Northern Spain - 13 days

Madrid - Bilbao - Santander - Oviedo - Santtiago De Compostela - Porto - SALAMANCA - Madrid

itinerary, prices & Inclusions

Day 1 (Sun.) MADRID
Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel. NH Manzanares or similar.

Day 2 (Mon.) MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the beauties of the city with a guided city tour. Barrio de la Morería, the Habsburgs District, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. The contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste, as well as commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, the emblematic Las Ventas Bullring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium.  Afternoon at leisure to continue exploring the wonders that the city has to offer. Join your fellow travelers for an authentic Welcome Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 3 (Tue.) MADRID – ZARAGOZA – SAN SEBASTIAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart towards Zaragoza. Free time to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of The Pilar, patroness of Hispanity and stroll through the old streets of Zaragoza. In the afternoon we will continue to San Sebastian, one of the most famous tourist destinations where they hold the International Film Festival. Accommodation. (B) Palacio de Aiete or similar.

Day 4 (Wed.) SAN SEBASTIAN 
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of this elegant and gentrified city whose landscape is dominated by the Bay and La Concha Beach. We will go up to Mount Igueldo, from where we will be able to contemplate a magnificent view of the city. Rest of the day at leisure. In the afternoon, possibility of an optional visit to the picturesque villages of Biarritz and San Juan de Luz, already in French territory. Accommodation. (B)

Day 5 (Thu.) SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO – CASTRO URDIALES – SANTANDER
Breakfast and departure to Bilbao for some free time on the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum to admire this modern work of architecture. We will continue towards Castro Urdiales, a typical fishing village where we will have free time. Departure to Santander, a port city nestled between the sea and the mountains, and which has numerous beaches, such as El Sardinero, one of the best known. Guided tour with a local guide to thoroughly explore this beautiful city.  Accommodation. (B) Hotel Santemar or similar.

Day 6 (Fri.) SANTANDER – SANTILLANA DEL MAR – COVADONGA – OVIEDO
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Santillana del Mar, one of the most important historical artistic towns in Spain. It contains architectural treasures such as the Collegiate of Santa Juliana, a Jewel of the Romanesque Architecture in Cantabria. Continue to Covadonga, where you will have free time to see the Sanctuary and the Grotto where you will see the patroness of Asturias our Lady of Covadonga. In the afternoon, departure to Oviedo, where you will see on a series of hills the beauty of Saint Maria de Naranco Church, Jewel of the pre Romanic asturian architecture. Free time to explore Oviedo, many of their streets are pedestrian, where you will be able to see World Heritage sites like The Cathedral, a splendid example of gothic Asturian architecture. Join your fellow travelers to dine at a traditional cider house. Accommodation at Sercotel Oviedo or similar. (B) 

Day 7 (Sat.) OVIEDO – MONDOÑEDO – LUGO – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Galician lands. On de way to Lugo, take a short stop at Mondoñedo, Time at leisure to visit the 13th century Cathedral and try the delicious “Mondoñedo cake”. Continue to Lugo. Time at leisure to explore the Roman remains that still retains like its walls, declared Patrimony of the 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. Accommodation at Santiago Plaza affiliated by Meliá or similar. (B)

Day 8 (Sun.) SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast at hotel. Join a Santiago city tour where we will see the main square called Obradoiro and the Cathedral (entrance included) dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the narrow cobblestone streets. Optional dinner with Queimada experience. Accommodation.  (B)

Day 9 (Mon.) SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – RIAS BAJAS – PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart towards one of the most marvelous areas of Galicia, the Rias Bajas (Spanish Fjords). Continue to the Ria de Arosa, where will do a cruise, with tasting of the typical wines and mussels. Bond for the Portuguese border to reach Porto. Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European towns, and proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Accommodation at HF Ipanema Porto or BessaHotel Boavista or Vila Galé Porto or Cristal Porto or similar. (B)

Day 10 (Tue.) PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a guided sightseeing tour of Porto. Admire the Cathedral, Stock Exchange building and Santa Clara church. Afterwards, enjoy a Douro River Cruise and discover famous Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting experience included. Rest of day at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 11 (Wed.) PORTO– CIUDAD RODRIGO – SALAMANCA
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart back to the Spanish border to arrive into Salamanca. Shortstop and free time in Ciudad Rodrigo, surrounded by medieval walls and dominated by the Alcazar. Continue to Salamanca, University City and World Heritage Site of great architectural and artistic wealth. Farewell dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Catalonia Plaza Mayor or similar. (B)

Day 12 (Thu.) SALAMANCA – AVILA – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Spanish Capital, Madrid, we visit one more historical breathtaking destinations, Avila. Thousands of years contemplate this Middle Age walled old town. Enjoy some time at leisure before reaching our final destinations. Accommodation at NH Manzanares or similar. (B)

Day 13 (Fri.) MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport. (B)

(*)  In the event that the panoramic tour of Madrid is not operated for technical reasons will be replaced by the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off Bus 1 day instead.

Highlights

• Guided city tour with local guides in Madrid, Bilbao, Santiago (Cathedral ticket included) & Porto (including Douro River Cruise and Port wine tasting)

• Welcome dinner in Madrid

• Wine tasting in La Rioja

• Pintxos Dinner in Bilbao

• Dinner and cider tasting in traditional cider house in Oviedo

• Mussels and wine tasting in a Rias Baixas cruise

• Farewell dinner in Salamanca

• English speaking Tour Director throughout the journey

• Transportation in luxury coach

• Daily breakfast

INCLUSIONS

• Guided visits

• Tour escort during the tour.

• Headsets during sightseeing tours in Italy.

• Air conditioned deluxe motor-coach.

• Accommodation at selected class.

• Daily Breakfast and few dinners

• In & Out Transfers as per itinerary

EXCLUSIONS
• Personal expenses, International airfare, Visa fees
• Customary gratitude to your guide and driver