Northern Spain Explorer
Overview
Highlights
- Soak up the Spanish way of life on this tour from Madrid to Barcelona
- Discover the wines of the famous Rioja region
- Spend the night in Montserrat and explore its famous mountain top monastery
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
Arrive in Madrid, the Capital of Spain, home to elegant boulevards, manicured parks, cultural museums and fantastic markets. It is one of those places that draws people back time and time again, either for its rich culture, great food and architecture ranging from con...
After an early breakfast, we bid farewell to Madrid and catch the train north to the Basque Country. The train ride takes around five hours to Bilbao, arriving in the early afternoon. A port city with an industrial past, tucked into a lush corner of northeast Spain an...
After breakfast, we drive towards San Sebastian stopping first in the coastal town of Getaria, famous for its anchovies where we visit a fishery where we learn about the importance of this small fish to the local community and how to can anchovies in the traditional w...
This morning, we travel south by charter bus to La Rioja Alavesa, a Basque corner of the Ebro Valley that has a long tradition of producing quality Rioja wines. Our first stop this morning is at a local bodega to learn more about modern life as a wine producer in Rioj...
Today, we drive through the proudly independent region of Navarra stopping at places of interest and finally into Aragon. The Camino de Santiago, or St. James Way, is an ancient Christian pilgrimage route that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and the final r...
After breakfast, we drive towards Catalonia where we first stop in the charming municipality of Agramunt famous for its chocolate making. There, we visit a traditional chocolate maker and have the opportunity to discover the artisan elaboration of stone-made chocolate...
After breakfast, we continue our journey to our final destination, Barcelona. We leave Montserrat and drive for approximatively one hour. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we take a walking tour through the narrow and winding back streets of the Gothic Quar...
We start the day with an included guided visit to one of Gaudi's most famous works - La Sagrada Familia. Construction on this unique and enormous Basilica started in 1882 and continues to this day. Our walking tour continues through the Eixample neighbourhood, home to...
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Barcelona. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport t...
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Explore!.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Alasdair
May 2024
Discover Madrid, Basque Country, Rioja, Barcelona
This was a good tour. It fulfilled my ambition of seeing more of Spain. There were many highlights including Bilbao, Rioja, Pamplona, Monserrat, and Barcelona. Ther...
Richard
May 2024
Discover Madrid, Basque Country, Rioja, Barcelona
A very enjoyable and comfortable trip through northern Spain, expertly and enthusiastically led by the Explore tour leader. Madrid, Bilbao, LaGuardia and the Rioja b...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Discover Madrid, Basque Country, Rioja, Barcelona
Itinerary could have been better designed. There should be dedicated one single bus for the entire trip. Travel of group of 15 by different taxis is cumbersome. ...
Christy
May 2024
Discover Madrid, Basque Country, Rioja, Barcelona
The Spain Northern Discovery tour was an unforgettable experience! Our guide, Magdalena, was amazing! Her warm spirit, local and historical knowledge, and personal c...
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Tour Operator
About Explore
We've been taking small groups on adventure vacations for over 41 years. Our authentic adventure travel experiences explore the sights and culture of a country, with hand-picked accommodation that balances comfort and location. Our average group tour size is just 11; perfect for meeting new people and getting to the heart of our destinations. Explore is one of the world's most trusted adventure travel companies with over 350 trips to more than 100 countries. We are passionate about travel and have developed a wide range of unique activities and adventures which give our customers an unforgettable experience with a team of award-winning Explore leaders. With Explore, you'll get to see your destination from a whole new perspective that takes you away from the typical well-trodden tourist track. You'll have the chance to meet, dine and stay with local people, rest in authentic accommodation with other like-minded explorers and travel to must-see destinations with a unique Explore twist. From family holidays to trips for solo travelers; cycling tours to wildlife safaris; trekking on mountains or exploring miles of scenic coastline, there is something for every kind of traveler with Explore. We will provide our expert knowledge, exciting itineraries and outstanding service as part of our sustainable travel experiences which take you under the skin of the country you're visiting for the adventure of a lifetime.
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