Upon arrival at Madrid airport, you will be welcomed and escorted to a private vehicle where your Spanish journey begins. 

You’ll be driven deep into the scenic landscape of Ribera del Duero where an idyllic destination welcomes you for the next three nights. The majestic 5-star Monasterio de Valbuena is one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries of the 12th century, surrounded by vineyards and peaceful pine groves.

The remainder of your day is at your leisure to enjoy the marvelous location of this exceptional property and its sweeping, cinematic views across the Ribera del Duero. 

Join us for a welcome reception to meet your guide and fellow travelers. 

This evening, à-la-carte dinner is included at any of the fine venues in the hotel, including room service. 

Meals Included: Dinner 

Overnight at Monasterio Valbuena Castilla Termal in Ribera del Duero

https://www.castillatermal.com/en/hotels/castile-and-leon/castilla-termal-monasterio-de-valbuena/

Today, experience an exclusive immersion into the heart of Ribera del Duero. Winding our way through the vineyards, we’ll discover the world-famous, state-of-the-art wineries along the “Golden Mile” where some of the best wines in the world are produced. 

● Take a private 4x4 tour of the Abadia Retuerta winery, estate and vineyards.

● Explore the dramatically located Castillo de Peñafiel, a 10th century Castle housing a state-of-the-art local wine museum, complete with impressive panoramic views from the top. 

● Sample the signature dish of the region “Lechazo,” lamb roasted in a wood oven, just as they’ve been doing for hundreds of years.

Spend your afternoon as you prefer. You may choose to:

● Discover the beautiful riverside with a bike ride along the River Duero 

● Relax, kick back and luxuriate at the five-star thermal spa.

● Take a leisurely and scenic stroll by the river

● Have a unique lesson in how the chef grows his own vegetables in the hotel's gardens 

This evening, à-la-carte dinner is included at any of the fine venues in the hotel, including room service. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight at Monasterio Valbuena Castilla Termal in Ribera del Duero

https://www.castillatermal.com/en/hotels/castile-and-leon/castilla-termal-monasterio-de-valbuena/

Today, add to your gastronomic expertise with a visit to a traditional cheese maker. We’ll set off on a drive through the gentle greens and golds of the Ribera del Duero landscape, to see how these artisan cheesemakers have been serving up delicate, aromatic, and varied flavors of world-acclaimed cheese for decades. You’ll gain detailed insight into their traditional methods and see the cheesemakers at work. 

Afterward, we’ll find our way through the tree-lined back roads of Spain to a hidden gem, where we will enjoy a traditional lunch featuring a 3-course a-la-carte menu of authentic slow food, a classic of this Spanish region. 

Design your own afternoon, whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation:

● Stroll or cycle along the banks of the pretty River Duero and explore. 

● Experience pure peace and tranquility at the five-star thermal spa. 

● Learn how the chef grows his own vegetables in the hotel’s gardens. 

This evening, à-la-carte dinner is included at any of the fine venues in the hotel, including room service. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight at Monasterio Valbuena Castilla Termal in Ribera del Duero

https://www.castillatermal.com/en/hotels/castile-and-leon/castilla-termal-monasterio-de-valbuena/

After breakfast, your driver will take you to what is arguably the Queen of all Spanish wine destinations - La Rioja, an absolute essential in any self-respecting wine and food aficionado’s itinerary! 

Wander the picture-perfect walled city of Laguardia, a medieval town of narrow streets and underground tunnels, surrounded on all sides by vineyards. We’ll stop to savor a memorable lunch while soaking up the history and local atmosphere at a popular Laguardia restaurant, built during the 13th century. 

After the meal, we will visit the extraordinarily stunning Marqués de Riscal winery, with a unique tour of the Frank Gehry designed- updated building, and of course we won’t be leaving without tasting some of that infamous Rioja!

This evening, you will be escorted to a local restaurant for a casual dinner, run by one of Spain's best chefs in the heart of charming Logroño.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja in Logroño

https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/eurostars-fuerte-ruavieja.html

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll take an escorted tour and stroll through the enchanting Riojan city of Logroño. 

This city is quickly gaining a reputation for its excellent pintxos, (Basque tapas) and we plan to get in on the action with a tapas crawl along the famous Calle del Laurel. 

The original tapa was a small dish placed over your drink by the barman, like a lid (hence the name - tapar means to cover). Tapas have evolved into sophisticated dishes of their own, varying all over the country but in Logroño, they come with a unique twist. Each bar specializes in one particular ingredient, explored through a variety of dishes and crafted with passion over decades of experimentation to perfection. Leave plenty of room to try a tantalizing selection!

The rest of the day is yours to fill however you please - explore the local shops, discover the trails along the Ebro river, relax back at the hotel spa, or simply experience life as the locals do, soaking up the afternoon sun in a tree-lined square or rambling about the narrow streets and glimpsing the hidden corners of Logroño.

Your guide will provide recommendations for your dinner this evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight at Hotel Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja in Logroño

https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/eurostars-fuerte-ruavieja.html

The Valdemar family has been making wine in La Rioja, Spain for over 130 years. What started as an underground stone cellar in the small town of Oyón has grown into one of the most prestigious international brands in Rioja. The flagship location, Bodegas Valdemar, has more than 300 hectares of stunning vineyards on the property, making it a truly unforgettable destination.

Optional: Join the group for a beautiful early morning hike along the Camino de Santiago, the ancient route followed by pilgrims for hundreds of years. What a way to begin the day, steeped in history and glorious nature, surrounded by the vineyards of La Rioja, approximately 5 miles / 8 km. 

· Channel your inner winegrower and learn how to harvest, shell, and press grapes!

· Enjoy a picnic with a view at a selected spot, with exclusive wines hand-picked for your very own educational and sensory journey. 

· Feast your taste buds with a traditional Rioja lunch paired with unique family wines. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight at Hotel Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja in Logroño

https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/eurostars-fuerte-ruavieja.html

 Start the morning with a delicious breakfast before we travel to our next destination: the thriving city of Bilbao. Tucked into a green and lush corner of Northern Spain, Bilbao pulses with life and vibrant culture. It’s home to the traditional and the modern, from ancient Basque carvings and neo-baroque architecture to the magnificent and iconic Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry.

We’ll have lunch in the Guggenheim Cafe, giving you plenty of time to explore every corner of this shimmering landmark and take in the sheer magnitude of this titanium work of art.

Afterward, we travel to our home for the next three nights: San Sebastian. This graceful town with its elegant coastal location happens to be one of the world’s best dining destinations, and our culinary tour would not be complete without it!

This evening we continue the culinary focus as we walk around the old town’s seemingly endless narrow streets. The slow food culture makes the local dishes so tasty, which you will experience during dinnertime during a pintxos bar crawl. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight at Hotel Boutique Arbaso in San Sebastian

https://hotelarbaso.com/en

 Today, we spend a full day in San Sebastian, the pearl of the Cantabrian sea. After breakfast, we visit the Basque Culinary Center. This academic institution is a leading culinary entity in which some of the world’s top chefs are trained, and you too will have a hands-on experience in a cooking workshop where you can experiment with different product infusions to create your own pintxos.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore the city.

This evening your guide will escort you to Astelena,  traditional Basque restaurant personally selected by Jesús Martínez Bujanda. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel Boutique Arbaso in San Sebastian

https://hotelarbaso.com/en