Historic Cities & Foothills of Northern Spain

Discover the flourishing culture of regions such as Asturias, Cantabria & the Basque Country, as well as taking part in guided tours of Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao and San Sebastian, with some easy walking in the Picos de Europa Mountains.



There is something about Northern Spain. You sit down at a table in the crisp sunshine, the waiter comes and pours country cider from a green bottle at arm’s length above his head, down into a pint glass held at his hip to oxygenate the liquid, giving it the fresh ‘zang’ you will experience nowhere else.



A local woman on the next table will ask you where you are from. Prawns will arrive dripping in garlic, then squid sizzling in virgin olive oil. The bread breaks in your hand like tectonic plates, the blue cheese smells like muertos, the Rioja wine adds a twinkle to your eye. Somehow just having lunch becomes a religious experience.



To your left the hazy peaks of the Picos rise up shimmering in the distance, to your right the Cantabrian Sea crashes against rocky coast in sprays of salt that reach up to the fertile campo laden with cows and horses. Squat, Japanese-looking terracotta-roofed Horreos abound, the wooden structures suspended above the ground on stone stilts, the traditional manner of storing maize throughout the snowy winter.



This adventure celebrates the very best of Northern Spain by exploring the culture and charm of the three neighbouring but contrasting regions of Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. These historic kingdoms offer the traveller a wealth of experiences; from the wild beauty of the Picos de Europa mountains, to the striking Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, the mouth watering pintxos in San Sebastian, to the famous Basilica at Covadonga steeped in the history of the Reconquista of King Pelayo against the Moors from the South.



Striking a perfect balance of gentle walking in foothills and along the coast, enjoying informative guided city tours and exploring key sites in the notable towns of Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao and San Sebastian, this fully guided holiday with an English speaking local guide and private transfers will tell you the story of Northern Spain, narrated through its fascinating culture and traditions. We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure are comfortable and welcoming hotel accommodation offering rooms with ensuite facilities.

We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip;

We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us.Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.

The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.

Gran Hotel Paraiso, Llanes, Asturias: (Day 1 - 2): Calle Pidal, 33500 Llanes, Asturias. Ensuite rooms, air con & Wifi

Casa Cayo, Potes, Asturias (Day 4 & 5): Characterful mountain Hotel Restaurant in Potes Ensuite rooms.

Santander, Cantabria (Day 6): to be confirmed.

Bilbao, Basque Country (Day 7): Basque Boutique, Bilbao. Ensuite rooms with wifi and air conditioning. Relaxed & characterful ambiance- each room is individually decorated with handmade furniture. Central location.

Zumaia, Basque Country (Day 8 & 9): Casa Jesuskoa, Zumaia, Basque Country. Boutique rustic hotel with charming grounds and restaurant serving home grown foods.

San Sebastian (Day 10): to be confirmed.