Day 1 | Monday 7 September
Arrival in Bilbao
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 (D)

Day 2 | Tuesday 8 September
Guggenheim & Casco Viejo
We begin the day at the striking Guggenheim Museum, one of the most iconic buildings of contemporary architecture. Commissioned by the Basque government in 1991 as part of an ambitious urban renewal project, the museum transformed Bilbao’s once-declining port district into a thriving cultural hub. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim’s swirling titanium curves and organic forms house an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, featuring works by major figures such as Richard Serra, Jeff Koons and Anselm Kiefer. After a break for lunch, we enjoy an afternoon walking tour along the Nervión River, passing the famous Calatrava Bridge to the Casco Viejo and the seven Streets of Medieval Bilbao. We take in El Arenal, the first natural port of Bilbao where galleons were once rigged, and finish in Plaza Nueva, home of the Royal Academy of Basque Language,
a vital cultural landmark of Spanish heritage. Overnight Bilbao (B)

Day 3 | Wednesday 9 September
Bellas Artes, Getxo & Portugalete
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 transfer by metro to Getxo, a suburb of Bilbao and an age-old seafaring hub on the Bay of Biscay. We learn about Getxo and Bilbao’s intertwined history and how this hub has shaped Bilbao’s industrial and coastal identity as we walk down to the picturesque Old Port for lunch together. We also climb the Puente Colgante de Vizcaya, a transporter bridge offering stunning views over the estuary and beyond, and enjoy afternoon tea in Portugalete before returning to Bilbao. Overnight Bilbao (B, L)

Day 4 | Thursday 10 September
Mundaka & Gernika
Today we take a day trip out of Bilbao to Gernika, the town whose destruction during the Spanish Civil War inspired Picasso’s famous painting. En route, we stop for stunning views over San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a tiny yet amazing cone-shaped islet bearing a shrine dedicated to St John the Baptist. We then enjoy a walk and coffee in the beautiful Basque village of Mundaka, a world-famous surfing spot. Arriving in Gernika, we visit the Casa de Junta, the Museum of Peace and the Gernika tree, to learn about the significance of the site. Returning to Bilbao, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Bilbao (B)

Day 5 | Friday 11 September
Getaria & Balenciaga
Leaving Bilbao today we make our way to the picturesque resort town of San Sebastián via 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 and view the superb collection on display here. In the afternoon we continue to Zumaia and (weather/ tide dependent) join a boat ride or take a walk along the estuary to the Flysch rock formations, a 10 km section of vertical rock strata on the Bay of Biscay and an internationally-designated Geopark. On arrival in San Sebastián we settle into our cinema-themed hotel, which celebrates the San Sebastián Film Festival, and meet for dinner together. Overnight San Sebastián (B, D)

Day 6 | Saturday 12 September
San Sebastián
We set out to discover the many highlights of San Sebastián on a guided walking tour, pausing to sample the famed local tapas (pintxos) and Txakoli wine for an early lunch. 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)

Day 7 | Sunday 13 September
Chillida Leku
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 free time to enjoy lunch in the organic café on site before returning to San Sebastián, where the afternoon and evening are free to explore this lovely town at leisure. Overnight San Sebastián (B)

Day 8 | Monday 14 September
La Rioja – To Castilla-León
Departing the Basque country, we head inland 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 private visit to the extraordinary Bodega Ysios winery. Designed by contemporary architect Santiago Calatrava, its Gaudí-inspired roof and its spectacular mountain backdrop make an excellent location for our private tour and wine tasting. Afterwards we enjoy a typical bodega (winery) lunch at a smaller, more intimate family-owned vineyard. Continuing to Burgos, we check-in on arrival before an evening at leisure. Overnight Burgos (B, L)

Day 9 | Tuesday 15 September
Burgos
This morning we explore the historic centre of Burgos, a city at the heart of Spain’s history and a principal crossroad 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)

Day 10 | Wednesday 16 September
Pilgrim Route & Roman Mosaics
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 also 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. Tonight we enjoy dinner at Los Delirios, an experimental and highly regarded local restaurant. Overnight León (B, L, D)

Day 11 | Thursday 17 September
León
Today we set out on foot to explore the well-preserved medieval centre of León. Our first stop is the Pantheon of San Isidoro with its fascinating Romanesque murals and museum displaying relics and precious objects. After a break for lunch, we join a walking tour with a local guide, exploring the famous ‘Wet Quarter’ full of cafés and bars and view Gaudí’s Casa Botines from the outside. The highlight is a late afternoon visit to the glorious French-style Gothic cathedral known as the ‘House of Light,’ with its fine carvings and huge rose windows, which should be at their most resplendent at this time of day. Overnight León (B)

Day 12 | Friday 18 September
To Asturias
After checking out of our hotel this morning, we travel over the mountains into the Asturias region and towards 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. We arrive in Oviedo in time for a break for lunch. Afterwards, we explore the old town on foot together, 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 meet again tonight for a talk in the hotel. Overnight Oviedo (B)

Day 13 | Saturday 19 September
The Picos de Europa
Today we venture into one of Spain’s most breathtaking natural landscapes – the Picos de Europa. This rugged mountain range, part of the Cantabrian Mountains, stretches across Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León, and is famed for its jagged limestone peaks, deep gorges and lush alpine meadows. Leaving Oviedo behind, we make the dramatic ascent to the Lakes of Covadonga, a pair of glacial lakes nestled high in the mountains and surrounded by spectacular scenery. After time to soak in the views, we enjoy a lunch in a traditional mountain refuge, where local Asturian specialities offer a taste of regional life. There is the option to take a short, guided walk around the lakes, where a local expert introduces us to the area’s unique flora and fauna. We return to Oviedo in the late afternoon. Overnight Oviedo (B, L)

Day 14 | Sunday 20 September
Pre-Romanesque Churches
This morning is devoted to exploring one of the most distinctive artistic legacies of the Asturias region – its remarkable collection of pre-Romanesque churches, built during the 9th century under the rule of the Asturian monarchy. Set on the lush green slopes of Mount Naranco just outside Oviedo, these modest yet elegant structures are celebrated for their harmonious proportions and unique fusion of Visigothic, Mozarabic and local influences, with many now granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Returning to Oviedo, we take a guided tour of the Museo de Bellas Artes, housed in a series of historic buildings in the city centre. The museum’s excellent collection spans from medieval art to contemporary works by masters including El Greco, Goya and Sorolla. Overnight Oviedo (B, D)

Day 15 | Monday 21 September
Into Galicia
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- Roman archaeological site, emblematic of the northern Castro-culture settlements. 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)

Day 16 | Tuesday 22 September
Santiago de Compostela
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)

Day 17 | Wednesday 23 September
The Atlantic Coast
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 fine 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. We enjoy a stroll in the historical centre of Cambados to admire its Renaissance and Baroque architecture and its beautiful squares before returning to our hotel. Overnight Santiago de Compostela (B, L)

Day 18 | Thursday 24 September
Depart Santiago de Compostela
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)