Northern Spain
Experience Overview
Go beyond the normal northern Spain trip and immerse yourself in the region’s distinctive culture and history. On this trip, you’ll trace the footsteps of pilgrims, witnessing breathtaking landscapes and timeless traditions.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
Be My Guest
- Oviedo: Say salut to traditional Asturian cider and enjoy a local Be My Guest dinner and cider tasting with the Castañón family at their Cider Mill near Oviedo.
Dive into Culture
- Madrid: Visit the Prado Museum in Madrid, where you'll have time to admire its extraordinary collection of European art dating from the 12th to early 20th centuries.
Iconic Experience
- Barcelona: With your Local Specialist, see the elegant Passeig de Gràcia to take in some of the city's finest Modernist architecture. Journey past the beautiful façades of the Eixample district to see the exterior of Gaudi's extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerizing Sagrada Família.
- Pamplona: Explore the historic heart of Pamplona, a city known for its medieval walls, lively plazas and rich traditions. Best known for the Running of the Bulls, it offers much more, from quiet alleyways to vibrant local cafes.
- Bilbao: Admire the striking exterior of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, a modern icon of curved steel and glass that has transformed the city’s riverside. Designed by Frank Gehry, this bold building helped put Bilbao on the global art map.
- Picos de Europa: Admire the stunning lush scenery and distant rocky peaks of the Picos de Europa.
- Picos de Europa: Visit the holy cave of Covadonga and see the tomb of Pelayo, the first King of Asturias, who is celebrated for winning the Battle of Covadonga.
- Luarca: Stop along the Way of Saint James at Luarca to appreciate the natural setting and historic charm of this quaint fishing village.
- Santiago de Compostela: Join a Local Specialist on a visit to Praza do Obradoiro and admire the cathedral facade festooned with architectural frills.
- Zamora: See the cathedral of Zamora and the 12th-century Church of Mary Magdalene during an orientation with your Travel Director.
- Salamanca: See the handsome arcaded Plaza Mayor, the honey-colored cathedral and the 16th-century university buildings as you explore the city with a Local Specialist.
- Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Specialist. Visit the Old Town, traveling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the Cibeles fountain and Royal Palace.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Barcelona: In Barcelona, join the talented team at Mescladis, an initiative promoting work opportunities for victims of social exclusion. You will be introduced to local and seasonal flavors during dinner. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: 4 Quality Education and 10 Reduced Inequalities.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca and Madrid
- Discover Pamplona, San Sebastián, Bilbao and Oviedo
- Visit the Holy Cave of Covadonga, the fishing village of Luarca, St. James Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela and the Prado Museum in Madrid
- View La Sagrada Família in Barcelona, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Cathedral and University of Salamanca
Trip Details
Product Code: 28172
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 226.348B
Starts: Barcelona, Spain
Finishes: Madrid, Spain
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,004 ($364 /day)
Itinerary
Trace the treasures of the north on this grand expedition from Barcelona to Madrid, easing yourself into la buena vida as only the Spaniards can. Take the day to delve into centuries of history and the cosmopolitan culture of Barcelona, rambling up Las Ramblas, people-watching in Plaça de Catalunya and admiring the whimsical architecture of Gaudí. This evening, you’ll meet with your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience at Mescladis, enjoy a dinner of local flavors and produce, followed by an evening drive to see the city's iconic sights.
Accommodation: Abba Sants Barcelona Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Consider joining a morning Optional Experience to Montserrat, where you can visit the mountaintop monastery and the shrine of the Black Madonna, known in Catalonia as La Moreneta. Return to Barcelona for a sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Admire Gaudí’s stunning architecture along Passeig de Gràcia and take in the exterior of his unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Família. See the seaside monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus before taking time to explore Barcelona’s barrios at your own pace.
Accommodation: Abba Sants Barcelona Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
The feisty former capital of Navarre takes center stage. Follow in the footsteps of thousands of exhilarated runners and hot-blooded bulls today. See Pamplona's ancient city walls and Plaza del Castillo, the heart of the city where markets, tournaments and even bullfighting have taken place.
Accommodation: Tres Reyes Pamplona
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, journey to the sophisticated culinary capital of San Sebastián. See the beautiful Bahía de la Concha beach or stroll along la calle 31 de Agosto in the Old Town.
Accommodation: Tres Reyes San Sebastián
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián's boardwalk and with the city harbor filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts, you can enjoy several sporting activities on its large sandy beach. Perhaps you'll want to explore the nearby French villages of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, also known as Little Paris, and Biarritz during an Optional Experience. Maybe stroll the promenade of the famous La Concha bay or enjoy the boutiques of the Old Town?
Accommodation: Tres Reyes San Sebastián
Meals: Breakfast
Your journey continues to Bilbao, where you’ll view the Guggenheim Museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry. Spectacular scenery unfolds as you pass the Picos de Europa and drive through charming market towns. Visit the grotto of Our Lady of Covadonga, a famous Marian pilgrimage site, and admire the basilica crafted from the marble of the surrounding hills. Later, you’ll connect with locals during a traditional dinner and cider tasting at a Be My Guest experience hosted by the Castañón family at their cider mill.
Accommodation: Exe Oviedo Centro
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The Asturian fishing village of Luarca is our first stop today. Soak up its seafaring atmosphere en route to the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, renowned as the end of the 'camino' pilgrimage route that has its origins dating as far back as the 9th century.
Accommodation: Santiago Plaza by Melia
Meals: Breakfast
Join a Local Specialist who will share insights into the 'Way of Saint James' and explain why thousands of people attempt the life-changing pilgrimage annually. Visit the vast Cathedral, reputed to be the final resting place of Saint James the Great, and the Plaza do Obradoiro, a square dominated by four architectural styles. Consider an Optional Experience to the Rías Baixas for soul-stirring views of the Galician coast. The region has long waterways stretching inland that are said to be the mark left by God's hand when he cleansed himself after creating the world.
Accommodation: Santiago Plaza by Melia
Meals: Breakfast
Journey through the lush Galician landscape and Castile-Leon to Zamora, a veritable open-air museum of Romanesque art. Continue to Salamanca – its golden-hued façades providing an air of mystery and majesty. Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour including views of Spain's oldest university and the Cathedral, as well as a walk through the imposing Plaza Mayor, built in the Spanish Baroque style.
Accommodation: Gran Corona Sol
Meals: Breakfast
Traveling east, arrive in the fiery Spanish capital, Madrid, for an afternoon of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Dive Into Culture and visit the Prado Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of European art in the world. Then, see the Royal Palace, Gran Vía and the neoclassical Cibeles Fountain that has become an iconic symbol for the city of Madrid. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable Dinner with wine, toasting to a magnificent journey through northern Spain.
Accommodation: Rafael Atocha
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
For now, it's a fond hasta luego to your newfound friends as our Spanish adventure comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Trusted Customer - Traveled, August 2023
Northern Spain 2023. Travel director Dan gave us a wonderful tour and the coach driver did a amazing job. All the local specialist and hotel staff did a wonderful job. A few of the Hotels, while very nice were so far from the city (especially in Barcelona) We thought that there would be about 40-45 guests on our trip, there were 52 guests. It was difficult getting around and keeping track of that many people. Dan the tour director did amazing job of keeping track of everyone, but we felt bad for him. Just 52 guests is to many.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/17/2023
Louis - Traveled, April 2024
Great itinerary. In addition, the tour director stopped at 3 landmarks instead of standard rest stops. The landmarks were not on the itinerary. The hotel rooms are excellent for 4-star establishments. The excursions were wonderful, led by knowledgeable local guides. Well worth the extra cost.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/15/2024
Pamela Crumpton - Traveled, April 2024
A great trip; however I would have preferred longer on the mussel boat than the next stop for another church.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2024
Good Review. Service was excellent. Bus driver was phenomenal & guide was very good. Overall, great itinerary, bus driver & guide. Some hotel locations were not within walking distance for those not attending the optional excursions. Made finding dinner or shopping harder to do without having to take a taxi or Uber. Food at group dinner at the hotel was not very good. Most hotel rooms were fine except for one (the mattress felt like the springs were poking through), very small TV, no full length mirrors, no tissues & one had a very, very small shower.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2024
Annette Hart - Traveled, May 2024
Beautiful Spain - do not miss. I cannot find fault with Trafalgar’s service. All their staff on our six tours have been professional, efficient and entertaining. We were looking forward to Northern Spain and while we saw some very interesting places the tour was not as enjoyable as the southern Spain cities. We were particularly disappointed with the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao - very eccentric exhibits but the building itself was incredible. Our tour director was excellent- extremely personable and efficient and the coach driver also excellent. Overall the tour was good but not our favorite of the six we have been on.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2024
Susanna Fan - Traveled, April 2024
Seeing the different architecture by famous architects was very inspiring.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/22/2024
Nicola Destefano - Traveled, August 2023
Northern Spain Aug 2023. Your Director *********** was wonderful. He is friendly, well educated/informed, funny, and never stopped working to ensure the guests were taken care of. Your driver Luis was fantastic. This was our 3rd time using Trafalgar for our vacations and we enjoyed every minute of it. The motorcoach was top notch! 3 of the hotels were were nice. A couple were okay/outdated.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/21/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2023
Dan was fanatic and Pedro was so great! We enjoyed this trip thoroughly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2023
Toni Jo Gray - Traveled, September 2023
Northern Spain was a fun, varied, and trouble free emersion into delicious cuisine, fascinating culture and pilgrimage history, and breathtaking mountain and coastal scenery. I highly recommend Trafalgar and my friends and family have taken my suggestions several times. Dan and Pedro were both outstanding in letting us enjoy the destinations, instead of fretting over details. We were able to take our son on this trip because the single supplement was reasonable compared to other trips, including trips by other companies.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/18/2023
Frank Colucci - Traveled, August 2023
Northern Spain. Our tour director and driver were knowledgeable and accommodating. The itinerary was busy and interesting. We learned a lot about Spain.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/18/2023
Yolande Gomez - Traveled, August 2023
Fantastic experience in Northern Spain! Trafalgar was efficient and delivered all that was promised in the brochure! The tour director was delightful (Daniel M) and knowledgeable and always happy and helpful. Our local guides were fantastic and passionate about their country. I would love to go back and visit South of Spain too. Thank you for making me feel welcome travelling solo and building my confidence to travel again! The best of northern Spain was showcased! Excellent value for money! I loved the selection food we taste. The accommodation was wonderful and a perfect pace for all of us to enjoy each place we went to!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/21/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, August 2023
Fast educational enjoyable well managed. Yes, I would recommend them as they seem to put a good tour together with plenty of optional activities for travelers to do if they wish Pacey & good coach driver & guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/19/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2023
An amazing adventure to a beautiful part of Spain Beautiful locations and fabulous experiences. Dan had an amazing amount of knowledge about the area. He was accommodating and charming. It was a very organized itinerary. Loved the trip and I recommend Trafalgar to everyone! Very organized and extremely interesting and beautiful
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, August 2023
Tour director and bus driver were helpful, capable, knowledgeable and courteous. The best! A little more drive time than expected. An issue with 2 of the hotels.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2024
This was a great trip. We saw a lot of beautiful places . There’s a lot of walking . Wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget to bring rain gear.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/20/2024
Cheryl Clarke - Traveled, May 2024
Excellent tour guide. Excellent trip. Very good itinerary. I was bit by bed bugs at the the Abba Sants hotel in Barcelona at the beginning of the trip. Put a damper on the remainder of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/17/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2024
Excellent Trip Service is top notch. All our requirements were taken care of. Sightseeing trips and optional tours were very worthwhile. Wonderful experience. Excellent trip with Trafalgar. Tour Director and driver were experts at their jobs. Hotels in Northern Spain were beautiful and we were very well looked after.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, July 2023
Knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Dan and driver Pedro. Top notch hotels and comfortable bus.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/19/2023
Sandra Wade - Traveled, July 2023
Planning my next trip! Travelling solo, I always feel really safe with the group. Trafalgar's outstanding service in taking care of all my travel needs is the reason why I return each time. The 'Be My Guest" experience on all my trips has been the perfect opportunity to learn more about the local food and culture. Definitely a highlight! More time in San Sebastian.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/19/2023
Jeffrey Baumbach - Traveled, July 2023
Tour guide and coach driver were excellent. I would prefer the guides keep the company’s progressive views quiet. I don’t want a lesson in rewritten history, I just want to be on vacation. In general hotels were fine and the local guides were very good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/17/2023
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