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Vast Green Landscapes, Unspoiled Beaches & Fine Gastronomy
Treasures of Spain’s Northern Coast
Overview
Embark on a captivating cultural journey along Spain's northern coast. Here, we will discover a world defined by rugged seascapes, picturesque vineyards, cider farms, and charming coastal towns that move at their own unhurried pace. Our adventure will take us along breathtaking sea cliffs, we'll explore the awe-inspiring cave paintings at Altamira, and we'll savor the delectable cuisine of Asturias. The stylish and walkable foodie hub of Oviedo, the Asturian capital, is one of the highlights of our journey. From fresh seafood to hearty bean and chorizo stews, sidra (cider), to cave-aged cheeses, your taste buds are in for a treat. We conclude our journey in the extraordinary city of Santiago de Compostela, the culmination of Europe's renowned pilgrim trail. Here, amid the twin-towered cathedral that houses the remains of St. James, all pilgrim paths converge, making this an unforgettable experience.
Arrive: Bilbao, Spain
Depart: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Highlights
- Discover Basque Country's capital city of Bilbao, visit the acclaimed Guggenheim Museum
- See the extraordinary prehistoric art of the famed Altamira Caves
- Visit Gijón’s Roman sites, including the thermal baths of Campo Valdés
- Experience magical Santiago de Compostela, culmination of the famed El Camino pilgrim trail
- Explore Oviedo, the Asturian capital, a university town and foodie hub
- Walk amid the towering arches of Praia das Catedrais, the coastal cliffs of Loiba, see A Coruña’s Roman-era lighthouse
Itinerary
We begin in the dazzling port city of Bilbao for a visit to the Guggenheim Museum and dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. We marvel at the renowned Altamira Caves, known as the Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art, and make our way to Santillana del Mar, where cobbled lanes surround sandstone churches and mansions with flower-bedecked balconies. At the port city of Gijón, we can walk the beach, visit Roman sites, and taste traditional Asturian sidra (cider).
Delightful Oviedo, the Asturian capital, is a lively university town and foodie hub cradled in green hills. The celebrated El Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail goes right through town, starting from the striking Gothic cathedral. After a low-tide walk amid the massive arches of Praia das Catedrais, we head to Viveiro, a medieval fishing town with a beautiful harbor. We explore the port city of A Coruña, known for its Roman-era lighthouse, still standing and active.
In Santiago, one of Spain's most beautiful cities, we visit the towering cathedral containing the remains of St. James and mingle among pilgrims from around the world who are celebrating their long-awaited arrival at this sacred place. Our accommodation is the historic 5-star Parador de Santiago de Compostela (Hostal dos Reis Católicos), next to the cathedral. Depart on Day 8.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2, Easier, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable walking and hiking 2-3 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 5 hours a day. For your enjoyment of the trip, you should be a fit walker.
Average Hiking Day:
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day:
- 2 miles
- 2 hours
- 200 feet gain/loss
Our hikes are over easy to moderate terrain, with well-marked paths throughout. We will occasionally walk a few miles on pavement, with some of the hiking on dirt paths. Some hikes follow coastal paths that can be easy to moderate.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercise. Stair climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
While we have timed our trip for ideal hiking weather, you should be prepared for a variety of conditions. The days are usually warm and but can be hot. Nights can be quite cool. There is typically sunshine, but showers can occur at any time.
You will be welcomed each night in our carefully selected hotels, including a night at the extraordinary Parador de Santiago de Compostela. The rest of our accommodations are very comfortable and well located. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
A buffet breakfast is served at our hotel each morning with fruit, bread, whole grains, cold cuts, cheese, butter, ham, olive oil, tomato, yogurt, coffee, and tea. We'll enjoy lunches and dinners in cafés or restaurants that offer local foods including cheeses, fresh vegetables, salamis, ham, fresh fruit, and bread. We convene for our lunches around 1:00 pm as lunch starts late in Spain. Dinner is at our hotel or a nearby restaurant and includes other local specialties like lamb and fresh seafood. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:00 pm.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.