Amazing Food of Northern Spain
Take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Northern Spain on this adventure with a food bias. Delving into local history and culture whilst you explore the local market at Santa Catarina sampling some of the produce on the way, enjoying a demonstration of how to cook Catalan specialties, visiting the many tapas bars in Logrono, visiting the underground wine caves of Laguardia while exploring the medieval streets. Enjoy the thriving food scene of San Sebastian along with its beaches and art scene. Visit a traditional Asturian sidreria (cider house) near Oviedo, strolling around Pote's farmers market that had been around centuries, head to the coast at Galicia to enjoy the taste of fresh seafood. This food pilgrimage in Spain is sure to delight every one of your senses.
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Day 1 – Barcelona
Start your amazing food tour of Northern Spain with your International outbound flight to Barcelona.
You are free to explore the city until the evening welcome meeting, getting the chance to meet your leader and fellow travelers. There’s so much to do and see, perhaps wander around the old Gothic Quarter, stroll the tree-lined pedestrian boulevard of La Ramba taking in a variety of street performers along the way. For some spectacular views take the funicular to the top of Montjuic or enjoy a tapas crawl, tasting rustic bite-sized Catalan dishes whilst sipping some of the locally produced cava.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Barcelona - Cava or Vermouth tasting
Meals Included
- There are no meals included on this day.
Day 2 - Barcelona
Today, prepare yourself for a truly authentic introduction to Catalan cuisine with a passionate Barcelona local and respected chef. As you walk through the stalls of Santa Catarina Market, tasting as you go, pick up some fresh ingredients for a cooking demonstration. Chat with the stallholders as you select the best piece of meat, feel for the crispest vegetable, and choose the freshest seafood. Afterward, your host will show you how to whip up some Catalonia specialties, like salt cod salad or crema Catalana, then sit down to a leisurely lunch accompanied by a glass or two of wine from the nearby Penedes region. Spend the afternoon exploring more of the city's food hotspots or get cultural with some Gaudi at the Casa Mila or La Sagrada Familia. Finish the day with a sip of red wine from a Porron – a traditional glass pitcher.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Santa Caterina Market Tour - Barcelona
Meals Included
Day 3 - Logrono
Enjoy the rail journey of around 3.5 hours from Barcelona to Logrono, the prized vineyards of La Rioja wine region. On the banks of the Ebro river, Logrono is the capital of Spain’s most renowned wine region. It also boasts one of the most distinguished culinary traditions in the county and is home to some of the best tapas bars in the whole of Spain, all crammed into its small medieval center. Logrono, the charming city of medieval fortifications, where much work is being done to restore it to its full glory. In the evening enjoy a walking tour of the Old Quarter, meandering down Calle del Laurel and the 60 or so taperias (tapas bars) that line the way. This is the perfect opportunity to sample a bit of everything, as each bar has its own specialty – taste your way through some grilled chorizo or wild mushrooms, and wash them down with a glass of the region’s famous red.
Accommodation
Included Activities
Meals Included
Day 4 - Logrono/San Sebastian
Today stop past the Logrono market, pick up some treats for a picnic lunch before taking the 30 minutes local bus journey, going back in time to the historic walled town of Laguardia. Perched atop a rock foundation, the entire center of Laguardia is traffic-free, underground lies a maze of tunnels that have been used to make and store wine for centuries. Here you’ll tour Laguardia's wine caves and then enjoy a guided tasting through some of the region's distinct varietals. Later in the afternoon, transfer to the stunning seaside San Sebastian – the jewel of the Basque country and a city obsessed with food (approximately 2 hours). Take an orientation tour of the Parte Vieja (Old Town) – a mix of alleyways wedged between the bay and the Urumea River. This evening why not hit the neighborhood streets for a txikiteo of pinxtos, a Basque-style tapas crawl that will fill the senses – and stomach – with the unique flavors of the region. Don’t forget to wash them down with txakoli – a slightly fizzy white that’s the region’s signature wine.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- La Guardia - Wine Tasting
Meals Included
Day 5 - San Sebastian
One of the secrets to the success of San Sebastian’s food scene is the obsession with high quality, local, seasonal ingredients. The best way to experience this first-hand it to visit the traditional food markets of La Bretxa or San Martin before taking a masterclass in Basque cuisine. This hands-on cooking class, you’ll learn how to prepare some of the signature dishes of the region, and you’ll also taste Basque products including idiazabal – a local cheese, and txakoli – a lightly sparkling dry white wine. Enjoy this afternoon with free time to explore the town and surrounding area however you wish. Perhaps catch a cable car to Monte Igueldo for some truly spectacular views or take a trip along the winding coast to the nearby small fishing village of Getaria. Maybe relax on San Sebastian’s beaches, stroll through the shops and charismatic streets, or dive into pintxos bars that range from the traditional to the experimental.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- San Sebastian - Basque Cooking Class
Meals Included
Day 6 - Bilbao/Picos de Europa NP
This morning heading onto Bilbao (approximately 1 hour) – a city that was revitalized by the arrival of the Guggenheim. Spend some free time perhaps visiting Frank Gehry’s sweeping metal building and the artistic treasures housed inside and out. Afterward, climb by bus (approximately 3 hours) up to the Picos de Europa National Park. The park is not what many people picture as Spain – it’s an alpine landscape, high, cool, lush and green, with forests, deep gorges through the cliffs, and grassland dotted with photogenic toffee-coloured cows. Covering some 647 square kilometers, Picos de Europa is Spain's second-largest national park and spans across the three provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, and Leon. Work up an appetite for tonight’s meal with a walk through this stunning landscape (approximately 2 hours). For dinner, a classic Cantabrian dish is on the menu – Cocido Lebaniego. Cocido Lebaniego is a rich, hearty stew of black pudding, pork shoulder, chorizo, and locally grown chickpeas. Enjoy a cooking demonstration followed by your own cocido tasting. Be sure to enjoy your dinner with some crusty bread and a glass of cider.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Picos de Europa - Cocido Lebaniego Meal Experience
- Picos de Europa - National Park Visit
Meals Included
Day 7 - Oviedo
This morning, take a short trip to the small mountain town of Potes, nestled in the Picos de Europa National Park. Bordered by ancient monasteries, Potes is brimming with centuries of history and is a quaint tapestry of bridges, narrow streets, and old houses. You will arrive in time to experience the wonderful weekly food market, where you’ll enjoy a market brunch. Depending on the season, you may get to savour locally grown apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, chestnuts, or Cantabrian cheeses. On the way to Oviedo, the ancient capital of the region, drive to the charming hillside village of Arenas de Cabrales (approximately 1 hour). Here there’s the opportunity to taste famous Cabrales cheese – a natural blue cheese produced by farmers using a traditional artisan method. Next, stop past an Asturian cider house – the traditional drink of the region. Enjoy a glass in the local style, from a bottle held high over the head into a glass at the knee to produce natural carbonation. You will then arrive in Oviedo by later afternoon (approximately 1.5 hours).
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Potes - Market visit and brunch
- Arenas de Cabrales - Cheese tasting
- Oviedo - Asturian Cider House visit and tasting
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Day 8 - Oviedo
Take a walk around the handsome city of Oviedo, with its unique personality, quaint pre-Romanesque churches, elegant streetscapes, fine monuments, and grand houses built by those who sailed to the New World and returned wonderfully rich. At the heart of the town sits the impressive Gothic San Salvador Cathedral. You’ll also enjoy an introduction to wonderful local products of Asturia at El Fontan market, home to excellent fish stalls beneath a canopy of wrought-iron and glass. This afternoon is free for your own exploration. Perhaps take a trip up to the port city of Gijon for fresh seafood and sweet-filled bakeries, or the fishing village of Luanco for a relaxing drink on the promenade. For dinner, consider heading to Calle de la Gascona, which is lined with lively sidrerias (cider houses) serving a wide range of raciones (tasting plates).
Accommodation
Included Activities
Meals Included
- There are no meals included on this day.
Day 9 - Santiago de Compostela
Today, take a bus to A Coruna in the region of Galicia (approximately 4 hours), taking in some of the spectacular Galician coastlines. Here you will visit the impressive fish market in the Praza de Lugo and marvel at the range of seafood on offer. Lunch on fresh seafood at a nearby café, with other delicious non-seafood options available. Then, like thousands of pilgrims before you, end your journey in the capital of Galicia, believed to be the final resting place of the apostle St James (approximately 30 minutes). The beautiful old city of Santiago de Compostela holds many delights within its walls, all overseen by the mighty cathedral. Take a walk around the Old District lit up at night, through the arcaded stone streets, the spacious Praza del Obradoiro, and past the Archbishop’s imposing palace. Santiago is home to more than just pilgrims, with the large population of students from the university enhancing the city’s nightlife. Perhaps spend the night in one of the cafes, bars, or tapas restaurants in the Old Town.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- A Coruna - Fish market visit and seafood lunch
Meals Included
Day 10 - Santiago de Compostela – Inbound Flight back to the UK
You will finish this Northern Spain adventure on a gastronomic high with a morning tasting tour around some of the city's best food gems, including the celebrated Mercado de Abastos (Abastos Market). Toast the end of the trip with a cheeky pre-noon glass of wine before transferring to the Airport for your flight back to the UK.
Included Activities
- Santiago de Compostela - Market visit and tasting tour
Meals Included
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