Northern Spain Road Trip Adventure Tour

Winding road through mountains in the coast of Cap de Creus, on the way to Girona, Spain,

What to expect on this itinerary

Your exciting road trip will uncover golden beaches and ancient culture during your 12-day Spain adventure. You can travel at your preferred pace away from the beaten path. Sample celebrated wines, indulge in lavish chocolate creations, and wander down terraced cobbled lanes to reach tranquil promenades. Your adventure will take you through Northern Spain from Barcelona to Bilbao while immersing you in the distinctive cultures of the Catalonian and Basque regions.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Asturias, Aran Valley

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona - Arrive in Spain and Tour Barcelona

Barcelona is a city of breathtaking architecture and stunning Mediterranean scenery. The medieval quarter brings the past to life and the vibrant ambiance of La Rambla highlights the heart of modern local life. Your flight will land at El Prat Airport, where your private transfer will meet you upon arrival. After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide will take you on a private tour of the city for a grand introduction of the garlic aromas of pan con tomate in historic La Boqueria Market to the surreal towers of La Sagrada Familia basilica standing over 557 feet tall.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Barcelona - Day Trip to Girona

Day 3

Barcelona - Free Day in Barcelona

Day 4

Aran Valley - Scenic Drive to the Pyrenees

Day 5

Aran Valley - Hike the Pyrenees

Day 6

San Sebastian - Charming Road Trip to San Sebastian

Day 7

San Sebastian - Pintxos, High Gastronomy in a Bite

Day 8

San Sebastian - Day Trip to La Rioja Wine Region

Day 9

Asturias - Road Trip to Santillana del Mar en route to Asturias

Day 10

Asturias - Enjoy Asturias

Day 11

Bilbao - Beautiful Drive to Bilbao

Day 12

Bilbao - Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Experience the authentic culture of Spain when visiting the autonomous community of Asturias, the only area of Spain never conquered by Moors
  • Delight in the vibrant flavors of traditional Basque cuisine during a private tour of the best pintxos in San Sebastian
  • Indulge in the diverse tastes and distinctive aromas of wines from celebrated La Rioja on a guided tour of celebrated towns and vineyards
  • Trek the fascinating undulating scenery of Aran Valley with a guide who will lead you through wildflowers, grazing herds of horses, and preserved medieval towns
  • Wander the fascinating galleries of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with a private guide who will connect the importance of the modern museum to the history of the city
  • Explore the layered past of Girona to find one of Catalonia’s preserved medieval cities that formerly hosted one of the largest Jewish communities in Spain
  • Discover the immense beauty, prestige, and unique design of Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia basilica during your private tour of Barcelona
  • Traverse the hidden corners of Northern Spain at your preferred pace when driving through hills, mountains, and along the celebrated coastline
  • Venture into France’s Basque region to uncover the grandeur of Biarritz and the medieval charms of Bayonne, France’s chocolate capital

Starting Price

$7,600 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

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1883 reviews

Spain Travel Review: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Getaria, Zumaia, Santander, Gijon, Oviedo, Picos de Europa National Park, Guggenheim Museum, Hiking, 12 Days

Our trip to northern Spain (Basque Country and Asturias) was a spectacular success, and our work with Zicasso’s travel specialist and the travel company were a huge part in making that a reality. The travel specialist was easy to work with, flexible, and efficient in the planning process. She did a wonderful job of listening and responding as we finalized our itinerary. She was also an awesome resource when we were in Spain, communicating with us proactively to check in and also responding promptly to any questions that arose.

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Spain Vacation Review: Toledo, Granada, Seville, Culture, 10 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist designed a wonderful trip for my husband and me. He listened to our desires and picked specific activities and tours that really fit us perfectly. Everything was fantastic. Our tour guides were amazing, hotels were in fantastic locations, and the attention to detail in planning our trip was so evident. This is a trip we will remember forever. A member of the travel company was quick to help when needed, gave us great reminders, and made sure everything ran smoothly.

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Spain Travel Review: Cooking Class, 6 Nights

A flawless Spanish escape–Zicasso’s travel specialist is a mastermind!

Our recent vacation, organized by Zicasso’s tour operator, was nothing short of perfection. We worked closely with the travel specialist and I cannot recommend her and her team highly enough. If you are looking for a travel planner who combines a deep personal touch with the efficiency of a world-class executive assistant, look no further.

The Logistics: Seamless and Stress-Free

From the moment we arrived, we felt completely taken care of. One of the best decisions the travel specialist suggested was booking an extra night at our first hotel. This allowed us to check in immediately upon arrival rather than waiting until the afternoon. Those extra hours of rest gave us the energy to actually enjoy our first evening in Spain rather than losing a day to jet lag.

We also loved the small, thoughtful details, like having all of our tickets fully printed and ready for us at check-in. It removed every bit of "digital friction" and let us focus entirely on the experience.

The Accommodations and Experts

The hotel selections were fantastic; not only were the properties beautiful, but they were perfectly central to all the action. This was complemented by the guides the travel specialist arranged for us. Each one was exceptional, truly knowledgeable, and brought the history and culture of Spain to life in a way we never could have discovered on our own.

The Personal Touch and Proactive Care

The standout highlight for us was the cooking class—it was an absolute blast and something we will definitely be doing again on future trips.

However, what truly sets this team apart is their proactive "watchful eye." We had a train delay during our trip and before we even realized there might be a conflict, her team was already on it. They had contacted our vendors and adjusted our pick-up and tour times before we even knew there was an issue. It felt like having a personal executive assistant watching over us 24/7.

Final Verdict

We wouldn't have changed a single item. This was a perfect vacation. Huge thanks to the travel specialist and the entire tour operator for making our dream trip a reality!

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Spain Travel Review: Barcelona, Seville, Sagrada Familia, Alhambra, 12-Day Trip

It was a fantastic trip, with a fantastic Zicasso travel company. They seamlessly rescheduled a train trip that was canceled the day before into a flight from Barcelona to Seville. They were very responsive to my questions and concerns. I would recommend them to friends.

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Spain Tour Review: Madrid, Caceres, Merida, Salamanca, Zamora, Hervas, Bejar, Burgos, Zaragoza, Valencia, Sagunto, Alicante, Belchite, Private Guides, Local Cuisine, 18 Days

I cannot say enough about this trip, from the first contact with our travel specialist to the incredible follow-up and arrangements. Although she was my primary contact throughout, I know her partner did a lot of behind-the-scenes work with the guides and transport. I have so much to say, but it would take a lot of time to do so.

I appreciated the ongoing status updates as to contact information for the guides and drivers. I also really appreciated the extra effort for accommodations when taking the train. The Madrid train station was a mess and I experienced all three of them. There is no way I could have maneuvered on my own, especially considering my phobia of escalators, and I am very directionally challenged. Our travel specialist arranged for assistance at every stop and followed up with the different offices to ensure I was attended to.

When I was not feeling well in Alicante and needed to cancel a dinner reservation, the travel specialist called for me. I made the reservation in person, so I was not able to access it through an online portal and they did not have a cell phone contact where I could use the WhatsApp. It was the quick responses to everything that was so appreciated.

The guides were wonderful, as were the drivers. I do intend to write reviews for those that I have information for. The itinerary, after a lot of back and forth, was great and I deferred to our travel specialist on her recommendations. I tend to get carried away and, as it is, I changed my departing flight to give me extra days.

I paid a lot for this trip and it was even more so because of the value of the U.S. dollar to the euro, but it is the price you pay. I think pricing was fair overall and that I was traveling in “low season” really helped.

I like boutique tour companies and the fact that the travel company is actually based in Spain made a difference. I had used another tour company before and, after the last two trips, decided to give Zicasso a try again and was not disappointed I did.

I know that I am just another tourist paying for the expertise and that essentially the owners need to accommodate me. That being said, I felt there was a connection and do hope to keep this relationship going. It was a pleasure to have dinner with our travel specialist and her husband. I like getting to know the people I am dealing with and do so with the guides and drivers. There are guides from previous trips that I am still in touch with.

I really appreciated this connection with the travel company. Although there was another company recommended, this one was more responsive and it is hard for me to make decisions.

Yes to this travel company and yes to future trips! In fact, with my travels to Spain, I have been told I have seen more of Spain than most Spaniards and hope to explore more.

Thank you to the travel company and thank you to Zicasso for the follow-up!

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Spain Vacation Review: Madrid, Barcelona, Toledo, Gaudi Tour, 1 Week

Zicasso’s travel specialist was outstanding. He organized a wonderful and thoughtful trip to Spain for us, hitting all the main sites, tailored to our wishes. He was very helpful during our trip as well, helping with additional restaurant reservations and monitoring our guided tours and train trips. He was truly excellent. We highly recommend his services.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews