No two regions are the same in Spain, and you will be warmly welcomed into a jigsaw puzzle of culture and style. Be it language, history, cuisine or art, nearly all the proud traditions are being kept alive. On this handcrafted tour Spain, you may feel as though you have visited a half dozen countries and taken several vacations in one as superb local guides bring you a very authentic, local experience through Catalonia, Basque, Rioja, Navarra, Madrid, Castilla y Leon, and Andalusia.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Barcelona – Start the Journey on the Coast
Barcelona seduces from the first glance. A castle peers down on the Mediterranean, where yachts lull in a harbor. Exotic sounds drift through the Gothic Quarter, where wine bars occupy Romanesque buildings and boutique stores entice almost all who pass. This is Catalonia, and it is not Spanish you hear on the streets, nor Spanish you will find in the traditions. Catalonia is something proudly separate, from the spires of Gaudi’s cathedral to the cafes down by the beach. Touch down and transfer to your central hotel before making up your own impressions with so much to see and hear in the streets nearby your accommodations. Although a large city, Barcelona is easy to get around and it is worth staying up until dusk when the Barri Gotic falls under the spell of soft light.
What's Included:
Day 2
Barcelona – A Handcrafted Day in Barcelona
Day 3
Barcelona – Montserrat, Sitges and Penedes Wine
Day 4
Bilbao – Three Eras and the Guggenheim
Day 5
Bilbao – Spending the Day in La Rioja
Day 6
San Sebastian – Gastronomy and Grandeur
Day 7
San Sebastian – A Day Trip to Pamplona
Day 8
Madrid – Museums and Highlights in the Spanish Capital
Day 9
Madrid – A Day in Toledo
Day 10
Salamanca – Exploring Castilla y Leon
Day 11
Salamanca – A Very Relaxed Day Amid a Sandstone Old Town
Day 12
Seville – Historic Wealth and Vibrant Tapas Culture
Day 13
Seville – A Day in Cordoba and a Night of Flamenco
Day 14
Seville – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Experience rich gastronomy and inimitable culture in Basque, beautifully presented in San Sebastian and Bilbao
- Discover the treasures of Catalonia in Barcelona, with Penedes wine and spirituality at Montserrat
- Be immersed in the time-warped medieval cities in Castilla y Leon with stops in Avila, Segovia, and Salamanca, all pioneers of art and style
- Enjoy authentic tapas, real flamenco, the glory of Seville and the Moorish splendor of Cordoba in Andalusia
- Savor Spain’s premier wine region of La Rioja, where indulgence meets a slow pace of life
- Spend a day in a medieval kingdom of Navarra with Pamplona as iconic as Spanish cities can be
- Experience the fairytale capital city of Madrid, overflowing with brilliant museums and local experiences
Detailed Description
Spain has only been unified for half a millennia, and before that, it was a mishmash of quarreling kingdoms and ideologies, from the Moors to Aragon and Castilla. Even today, regions like Basque and Catalonia continue their struggle for independence, and while the regions of Spain share some similarities, they are marked more by their contrasts. Traditions are proud markers of identity, kept alive through the centuries. Art and architecture are innovative and unique to both time and place and the food is as different as the wine. Even the language changes when you travel to a different region. The culture is such that traveling around Spain can feel like moving around many different countries in just one vacation.
This 14-day Spain tour is handcrafted to celebrate Spain’s regional diversity and provides an intimate insight into seven unique provinces. Each has a wonderful capacity to surprise and is quick to present their respective traditions. You may have seen or heard tales of running with the bulls, building human towers and strange Easter processions, but these are merely the well-known exhibitions of local tradition. This tour will explore the everyday tradition, be it pintxos in a Basque taverna, sculpture on a Castilla plaza, or vernacular architecture that’s different from the rest. Over your two weeks of travel, you will experience a deep immersion into Spain, with regional difference providing an insight into a long and complicated history.
Ease of local transport is consistent around the whole of the country as railways lace together the provinces while new domestic flight routes have drastically reduced travel time. Local guides lead your way once you arrive, their enthusiasm helping to create very local experiences in very proud regions. Seven regions in 14 days is a lot to get around, but you can spend at least two nights in each overnight destination with a handful of easy day trips adding more to the itinerary. So while this is 14 days in Spain, it may start feeling like two weeks in seven different countries.
Fly to Barcelona and kick-start your vacation with three days in Catalonia. There is the best of the famous city of course – Gaudi, Picasso, Barri Gotic – along with a day trip to Montserrat Monastery, coastal Sitges and the Penedes wine region. Flying to Bilbao, you delve into three Basque Country eras, the Guggenheim so different from the city’s 12th-century core. Take a day trip to the wine-obsessed region of La Rioja on day five, and then see more of Basque with two nights in San Sebastian. Day seven takes you to Navarra and the old city of Pamplona, where an enormous wealth of medieval architecture awaits.
Next up it will be Madrid, a surprising capital city with many excellent museums and authentic experiences. You will head out to Toledo and follow the El Greco trail before hopping through Castilla y Leon, a region that feels like it has been untouched since the country’s founding: Avila and its white walls, Segovia with its aqueduct, and then the sandstone brilliance of Salamanca. Andalusia is a lively place to finish, Moorish style mingling with modern energy on the streets of Seville and Cordoba. Think tapas, flamenco, and buildings that baffle the eye. See what else our top Italy travel specialists can do for you on your custom Italy vacation.
Starting Price
$5,500 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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