5-Day Spain Tour: Basque Country from Madrid

1st Day (Tue.) MADRID – BILBAO (Train)

Call on Madrid “Puerta de Atocha” train station to depart by train to Bilbao. Arrival to Bilbao train station and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

2nd Day (Wed.) BILBAO – LOYOLA SANCTUARY - GETARIA - ZARAUZ - SAN SEBASTIAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the green and mountainous typical Basque landscape to the province of Gipuzkoa, pass Eibar, Elgoibar, Azkoitia, and reach the Sanctuary of Loyola. Continue via Azpeitia, to the coast by Zumaia, reach Getaria, birthplace of Juan Sebastian Elcano with its arch Catrapona, Parish Church of San Salvador (XV C.), a Gothic gem, fishing port and village. Afterwards, continue passing by Zarautz. Later, arrive to San Sebastian. Walking tour into the historic old city and port. Accommodation.

3rd Day (Thu.) SAN SEBASTIAN – LA RIOJA ALAVESA - VITORIA

Breakfast at the hotel. 09:00 hrs. drive towards Vitoria via Lasarte, Andoain, Villabona and Tolosa, where in its historical center are conserved public buildings of the XVI and XVII C. Then, we will arrive at Ordizia. Short stop, with its old historical center and nucleus of the town declared Joint Monumental-Historic. Afterwards, we will go to Oñati, Guipúzcoa’s most noble village for its artistic grandeur, and we will go up to the most important Sanctuary of Guipúzcoa, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aránzazu, in charge of the Franciscan Order. Continuation to the Rioja Alavesa to arrive at Laguardia, famous town for its historical monumental set and mainly for its cellars. Guided walking tour. In the afternoon, departure to Vitoria. Panoramic tour for its main attractions. Accommodation.

4th Day (Fri.) VITORIA – BILBAO

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Salinas de Añana, where we will enjoy an interesting guided tour to learn the history, architecture, archeology and biodiversity of the salt. We follow the route to Orduña, and start a guided visit to this historical village. We continue the route through the Valley of Ayala to arrive in Balmaseda in order to make a walking tour. Free time for lunch and afterwards, we follow the route through the mining area of Bizkaia to reach the coast; Santurtzi and Portugalete. From here we cross the Transporter Bridge Bizkaia to reach Getxo and then finish back in Bilbao. There, we start a sightseeing including the ascendation to the Artxanda Mountain and continue with a walking tour around the Old Quarter. We have included as well the entrance to the Guggenheim Museum with its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions; we will be able to visit freely (guide is not included just the entrance fee). Accommodation.

5th Day (Sat.) BILBAO – MADRID (Train)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to rail station to depart by train to Madrid (please expect a later arrival in Madrid). Arrival and END OF OUR SERVICE.