Best of Northern Spain Tour: Galicia, Asturias, and Basque Country

Your flight will arrive at Santiago de Compostela Airport, where your private transfer will greet you at customs.

At Santiago de Compostela, hundreds of pilgrims will also be accompanying your arrival from their hike through Northern Spain. These backpackers have just walked through the Camino de Santiago, which is a route that was first trekked by pilgrims during the middle ages to pay homage to St. James, who was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Visitors from all over Europe continue to walk this path for spiritual growth. You can gaze at the faces of the newly arrived as they will have a look of contentment and awe after finally reaching their destination. You will now be able to see the gorgeous landscapes and areas from where they just ventured. After settling into your accommodation, you will enjoy the Galician greenery around the town and see modern art at the Galicia Contemporary Art Center.

The Galician region has a deep history with strong connections to Celtic roots that you may see in the decorations of businesses and hear the Gaita, which is the Galician bagpipe that is played on the streets. The region here also has its own language, Gallego, that is somewhat similar to Spanish and Portuguese.

On this day, you will enjoy mass at the historic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where it is said that the remains of one of the apostles of Jesus, St. James, is buried here. Since medieval times, Christians have made pilgrimages here along the route of the Way of St. James. Today, many Europeans, young and old, walk along this path that consists of crossing through the many regions that you will visit on this nine-day excursion. Be sure to look out for golden shell markings along the streets and buildings, as this is the symbol of the Way of St. James. You can view the Botafumeiro, one of the world’s largest thuribles, which is where incense is burned during important religious ceremonies. You will follow this with a rooftop tour where you will enjoy the sights of the splendid town and see the travelers walking towards you as they arrive at their final destination. You can step out onto the Praza de Quintana and see the crossroads of people that meet there from all over the world. This inviting atmosphere will have an elegant quality to it as it cultivates a spiritual environment that gives a sense of warmth. Afterward, you will dine in a Galician restaurant and try the famous Gallego style pulpo and seafood tapas.

You will travel by train to Oviedo, which is the capital of the Asturian province, and enjoy the delicacies that this city has to offer. Parts of Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona was filmed here, and it is easy to see why they chose this setting with its beautifully colored buildings that convey a romantic ambiance. You will enjoy the pleasant and charming architecture of this town as you go on an evening tour of the Church of San Miguel de Lillo in addition to the Church of Santa Maria del Naranco. Both churches are UNESCO World Heritage Sites that date back to the year 848 AD. They are an exquisite example of Asturian architecture in the Pre-Romanesque style. At night, you will go to an Asturian restaurant and witness the waiters uniquely pour the traditional apple cider into your glass, using a method that creates a fizzled drink. You will also taste the artisanal foods known to the Asturian province, including a bounty of cheeses that you can sample as well.

You will head over on a day-long tour bus to Los Picos de Europa and witness the striking beauty of the bright colors that seem to stand out from every turn. These “Pinnacles of Europe” in English are a series of mountains that reach heights of up to 2,596 meters! This is Spain’s oldest designated National Park and is thought to have been the first sight of Europe from sailors returning from the Americas. The Lakes of Covadonga are a striking sight to behold as they will all be accompanied by cattle that freely roam the region. This picturesque setting will entice you to take as many photos you can muster, as later you will want to look over them, thinking to yourself of the rustic landscape that seems to have been kept frozen in another time.

On day five, you will travel by train into the next region, the Basque Country, and you may feel like you are entering a different country altogether. The Basque Country is Spain’s most autonomous region and is widely considered to be the most independent. This ancient land is home to the Basques and the Basque language, which is a culture and language that is unrelated to any in Europe. You will arrive in the capital of Bilbao and visit the Guggenheim Museum, which was designed by American architect Frank Gehry. This building is an architectural feat of the modern age and is lauded by critics as an exemplary piece of civic, architectural, and critic cohesiveness. It was voted first place as the most significant structure that has been built in the 21st century and continues to hold the prestigious award to this day. Outside the museum, you will see artist Jeff Koon’s enormous creation of a West Highland Terrier that is made of flowers. Inside, the museum holds an impressive collection of large-scale art from artists all over the world. Afterward, you can walk along the river walkway that is adjacent to the museum as you await to spend the night at a Basque restaurant and savor the Basque versions of tapas and beers called pintxos and zuritos.

The next day, you will travel to Haro, which is the center of Spain’s wine country of La Rioja. This region has been producing wine for over 600 years, dating back to medieval times, and leading Spain to be the country that devotes the most land to wine than any other in the world. Haro is a historic area that also hosts the annual Haro Wine Festival, which is a culmination of people that throw buckets of wine on each other in a display of the regions habit of celebration and carefree spirit. You will become absorbed in this tradition by going on a customized tour of the country’s best wineries where you will enjoy a stay at a hotel that overlooks the vineyards. You will arrive new to this region, but will leave with a sense of knowledge of where your next bottle of Spanish sangriaor wine originated. Haro has also recently become a destination for food, and you will get to experience this new found appreciation at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

The following day you will travel to Pamplona, which is a historic Basque city that is home to many old and established cafésand businesses. This city is world-renown due to the running of the bulls that takes place during the San Fermin Festival, which is a week-long celebration in honor of Saint Fermin. The events of this fiestawere detailed in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, one of his greatest works, where the plot revolves around the setting of Pamplona. You will stroll through the streets and see Plaza del Castillo, Palacio de Goyeneche, and Catedral de Pamplona. You may see an elderly man wearing the Basque beret, which is the iconic symbol and article of clothing of the Basques that comes in black or red. You will feel the rush of excitement without the danger as you walk down the path that the bulls and people run down to flee for their safety. This city will have a quainter atmosphere when not in a festive mood, so feel free to roam around. In the evening, you will eat at the Café Iruña, which is a caféthat was founded in 1888 and is converted into a dancehall during the celebration of the San Fermin Festival.

Today, you will travel to your final destination, San Sebastian, or as the locals call it, Donostia, which is the Basque Country’s most renowned city. San Sebastian’s small size does not translate to the number of offerings this city delivers, holding the title for the highest concentration of Michelin restaurants in Europe. Its streets will not be overwhelmed with people, and you will get a sense of true authenticity but with the experience of a world-class destination. As you arrive, the city will greet you with San Sebastian natives, food enthusiasts, and international tourists. You can stroll along the Beach of the Concha where you will not want to miss the sight of the Santa Clara Island as you stare off into the sunset. You can also walk toward the Plaza de Constitution and Plaza de Guipuzkoato witness the energetic enthusiasm as the night seeps in. At night, you will prepare to dine in a three-star Michelin restaurant where you will experience why food critics from all over the world travel here to experience the Basque cuisine. Cheeses, seafood, and Txakoliwine will be sure to make an appearance on your menu.

On your final full day, you will visit the San Telmo museum to learn more about the Basque history and why it is so unique to the world. You may have noticed on your trip since entering this province, the rugged, mountainous terrain within the region. This led to the Basque people being isolated for centuries, keeping themselves at a distance from the rest of Europe to remain a distinct culture within itself. Finally, you will go on a city-wide tour where you will see the beautiful sights of San Sebastian, including the Monte Urgull, Castle of the Mota, and the Buen Pastor Cathedral. You will notice that the beauty of this place knows no bounds as you look over the ocean, hills, and beautiful beaches. You will finish your trip with another visit to a three-star Michelin restaurant that is sure to be a pleasant conclusion to your tour of the best Northern Spain has to offer.

You will enjoy the rest of your time in San Sebastian at your leisure and await your return home. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel lobby to escort you to San Sebastian Airport for your return flight home.