Compare Walks,Wine and Culinary Adventures in Northern Spain by Wildland Adventures vs Best of Spain Adventure Tour by Discovery Nomads

Day 1: Arrive Bilbao
Arrive in the port town of Bilbao in northern Spain. Meet our guide in the afternoon for a brief introduction to this old city. Located in the heart of the Basque Country, Bilbao entered the modern American psyche in 1997 at the opening of the Guggenheim, the titanium-clad museum designed by Frank Gehry. The city, with a population of about 350,000, is an urban success story still being written, with improved transportation, green spaces, neighborhood renewal, and modern office towers beside grand historic icons. Bilbao has become a design town and a center of Basque fusion cuisine blending tradition with contemporary food flair, and the Michelin stars to prove it. After a brief intro to the wines of northern Spain we'll sit down for a spectacular 9-course, wine-paired welcome dinner at the Guggenheim Museum Neru Restaurant, introducing haute Basque cuisine for a new and unparalleled dining experience.
Accommodations: Hesperia Bilbao
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Morning Hike - Guggenheim Museum
We step right into Spanish life joining locals on this Sunday morning starting in the heart of the city for a brisk walk up Pagasarri Hill into the surrounding countryside to take in magnificent views of the region. Our driver awaits at the top to take us to a traditional country restaurant serving home-made dishes in a friendly ambiance overlooking the city and the sea. This afternoon we explore the Guggenheim on a private two-hour tour including areas of the museum not normally open to the public. Join locals this Sunday night in town dining on pintxos (different than tapas!) and local Crianza wines in the Plaza Nueva (New Square) which is, ironically, the oldest part of the city. [Total hike: 9km, 3hrs, 360m]

Accommodations: Hesperia Bilbao
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Guernica Author Tour - Jai Alai!
East of Bilbao lies the town of Guernica, the traditional heart of the Vizcayan Basque culture. Guernica resident, writer and historian, Edorta Jimenez, walks with us into history and culture sharing his insights, stories, and knowledge illuminating his town's past that helps define its present character. The bombing of Guernica by the Luftwaffe in April 1937 woke the world up to the perils of war that so devastated the community. In 1937 Pablo Picasso painted Guernica, a powerful political statement depicting the tragedies of war.

In the bustling Guernica food market we meet the farmers and producers of fresh elements of Basque cuisine and experience the passion for food which underpins the local culture. After a savory lunch of pintxos and a glass or two of the local slightly sparkling txacoli white wine, enjoy the spectacle which sits at the heart of today’s Basque culture: Jai Alai or Basque handball. Guernica is the spiritual home of this, the world’s fastest ball game. After a display of the game, we have the opportunity to try our skills on the world’s largest court or frontón. See if you can make the ball travel at the full 188mph! Dinner is on our own by individual or group arrangement.

Accommodations: Hesperia Bilbao
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Hike Camino De Santiago Pilgrim's Path
Set off south across the mountains into the dry plains of Castile. We join the Camino de Santiago pilgrim’s path at a beautiful point where it passes through a cool pine forest rich with birdlife, then down towards the picturesque village and monastery of San Juan de Ortega. It's a stunning walk through woodland to the Atapuerca plains passing by one of the most important archaeological sites on earth. A private guided tour introduces us to the caves of Sierra de Atapuerca containing a rich fossil record of the earliest humans in western Europe, and the worlds’ largest collection of Hominids, the direct ancestors of Neanderthal man. Weather depending we enjoy a picnic on the plains or take lunch in a local restaurant in Ages. Continue on foot to the small, ornate city of Burgos made famous by its extraordinary Gothic cathedral looming over the city and skyline. [Total walk: 10km, 4hrs, 50m, 100m]

Accommodations: Palacio Blasones
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Burgos, La Rioja -- Spain's Culinary Capital
Enjoy a guided tour of Burgos this morning, taking in the dramatic gothic cathedral and the stunningly modern Museum of Human Evolution. Recognized as Spain's culinary capital, Burgos is a historically rich town including generations of family food and wine producers blending culinary traditions with dishes and cooking techniques from throughout Spain and beyond. Wine making dates over 2,000 years in this region. Derived almost exclusively from red grapes, we also enjoy a white wine made from the Albillo grape, the only white variety grown and mostly sold for local consumption. We'll compliment our wine tasting with Queso de Burgos, a soft white cheese made with sheep or cow milk, and the dry-cured mountain ham served sliced. With the river running through the heart of the city, Burgos invites you to stroll its shaded riverside parks and revel in the beautiful spring climate. Lunch is free on our own. Enjoy the chef's tasting menu of Castilian dishes for dinner at El 24 del la Paloma.

Accommodations: Palacio Blasones
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Vineyards of Pesquera
An hour south of Burgos we reach the premium wine growing region of Ribera del Duero to visit one of the most famous producers, Pesquera. With four different wineries in a small radius, we have the opportunity to taste the differences between two of Pesquera’s plots, including a stroll through the vast vineyards. We expect to meet Alejandro Fernandez and his wife Esperanza, who in 1972 licensed their bodega in Pesquera well before Ribera del Duero was a well-known region for quality wines. Wines produced by Alejandro are made exclusively from the difficult, quick maturing Tempranillo variety of which he is considered a master. His world famous Tinto Pesquera is aged a minimum of 18 months and the Reservas and Grand Reservas is barrel aged for 24 months or longer. Lunch is served in a bodega before returning to Burgos in the mid-afternoon. The afternoon and evening are free to relax and enjoy cocktails on the terrace before dining on our own at the hotel restaurant, La Finca, where chef Alejo Catalina and his team conjure up an array of gastronomic delights.

Accommodations: Palacio Blasones
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Wine Tasting and Fine Dining in Rioja Alta
Driving east to La Rioja, we stop at the historic town of Haro, capital of the Rioja Alta where local resident and wine expert, Marina Grijalba, accompanies us here to share the marginal climate and difficult terrain that defines the character of these wines. Marina leads us through tastings at a selection of some of the best wineries in Spain. We plan to visit Muga, a more traditional winery in Rioja Alta where they make their own barrels, then to Baigorri, a modern bodega using a gravity driven process in the Alavesa region. It's interesting to see if we can discern the difference between the wines of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Head up into the town square strolling around the herradura, a cobblestone street famously wending through town in the shape of an horseshoe packed with bars and small restaurants, where we enjoy a tasty local lunch.

Settle into our hotel after lunch and relax before a wine tasting at the nearby Luis Canas winery recently named Best Winery in Spain. The bodega has made a great transition in the last 30 years from a small producer of simple ‘table wines’ to a maker of great quality wines with 222 acres of Tempranillo, Viura, Graciano, and Mazuelo vineyards, as well as grapes from other nearby suppliers. Luis Cañas, now retired, still presides over the grounds, although the winery is run today by qualified professionals, including Carmen Peña, who shows the premises and guides the tasting of its wine.

After working up an appetite this evening we travel south to the superb Venta Moncalvillo Restaurante operated by the Echapresto brothers. Fresh ingredients are foraged from its gardens and the surrounding hills so the seasonal menu is impecably fresh, delicious, and remarkably sophisticated. This dinner is known as a maridage, whereby each course is paired with a different wine. Tonight is a chance to indulge in an exquisite meal with local wines served by arguably the best sommelier in La Rioja, Carlos Echapresto, who will be on hand to explain each choice of pairings.

Accommodations: Hotel Viura
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Laguardia Cellars
Take a leisurely walk through fields and vineyards to the walled town of Laguardia. The landscapes are unparalleled with the Cantabrian mountain range just to the north sheltering the vines of some of La Rioja’s finest producers. The Ysios Winery building is a masterpiece from designer Santiago Calatrave. Located in the foothills this chic, avant-garde winery can be seen from kilometers away. Gigantic bars of aluminum form the wavy roof which mirrors the mountains in the background and fits seamlessly into its surroundings.

Laguardia itself is fascinating to visit, with tales of the peninsular wars dominating the town’s history. Among its historic relics are the church of Santa Maria with its striking polychromatic entrance dating to the 12th C. No cars are allowed in the town center where pedestrians stroll freely, since the weight of vehicles would otherwise collapse into the hundreds of wine cellars below! This afternoon we enjoy local, family-run winemaking, an experience very different from the major Rioja players, a fun, more-informal and convivial wine tasting experience. We are certain to receive a very warm local welcome! Dinner tonight will be in the village or the nearby city of Logrono. [Total walk: 4km, 1hr, 50m]

Accommodations: Hotel Viura
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Castle of Davalillo -- Dinastia Vivanco Winery
From the nearby village of Briones, we walk at a relaxed pace through countryside vineyards towards the Castle at Davalillo. The valley is wide and open at this point offering breathtaking views of the mountains to the north and south, hilltop villages, and the castle ahead. Seen from the vineyards of San Asensio, the Davalillo Castle looks like a kind of boat sailing on a sea of vines. It was built in the times of Alfonso VIII, at the end of the 12th C to defend La Rioja from attacks from Navarre. In addition to the building itself, what is really impressive is the superb view from the tower of the vineyards of San Asensio, Briones, San Vicente de la Sonsierra and neighboring towns. [Total walk: 9.8km, 3hrs, 90m, 90m]

Enjoy a traditional Rioja lunch in the panoramic surrounds of the Dinastia Vivanco winery restaurant. Menus are based on local products foraged in the surrounds prepared with a modern touch remaining faithful to tradition. At Vivanco wine is transformed into each dish in sauces, reductions, and infused in accompaniments with traditional Rioja dishes. Located in Briones, the Vivanco winery, museum, and foundation is a triumvirate of wine resources built according to the vision of the Vivanco family to “give back to wine what wine has given us.” Third generation Pedro Vivanco is credited with expanding the family business from wine merchant to winery, earning a degree in enology to become one of Spain’s first certified winemakers. Today, he is joined by his sons, with Rafael serving as winemaker and Santiago overseeing the museum and foundation. Vivanco is dedicated to producing wines using only native grapes along with traditional techniques. Through extensive research and experimentation, Rafael has revived nearly extinct varietals and traditional wines that accurately reflect La Rioja’s history of winemaking. Time and interest permitting we visit the fascinating Dinastia Vivanco wine museum after lunch. Return to the hotel to relax or explore the village on your own. Dinner tonight is a delightful traditional Riojan tasting menu at our hotel with paired wines.

Accommodations: Hotel Viura
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Vitoria -- Urkiola Natural Park
Vitoria is the capital city of the Basque Autonomous Community, a little visited gem known as Europe’s emerald city. The second largest urban area in Basque country, Vitoria is committed to the environment and quality of life, protecting its medieval Old Town while enhancing it with modern urban functionality. Depending how adventurous you are feeling today we have options to explore the charming town of Vitoria and hike in Urkiola Natural Park into the mountains, forests, villages and remote chapels and churches. We stop in at the home of Patxi, the colourful shepherd who makes fantastic Idiazabal sheep cheese. Lunch is planned at Asador Akabasco, a hidden countryside gem serving the local plates from the famous red beans with onion, chorizo and green olives, Chef Inigo Fuertes Maguregui's seasonal favorites. Late this afternoon we travel a short distance to the north coastal city of San Sebastián where you will fall immediately in love with this charming town. Ala carte dinner is at Casa Urola, an landmark restaurant located in the old town Donostia-San Sebastian where chef Pablo Laureiro Rodil produces "updated" traditional cuisine using local seafood enhanced with aromas and flavors of the charcoal grill served with your choice of the best txakoli wine (not included).

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Soro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: San Sebastian -- Pintxos Cooking Class
Enjoy a relaxed morning guided walk through the ancient heart of San Sebastian before arriving at the first rate Ni Neu Restaurant where we learn the art and preparation of pintxos. After sampling our appetizer creations we enjoy a tasty lunch at Ni Neu where gastronomy, culture, and leisure blend overlooking spectacular views to Playa de Gros known for its surfers and sultry beach-goers. Following lunch the afternoon is yours to relax, perhaps with a spa treatment, or enjoy an afternoon stroll through the city where Michelin stars fall from the skies. San Sebastian has four main centers of activity: 1) the lively Parte Vieja - old town offering the most popular pinxtos bars spilling into the streets, 2) the shopping district and the Cenro Romantico with its 19th century buildings, 3) the east side of the river is the district of Gros with its pleasant, relaxed ambience, and 4) the very up-market Playa de Ondarreta district known as the millionaire's belt. Explore, relax, and have fun!

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Soro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: Camino De Santiago Coastal Trail
Today we pick up the northern coastal trail of the Camino de Santiago, walking over a stretch from Zumaia to Deba along a spectacular coastline featuring the flysch coastal rock formations. The walking distance we cover is weather and group dependent. We enjoy a seafood lunch in the lovely fishing village of Getaria after which we visit the Txomin Etxaniz winery located in the hills just above town in the midst of txacoli vines.

Relax and rest before our farewell festivities begin at our hotel, and then move to dinner at Rekondo in San Sebastian. Restaurateur Txomin Rekondo serves traditional Basque cuisine. House wine is complimentary, but you may be more interested in selecting your own vintage from his "University of Wine", a collection of 127,000 wines from around the world (vintage wines not included).

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Soro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Departure for Home
Transfer to the Bilbao airport or extend your trip to Barcelona!

Day 1: Madrid

Accommodation: AC Atocha Madrid by Marriott or similar.

Arrival at any time. On the 1st day we have not planned any activities.

Day 2: Madrid

You will go for a beautiful walk to explore the city and in the afternoon visit the Prado Museum. Additionally you can visit Toledo, one of the oldest cities in Europe and home to works of El Greco's art.

Day 3: Cordoba

Accommodation: AC Hotel by Marriot or similar

On the third day you will enjoy a fascinating tour of Cordoba. Take a walking tour of Cordoba and learn about the city history through its remarkable sites. Visit the Fortress of the Catholic Monarchs, the Synagogue, the Jewish Quarter, the Great Mosque known as the Cathedral of Cordoba, and much more.

Day 4-6: Granada

Accommodation: NH Collection Vectoria or similar.

You will walk through the busy streets of Granada and visit the Alhambra and in the evening try paella in one of the restaurants.

Day 6-8: Seville/Madrid

Accommodation: Melia Sevilla or similar

Today you will travel to Seville and enjoy a walking tour around the city, visit Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and Alcazar of Seville and see the burial site of Christopher Columbus.

Day 8: you will go back to Madrid.