Best of Northern Spain – Small Group

Welcome to Madrid! Receive a meet-and-greet at the airport and then travel privately to your accommodation. At 19:00 gather with your Tour Director at the hotel reception desk for a meeting to go over the city details and schedule for the following day. You will also have the chance to meet your fellow travelers. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and settle in.

Start your day with a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. Explore the exciting city of Madrid with a morning city tour to see the highlights and experience the passion the city has in its roots. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring on your own. Optionally, you can take an excursion to Toledo, the former capital of the Spanish Kingdom and a melting pot of cultures (Minimum of 8 participants, 55€ per person). In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a delicious Welcome Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant.

Have a hearty breakfast buffet at your hotel. Today, you’ll head to the Northern Spanish territories with a stop in Burgos. Take some free time to visit the 13th century Gothic Cathedral, one of the largest in Spain. Continue to Haro, in the heart of La Rioja, and visit a traditional family-run wine cellar to taste the world-famous Rioja reds. Afterwards, head to Bilbao and enjoy a tasty Pintxos dinner in the old town. What´s Pintxos? Bask´s name for tapas!

With your local guide, explore the best of Bilbao, including the famous titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum and the historic Siete Calles district. Following floods in the 1980s, several of the structures were damaged, but they have since been immaculately repaired. You have free time to stroll the esplanade where the Guggenheim Museum is located. Admire this structure’s cutting-edge design. Afterwards, continue to San Sebastian, one of the most elegant destinations in Europe. Take a panoramic city tour and admire the beautiful landscape of the bay and La Concha beach. Spend some leisure time exploring this classy city. Afterwards, return to Bilbao for the night.

Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Today, you’ll travel to Asturias, also known as Green Spain. Stop in the beautiful fishing village of Castro Urdiales. Spend some leisurely time. Leave for Santander, a port city that is home to Sardinero Beach and is situated between the sea and the mountains.

Have a hearty breakfast buffet at your hotel. Ready for Northern mountains and Atlantic sandy beaches? Travel to Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s most significant historical and cultural cities. Architectural gems like the Collegiate of Santa Ana, a Jewel of the Romanesque Architecture in Cantabria are found there. Then, visit Covadonga where you will have free time to see the Sanctuary and the Grotto of the patroness of Asturias, Our Lady of Covadonga. Afternoon departure for Oviedo, where you will see the stunning Saint Maria de Naranco Church, a gem of pre-Romanesque Asturian architecture, set on a series of hills. You will have free time to explore Oviedo, which has many pedestrian-friendly streets and has World Heritage sites including the Cathedral, a magnificent example of Asturian Gothic architecture. Join your fellow travelers for dinner in a typical cider house in the early evening.

Start your day with a delicious buffet breakfast at your hotel. Head towards the breathtaking landscapes of Galicia. On the way to Lugo, take a brief stop in Mondoñedo where you can take some free time to visit the 13th century Cathedral and taste the renowned “Mondoñedo cake”. Upon arrival in Lugo, take a free walk to explore the Roman ruins and see what’s left of the city’s walls, which have been designated a Patrimony of Humanity. We finally approach Santiago de Compostela´s holly land, declared World Heritage as it is the most important center of Christian Pilgrimages in Spain as the end of the Camino de Santiago route built during the Roman Empire.

Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Stroll through the cobblestone streets of Santiago and admire its historical beauty. Visit the Obradoiro Square and the Cathedral (entrance included) dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the tiny, winding streets.

Optional Experience: Indulge in a traditional Gallegan dinner with Queimada. Enjoy a savory meal of regional specialties such as octopus, the local delicacy, and ‘raxo’ meat tacos served with potatoes. After dinner, invoke the Gallegan spirits with a traditional queimada ritual, which involves summoning the spirits while an alcoholic drink made from ‘aguardiente’ liquor and other ingredients is prepared. (Minimum of 8 participants, 80€ per person).

Start your day with a full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Discover the stunning Spanish Fjords known as the “Rias Bajas” and take a cruise through the most beautiful of them all, the Ria de Arosa. Savor the local Northern wines and mussels while admiring the stunning scenery. Head towards the Portuguese border to reach Porto, situated along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal and one of the oldest European towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Explore Porto while feeling the breeze from the Douro River. Admire the Cathedral, Stock Exchange building, and Santa Clara church. Take a Douro River Cruise and visit famous Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting experience included. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Optional Experience: watch a Fado show while dining on delectable Portuguese cuisine in the early evening (Minimum of 8 participants, 80€ per person).

Returning to Spanish territory, pause at the Alcazar-dominated historical city of Ciudad Rodrigo, which is encircled by medieval walls. Proceed to Salamanca, a World Heritage site with a rich architectural and artistic heritage.

Start your day with a delicious buffet breakfast at your hotel. As you approach the end of your journey, be prepared to explore one of Spain’s oldest medieval gems – Avila. This ancient walled town has stood the test of time and continues to captivate visitors with its rich history. Take some time to wander and soak in the atmosphere before making your way back to Madrid. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell market experience dinner to celebrate the end of an unforgettable trip.

After a nourishing breakfast at your hotel, a private transfer will take you to the airport. And with that, your journey with us comes to an end.