Northern Spain

Trace the treasures of the north on this grand expedition from Barcelona to Madrid, easing yourself into la buena vida as only the Spaniards can. Take the day to delve into centuries of history and the cosmopolitan culture of Barcelona, people-watching in Plaça de Catalunya and admiring the whimsical architecture of Gaudí. This evening, you’ll meet with your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a dinner featuring local flavours and fresh produce, followed by an evening drive to see the city's iconic sights.

Consider joining a morning Optional Experience to Montserrat, where you can visit the mountaintop monastery and the shrine of the Black Madonna, known in Catalonia as La Moreneta. Return to Barcelona for a sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Admire Gaudí’s stunning architecture along Passeig de Gràcia and take in the exterior of his unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Família. See the seaside monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus before taking time to explore Barcelona’s barrios at your own pace.

• Barcelona City Tour

The feisty former capital of Navarre takes centre stage. Follow in the footsteps of thousands of exhilarated runners and hot-blooded bulls today. See Pamplona's ancient city walls and Plaza del Castillo, the heart of the city where markets, tournaments and even bullfighting have taken place.

• Pamplona at Leisure

Today, journey to the sophisticated culinary capital of San Sebastián. See the beautiful Bahía de la Concha beach or stroll along la calle 31 de Agosto in the Old Town.

Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián's boardwalk and with the city harbour filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts, you can enjoy several sporting activities on its large sandy beach. Perhaps you'll want to explore the nearby French villages of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, also known as Little Paris, and Biarritz during an Optional Experience. Maybe stroll the promenade of the famous La Concha bay or enjoy the boutiques of the Old Town?

Begin your day in Bilbao to see the facade of the Guggenheim Museum, one of the most celebrated examples of modern architecture in Europe. From here, travel through the foothills of the Picos de Europa, passing green valleys and small market towns that reflect the region’s rural traditions. Later, join the Castañón family for your Be My Guest experience at their cider mill. Share stories over a late lunch and sample their traditional Asturian cider, made on-site using time-honoured methods. Arrive in Oviedo, where the evening is yours to explore the old town, find a local sidrería or simply take it easy.

• See Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum
• See Picos de Europa
• Enjoy Lunch and Cider Tasting with the Castañón Family at their Cider Mill near Oviedo

The Asturian fishing village of Luarca is our first stop today. Soak up its seafaring atmosphere en route to the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, renowned as the end of the 'camino' pilgrimage route that has its origins dating as far back as the 9th century.

• Soak up Luarca

Join a Local Specialist who will share insights into the 'Way of Saint James' and explain why thousands of people attempt the life-changing pilgrimage annually. Visit the vast Cathedral, reputed to be the final resting place of Saint James the Great, and the Plaza do Obradoiro, a square dominated by four architectural styles. Consider an Optional Experience to the Rías Baixas for soul-stirring views of the Galician coast. The region has long waterways stretching inland that are said to be the mark left by God's hand when he cleansed himself after creating the world.

• Santiago de Compostela City Tour

Journey through the lush Galician landscape and Castile-Leon to Zamora, a veritable open-air museum of Romanesque art. Continue to Salamanca – its golden-hued façades providing an air of mystery and majesty. Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour including views of Spain's oldest university and the Cathedral, as well as a walk through the imposing Plaza Mayor, built in the Spanish Baroque style.

• Zamora Orientation
• Salamanca City Tour

Travelling east, arrive in the fiery Spanish capital, Madrid, for an afternoon of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Dive Into Culture and visit the Prado Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of European art in the world. Then, see the Royal Palace, Gran Vía and the neoclassical Cibeles Fountain that has become an iconic symbol for the city of Madrid. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable Dinner with wine, toasting to a magnificent journey through northern Spain.

• Discover extraordinary European art at the Prado Museum
• Madrid City Tour

For now, it's a fond hasta luego to your newfound friends as our Spanish adventure comes to an end.