Day 1. Laguardia - Arrival Day

Private transfer from Bilbao airport to the village of Laguardia, where you’ll check into your hotel with views of the vines. Enjoy a free afternoon exploring this beautiful walled town, once the capital of the Rioja region. The hilltop village is built upon an intricate system of underground “caves” or cellars, excavated under the houses and streets. Walk through its narrow cobbled streets, explore one of the underground wine cellars or perhaps visit the 12th century Church of Santa María de los Reyes. Dinner at your hotel is a gourmet Riojan feast.

Hotel:
Villa de Laguardia 

Day 2. Laguardia - Winery and Wine Museum Tour

With your private driver /guide, visit the Marques de Riscal bodega in Elciego, one of the oldest wineries in Rioja and one of the first to introduce French winemaking techniques. The new hotel and winery building have been designed by famous architect Frank Gehry. After a winery tour and tasting, enjoy lunch in a typical Riojan restaurant that might include chuletillas al sarmiento (lamb chops grilled over vine shoots) and pimientos asados (roasted red peppers).

Continue to the impressive wine museum, the Vivanco-Museo de la Cultura del Vino (Museum of Wine Culture). The museum was created and developed by Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco, a family with a long tradition of winemaking in La Rioja.

Later in the evening explore Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. Discover the art of tapas-hopping with your guide in the lively old part of town. The narrow streets are lined with bars specializing in different tapas, such as wild mushrooms grilled with garlic and olive oil.

Overnight in Laguardia at same hotel.

Day 3 Ezcaray - Wine tasting and tour of the oldest winery in Haro

Your private tour commences in the busy town of Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta wine region, where we visit the oldest winery in town. Little about the López de Heredia winery has changed in the 125 years since its founding. The family adheres to a winemaking doctrine blueprinted in the 1880’s — to make wine only from their own vineyards, using natural yeasts, long aging in wood, and no filtration at bottling. A tour of the winery is followed by tasting. Lunch on your own in Haro.

Continue with your guide to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a small medieval town very important for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Admire the noble stone mansions with their coats of arms and tour the 12th century Cathedral, famous for its legend of the “hen and the cock”.

Your final destination is Ezcaray, a mountain town situated on the banks of the Rio Oja. Check into your delightful hotel and enjoy a fabulous dinner in a Michelin star restaurant presided over by Francis Paniego, one of Spain’s rising young chefs.

Hotel:
Hotel Echaurren

Day 4 : Casalarreina - Full day tour

Enjoy a full-day tour today with your private driver/guide. Visit the beautiful village of San Millan de la Cogolla, where art and history are well represented in the monastery complex of Suso and Yuso (dating back to the 6th century). Nestled in a green mountain valley, both monasteries are World Heritage sites and it is here that the first manuscripts written in the Castillian and Basque (Euskera) languages are preserved.

After lunch, continue to the village of Casalarreina and our elegant accommodations for the next two nights, a beautifully restored monastery. Dine tonight in a restaurant popular with local wine-makers.  Complete with 17th century stone wine cellar, the restaurant features local specialities including the classic pimientos de piquillo (sweet red peppers) stuffed with cod and more original creations like crisped pasta with jumbo shrimp in a feathery leek sauce.

Hotel:
Hospedería Señorío de Casalarreina

Day 5 : Casalarreina - Wine tastings at the famous estates in Rioja

Today is a special wine tasting day, with visits to two famous estates, one historic and one modern. Firstly, you’ll visit Marques de Murrieta, one of the prettiest and most historic wineries in Rioja. Established in 1852, the winery boasts its own castle! 

The next visit is to the modern cellars of Finca Valpiedra, a wonderful chateau style winery located in one of the most beautiful areas of Rioja Alta, surrounded by vineyards and the Ebro river. This prized vineyard estate, owned by the Martinez Bujanda family,  produces only one style of wine each year, a delicious rich red. After a tour and wine tasting, lunch is in a traditional restaurant.

Enjoy a free evening. Stroll around the village of Casalarreina, visit the historic church, or perhaps indulge in a luxurious wine-therapy treatment or relaxing massage at the hotel. 

Overnight in Casalarreina at same hotel.

Day 6. Bilbao - Bilbao tour including the Guggenheim Museum

Transfer to Bilbao and check into your boutique hotel, located a short stroll from the famous Guggenheim museum. After lunch on your own, enjoy a private tour of this internationally acclaimed museum and discover why Frank Gehry's mind-boggling titanium masterpiece has brought new life to the coastal city of Bilbao.

Continue with your guide for a walking tour along the Nervion River, passing the new Santiago Calatrava Bridge, and crossing into the old town. Bilbao has a colourful medieval quarter (the Casco Viejo), and you’ll explore the original seven streets where Bilbao was founded some 700 years ago.

Your farewell dinner tonight features Basque specialities that might include crab croquettes, spicy green peppers, smoked Idiazabal cheese and delicious seafood dishes.

Hotel:
Miro Hotel

Day 7. Departure

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

TOUR PRICE

AVERAGE LAND COST PER PERSON
based on this
SAMPLE PROGRAM
Offer can be adjusted depending on time and wishes.
Please contact us for a tailor made tour suggestion.

4 Star Program

Based on 2 participants
EUROS: 3859
Based on 4 participants
EUROS: 3280
Based on 6 participants
EUROS: 2649

Prices are net and in Euros (VAT included). Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. These rates are valid for the year 2008 only.

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For more information
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Included Features

• 6 nights accommodation (double occupancy with private bathroom) in properties as indicated in itinerary.
• 6 buffet breakfasts 
• 3 lunches with wine
• 5 dinners with wine (1 Michelin star restaurant, 1 tapas tour, 3 other restaurants known for regional specialities)
• Private airport-hotel transfers on Days 1 & 7. 
• Private full-day tour (Day 2) with English-speaking guide, including visits to Marques de Riscal winery/Elciego/Vivanco-Museo de la Cultura del Vino. Entrances included. 
• Private night-time tapas & walking tour of Logroño´s Old Quarter with English-speaking guide (Day 2)
• Private full-day tour (Day 3) with English-speaking guide, including visits to the López de Heredia winery/Haro/Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Entrances included.
• Private full-day tour (Day 4) with English-speaking guide, including visits to San Millan de la Cogolla, & the monasteries complex of Suso and Yuso
• Private full-day tour (Day 5) with English-speaking guide, including visits to Marques de Murrieta & Finca Valpiedra wineries. Entrances included.
• Private transfer from Casalarreina to hotel in Bilbao (Day 6)
• Private half-day walking tour (Day 6) with English-speaking guide in Bilbao including interior visit of Guggenheim museum. Entrances included. 

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Note

* This is a sample tour itinerary. These itinerary are flexible in that you may change the destinations, the number of days, and the start date. We can also accomodate more than 6 people. Call or email us for furthur information and price according to your tour requirements