Rioja & Basque Country
Rioja & Basque Country
- 8 days – 7 nights
Departure : Madrid, Spain
Places : Madrid, Segovia, Haro, La Rioja, Idiazábal, San Sebastián, Costa Vasca, Bilbao, Burgos.
Arrival : Madrid, Airport
- Gastronomy
Spain is widely known as a world leader in gastronomy and with so many culinary possibilities…there are also many words related to culinary specialities which have no translation to other languages. We provide all our travellers with a special pocket dictionary of these words and phrases that helps to further a greater understanding of these unique foods and the words that describe them.
Itinerary
Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN MADRID
On arrival at Madrid Airport, the group will be met and greeted by a Gamma Tours escort. Transfer to the hotel. Clients will be accommodated having then free time to rest.
In the evening, the clients will be given a panoramic tour of the most important illuminated highlights of the city. Dinner will be served at one of the oldest restaurants of the city. Overnight.
Day 2 – MADRID – SEGOVIA – HARO – 370 Km
Breakfast. Depart north towards Segovia. This city has some monuments designated World Heritage Sites such as the Roman Aqueduct built in the 1 C A.D., it is an engineering gem. Besides you can admire the Main Square, the Cathedral, some small very beautiful churches and at one end of this walled enclosure you can see the outline of the Alcazar Fortress, built on the 13 C, which exterior makes quite an impact on the visitor given its 80-m high tower.
After the visit the typical roasted piglet will be served for lunch in a local restaurant.
From there you continue to Haro, capital of the Upper Rioja. Overnight.
Day 3 – LA RIOJA “THE WINE-LAND” – 150 Km
La Rioja is without a doubt the most well-known wine producing region in all Spain.
You will have the chance to visit an important wine cellar that was founded 135 years ago. It still produces wine in the old traditional manner of its founder. You will be able to visit its vineyards and the installations at the wine cellar, in which you will be able to appreciate the complexity of its wines, ending with a wine tasting.
From there you head to the Wine City, a very modern winery; you will do a visit to its installations ending with a sample of wines.
Lunch will be served in the restaurant of this winery or in a near charming restaurant.
From there you head to Laguardia. This town still houses part of the Old Wall built in the 13 C. In the Main Square, full of arcades, the Old Town Hall stands out and in the High Street, one can find the Santa Maria de los Reyes Church, whose magnificent doorway stands out.
Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 4 – HARO – IDIAZABAL – SAN SEBASTIAN – 280 Km
Breakfast. Depart north-east towards the town of Alsasua; then turning to north and going to Idiazabal, which is a town that gives its name to a cheese with own Origin Denomination that is the most popular and well-known in the Basque Country and Navarra region.
You will stop to visit a small and artisan cheese factory. The milk used comes from the lambs of “lacha” and “carranza” sheep races.
From you will continue north towards the town of Hondarribia, which is one of the busiest fishing harbours of the Basque coastline.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant with a menu based in the Basque traditional cuisine.
Continue to San Sebastian. Overnight.
Day 5 – SAN SEBASTIAN – BASQUE COAST – BILBAO – 200 Km
San Sebastian is in the one of the most beautiful settings of Spain. It is placed in the middle of a bay that has the shape of a “scallop shell” (hence its name, “Bahia de la Concha”).
San Sebastian is not a monumental town, but it is very pleasant place to walk along the seaside and through the Old Quarters. However, the city has some interesting places to see such as the Constitution Square, the façade of Santa Maria, the San Telmo Museum and the Aquarium.
Depart to Zarautz by the motorway and from there you drive along the coastline to Getaria where you visit a Txakoli winery; Txakoli is the only wine produced in the Basque Country. Then you head to Zumaya and Deba where the typical menu will be served in a local restaurant.
From there you continue to Ondarroa y Lekeito and passing by Guernica where you stop for a while.
Arrive in Bilbao. Time at leisure and overnight.
Day 6 – BILBAO – BURGOS – 160 Km
Breakfast. This city has gone from being a very industrial town to being entirely revitalised.
Ambitious architectural and general infrastructure projects have fuelled the urban and financial regeneration of the city. The Guggenheim Museum; the Euskalduna Concert Hall and Convention Centre; the underground, designed by Norman Foster; the airport, built by Calatrava; the new tram and the projects by architects such as Arata Isozaki and Cesar Pelli are all examples of the overwhelming vitality that permeates Bilbao.
A visit to Bilbao is not complete without to taste some the typical “montaditos or pinchos that you have as a light lunch.
From Bilbao, you head to the city of Burgos. At dinner, you can taste the traditional roast lamb. Overnight.
Day 7 – BURGOS – MADRID – 250 Km
Breakfast. In this city, you stroll on the Old Quarter seeing the beautiful gothic Cathedral, the Arch of Sainte Mary, the Main Square and the Casa del Cordon. It always is a pleasure to walk along the Espolon Promenade where you see the statue of Cid Campeador and Saint Pauls’ Bridge. It is worthy to be visited the Royal Monasterio of las Huelgas.
From there you leave to Madrid. Free time.
Farewell dinner; it will be served in a fine restaurant a varied menu. Overnight.
Day 8 – MADRID DEPARTURE
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport where you will be helped in the check-in procedures at the airline counter, and then you will pass through the passport and security control and leave for your next destination.
Itineraries
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