Tour Overview
Welcome to La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country! This tour shows you three amazing regions in green Spain: Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country, focusing on prestigious wine estates, excellent gastronomy, medieval and fishing villages, delightful seaside towns and gorgeous countryside. Each area has its own characteristics and unique individualities. After arriving in Bilbao we head to Haro, capital of Rioja Alta where we check-in to our pretty historic building. On our first day you will visit the UNESCO site of the Monastery of Yuso where the first books written in Spanish are kept, before visiting an outstanding wine estate including a superb lunch.Next day, we visit an historic pioneer in the Rioja wine region, Marques De Riscal. You will admire its impressive facilities, including the newly built hotel, and sampling their renowned wines. Soon after we arrive in Laguardia, a spectacular medieval hilltop walled town, overlooking a mountain range and surrounded by vineyards. You will be entertained by a thrilling guided tour admiring medieval mansions, historic monuments and experiencing staggering views over the vineyard covered valley, visiting one of the best subterranean cellar’s, followed by a fabulous lunch in one of the mansions of the city. Later on you will be delighted with a tour of the historic town of Logrono, capital of La Rioja. Our next stop is beautiful Navarra, where you will be a guest of two spectacular wine estates known, not only for their international quality red and white wines, but also for their wine making methods. Their superb facilities and amazing surroundings make this visit a true privilege. Navarra will also include a guided tour of Olite, an historic medieval town, strolling through cobble-stoned winding streets leading to the visit of a dramatic castle followed by an extravagant lunch. We continue on a glorious drive to one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, San Sebastian. After appreciating your sumptuously decorated hotel, overlooking a stunning beach, you will have time to relax, explore the city or perhaps experience fine dining at your hotel. Next day after having a remarkable guided tour of such a lovely city, followed by a memorable lunch with spectacular views, we head for the eastern coast. Here we visit a string of fishing villages, admiring beautiful scenery and sampling the exquisite Basque cuisine. On our last day after enjoying the western coast with its natural beaches, lovely towns and appreciating the fresh locally caught seafood we head for Bilbao, here we visit the famous Guggenheim Museum and the old quarter of the city. If you are really passionate about experiencing world class gastronomy, sampling outstanding wines, admiring unique medieval villages, in the wine country, appreciating spectacular scenery, while being a guest of renowned wine estates and above all exploring regions of Spain not yet really touched by mass tourism, guided by committed local experts then you must take this opportunity.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Bilbao- Haro, SpainToday when you arrive in Bilbao you will be welcomed at the airport and escorted by your guide to our carefully selected hotel in La Rioja. Founded as a convent in 1373, Los Agustinos Hotel is a beautiful and protected building. Now its walls, full of history, play host to exceptionally comfortable facilities where it is a privilege to stay. The rooms are decorated in a rustic style and enjoy all the modern comforts. It offers conventional, modern and regional cuisine based on fresh products from the area with an outstanding wine list.
Los Agustinos Hotel Day 2: Haro
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you depart with your guide for a visit to the famous Monastery of Yuso. It is usually accepted that the Monastery of Yuso is the cradle of Spanish because it was here that Gonzalo de Berceo wrote the first cultured poetry in the Castilian language. It was declared a World Heritage Site on 4 December 1997. A guided tour will explain the birth of the Spanish language, how the monks lived centuries ago, and their involvement in the making of wine. Then visit the fabulous Remelluri estate. One of the most important wineries in Rioja, known for its successful blending of modern technology with traditional wine making methods. This is one of the few chateaux-style wineries in Rioja, located in a peaceful setting at the base of the Cantabrian Mountains. Pause for a superb, typical lunch of the area, overlooking the vineyards and accompanied by the much-acclaimed wines from Remelluri. After lunch, your guide will take you on a private walking tour of Haro. The city of Haro is acknowledged as being the center of Rioja wine production. The evening is free to relax in your hotel or to enjoy the numerous bars and restaurants of the city. We highly recommend the restaurant Las Duelas, situated by the impressive hotel courtyard.
Breakfast, Lunch
Los Agustinos Hotel Day 3: Haro- Laguardia- Logrono
Following breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet you for a VIP guided tour of Marques de Riscal, a pioneer in the Rioja wine region- its wines have earned some of the most distinguished international awards. Designed and built by Frank O. Gehry, one of the world’s most renowned architects and author of works of art like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The Marques de Riscal Hotel merges deep-rooted wine growing traditions with 21st century avant-garde design. Nestled in the famous Vinos de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal’s vineyard in the medieval village of El Ciego, the hotels spectacular curves, titanium roof and asymmetry of walls provide an elegant contrast to the elegant wine cellars designed in 1858 by the architect Ricardo Bellsola. The hotels 43 luxury rooms and suites, each unique and different in their shapes and offered views, are “thrown” in two buildings connected by a spectacular suspended footbridge. Gehry’s personal and exclusive project of interior design characterized by its forms, colors and materials offers an authentic vision. Enjoy wine tasting. Afterwards, join your guide and a local expert for a private tour of Laguardia, one of the most astonishing medieval towns in Europe. Located on a hill, surrounded by a valley of vineyards, with the Cantabrian Mountains as a back drop. You will walk through the narrow cobbled streets of the town enjoying stunning views as well as visiting small wine/food shops and bars. Then you have the privilege to visit one of the best underground cellars in the medieval town of Laguardia. It is located under the Palace of the Samaniegos, where Felix Maria de Samaniego was inspired to write his literary works; nowadays it is a tourist office. We can see two wineries on the ground floor of the cellar, where 2,000 pitchers of wine (32,000 liters) are elaborated annually in a traditional way, treading the grapes as in ancient times. We can also see a press, which dates from 1903 and a machine called a “despalilladora” which used to remove the stalks from the grapes. At about 7 meters depth we find three parallel corridors, which are linked among them with others running perpendicular. The first of them is used for the elaboration of wine, the second one is used for aging and the last one is prepared for the tasting of wines. Enjoy the wine tasting in this unique place. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Posada Mayor De Migueloa in the Laguardia Palace Hotel Wine Cellar & Restaurant, serving superb dishes of Basque and Riojan cuisine- based on fresh ingredients and excellent service. Includes a private reception at the cellar with wines and tapas. Then, a guided tour of Logrono’s old quarter, capital of La Rioja, visiting the Calle laurel, one of the most famous gastronomic streets in Spain. This is a unique tour seeing hundreds of small bars, each one specializing in a different tapa (small portion of food, an authentic delicacy). Check into the boutique hotel in Logrono, settle in and take some time to relax. This evening, enjoy an optional guided tapas tour of the best tapas bars in the area. You will sample authentic fresh food from the north of Spain while you mix with the locals. Highly enjoyable!
Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel Marques De Vallejo Day 4:Lograno- Navarra- Olite- San Sebastian
After breakfast today, your guide will meet you and depart for Navarra. Upon arrival, visit one of the most exclusive wine estates in Spain, designed by Rafael Moneo, former headmaster of the School of Architecture at Harvard University, for a private VIP tour. The historic buildings and the natural beauty of the area merge quite successfully with the vineyards, the wine culture and the unique wine making process of a truly outstanding wine estate. Enjoy the wine tasting here. Then you will stop for a gourmet lunch in a charming restaurant in a quaint medieval town located in a castle. After lunch, take a private guided walking tour of the old town of Olite, which has been preserved as it was in the Middle Ages. You will also visit the amazing castle here. Then, continue to San Sebastian, one of the most adored places in all of Spain. An international resort and Cinema Festival still preserves an aristocratic atmosphere of all those centuries ago. This is the center of Basque Country’s superb gastronomy with 15 restaurants having Michelin stars in the city or close by. Check in to the hotel. This evening is free- your guide will be happy to recommend restaurants or bars.
Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel Londres Day 5: San Sebastian
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your guide picks you up for a private guided tour of San Sebastian. See the main attractions including The Bay, The Isle of La Clara and the Mount Igueldo with amazing views of the city and the sheltered beach of La Concha. After the tour, stop for lunch in a local restaurant situated at Mount Igueldo. Sample the sumptuous Basque cuisine while taking in the breathtaking views of San Sebastian. After the delicious lunch, continue your sightseeing with a panoramic guided tour along the beautiful eastern coast of San Sebastian, taking in the beautiful bays and fishing villages, stroll through the streets of old towns- we might even visit St Jean de Luz in neighboring France. Return to your lovely hotel in San Sebastian in time for dinner. Need a restaurant recommendation? Your guide would be happy to assist.
Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel Londres Day 6: San Sebastian- Bilbao- Depart
Have breakfast at your hotel before your guide meets you for a private, panoramic tour of the western coast of San Sebastian. Appreciate the natural beaches surrounded by mountains, alongside beautiful towns such as Zarautz, Getaria and Zumaia, each with their own unique personalities. We stop for lunch to try some delicious grilled fish (other food options on request). After lunch, continue on to Bilbao for a private guided tour to the remarkable Guggenheim Museum. Designed by North American architect Frank O. Gehry, this unique building represents an amazing structure that has the appearance of a huge sculpture set against the backdrop of the city. After admiring this amazing museum you will be delighted with a guided walking tour of Bilbao. Then transfer to Bilbao Airport for your onward flight. (This day subject to your flight times)
Breakfast, Lunch
