO heritage site, and part of the French St James’ Way. Secondly, continue to Biarritz, one of the most luxurious seaside resorts on the Basque Coast, known for its surfing. Finally visit St. Jean de Luz, a lovely small village where you’ll see the home of Louis XIV and the St. Jean Baptiste Church. Return to San Sebastian in the evening.

Included: breakfast and lodging

Day 9 – LA RIOJA
Firstly, drive to La Rioja and check in at your hotel. Your guide will be waiting in Laguardia for a visit to Bodegas Ostatu, a family-run winery in Samaniego. You’ll taste wines with an appetizer. Secondly, walk to Laguardia to discover the cozy and charming streets of this amazing town from the Middle Ages; that it’s to say, learn some of its ancient history. Finally, join the locals on their pintxos and tapas crawl at the best bars in town.

Hotel Bodega Marqués de Riscal (Frank O. Gehry design)

Included: breakfast, wine tour with tastings and lunch and lodging in double room

Day 10 – PAMPLONA
Drive to Pamplona. Firstly see Taconera Park, the Citadel and Yamaguchi Park before stopping in the historic Quarter of Pamplona. Secondly, listen to the tale of this city’s key importance as a stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. See the inside of San Fermin Chapel, the running of the bulls’ patron saint. Finish the day with a walk in the bulls’ footsteps, following their yearly run through Pamplona. As you turn your rental car in at the station, leave northern Spain and catch the evening train to Madrid.

Hotel Only You Boutique Hotel 4*

Included: breakfast, train tickets and lodging in double room

Day 11 – MADRID
In the morning start a walking tour of the Madrid “Letters and Arts” District, including a visit to the Prado Museum and El Retiro Park. Continue to Plaza de Oriente, the center of 15th century Madrid. This walking tour will lead you through streets and squares belonging to the times of the Hapsburg royalty. Firstly, pass the Royal Palace, Royal Theater and Opera where your guide will tell you the legends and history of the commoners and nobility during the Spanish Renaissance. Secondly, make a few other stops along the way are the Tower of Lujan, San Miguel Market, Plaza Mayor where bullfights were once held and Plaza de España. Along the way, we’ll stop for classic raciones and tapas.

Included: breakfast, guided tour, El Prado tickets, tapas lunch and lodging

Day 12 – TOLEDO
Catch the train from Atocha to Toledo. The ancient capital is well-preserved and full of cultural wonder. As you approach, notice how the entire city crowds onto a high, rocky perch protected by the Tajo River. As you arrive, firstly, pick up your Toledo Cards and head in through the Bisagra Gates, the entrance to the Arabic city, to begin your route through the Old Town and Arabic Quarters. Secondly, visit Zocodover Square where the main market was once set up. Enter Santa María la Blanca Synagogue and the nearby Cristo de la Luz Mosque. Finally, you may want to visit an artisanal sword maker, Toledo’s famous trade that was set in motion by the Umeyyad Dynasty. Return to Madrid in the late afternoon.

Included: breakfast, Toledo Cards, train tickets and lodging

Day 13 – MADRID FREE DAY

Included: breakfast and lodging

Day 14 – ÁVILA
Firstly, catch the train from Atocha to Avila back to northern Spain. Use your Avila Cards to walk on the walls that surround the city and visit the birthplace of St. Theresa and her cathedral. Enjoy the feel of a medieval town and return to Madrid by train in the afternoon.

Included: breakfast, Avila Cards, train tickets and lodging

Day 15 – MADRID FREE DAY

Included: breakfast and lodging

Day 16 – DEPARTURE
Meet your driver for the ride to Barajas Airport.

Included: breakfast and airport transfer