Entry Level
Cultural
Transfers
10 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
You'll get to 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 and walking in the Picos de Europa. Along with indulging in Cabrales cheese, tapas lunches & pintxos. This walking tour is an all round incredible experience.
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.
(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)
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.
Transfer
Dinner
3 star hotel
Arrive into Santander or Bilbao and be met and transferred to our hotel in Llanes. A small attractive coastal town, it is the perfect place from which to start exploring the first of 3 Spanish regions; Asturias. Often overlooked, it featured in the New York Times' 2020 list of 52 Places to Go, and boasts rugged coastlines, dramatic mountain backdrops and rolling green countryside.
Depending on your arrival time, freshen up, relax or explore Llanes independently before meeting your English speaking Spanish guide in the evening, and enjoying a briefing, welcome drink of local cider and traditional Spanish dinner.
If you need some ideas on structuring your first afternoon, don't hesitate to let us know.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
We start our adventure with a beautiful leg stretch, heading out from just beyond Lake Ercina; one of the stunning Covadonga Lakes in the Picos de Europa mountain range, an hour or so's drive from Llanes. Our end destination is the equally scenic Lake Enol. We ramble through scenic 'Majada'; high mountain meadows where horses & sheep are put out to pasture during the mild summer months, pausing to enjoy the picnic lunch we purchased in Llanes this morning with spectacular views of the peaks Las Penas Santas.
This afternoon we will visit the green valley of Cangas de Onis with its beautiful Cathedral (Basilica de Santa Maria la Real de Covadonga), designated as a Royal Site in 1918 and intricately linked to the original of the Kingdom of Asturias. Time permitting we will stop in the small coastal town of Ribadesella on our return route back to our hotel in Llanes.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, is a stylish city with colourful architecture and bustling markets and squares, located on 2 pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. As such, the Cathedral is visited by those setting out on both the Camino Primitivo, for which Oviedo is the starting point, as well as the Camino del Norte, whom pass through Oviedo en route from Sanit Jean de Luz to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The Cathedral boasts a 9th century UNESCO world heritage chapel housing a piece of cloth said to have been placed around Jesus' head after his death.
There is some free time today, to wonder the streets of pedestrianised downtown Oviedo and enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants. Asturias is famous for its cider (sidra) and the city is packed with lively sidrerias, where you can enjoy the speciality.
We also enjoy the church of Santa Maria del Naranjo perching high above the city on the hill top of Monte Naranco; a fine example of pre-Romanesque architecture.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
The Central Massif of the Picos de Europa, and the National Park with the iconic ; Naranjo de Bulnes, beckons today. Two hours drive from Llanes we stop at the Pozo de la Oracion viewpoint to learn about the characteristics of the massive limestone peak and the stories surrounding it.
From here we continue to Poncebos, a beautiful area renowned for walking. Indeed we will set out on a gentle walk at Collado de La Caballar, offering beautiful views of the main summits of the Massif. Heading to Sotres for lunch, you might choose a cabraliega meal (made with the local Cabrales cheese) before we make a visit to a cave where the delicious blue is produced.
Our destination for this evening is the charming small medieval mountain town of Potes - our journey there (1hr 15m) taking us over the stunning La Hermida Gorge.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
After breakfast we head (30mins) into the heart of the mountains, to the Fuente De cable car, for a fabulous and scenic ascent up more than 800m, to the Fuente de Glacier. At the top we breathe in the stunning views, and take a short tour to discover the area.
Continuing our journey we visit the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana, one of just 5 Christian sites (Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela & Caravaca de la Cruz) that has the privilege of missing perpetual indulgences; effectively a way of reducing the amount of punishment that one has to undergo for sins. It is also famous for the Lignam Crucis (wood of Jesus' cross) & illustrated religious manuscripts: the first Spanish Codice of the Beato de la Liebana.
This afternoon we visit a liquor winery to see how the locally famed 'Orujo de Potes'; a grape based spirit (40% alcohol!) is manufactured, before returning to familiar Potes.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Today we explore some of the highlights of the autonomous region of Cantabria, whose delights are disproportionate to its size, which is small! It is known for its colourful Fishermans towns, so we start with a wander around San Vicente de la Barquera, an hours drive or so from Potes.
From here we move to Comillas, a small town where, from the 2nd half of the C19th, the Spanish royal family started spending their summers. As a result it has a plethora of architectural wonders; palaces & monuments designed by renowned Catalan artists such as Gaudi & Domenech i Montaner.
After lunch we head to the magnificent Santillana del Mar, a medieval town that is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in Spain. The Collegiate Church & Cloisters of Santa Juliana, one of the most attractive examples of Romanesque, has origins dating back to 870, although the buildings visible today date back to the C12th. Also not to be missed is a chance to visit the NeoCave of Altamira; an exact reproduction of the cave of Altamira as it was between 13,000 & 22,000 years ago, with its well known bison cave paintings.
Our final destination for the night (30m drive) is the coastal capital of Cantabria; Santander.
Boat/Ferry
Transfer
Breakfast
3 star hotel
After breakfast we enjoy the highlights of Santander, with a mix of private transfers and walking. Off the main tourist routes, it is a city often overlooked by international visitors, though popular with Spanish visitors. It has a stunning natural setting, with urban beaches, and meandering peninsulas, and a slower pace than you would expect for a capital city.
We visit the golden sands Sardinero beach, with crystal clear waters, and the Magdalena Palace set within 24 hectares of the Magdalena Peninsula. The former royal palace has opulent interiors and expansive gardens and was no doubt built here, in the C20th, for its incredible views overlooking the Isla de Mouro and Bay of Santander.
It would be a shame to miss Santander Cathedral unusually consisting of 2 gothic churches, one above the other, constructed in the 13th & C14th respectively. For a small fee you can head up the bell tower for incredible views of the surrounding area. We also have the opportunity to explore the city centre on foot.
This afternoon we enjoy a leisurely boat trip to explore the Bay of Santander - a wonderful way to appreciate the coastline from a new perspective, before crossing into our 3rd region; Basque Country, and to Bilbao (1hr 15m), another exciting and under appreciated Northern Spanish city.
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, presents an alluring and futuristic space for the mix of modern & contemporary art it houses and is not to be missed.
From one 'out of this world' experience to another, we head to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet on the coast of Biscay used by Game of Thrones in Season 7 to represent Dragonstone! The word gaztelugatxe [gastelugatse] comes from the Basque gaztelu, meaning 'castle' and atx, meaning 'rock'; together forming 'the rock castle'.
The rock of Gaztelugatxe is a small island off the coast, reached by a man-made stone bridge leading to a narrow path with a mere 241 steps! Impressive and wild, set against the backdrop of the sea, a small church, over a century old, and dedicated to St John the Baptist, perches atop the rock.
This afternoon we visit the lovely Basque towns of Bermeo and Mundane, famous for the fantastic surf!
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
3 star hotel
Today, for those that would like to walk and enjoy the coastal air, we walk the well established and stunning 'Flysch' coastal pathway from Deba (around 8km at a steady pace) before being transferred to Zumaia which is renowned for its 'flysh' beaches, set amongst the longest continuous rock strata in the world. Discover the striking sedimentary rock layers deposited when a deep basin forms rapidly on the continental side during the creation of a mountain from the earths crust. For those that are not so keen on the walk, you have the option to head straight to Zumaia and explore / relax until the rest of the group joins you.
We also head to the coastal town of Zarautz, known for its 2.5km sandy beach, restaurants and shops - maybe time for a spot of souvenir shopping?
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
3 star hotel
Last, but definitely not least, the fantastic city of San Sebastian awaits us today. We enjoy a guided walking tour around the main sites of the city including the Plaza de la Constituzion with its majestic Town Hall, Old Town (La Parte Vieja), and fishing port at the foot of the Urgull Mountain. We end the morning with a private 'pintxos' tour (pronounced 'pinchos', and meaning 'tapas'), accompanied by a specialist in Basque gastronomic culture. After the tapas, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure; we are staying in San Sebastian tonight.
Transfer
Breakfast
Your adventure has come to an end - it must be time to plan your next holiday! Enjoy breakfast before your transfer to Santander or Bilbao for your journey home.
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
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 (+34 985402325). Ensuite rooms, air con & Wifi
Casa Cayo, Potes, Asturias (Day 4 & 5): Characterful mountain Hotel Restaurant in Potes (+34 942730150). 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.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Supporting you on your holiday, and accompanying the group each day (including during meals), will be a local, English speaking Spanish travel guide who knows Asturias, Cantabria & the Basque Country like the back of their hand! This ensures you are in excellent hands and that you have access to local knowledge.
We work jointly with our Spanish Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Although you will be visiting the stunning Picos de Europa mountains (part of the Cantabria range) during your holiday, the focus of this holiday is a cultural exploration. To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be in good physical condition and able to walk for around 3 - 4 hours (the city tours are a mix of walking tours with short transfers as required). You also need to be comfortable on coastal paths which may be narrow or uneven and naturally will include some gradient changes, in order to enjoy the rural and wildlife aspects of the adventure. Any walking is at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops and there is an alternative option if you are not wanting to join the 8km walk on Day 9.
Your YellowWood adventure starts in Bilbao or Santander. We can talk to you more about your travel options on an individual basis. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare.
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as skyscanner or www.momondo.co.uk.
The 2 closest airports are Asturias near Oviedo, receiving flights from London Stansted and Geneva, Madrid and Barcelona, or Santander in Cantabria, receiving flights from London Stansted.
We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Although the most timely way to get to this area of Northern Spain is to use a low cost airline, there is much joy to be found in incorporating your travel into your adventure and choosing the lower carbon footprint option of the ferry. You can travel to Santander from Plymouth (18hrs 30mins) and Portsmouth (23hrs 30mins) and to Bilbao from Portsmouth (23hrs 45mins), all with Brittany Ferries. An added bonus to this form of travel is the opportunity to spot whales and dolphins in the Bay of Biscay!
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure.
We also receive notifications direct from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
We have put together a journal post with a short summary of Brexit Advice for Travellers to Europe.
For those of you who choose to fly into Northern Spain, Asturias Airport (OVD) is a fully functioning, international airport welcoming domestic flights and those from Europe. Airport services include Duty Free, ATMs and Currency Exchange. On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
For those choosing to arrive by ferry, you will also be met by a driver/ guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign, in the ferry Arrivals Terminal.
All group specific, final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure.
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for moderate walking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
For information on Northern Spain, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specificinformation.
YellowWood Adventures
This is a new itinerary for YellowWood and as such, we do not yet have any reviews. We would love you to be the first to review the adventure!
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Select dates & add any extras or 'Add on' adventures. Complete our Booking Form
Check out our Covid-19 friendly booking conditions & check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
'Make Booking': You will be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit (£300/$400/person) payment (receipted), if booking >56 days before your adventure or full payment if 56 or <56 days before your adventure. Your monies are held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Enter booking information for all guests in your party.
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Do not book transport/flights until we have emailed you to confirm your booking (receipt of your booking form is not confirmation). We will change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding', when it becomes payable online.
This payment is due 56 days before departure date (we send reminders).
Contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking.
+44 207 846 0197
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch via our Enquiry form to check our availability, discuss the adventure and check we can meet your needs.
Complete our Enquiry Form; contact details, additional requirements (eg diet or health requirements) & questions you may have. Include as much information as you are able to, so we can help you with the detail you are looking for
Click on 'Send Enquiry' (receipted).
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to answer your questions and help you plan your adventure.
+44 207 846 0197