Some may think Spain is all about museums, history and dining – bueno no, we have added hiking and mountain trekking for a unique look at the terreno! We present a unique escape providing culture, the famous flamenco – dance of the gypsies, exclusive wine tasting and tapas – and yes, amazing hiking along the ancient pilgrims route “Camino de Santiago.”
Tags: trekking, tapas, exclusive dining with aristocratic vineyard owners, dance with the gypsies, Bodegas de la Real Divisa visit (not open to the public), need we add more? Oh surfing can be found along this route as well – something for everyone!
Venga con nosotros!
A sample itinerary.
Spain is one of the most diverse and visually spectacular countries in Europe – overwhelming its visitors with fascinating sights, charming towns and incredible landscapes. Although it is a small country, it is rich in contrasts and widely known for its several customs including flamenco, bullfights, festivals, crowded beaches and emerald green mountains.
With an innate flair for style and design, Spain’s architecture shapes the country with a unique mixture of historical and modern buildings. Whether discovering beautiful avant-garde designs from architects such as Gaudí, Rafael Moneo and Santiago Calatrava or traveling back in time with Velazquez, Goya and Picasso in one of the marvelous museums – there is something for everyone in the form of Spanish art.
Be captured by the Spanish lifestyle including its nightlife and flamenco. You will hear the harsh foot stomping, castanet rattling, hand clapping and passionate guitar sound while walking through narrow streets. Spaniards believe the best times of all are shared with friends and family over a great bottle of wine or pitcher of sangria and delicious regional food that you will taste in one of the many tapas bars, sidewalk cafés or taverns. The food is one of the highest qualities that can be found in Europe. Spain has become a world leader in gastronomy.
Whether its architecture in Barcelona, music in Andalusia, food in the Basque country or art in Madrid – the country is bursting at the seams with a creativity and zest for life that can only be found here. Shape Paths And Ink your own Novel in the country that never sleeps…
Madrid Arrival
Four hundred and fifty years ago, King Philip II of Spain converted Madrid, then a very small town, into the capital of his kingdom “where the sun never set”. Today Madrid has become, after Paris and London, the third most populated European city. Its outstanding architecture, fabulous museums and high–end shops and restaurants have made of Madrid one of the world major cultural and commercial centers.
The good climate it enjoys and the friendliness of its people attract millions of visitors, ready always to enjoy the thrilling nightlife of this unforgettable city.
Street life is one of the trademarks of 21st century Madrid; a place where tradition and modernity live harmoniously together in the cobbled streets of the old city as well as in the sleek, new fashionable districts. Madrid is, definitively, the place to visit!
Day 2
Historical and Royal Madrid Guided Walking Tour with our local expert guide. Start perusing the names and places that best represent the old essence of the capital of Spain: among them, the Royal Palace – the best kept and best preserved in Europe – the Royal Theatre, the old City Hall, the Plaza Mayor and the borough of las Letras, where buildings and monuments keep alive the memory of writers such as Cervantes and Lope de Vega. This unique tour is a perfect introduction to the life and traditions of the old Madrid.
Afternoon Siesta – Evening – Flamenco performance and drink at Corral de la Morería. Flamenco is the traditional song and dance of the Gypsies – flamencos – of Andalucía, a vast region in the South of Spain. As an art form, it developed over several centuries from Gypsy, Moorish, Andalusian, and other roots. Flamenco music and dance became popular in the early 19th century as café entertainment. Cante, -singing – is the core of flamenco, and, as well asbaile or dancing, it has three forms: grande or hondo, intense, profound songs, tragic in tone, and imbued with duende – the transformation experienced by the musician under the pressure of emotion; intermedio- moderately serious, and pequeño, light songs on love and nature.
You will enjoy a great night out and feel the exotic beauty of a very typical aspect of the traditions and culture of Spain.
Private Flamenco Lessons? Si!
Day 3 MADRID
Enjoy a full day Trekking Experience to the Sierra of Madrid and the Birds lagoon with a Spanish guide. Discovering the fun of hiking right outside Madrid. Your host, Javier Vazquez has trekked in many places around the world including the Himalayans and is completely in love with the nearby Guadarrama Mountains outside of Madrid. Enjoy the wonderful “Birds Lagoon Route”, in the heart of the Guadarrama range mountains. This is a natural wonder truly unknown for many locals and most visitors. This is one of the best light trekking spaces you can enjoy near Madrid. At the end of the trail you’ll enjoy the outstanding view of the Birds Lagoon.
Afternoon Siesta
Evening Tapas dinner with a Spanish Host
Enjoy a tapas dinner walking tour with your Spanish host, a wonderful evening in Madrid. This is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with a two centuries old Spanish tradition, “the tapas”. “Having tapas” or eating “tapas style” is probably the most enjoyable way of having lunch or dinner in a friendly atmosphere. This “tapas experience”, however, is not only a gastronomical delight but, thanks to your experienced Spanish host, might turn out to be – if you so wish – an excellent occasion to exchange views in a relaxed environment or to learn more about topics of interest such as Spanish traditions, how Spaniards see the world, aspects of their history, family life, sports, economics and so on.
Day 4 MADRID – LA RIOJA WINERY REGION
Private transfer to La Rioja Region and Elciego. La Rioja is synonymous of great Spanish wines. For decades, wines from La Rioja, protected by their own “Designation of Origin” standards, have been an obligatory reference through Spain and beyond.
Afternoon Siesta and Spa!
Day 5 LA RIOJA WINERY
Hiking tour through wine yards followed by private transfer to the village of Salinillas de Buradón. The beauty and charms of the La Rioja region of Spain are secrets still known mainly to the Spaniards. In La Rioja, a land of tranquility and abundance, everybody is welcomed with a glass of wine, and the traditional, slow pace of life is ideally experienced by walking and hiking its trails.
Afternoon private transfer to Haro, the de facto capital of the Rioja wine region, home to many of the legendary bodegas (wineries) of La Rioja. It is most famous, however, for its Batalla de Vino, part of the Haro Wine Festival, held on June 29 every year. It begins with a pilgrimage to the shrine of the town’s patron saint, San Felices de Bilibio, where combatants unleash their weapon – WINE! what else? – to douse each other in full-bodied red wine, in a mock battle mimicking the frontier battles of yore between the wine-loving Catholics and the wine-abstaining Islamic Moors. The whole event lasts about an hour, followed by a parade in the town’s main plaza.
Haro’s other principal draws are the Museo del Vino de Rioja which chronicles the history, evolution and creation of Spanish wines, as well as several old palaces and an old town that in 1975 was declared an Historic-Artistic Site. While Haro’s other claim to fame, an unlikely one, is that it was the first town in Spain to have electric street lighting.
Private visit of a famous La Rioja Winery
Lunch and si, Siesta!
Evening visit to the “Bodegas de la Real Divisa” and dinner with its aristocrat owner. Be a welcomed guest of the family of Marquis de la Real Divisa at their winery in La Rioja. The winery is one of the oldest in Europe, dating back 700 years. It has been owned by the host family since its inception. Your aristocrat host, who is also the deputy manager of his family’s winery, will welcome you and guide you on a tour of the vineyards, cellars, and palace and invite you to taste some of their wines. In addition, you will enjoy a full meal with fantastic wines at the palace.
The palace and gardens are not open to the public. The private visit is exclusive.
The home of the Marquis is considered one of the best and most beautiful palaces of Spain. The Italianate garden has been declared “Monumento Histórico Artístico,” a distinction bestowed by the Spanish Government based on beauty or historic interest. The home boasts two coats of arms, one from the family of Infant Don Ramiro de Navarra, who married a daughter of the knight El Cid. Thus the family are descendants of El Cid, the charismatic soldier of great courage who, during the 11th century, served both the King Fernando I and, at times, also his enemies, the Moor Kings.
Day 6 LA RIOJA REGION – SAN SEBASTIAN
San Sebastian is one of the most beautiful cities of Spain. The city overlooks the Cantabrico Sea from both sides of the Urumea River. It has been one of Spain’s most elegant and fashionable seaside resorts for more than a century. The city lies along two sandy bays with very white beaches. Fishermen’s houses, a smart suburb and modern districts contribute to make of San Sebastian one of the most attractive cities on the Cantabrian coast.
Late Afternoon – San Sebastian highlights walking tour with local expert guide: enjoy learning about the city’s history when perusing the examples of its architecture and its urban development. In the old quarter, you will admire the Gothic church of San Vicente and the Renaissance-Baroque church of Santa María del Coro. More impressive is the architecture of el Buen Pastor, built in neo-gothic style. The central busy streets will lead you to the portico of the Plaza de la Constitución where, among its many balconies – numbered and painted white, revealing its origin as a bullring – stands the old neoclassical city hall. La Alameda del Boulevard leads into the so-called romantic city, which emerged once the old walls were demolished. At the end of the Bay of La Concha, you will enjoy the unique view of Santa Clara Island from Monte Igueldo.
Day 7 SAN SEBASTIAN
Enjoy hiking part of the ancient pilgrims route “Camino de Santiago” with your expert local guide. The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at Santiago de Compostela, where tradition says is the tomb of St. James, in northwest of Spain. The most popular route is the Camino francés which stretches nearly 500 miles from St. Jean- Pied-du-Port near Biarritz in France to Santiago de Compostela.
The Camino del Norte (also known as the Coastal Route or the Northern Route) is one of the longer branches of the network of ancient pilgrim routes which together make up the Camino de Santiago. It runs for some 825 km. from the French border at Irún, through San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Santander to join the Camino francés, (the main spine route of the Camino) at Arzua. It is also possible to divert to Oviedo and walk the Camino primitivo (the original route), which joins the Camino francés at Melide.
The scenery on this route is fantastic with fine coastal views. The terrain is quite hilly during much of the route, and one is often sent inland to reach a bridge over the numerous rivers. It is much less crowded than the Camino francés, and because of this, pilgrim accommodation is sparse in places.
After reaching the end of the bay, the path climbs up to a rural area called Igeldo, which has maintained most of its traditional character. Following easy trails and paths, you reach the first Orio country houses, until a path with some of the original cobbles still in place, leads you to the ancient chapel of San Martin, anteroom to historic Orio.
Upon arrival to Orio you will enjoy a fantastic aperitif… Ole Spain, an aperitif reward for trekking!
Return to San Sebastian rest of day at leisure to enjoy the beach
Day 8 SAN SEBASTIAN
Day at leisure to enjoy the beach
Afternoon dine at Arzak Restaurant / 3 Michelin stars
Day 9 SAN SEBASTIAN
Enjoy a hiking tour in the famous Jaizkibel Mount. Hondarribia’s walled old quarter makes it unique in Gipuzkoa, being the only city, which still retains its renaissance fortifications. The area has been declared a Monumento Histórico Artístico. Once inside the walls, it’s not hard to see why – the surprising grid system of cobbled streets is lined with beautiful buildings with cast-iron balconies and wide carved eaves. The route affords incomparable views of the Bahia de Txingudi. Following the northern side of Monte Jaizkibel brings you to the town of Donibane, the route encompassing some unparalleled views of the impressive cliffs falling into the Cantabrian Sea, the cliffs form the spectacular Gipuzkoan coast.
End the route at the amazing fishing village of San Juan. Enjoy an aperitif with your guide and then travel by small boat to cross the river to San Pedro. Guide will organize taxi to hotel for afternoon of leisure.
NOTE: surfing is very popular here – Zarautz has the longest beach on the Gipuzkoan coast and waves that are famous all over the world. These qualities have attracted surfers from all corners of the planet.
Day 10 SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO
“How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the moon of Bilbao, the most beautiful city of the continent.” Bertolt Brecht
Private transfer to Bilbao. Bilbao is the driving force of social and economic development and is the main factor in the modernization of the Gulf of Biscay. Ambitious architectural and general infrastructure projects have fueled the urban and financial regeneration of the city. The Guggenheim Museum, the Euskalduna Concert Hall and Convention Center, the underground by Norman Foster, the airport by Calatrava, the new tramway and other projects by architects such as Arata Isozaki and Cesar Pelli are all examples of the overwhelming vitality that permeates Bilbao.
Time at leisure for lunch and siesta. Late afternoon Bilbao highlights walking tour – enjoy a visit of the city to learn about its history through its architecture and urban development. Learn about Bilbao’s 700 years of history in its historical quarter. Visit the Metro station by Norman Foster and explore the new architecture at the Ría de Bilbao. Enjoy also a guided tour to the Guggenheim Museum designed by architect Frank O. Gehry.
Day 10 BILBAO – OMA FOREST – BILBAO
Enjoy a Hiking day through the amazing Oma Forest. Enjoy the morning visiting this “open air” Museum with your guide. The small neighborhood of Oma, in Kortezubi, contains a singular spot known as Bosque Animado, (the Animated Forest). The Bilbao sculptor and artist Agustín Ibarrola painted it in 1984. This is an enchanted forest located in a magical area that stresses a new connection between nature and art. There, the artist left traces on trees and stones aiming to link the works of the ancestral Paleolithic artists with the modern tendency known as land art, an artistic current that works directly over the natural landscape, being the landscape itself the artist’s cloth.
Thus, Ibarrola confined himself to paint the surface of pine trees, being aware that the holder he was using was not as inert as the cloth. Most of the figures are scattered around different trees, which are situated in different depths. So, Ibarrola, when covering thousands of pine trees with colors and life, created an enormous cloth that each visitor can compose again playing with the perspective while walking. We will find the chance to build a personalized work by means of decisions that we will make in the forest, walking along one or another path, looking at different spots… Therefore, for each visitor there is a forest that exists in different ways.
Also visit the Santimamiñe Caves installations. The caves contain rock paintings dating from up to 14,000 years ago. The visit takes a look at the various research and conservation works, and also includes a 3-D virtual replica of the cave.
Meet your driver and transfer to Baserri Maitea Restaurant, local Basque dining.
Day 11 Reluctantly, Depart Home
This Journey can be modified to a shorter time period and is a superb
multi-generation family trip.
