SPLENDORS OF NORTHERN SPAIN Details

VISITING: 
Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santillana, Covadonga, Oviedo, A Coruña, Santiago, Madrid

DURATION: 
11 Days - 9 Nights

Day 1, Friday: En route
Depart your home city on an overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

Day 2, Saturday: BARCELONA
Arrival at Barcelona airport. you will be transferred to your hotel. It is suggested that you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities. In the evening, it is suggested to dine at the Pueblo Español, featuring architectural replicas from all of Spain’s regions. VALUE PACKAGE includes entrance and dinner tonight. Accommodations.

Day 3, Sunday: BARCELONA
Buffet breakfast. This morning enjoy an escorted tour of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. See the old Gothic Quarter with its magnificent cathedral. Stop to admire the exterior of Gaudi’s masterwork, the Basilica of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia). Continue to Montjuich Hill (site of the Olympic Stadium), to enjoy a spectacular view of Barcelona and its port area. Free time for lunch, perhaps in the Olympic Port area. Lunch included today in VALUE PACKAGE. Afternoon free. Accommodations.

Day 4, Monday: BARCELONA-ZARAGOZA-SAN SEBASTIAN-BILBAO
Buffet breakfast. Departure into old Aragon and into the proud city of Zaragoza. Pause downtown in a main plaza where you will have free time to visit the impressive Basilica of El Pilar and have lunch on your own. Continue on to the north coast and the beautiful Basque country, arriving to San Sebastian called “the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea”. Free time and continuation to Bilbao. Accommodations. VALUE PACKAGE includes dinner tonight.

Day 5, Tuesday: BILBAO-SANTILLANA-COVADONGA-OVIEDO
Buffet Breakfast. Brief morning panoramic tour of Bilbao and the exterior architecture of the spectacular Guggenheim museum. VALUE PACKAGE includes entrance to the Guggenheim. Departure to Santillana del Mar, very well preserved with a unique medieval ambiance. Free time in Santillana, VALUE PACKAGE includes lunch in Santillana before leaving along the “Picos de Europa”, one of the most spectacular landscapes of Spain, to visit the shrine of Covadonga. This evening we will be staying in lovely Oviedo the capital of Asturias.

Day 6 Wednesday: OVIEDO-RIBADEO-A CORUNA-SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Buffet Breakfast. Departure along the pristine green north coast from Asturias into Galicia and the town of Ribadeo where we'll stop for a unique visit of “Playa de Catedrales”, a beach famous for its amazing rock formations visible only during low tide. Afterwards we continue our route via Vilalba and Betanzos, where we you'll have free time to have lunch on your own. Before we end the day in the mystical pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, we will make a stop in A Coruna. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy this medieval city. (Accommodations the nights of May 08, 09, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 and June 05, 06, 12 and 13 will be in Vigo and not in Santiago de Compostela).

Day 7, Thursday: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Buffet Breakfast. Today enjoy a guided tour of the old university city of Santiago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring the majestic Cathedral on Obradoiro square and the impressive “mercado de abastos” (main market). Tonight there is an optional traditional dinner at your hotel. VALUE PACKAGE includes dinner. Accommodations. (Accommodations the nights of May 08, 09, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 and June 05, 06, 12 and 13 will be in Vigo and not in Santiago de Compostela).

Day 8 Friday: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA–SALAMANCA–MADRID
Buffet Breakfast. Departure to Salamanca, home to Spain’s oldest University and its most impressive Plaza Mayor. Time for lunch on your own before continuing this afternoon to Madrid. VALUE PACKAGE includes lunch in Salamanca Accommodations. 

Day 9, Saturday: MADRID
Buffet Breakfast. We suggest you take advantage of this free time to get to know one of Europe's most dynamic capital cities. In the early evening, enjoy an “Illuminated Madrid” drive through the bustling streets of the old city, ending at the historical and impressive Plaza Mayor. This area is home to some of the most typical restaurants and taverns, which serve the delicious "tapas". VALUE PACKAGE includes a Tapas Dinner tonight. Return to your hotel at your own convenience. Accommodations.

Day 10, Sunday: MADRID
Buffet breakfast. This morning's escorted sightseeing tour will allow you to get a glimpse of some of Madrid's most outstanding attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente. Time for lunch on your own. Highly recommended this afternoon, is an optional tour to the Imperial former capital city of Toledo, where you will be escorted through its narrow cobblestone streets, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. Touring will include the interior of the magnificent Gothic cathedral and a visit to St. Tome Church, where El Greco's masterpiece painting is displayed There wil also be some time for shopping for the unique typical local artisanry. Return to Madrid for accommodations.

Day 11, Monday: EN ROUTE
Buffet breakfast. Pre-arranged transfer to Madrid airport at the proper time to check-in for your trans-Atlantic flight.

 TOUR FEATURES

• Transfers airport-hotel-airport
• Accommodations in First Class hotels
• Buffet breakfast daily
• Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation
• Professional multilingual tour escort throughout
• Escorted sightseeing tours with multilingual guide in Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela and Madrid
• Evening Illuminations tour of Madrid
• Protection and assistance insurance while on tour
• Travel bag

 VALUE PKG    $290 pp

• Dinner in Barcelona’s Pueblo Español
• Entrance to Pueblo Español
• Lunch in Barcelona
• Dinner in Bilbao
• Entrance ticket to Guggenheim museum
• Lunch in Santillana
• Dinner in Santiago
• Lunch in Salamanca
• “Tapas” dinner in Madrid