We will leave in the early morning and cross Castilla and Leon. We will make a stop in TORDESILLAS to learn about the history of this small town and have a coffee at its main square. Then we will continue to LEON, a historic city on the Way of St. James, where we will have time for lunch and to see the fantastic Gothic cathedral.

After that we will cross the Cantabrian Range mountains on our way to Asturias. Arrival in OVIEDO in the evening. We will include (occasionally the next morning) an hour-and-a-half city tour with a local guide in which we will visit its 9th century cathedral, Calatrava Congressional Palace, Campoamor Theatre and Calle de la Rua.

Note: If the number of travelers from Madrid to Leon is very limited, the trip might be carried out by train or regular transportation, missing the stop in Tordesillas.

We will travel to Picos de Europa. We will visit Basílica de Covadonga which is surrounded by beautiful scenery. We will resume our journey following the coastline to SANTILLANA, one of Spain’s most beautiful towns, and we will visit its well-preserved medieval quarter. We visit the National Museum and Research Centre of ALTAMIRA (ticket included) located in the vicinity of this town. We will later travel to SANTANDER, the region’s capital city, a coastal city with amazing vistas and beaches. We include panoramic city tour to discover this elegant city and its beautiful bay. NOTE: On some high difficulty dates (especially in summer from July to mid September), some groups can be accommodated in Bilbao.

Seguimos la autopista junto a la costa del Cantábrico. Algunos de los paisajes entre la montaña y el mar son de gran belleza. BILBAO, llegada a la mayor ciudad del País Vasco. Con guía local, realizamos una visita de la ciudad donde destaca el Museo Guggenheim con su impactante arquitectura exterior y el casco viejo, antiguo núcleo medieval con sus calles llenas de vida y su catedral. Tiempo libre para pasear y almorzar. Recomendamos el Mercado de La Ribera que ofrece puestos con la típica gastronomía vasca en una estructura parecida a un barco ubicada frente al río.Tras la hora del almuerzo saldremos a GUERNICA, conocido por ser el lugar donde se libró una de las peores masacres de la Guerra Civil Española recordada en la pintura de Pablo Picasso. Acá se encuentra el árbol de Guernika, bajo cuyas ramas se otorgó autonomía al País Vasco en la Edad Media. Seguimos hacia HONDARRIBIA (Fuenterrabía), con sus playas, sus murallas, su ambiente marinero y su centro histórico donde sorprende el trazado cuadriculado de sus calles angostas y adoquinadas. Tiempo en el casco histórico. Continuación a SAN SEBASTIAN, llegada al final de la tarde. Sugerimos conozca la “Parte Vieja" famosa por sus animados bares de pintxos y su ambiente vibrante, destino popular para los amantes de la gastronomía. Cada establecimiento tiene su propia especialidad y estilo, lo que hace que explorar y probar diferentes pintxos sea una experiencia emocionante y deliciosa.

In the morning in San Sebastián we will include the cable car to go to Monte Igueldo, where we will enjoy the great view over the bay. After that we will have free time to explore its great beach or stroll along its boulevards. After lunch time we will travel towards Castilla along the highway with landscapes of great beauty. BURGOS, a time in the historic center, where the Burgos Cathedral, a jewel of Gothic style, stands out. We will continue to MADRID, arriving in the evening.

After breakfast, end of our services.