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Home , Barcelona Cathedral, Camino de Santiago, Oviedo, Pamplona, Puerta del Sol, Santiago de Compostela

Best of Northern

— , , San Sebastian, , Santander, Santillana del Mar, Picos de Europa, de Compostela, Leon, , Castillo de Medina, Avila, — TOUR DETAILS

Best of Northern Spain Highlights

• Price: $3,650 USD • Barcelona • Discounts: • Sagrada Familia • 5% - Returning Volant Customer • Casa Mila • Duration: 16 days • de Nuestra Senora del Pilar • Pamplona • Date: March-October • La Concha • Difficulty: Easy • Guggenheim Museum • Santillana del Mar Inclusions • • All internal flights (while on tour) • Covadonga • All accommodations (2-3 star) • • All meals • Picos de Europa • • Transportation throughout tour • Galician Coast • Airport transfers • Leon • Personal guide • Valladolid • Spanish Gothic San Pablo Church Exclusions • Castle of La Mota • International airfare (to Airport) • • Entrance fees to museums and other • Wall of Avila attractions not listed in ‘Inclusions’ • Madrid • Personal items: Laundry, shopping, etc. • Traveler’s insurance ITINERARY

Best of Northern Spain - 16 Days / 15 Nights Itinerary -

DA ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS Y

• International Flight Barcelona 1 • Arrive: Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) • Transfer to hotel and enjoy a warm welcome dinner Welcome Dinner & Orientation

Barcelona • Full day walking tour of Barcelona 2 • Explore gothic Quarter, Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, La Rambla, and the Montjuic Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Barcelona • Continue discovering the wonders of Barcelona 3 • Visit the Barcelona Cathedral and the Barceloneta Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Train ride to (2hrs) Zaragoza - Pamplona - san • Tour the Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar, La Seo del Salvador & the Palacio de la Aljaferia Sebastian 4 • Continue to Pamplona (2hrs) • Visit the Plaza del Castillo, Cathedral & the Ciudadela de Pamplona Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Continue to San Sebastian (1hr)

• Enjoy a full day in San Sebastian San Sebastian 5 • Explore La Cocha, Urgull Hill, Monte Igeldo Mountains, , Buen Pastor Cathedral, Plaza de Guipuzkoa, Iglesia de Santa Maria del Coro & Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Transfer to Bilbao (90m) Bilbao - Santander 6 • Tour Bilbao highlights; Guggenheim Museum & Basque Coast • Continue to Santander (90m) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Santander • Full day in Santander 7 • Explore the local beaches,palace, lighthouse & gorgeous Peninsula of Magdalena Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day trip to Santillana del Mar (30m) Santillana del Mar - Santander 8 • Tour the Plaza de Ramon Pelayo, Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar, Cave of Altamira • Return to Santander (30m) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Picos de Europa - Oviedo • Road trip to Covadonga and Picos de Europa National Park (1hr40m) 9 • Continue to Oviedo (1hr10m) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Santiago de Compostela • Scenic road trip to Santiago de Compostela (3hrs) 10 • Half day walking tour of local highlights; Cathedral, Alameda Park & Old Town Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Santiago de Compostela- • Day trip to Galician Coast Galician Coast 11 • Return to Santiago de Compostela Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Transfer to Leon (3.5hrs) Leon - Valladolid 12 • Tour the Leon Cathedral, Basilica de San Isidora, Palacio Episcopal & the Arco de la Carcel • Continue to Valladolid and tour the Spanish Gothic San Pablo Church (2hrs) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ITINERARY

DA ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS Y

• Transfer to (30m) Castillo de Medina - Salamanca 13 • Tour the Castle of La Mota • Continue to Salamanca (1hr) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Transfer to Avila (1hr) Avila - Madrid 14 • Tour the Avila Cathedral & the Wall of Avila • Continue to Madrid (90m) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Madrid • Full day walking tour of Madrid highlights; Puerta del , Plaza Mayor, Buen Retiro Park, Royal 15 Palace of Madrid, Palacio de Cibeles, Prado National Museum & Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Madrid 16 • Depart: Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Breakfast TOUR MAP

Palace of Versailles Rennes Fontainebleau Le Mans Angers Orléan NORTH Loire Valley Puy du Fou ATLANTIC

OCEAN Bay of Biscay

Picos de Europa Santiago de Santillana del Mar G a l i c i a Compostela Santander Oviedo C o d i l l e r a C a n t a b r i c a San Sebastián Toulouse Nîmes

León Bilbao Montpellier Pyrénées National Park B a s q u e Pamplona P y r e n e e s ANDORRA Gulf of Guimarãres Valladolid Lion

Salamanca Castillo de Medina Zaragonza Ávila

Tomar S i e r r a d e G r e d Madrido s Barcelona Cáceres Toledo SPAIN Menorca Évora Merida Buñol Balearic Sea

Serra de S i e r r a M o r e n a Monchique S i e r r a Mallorca A r a c e n a Cordoba Cazorla Natural Park Mediterranean Sea Cadiz Ronda S i e r r a N e v a d a NORTH Cartagena ATLANTIC Málaga Nerja Algiers OCEAN Rock of Tangier Alboran Sea

Fes Rabat ALGERIA Casablanca V MOROCCO V O L A N T ITINERARY

DAY 1: BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

Board your overnight flight to Barcelona- Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) - not included. Your Volant guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner and a leisurely evening. Stroll through the streets to explore the nightlife or relax in your accommodations.

DAY 2-3: BARCELONA

Embark out on a full day walking tour of Barcelona. Stroll through the famous narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter. Explore the unique gardens of Park Güell. Tour the Sagrada Familia, the Casa Mila and any other of Antoni Gaudi's architectural masterpieces. Discover Barcelona's most famous street, La Rambla, to get a taste of the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. Watch street performers, shop at the Boqueria Market and enjoy the many bars and restaurants along this iconic Spanish paseo. Scale Montjuic and visit the . Make sure to experience the unique nightlife of this incredible .

Spend your second full day in Barcelona visiting any number of the sights that didn't fit into the day before. Pop over to the Barceloneta for pristine sights of the Balearic Sea. Tour the to learn about this incredibly famous artist. Visit the Barcelona Cathedral or just relax and explore the delicious food culture in the area. ITINERARY

DAY 4: ZARAGOZA - PAMPLONA - SAN SEBASTIÁN

Say goodbye to the Balearic Sea and climb aboard one of 's fastest trains. Spend time exploring Zaragoza and its many architectural wonders including the Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar, La Seo del Salvador or the Palacio de la Aljaferia. After lunch continue to Pamplona. Tour the city famously known for its Festival, visit the Plaza del Castillo, the Cathedral and the Ciudadela de Pamplona. Transfer to San Sebastian for the evening.

DAY 5: SAN SEBASTIÁN

Enjoy a full day in San Sebastian. Stroll along the immaculate beaches of La Concha. Scale the Urgull Hill and witness sights of the Monte Igeldo mountains as well as the Bay of Biscay. Visit the Buen Pastor Cathedral, the Plaza de Guipuzkoa and the Iglesia de Santa Maria del Coro. For those who may be interested the Funicular de Igueldo offers sweeping views of the La Concha Bay and the city itself. In the evening head to Old Town to experience the best of San Sebastian's sizzling nightlife. ITINERARY

DAY 6: BILBAO - SANTANDER

After a morning transfer to Bilbao hop over to the shimmering titanium Guggenheim Museum for a spectacular display of modern and contemporary art. Known to be one of the 12 Treasures of Spain, this museum is also one of the largest in Spain. Use the remainder of the afternoon exploring the city at your leisure or head to the Basque Coast for picturesque cliffs and beaches. In the evening transfer to Santander. ITINERARY

DAY 7: SANTANDER

Set out for a full day tour of Santander. Explore the local beaches; Playa del Sardinero, Playa de Castaneda, and Playa de la Concha. Hike out to the lighthouse at El Sardinero for sweeping views of the coastline or explore the gorgeous Peninsula of Magdalena. The city itself offers intriguing cultural attractions but nothing compared to the picturesque beach scenes at Liencres.

DAY 8: SANTILLANA DEL MAR

Today will be dedicated to exploring a town known for containing some of the most well preserved medieval villages in all of Europe. Discover the "prettiest village in Spain" by wandering though the Plaza de Ramon Pelayo. Tour the Collegiate Church of Santillana del Mar and visit the Cave of Altamira. As the day comes to its end return to Santander for one final night.

DAY 9: PICOS DE EUROPA - OVIEDO

Transfer to Covadonga to discover the breathtaking Picos de Europa mountains. Declared a National Park in 1918 this area is centered around the Lakes of Covadonga. Witness the grand vistas and continue to Oviedo where you'll find yourself in the capital of Spain's region. Famous for its medieval old town, Oviedo contains gorgeous architecture and unspoiled scenery. Use the remainder of the day discovering the beauty in both the local culture as well as the local natural landscapes. Spend the evening at your leisure. ITINERARY

DAY 10 - 11: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - GALICIAN COAST

Rise early and drive through northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Tour the stunning cathedral and follow the great that ends there. This pilgrimage, known as the , follows the historic path of the Biblical apostle St. John to his final resting place within the cathedral. Use the day to get acquainted with this historic area and visit Old Town, , Plaza del Obradoiro and the Monasterio de San Martin Pinario.

Day two in the area will be dedicated to the exploration of the Spain's region. Visit the many villages and beaches off the Galician Coast and if time permits stroll along the white sandy shores for a glorious sunset over the Atlantic. In the evening return inland and be sure to try Santiago de Compostela's most iconic dish: octopus. The seafood doesn't stop there, the entire Galicia region contains arguably the best seafood in Europe. ITINERARY

DAY 12: LEÓN - VALLADOLID

Venture east of Santiago de Compostela and tour the city of Leon. Examine the local highlights such as the Leon Cathedral, the Basilica de San Isidora, Palacio Episcopal and the Arco de la Carcel. In the afternoon continue to Valladolid for a half day walking tour of the medieval religious landmarks such as the Spanish Gothic San Pablo Church. DAY 13: CASTILLO DE MEDINA - SALAMANCA

Only a short drive south of Valladolid, the city of Medina del Campo is known for its Castle of La Mota. Tour the medieval fortress and continue to Salamanca for the night. ITINERARY

DAY 14: ÁVILA - MADRID

A short drive from here brings you to the city of Avila. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 this Spanish town is famous for its perfectly preserved medieval walls. Visit this 12 century masterpiece and tour the Avila Cathedral. Continue to Madrid.

DAY 15: MADRID

Enjoy a full day walking tour of Madrid's highlights. Begin in the heart of this Spanish capital at Puerta del Sol. Heads towards Plaza Mayor to experience its iconic San Miguel Market. Wander through the green gardens at Buen Retiro Park. Tour the , Palacio de Cibeles and the Prado National Museum to better grasp the history and culture of this city. Watch as the sun sets and locals emerge to celebrate life with great food, drink, music and company. Revel in the the sizzling nightlife scene and stroll along the iconic Paseo del Prado.

DAY 16: TOUR ENDS -DEPART

Although no group activities have been scheduled today your Volant guide will ensure timely arrivals to the Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) where you will depart home. Thank you for choosing Volant and safe travels. CONTACT VOLANT

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