10 days / 9 nights
Casual
Fully Guided
Rioja
Kingdom of Navarra
Basque Country
We take you through three Northern Spain regions, the Rioja, Navarra and the Basque lands to enjoy on foot the immersive experience of traveling deep into the region, off the beaten path to places only a local would know, while providing you with luxury comfort, unforgettable food and wine, and exquisite care. Let this culturally rich region of Spain and its people surprise, engage and inspire you.
This enchanting territory and our immersive tours are well worth the discovery, and we can make your vacations unique and memorable, so come and join us on one when it’s optimal for you.
We customize to fit with fabulous experiences, the comfort of great accommodation, out-of-this-world gastronomy and a chance to discover this spectacular region.
Bilbao is famous for its Guggenheim museum, modern architecture and has won many international awards for it´s transformation in the last century from an industrial river-port city to a thriving art, architectural and cultural centre. We will transfer from the airport to the hotel. We will regroup in the afternoon for a meet and greet at the hotel.
Food: Meet and greet cocktails
Travel: Transfer from Bilbao Airport to your hotel
Sleep: Hotel **** Bilbao
We will transfer from Bilbao to Haro, the capital of the wine region, to visit this quaint town and enjoy a walking tour to the well known wineries in the vicinity, stopping at two wineries to enjoy a wine and aperitif. We will enjoy lunch in a Michelin Star recommended restaurant, followed by an exclusive opportunity to open an old age wine in their underground cellars (wines will date back to the 1950s), before we transfer to your accommodation. After check in, we will regroup for a relaxing in house dinner.
Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Travel: Bilbao / Rioja
Sleep: Boutique Hotel in Rioja
We walk in the Alavesa wine region, in the Basque Country which borders the Rioja province, to enjoy the picturesque country among the vineyards of la Rioja Alavesa. We visit the medieval town of Labastida, the 16th Century predominantly baroque style church, an impressive necropolis excavated in the rocks, and lastly, a dome-like ‘txoza’ where Rioja wine pickers would rest in the harvest season. In the vineyards, we will enjoy a gregarious wine tasting paired with Iberian cold meats, patatas a la Riojana and lamb chops on an open fire. From here, we will transfer to the fascinating village, Saint Vicente de la Sonsierra, and its impressive fortress that can boast of their spectacular views of la Rioja and the imposing Davalillo Castle, before we transfer to your hotel. We will regroup for an entertaining dinner in a local family winery.
Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Travel: Rioja
Sleep: Boutique Hotel in Rioja
We walk a portion of the pilgrimage pathway, Camino Ignaciano, to the medieval fortress town, Laguardia. The Ignaciano Way, recreates the path that Ignacio de Loyola made in 1522 from Loyola-Azpeitia to the city of Manresa, Catalonia. We will have the chance to see a dolmen, an example of this type of 6000 year old architecture in the middle of nature. Upon arrival at Laguardia, we will visit an ancestral underground wine cellar. This family-run winery has been making artisanal wines for more than 500 years. We will enjoy a sit down tasting menu at a Michelin Star recommended restaurant. Laguardia is perched on top of 300 cellars carved out of the rock and is a delightful town to discover and shop on your own in the afternoon. We regroup to return to the hotel to relax. Enjoy dinner on your own.
Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel: RIoja
Sleep: Boutique Hotel in Rioja
Rise and shine to a beautiful day in the Romanesque region of Europe. We will see some of the most impressive examples of regional medieval architecture. Get ready for the Gregorian chants mass – sung by the Gregorian monks in the Leyre Monastery, then we transfer to the 10th century Castillo de Javier, for a mid morning snack. Our journey then continues on along the Navarre wine route through vineyards and olive groves, an 11th Century Romanesque village ending in the best conserved 1st and 2nd Century Roman ruins in Navarra. We will enjoy wine tasting and aperitifs in a signature winery. Afternoon pleasures include a visit to the Olite castle, the castle that inspired the Disneyland logo. We return to Pamplona. Enjoy the evening and dinner on your own. We would be happy to make dinner reservations for you.
Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Travel: Rioja / Navarra
Sleep: Hotel **** in Pamplona
We spend the morning walking in the province of 5 Villas and Baztan, we like to call the Tuscany of Spain. Our route consists of a walk through the picturesque Navarre countryside and villages, admiring potokas, a Navarre breed of ponies, and the local woolly sheep breed, Latxas. Before lunch, we will enjoy the warm waters of a salt spring mountain spa session, followed by lunch in an outstanding lunch in a Michelin Star recommended restaurant. We will transfer to the Basque Country. We will check into the hotel in San Sebastian, then regroup for a get your bearings tour of San Sebastián. Enjoy dinner on your own.
Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Travel: Navarra / Basque Country
Sleep: Hotel **** in San Sebastian
Enjoy the city on your own. Today you take a break and feel free to shop, walk the gorgeous Concha Bay or enjoy a beachfront spa session. We would be happy to make lunch or reservations for you. We will regroup in the evening for a pintxos tour in San Sebastian’s historic quarter.
Food: Breakfast
Travel: Basque Country
Sleep: Hotel **** in San Sebastian
We will walk the Basque coast along the Camino de Santiago from San Sebatian to a Basque port town. Upon arrival, we will visit the Basque whaling boat museum to find out how thr Basque fishermen would sail across the ocean to North America. We have a mid-morning snack in a local fisherman’s tavern paired with a refreshing glass of cider. We take a traditional ‘txalupa’ across the tidal river and visit the other side of this peculiar port town and where our Michelin Star recommended restaurant awaits us. Afternoon pleasures include a historic walking tour of Hondarribia, then transfer back to San Sebastian where you can enjoy the evening on your own.
Food: Breakfast
Travel: Basque Country
Sleep: Hotel **** in San Sebastian
We will hike a portion of the Basque coast along the Camino de Santiago to Getaria. Along the way, we will visit a stellar winery that produces the local txakoli white wine, then continue on foot to the Getaria port and historic quarter to enjoy two foodie experiences. We will visit an anchovy factory, followed by a fisherman’s experience, where you will meet one of the last octopus fishermen families on the Basque Coast, learn how to cook octopus & enjoy Cantabrian octopus paired with regional white wine at the fisherman’s workplace. We will transfer to Bilbao. We will regroup for a farewell dinner in the historic quarter of Bilbao.
Food: Breakfast
Travel: Basque Country
Sleep: Hotel **** in Bilbao
We will transfer you from the hotel to the Bilbao Airport.
Food: Breakfast
* NST itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.
The Hotel de Londres is a pretty boutique hotel in San Sebastián with a La Belle Epoque feel. It has views to the Concha Bay and the city center. Luxury, modern facilities and a high level service make this historic building one of the best hotels in San Sebastián.
Alma Pamplona is an active travel friendly hotel. Modern and avant-garde, has its own personality, which seeks to surprise. This quiet enclave is where we luxuriate in the Spa and Treatment center, and chill at the gastro bar after a morning of activity.
Hotel Miró is located in the center of Bilbao about 170 meters from the Museum of Fine Arts and 900 meters from the Zubizuri Bridge. The historic quarter, where you will find the Arriaga Theater and the Plaza Nueva among other points of interest, is in walking distance.
Hotel Tayko is located in the center of Bilbao, about 70 meters from Arriaga Theater and the Plaza Nueva, among other points of interest, is in walking distance. But, best of all is that Tayko Hotel is a lifestyle hotel with 54 rooms with prime views of the Ria (estuary) or Merced Street.
It is strategically located in the town Briones, it is the ideal location for our culinary journeys to discover the region and its gastronomy. It is already one of the best hotels in La Rioja.
Boutique Hotel La Robla is located in a quaint village tucked away in the Rioja Alavesa wine region, just minutes away from Laguardia. It is the ideal location for discovering the gorgeous vineyards and low lying mountains on foot or by bike.
Stephanie, the dynamo of our organization, is a Canadian who has fallen in love with this region of Spain. She is enterprising, innovative and has an endless amount of energy to design unique outstanding travel plans, making her passion her profession. She has the firm conviction that until the product standards are exceptional, they should not be offered.
“Our goals are two: one is to dazzle our visitors and another is to share with them what we find so extremely enchanting about this region of Spain”.
Oliver is our greatest ambassador of Pamplona. Oliver has it all: charm, conversation and deep knowledge of his Basque culture. You will feel like you’ve made a new friend during one of his energetic tours. Oliver is always on the beat searching for the perfect pintxo and exciting, outside-the-box experiences. He is dedicated to designing the most exclusive events for our guests, such as the Hemingway to the Basque Coast tour, or a walking tour of the Running of the Bulls course with an international bull runner. He knows the all the best destinations and activities on the off-the-beaten cultural track.
“This is our essential hallmark that sets us apart from any other events agency”.
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At Northern Spain Travel we tailor design journeys to fit your travel goal. Fill out the form below to get started and Steph and her team will reach out and make your dream journey come true.
Walking
You love to hike and are not afraid of a little sweat and some good uphills.
Our trip may include 12-15 km (7-10 miles) a day on various grades of terrain on a diversity of surfaces. Expect steeper climbs with phenomenal views and mountainscapes.
Biking
You love to bike at home regularly and can handle some sweat.
Our trip may include 40-60 km (25-40 miles) a day on rolling terrain with a few longer climbs rewarded with views and high points you will not want to miss.
Walking
You enjoy longer hikes with an incline or two and don’t mind pushing it a bit. Our trip may include around 6-12 km (4-8 miles) a day of walking on mostly flat terrain with a couple steeper but non-sustained climbs.
Biking
You ride your bike at home and are comfortable on a bike for a few hours. Our trip may include 40-60 km (25-40 miles) a day on mostly flat terrain and will include inclines and the occasional sustained climb.
Walking
You love to push yourself and can handle a longer hike with some sustained inclines and steep uphills. Our trip may include 10-15 km (6 -10 miles) on terrain that can be quite hilly and rolling with a few steeper climbs thrown in for good measure. The views will blow you away.
Biking
Test your mettle on off-the-beaten-paths that will stun and delight, along with legendary cycling routes in the north of Spain. You are an avid rider who loves to push themselves and enjoy the challenge of a big climb or sustained inclines. Our trip may include over 60-80 km (37 – 49 miles) a day in rolling hills with frequent climbs and even longer options available. You will be the master of your universe.
Walking
You like to go on walks at home but nothing that works up a sweat. Our trip may include around 5-10 km (3-6 miles) a day of walking on mostly flat terrain, with an occasional hill on well maintained trails or walkways.
Biking
You are in decent shape but don’t habitually ride a bike at home. Our trip may include 30-50 km (20-30 miles) a day on mostly flat terrain with a few small and achievable inclines.
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Your activity level will be exactly where you want it. Our itineraries are designed to accommodate everyone. For guidance, we have labeled each trip according to its activity level from Casual to Expert with four fitness grades.
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