Historic Paradores of Hidden Spain

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To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA

Historic Paradores of Hidden Spain

Spain's most iconic hotels

Stay in three delightful paradores – elegant hotels housed in former palaces, convents, castles and other historic buildings – and discover one of Spain’s most fascinating corners. Discover a fascinating region of northern Spain, where dusty plains give way to spectacular mountains and a verdant coastline fringed by stunning beaches and fashionable resorts. Uncover the history, culture and charm of the provinces of Cantabria and Asturias, Galicia and Castilla y León. Visit ancient cities along the Camino de Santiago, which centuries of pilgrims have followed on their way to Santiago de Compostela, and enjoy the distinctive cuisine and fine wines of this very special corner of the world.

Holiday Highlights

Enjoy a more intimate and smaller group experience of 16 to 24 travellers
Soak up the royal history and elegant atmosphere of your parador hotels
Follow in pilgrims’ footsteps in Santiago de Compostela and León
Explore Santillana del Mar – one of Spain’s prettiest villages
Embrace the delights of fashionable Santander
Revel in relaxed Gijón and the historic Asturian capital, Oviedo
Take in views of the towering Picos de Europa mountains
Spend a day at leisure around the popular pilgrimage town, Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Join an optional excursion to the city of Burgos

What's Included

Seven nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at the four-star Parador de Limpias (2 nights), the four-star Parador de Vilalba (3) and the four-star Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada (2)
Four dinners
Return flights to Bilbao
Tour to Santander and Santillana del Mar
Excursions to Asturias and Galicia
Visit to Santiago de Compostela
Visit to A Coruña
Visits to Lugo and León
Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Bilbao, where our coach will transfer to your first parador - the 20th-century palace of Limpias, in its riverside, parkland setting. Settle in to your splendid surroundings, perhaps taking a stroll along the river to enjoy the views or making use of the parador's amenities, which include indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool. Dinner will be served in the parador's dining room, this evening.

Day 2

Today, your first included tour takes you to the regional capital, Santander. Stop off at the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse Viewpoint before heading to the fishing port or watch the ebb and flow of daily life in this elegant and sophisticated city-resort from a seat in a pavement café or tapas bar. You’ll also make the short journey to nearby Santillana del Mar, a picture-postcard-perfect medieval village. After a wonderful day, return to Limpias for a second evening, choosing perhaps to dine in the hotel or in the village.

Day 3

Re-board the coach, today, and journey along the stunning Asturian coast, where views of the Bay of Biscay shoreline compete with those of the towering Picos de Europa mountains. Break up your scenic journey with visits to beautiful coastal Gijón, and to the nearby Asturian capital, Oviedo. Late this afternoon, you'll reach the heart of green Galicia and your second parador. Partly housed in a restored 15th-century tower, and an ideal base for discovering Galicia’s cities and stunning coast, the Parador de Vilalba is built on the site of a former castle, in a quiet village on the route of the Camino de Santiago. Enjoy dinner this evening, and perhaps take a stroll through the old town.

Day 4

Today you'll travel the short distance into ancient Santiago de Compostela, the destination at the end of the Camino, and one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. A marvellously preserved Romanesque cathedral lies at the city’s heart, perhaps the earliest-ever tourist destination for those who, in medieval times, first followed the route to Santiago. After a fascinating day, you'll return to Vilalba for the evening.

Day 5

On this delightfully contrasting day, you'll head to beautiful, rugged Galicia. Dotted with hidden coves and fjord-like rias reminiscent of Devon or Ireland, complete with tiny beaches and sleepy fishing ports, the Galician coast is a delight, epitomised by the historic port of A Coruña, or La Coruna as it's sometimes known. Set on a peninsula fringed on one side by glorious Atlantic beaches, and on the other by a sheltered bay and deep water harbour, A Coruña is a wonderful place to wander and enjoy delicious Galician tapas and seafood, perhaps washed down with a glass of chilled white wine.

Day 6

Bidding farewell to Vilalba, today you'll re-board the coach and head back along the route of the Camino into the sun-baked province of Castilla y León. Highlights today will include visits to Galician Lugo, still enclosed by its intact Roman wall, and to the historic university city of León. See León's majestic cathedral and fine old town, and perhaps take lunch in one of its many tapas bars and cafés. This afternoon, you’ll continue on to your final parador. Housed in one of Spain's most popular pilgrimage spots, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, this grand Parador offers accommodation fit for a king and a relaxed atmosphere within its 900-year-old walls. Sharing a plaza with one of the major stops along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, the Parador benefits from the grand backdrop of the city's 12th-century Cathedral de Santo Domingo de la Calzada. With an in-house restaurant offering rustic Spanish classics, as well as a lively collection of bars and restaurants outside its walls, the Parador makes excellent use of Rioja's wine country with a wide variety of local wines and fresh produce. Dinner will be served on both nights.

Day 7

Today you're free to enjoy the delights of Lerma, but you may wish to join our optional excursion and explore one of Spain’s most enthralling cities. For centuries Burgos was the capital of Old Castille, and it was also once home (nearly a thousand years ago now) to the legendary warrior leader El Cid. This beguiling place has no shortage of tapas bars and restaurants in which to enjoy lunch, as you'll discover after your introductory tour.

Day 8

Bid farewell to your hosts, and transfer back to Bilbao airport to catch your flight home, at the end of a fascinating week in Northern Spain.

Historic Paradores of Hidden Spain Touring Hotels

You'll be staying in a series of elegant four-star parador hotels, each conveniently located for your tour itinerary.

Parador de Limpias, Limpias (nights 1-2)

Parador de Vialba, Vialba (nights 3-5)

Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja (nights 6-7)

Hotel transfer times

On arrival the transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour. On departure the transfer time from your hotel to the airport is approximately two hours and 20 minutes.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Due to commence in 2025, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.

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