Treat yourself to the unique flavors of northern Spain on this 9-day journey along the Rioja Vineyard Trail. The beauty of the countryside is only matched by the care that goes into the food and wine. The curvature of the Guggenheim Museum creates open bright spaces. The Rioja Vineyard Trail brings you into the valley and has you exploring the foothills and tasting all the spellbinding flavors of the countryside. Enjoy panoramic views and ancient monasteries, customized tasting menus and a unique...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Bilbao – Almost Touching the Vine
Welcome to Bilbao, a city in northern Spain that has combined the beautiful romance of narrow walkways with the modern architecture of the Guggenheim. The Old City is filled with cobblestone streets. Away from the historic center palm trees line the esplanade and you can hear the water lapping against the sea walls. The city is rich with earthiness and maintains a strong dedication to its role as a major European art center. The Nervion River divides the cityscape and you can see the pastel colors of the buildings that run along its banks.
Casco Viejo is the old quarter which brings you to the city’s jovial cafes. The aromas of pinchos, which are similar to tapas, fill the streets of Las Siete Calles, the city’s original seven streets. Bacalao, a traditional dish made of cod and roasted potatoes is succulent and often accompanied by a crisp white wine. The city opens itself up to you with friendly arms and a charm unique to Bilbao’s history. In the evening you can watch the sunset reflect off of the sweeping, glistening walls of the Guggenheim Museum.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rio Ebro Valley – Connect the Morning
Day 3
Rio Ebro Valley – A Matter of Taste
Day 4
Rio Ebro Valley – Wrapping Around the Vine
Day 5
Arnedillo – Deep in the Ground
Day 6
Arnedillo – The Colors of the Woods
Day 7
San Millan – The Rioja Alta
Day 8
Trapagaran – A Sculpted Forest
Day 9
Bilbao – An Ending Trail
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in the decadent flavors of special menus that will bring out the spectacular tastes of each ingredient
- Enjoy a private wine tasting course with a celebrated winemaker
- Discover the exceptional exhibits at the Dinastica Vivanco, a wine museum with an inclusive botanical garden filled with diverse varietals
- Visit Coll de Nargó, home to the oldest dinosaur nesting site in Europe
- Relish in the thermal baths of Arnedillo Village
- Explore the Monasteries of San Millan, cradle of the Bask and Spanish languages
- Take a romantic stroll through the Sculpture Forest around the hills of the Bizkaia Region
Detailed Description
Embrace the hillside and the traditional small dishes known as pinchos as you experience an ineffable romance through the famous Bask Region of Spain. Venture through the Rioja Vineyard Trail to savor the flavors of the wine and the cuisine. This custom tailored tour will bring passion to the glass and the plate as you taste your way through remarkable wineries and magnificent villages. Stroll through the combination of forestry and sculptures, and explore antique cellars located deep beneath the sprawling vines. Step onto the trail to find the majesty and intimacy of Rioja.
Your Spain tour begins with your arrival in Bilbao. The city is an amalgamation of medieval history and grand modern architecture. In the morning you will have time to visit the fabulous Guggenheim Museum. The edifice twists and curves to allow the sunlight to naturally flow through the glass windows. In the afternoon you will sit on the edge of Mirador de Tolono to look out over the Rioja valley and witness its precious microclimates. The following day you will venture out to the surrounding wineries to discover the charming flavors of Rioja wine.
The region is filled with boutique vineyards which have received accolades both nationally and internationally. The valley is wide and open to the view of the surrounding mountains, including a panorama of the castle at Davalillo. In the evening, partake in a three-hour private wine tasting tour with one of the region’s foremost experts. The wine museum of Dinastia Vivanco contains related artifacts and exhibits that offer insight into viniculture and brings winemaking into a brand new light. Venture to the summit of Sierra de San Lorenzo for a beautiful vista of the valley at large. Outside of the village, you will discover the largest dinosaur nesting area in all of Europe at Coll de Nargó, filled with fossilized eggs and footprints.
Explore the beech forest at Hayedo de Santiago and spend the afternoon indulging in the thermal baths of Arnedillo Village. Journey to the ridge that houses the monasteries of San Millan. The charming nearby town and the ancient monasteries offer insight into the culture and heritage of the region. The Meatzalde Goikoa Parkea is a sculpture park that creates a unique mixture of natural forest and sculpted artwork, oftentimes even blending the two together. Eventually, you will return to Bilbao to make the flight home but the majesty of the Bask countryside and the Rioja trail is endlessly magnetic.
Starting Price
$3,600 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.92 stars based on 2641 reviews.
The trip was fantastic. Everything that was scheduled was well planned, with excellent tour guides, communication with the guides, as well as travel agents live during the trip. The experience was five-star and we could tell that the way it was booked through Zicasso was better for the guides themselves versus how others in our group had booked (ie, through other agencies). There were fewer obstacles, complications, and issues with the booking. We could tell this through our tour guides, as they were more comfortable and knowledgeable about our requests and needs.
Tickets were all organized and either sent to us through PDF or to our tour guides. The off days were were well placed during the week and our requests were more than satisfied.
Reviewed By Shaheed H.
Zicasso's travel specialist did an amazing job! She planned our itinerary well, based on our interests, the cities we wanted to visit, and the experiences we requested. All of the accommodations and transportation worked out well, and we enjoyed the trip a lot!
The only downside was one night with a late-night tour scheduled, followed by an early-morning hot-air balloon ride, which was hard to get up for in time, but we managed. Despite this, we would definitely recommend our travel company to anyone traveling to Spain!
Reviewed By Evan C.
Our Zicasso travel specialist was phenomenal. She understood exactly how we travel and what we wanted to do, and planned a 12-day trip to Mallorca and San Sebastián that was better than we even imagined. She was always responsive before and throughout the trip. All of the tour guides and drivers were kind, knowledgeable, and timely. Our travel company delivers exceptional first-rate service and we would highly recommend them.
Reviewed By Lisa S.
Zicasso is an excellent platform. It curates the perfect trip based on your individual needs. We have used them before and will in the future. We have recommended the company to many friends and family members.
Reviewed By Amy J.
The logistics were managed excellently by Zicasso's travel company. The guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating.
Reviewed By Mark J.
Zicasso's travel expert was exceptional in his attentiveness and responsiveness. He helped me to design a trip for my family, a group of 10 ranging in age from 13 to 80-plus. The result fit comfortably within my budget and included activities to suit everyone. I very much appreciated his responsiveness while assisting me with questions and issues that arose during the trip. I never felt alone.
Reviewed By Leslie W.