Northern Spain & Portugal

The tour starts at 7.30pm on Friday 13 September, in the lobby of the NH Ría de Bilbao Hotel, Bilbao.

The tour ends after breakfast on Wednesday 2 October, at the BessaHotel Liberdade, Lisbon.

If you wish to arrive prior to the tour to recover from jetlag, we recommend a few nights in Barcelona on our pre tour excursion (see separate sheet). After settling into the hotel, we convene for a welcome drink in the hotel reception before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Bilbao (B, D)

Today we begin by exploring the striking Guggenheim Museum. Commissioned by the Basque government in 1991 to enliven Bilbao’s decrepit port area, the Guggenheim is known as much for its thrilling sculptural architecture as it is for its art exhibits. We also pay a visit to Bilbao’s renowned Museum of Fine Arts (Bellas Artes), before a mid-afternoon walking tour along the Nervión river to the Casco Viejo (old heart of the city) via the famous Calatrava bridge. Overnight Bilbao (B)

This morning we take a leisurely excursion by coach to discover the picturesque resort town of San Sebastián. We sample some of the famed local tapas and Txakoli wine before exploring the centre on foot with a local guide. After some free time to walk along the waterfront of the famed Bahia de la Concha, we join our coach trip back to Bilbao, admiring the sculpture of Eduardo Chillida en route. Overnight Bilbao (B, L)

Departing the Basque country, we head to the wine growing region of La Rioja. We stop for coffee in Laguardia, a medieval walled city perched on a rocky outcrop before our visit to the extraordinary Bodega Ysios winery. Designed by contemporary architect Santiago Calatrava, its Gaudí-inspired roof and mountain backdrop makes an excellent location for wine tasting. Afterwards we enjoy a typical bodega (winery) lunch at a smaller, more intimate, family-owned vineyard. Overnight Burgos (B, L)

This morning we explore the historic centre of a city at the heart of Spain’s history and a principal crossroads of the Camino de Santiago. Amongst other sites, we pause at the Casa del Cordón, where Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, the ‘Catholic Monarchs’, met with Columbus to endorse his voyages to the New World. We also see the World Heritage-listed Burgos Cathedral, built on the pilgrim’s route and inspired by the Gothic cathedrals of Paris and Reims. In the afternoon, we visit to the Abbey of Las Huelgas, a beautiful Cistercian monastery just outside the city centre. In the evening, after a talk in the hotel, you might like to sample the hearty local specialty, “Lechazo”, suckling lamb. Overnight Burgos. (B)

On our way to León, we pass pilgrims with their iconic staffs and scallop shells tied to their packs. We pause to admire the eleventh century Romanesque church at Frómista, with its fine carved capitals, built for the devotion of passing pilgrims. Closer to León, we stop at the Roman Villa of Olmeda to view superb Roman mosaics, buried for centuries. For lunch we sample one of the simple meals that hostelries provide on the Camino for hungry pilgrims. We’ll have time to explore the cloisters, basilica and museum of our hotel, the converted monastery of Real Colegiata, before dinner at Los Delirios, an experimental and highly regarded local restaurant. Overnight León (B, L, D)

Today we enjoy a walking tour of the well-preserved medieval centre of León. Our first stop will be the glorious French-style Gothic cathedral known as the ‘House of Light,’ with its fine carvings and huge rose windows. We also admire the well-preserved Romanesque murals of the Pantheon of San Isidoro. After lunch there is time to further explore either the Archaeological Museum or the Museum of Contemporary Art. In the early evening we gather for a talk in the hotel. Overnight León (B)

Today we head over the mountains to the enchanting city of Oviedo, our destination for the next three nights. After a break for lunch, we explore the old town on foot, pausing to watch the peacocks roaming the Campo de San Francisco, and to delight in the well-tended parks and squares lined with Baroque palaces. We enjoy an early evening meal in the Bulevar de la Sidra, ‘cider boulevard’ and marvel at the waiters pouring this local specialty, in the traditional way – from a great height. Overnight Oviedo (B, D)

For some of Spain’s finest mountain scenery, we take a day trip to the dramatic Picos de Europa. We make the spectacular drive up to the Lakes of Covodonga and enjoy a rustic lunch in a mountain refuge. There is the option of a short walk around the lakes in the company of a local guide. Overnight Oviedo (B, L)

The morning is set aside to survey the beautiful ninth century ‘pre-Romanesque’ architecture of the churches on the outskirts of Oviedo, many of which have been granted UNESCO world heritage. Set at the foot of the surrounding mountains the countryside sets off their simplicity and austere design. The afternoon is free to relax before we meet for a talk and an aperitif in the hotel. Overnight Oviedo (B)

We drive the last leg of the Camino route to Santiago de Compostela. En route we visit Castro de Viladonga, a 1500-year-old excavated Celtic village that also features an interesting museum. We stop for lunch in Lugo, the only city in the world still surrounded by fully intact Roman walls, and work up an appetite by walking the fortifications. After our arrival in Santiago, we enjoy fine tapas at Abastos 2.0, a cutting-edge extension of the local market that uses excellent regional produce. Overnight Santiago (B, D)

Today we explore the beautiful urban area of Santiago de Compostela and witness the emotion of pilgrims arriving at the cathedral after a journey of over 800 kilometres. The Portico de la Gloria, the main facade, has carvings of 200 figures referring to the Apocalypse, and St James welcomes the pilgrims to their final destination. In the afternoon, there is the option of a leisurely walk along a pretty section of the Camino just outside Santiago. Overnight Santiago (B)

On our last full day in Spain we take an excursion to the beautiful coastline of the Rias Baixas (low estuaries), an area highly renowned for its albariño wine and seafood. We enjoy a tasting at the stately home of Pazo de Rubianes, and a walk through its camellia gardens before lunch at a Michelin-star-rated seafood restaurant. To aid digestion, we take a stroll along the coast to view the mussel farms. Overnight Santiago (B, L)

Departing Galicia, we head south into Portugal to the World Heritage-listed city of Porto, also known as the ‘City of Bridges’. We take a short cruise along the Douro River and stop for a port tasting at the Sandeman Cellars, situated on the river in a granite building dating back to the 1790s, looking toward the historic centre of Porto. Dinner is at a popular local restaurant. Overnight Porto (B, D)

The day begins with a walking tour of the interior of Porto away from the river. We stop at the rail station to admire its vast tile mosaics, then explore the tiles of the spectacular cathedral cloisters and the Stock Exchange building. In the afternoon we have free time to enjoy the city. Overnight Porto (B)

Today we depart for Lisbon, stopping to explore the city of Sintra, a unique combination of natural mountain beauty and fairytale palaces. The National Palace is easily distinguished by its two large conical chimneys, while the rest of the building consists of Manueline, Gothic and Moorish architectural styles with magnificent azulejos. Another treasure on our itinerary is the Convent of the Capuchos; appearing to emerge from the surrounding woodland, the Franciscan convent’s philosophy of austerity and poverty is visible in the simplicity of the tiny cells. Overnight Lisbon (B)

This morning we pay homage to the Golden Age of Discovery and explore the borough of Belém. Commencing at Belém Tower, a 16th century fortification at the mouth of the Tagus River which formed a vital part of Lisbon’s defences, we continue to the Discovery Monument, celebrating the location where explorers departed to the Far East to open up important trade routes. After a break for some fine Portuguese tarts, we visit the Jerónimos Monastery, where seafarers came to pray. In the afternoon we enjoy the Berardo Collection Museum which houses an extraordinary collection of art amassed by Portuguese billionaire José Berardo. There is a talk on the history of tiles before we enjoy dinner and a performance of Fado, a Portuguese musical genre dating from the early 19th century. Overnight Lisbon (B, D)

Our first visit today is to the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, a fine private art collection featuring works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Dyke and Renoir. Next we make an excursion to view the National Tile Museum’s exquisite collection of azulejos, dating from the 15th century. The museum is housed in the monastic buildings of the Madre de Deus Convent, whose interiors are amongst the most magnificent in the city. Overnight Lisbon (B)

We take an iconic yellow tram up to Alfama to view the Castle of São Jorge and enjoy its outstanding views over the city. We then meander down through the labyrinthine Moorish quarter, a truly emblematic part of the city. Alfama was largely spared in the earthquake of 1755 and is still a maze of narrow streets. We visit the Núcleo Arqueológico, an extraordinary archaeological site with remains dating from the Iron Age, hidden under a modern-day bank. We finish our trip with a farewell dinner in a prestigious local restaurant. Overnight Lisbon (B, D)

The tour concludes this morning after breakfast. Airport transfers are provided for anyone who has booked their flights with Academy Travel. (B)

Hotels have been selected principally for their central location, heritage and 4-star rating.

• Bilbao, Hespería de Bilbao (3 nights)

• Burgos, Hotel AC Burgos (2 nights)

• León, Hotel Real de Colegiata (2 nights)

• Oviedo, Hotel Campoamor (3 nights)

• Santiago, Hotel San Francisco Monumento (3 nights)

• Porto, Hotel Pestana Vintage (2 nights)

• Lisbon, Bessa Hotel Liberdade (4 nights)