The tour starts at 7.00pm on Monday 12 May, in the lobby of the Hotel Hesperia Bilbao.

The tour ends after breakfast on Thursday 29 May, followed by a transfer to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport for onward flights.

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). Airport transfers to our hotel in Bilbao will be arranged by Academy Travel. After settling in, we convene for an introductory talk and a welcome drink in the hotel before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Bilbao (B, D)

We begin the day at 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. After a break for lunch we enjoy an afternoon walking tour along the Nervión River, crossing the famous Calatrava bridge to the Casco Viejo, the old heart of the city. Our visit here includes the Ribera Markets, the largest covered food markets in the world, and the 15th-century cathedral with its beautiful gothic cloisters. Overnight Bilbao (B)

Our day begins with a guided visit of the extensive collection of paintings, sculptures and applied arts in Bilbao’s renowned Museum of Fine Arts (Bellas Artes) which includes many works by Basque artists. We then join our coach and travel to the coastal town of Bermeo where we enjoy a pintxos lunch before viewing the sculptures by renowned Basque sculptor Nestor Basterretxea in and around the old port. We see more of Basterretxea’s work at Cape Matxitxako, the site of a major shipping battle in the Civil War, offering stunning views across to San Juan de Gaxtelugatxe. Overnight Bilbao (B, L)

Joining the ferry this morning we travel down river from Bilbao to the town of Portugalete, where we climb the narrow medieval streets to the Salazar Tower and the gothic-renaissance Basilica of Santa Maria. After a break for lunch we cross the river to nearby Getxo via the Puente Colgante de Vizcaya, a transporter bridge offering stunning views over the estuary and beyond. In Getxo we explore the history of the river and the port area before taking the metro back to Bilbao. Overnight Bilbao (B)

Leaving Bilbao today we make our way to the picturesque resort town of San Sebastián. En route we stop in Gernika, the town whose destruction during the Spanish Civil War inspired Picasso’s famous painting. Here we visit the Sala de Juntas and the Euskal Herria Museum, dedicated to local and Basque history. After time for lunch we continue to Getaria, where we explore the legacy of two of the town’s famous sons - 15th-century navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano and the renowned couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga. We enjoy a guided tour through the museum dedicated to Balenciaga’s life and work before continuing to San Sebastián, admiring Eduardo Chillida’s massive Comb of the Winds sculpture as we arrive. Dinner this evening is in the hotel’s excellent restaurant. Overnight San Sebastián (B, D)

After a relaxed start to the day we explore the many highlights of San Sebastián on a guided walking tour, pausing mid-morning to sample the famed local tapas (pintxos) and Txakoli wine. Our tour concludes in the afternoon at the San Telmo Museum whose location, combining a former Dominican monastery with a stunning modern extension, reflects the museum’s collection which celebrates Basque history and culture – old and new. Overnight San Sebastián (B, L)

This morning we travel to the nearby town of Hernani where we visit the Chillida Leku Open Air Museum. Founded by artist Eduardo Chillida and realised in collaboration with Basque architect Joaquin Montero, the sculpture park and exhibition space are dedicated to the artist’s work and vision. There is time to enjoy lunch in the organic café on site before returning to San Sebastián where the afternoon is free to explore this lovely town at leisure. Overnight San Sebastián (B)

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 make an excellent location for wine tasting. Afterwards we enjoy a typical bodega (winery) lunch at a smaller, more intimate, family-owned vineyard. Continuing to Burgos we stop briefly to view the Zaha Hadid-designed pavilion at the Vina Tondonia winery. Overnight Burgos (B, L)

This morning we explore the historic centre of Burgos, 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 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)

Departing Burgos we make our way to León, passing pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela with their iconic staffs and scallop shells tied to their packs. We pause to admire the 11th-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. Arriving in León, there is time to explore the cloisters, basilica and museum of our hotel, the converted monastery of Real Colegiata, after we have checked in. Overnight León (B, L)

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. In the afternoon 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 before dinner at Los Delirios, an experimental and highly regarded local restaurant. Overnight León (B, D)

We check out of our hotel this morning and head over the mountains to the enchanting city of Oviedo, our base for the next three nights. En route we stop at Santa Cristina de Lena, a small pre-Romanesque church, dating from around 850CE. Once in Oviedo, and 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, the ‘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 9th-century ‘pre-Romanesque’ architecture of the churches on the outskirts of Oviedo, many of which have been granted UNESCO world-heritage status. Set at the foot of the surrounding mountains, the countryside sets off their simplicity and austere design. Returning to Oviedo we have a guided tour of the fine collection at Bellas Artes, the museum of fine arts. The afternoon is free to relax before dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Oviedo (B, D)

Departing Oviedo early this morning we follow 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 have a break for lunch in Lugo, the only city in the world still surrounded by fully intact Roman walls, working up an appetite by walking the fortifications. Arriving in Santiago the later afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Santiago de Compostela (B)

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. This evening we enjoy the fine tapas at Abastos 2.0, a cutting-edge extension of the local market that uses excellent regional produce. Overnight Santiago de Compostela (B, D)

On our last 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 our farewell lunch at a Michelin-star-rated seafood restaurant, complemented by a stroll along the coast to view the mussel farms. Overnight Santiago de Compostela (B, L)

The tour concludes this morning after breakfast. Airport transfers are provided to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport for onward flights to Madrid or Barcelona. (B)

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

• Bilbao, Hotel Hesperia Bilbao (4 nights)

• San Sebastián, Zinema7 Hotel (3 nights)

• Burgos, AC Hotel Burgos
  (2 nights)

• León, Hotel Real de Colegiata (2 nights)

• Oviedo, Barceló Oviedo Cervantes (3 nights)

• Santiago de Compostela,
  Hotel Monumento San Francisco (3 nights)