Catalonia and the Basque Country and Eclipse

Your journey commences in Bilbao, a city that seamlessly blends its industrial heritage with a vibrant cultural scene. Nestled amidst rolling green hills, Bilbao stands as the largest and most dynamic city in the Basque region. Upon arrival, you'll have the freedom to settle in at your leisure, with no planned activities until the evening.

At 6 PM, our tour leader will host a welcome meeting in the hotel reception, providing an opportunity to meet fellow travellers and receive an overview of the tour. Should you arrive early, consider exploring the iconic Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Gehry, showcasing modern and contemporary art.

If you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will ensure you receive all the necessary information.

If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Bilbao Airport (BIO), which is around a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Following breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive to San Sebastian, a city renowned for its culinary excellence. Our journey begins with a stop in Getaria, a coastal town famous for its anchovies. Here, we'll visit a local fishery to learn about traditional anchovy canning. Continuing to San Sebastian, we'll first ascend Monte Urgull for panoramic views of the city and its coastline. Afterward, we'll explore the old town, a maze of charming alleys and pintxos bars. These Basque-style tapas, known as pintxos, feature small snacks on bread, showcasing the region's fresh ingredients and innovative flavours. We'll take time to enjoy a wide variety over lunch. The afternoon offers various options: further exploration of the old town, relaxation on the beach, or a guided walking tour along La Concha promenade, featuring Eduardo Chillida's sculptures. An optional funicular ride to Monte Igueldo provides another stunning viewpoint. We conclude the day with a return journey to Bilbao.

This morning, we travel south by charter bus to La Rioja Alavesa, a Basque corner of the Ebro Valley that has a long tradition of producing quality Rioja wines. Our first stop this morning is at a local bodega to learn more about modern life as a wine producer in Rioja and a chance to sample some of the famous wines.

We stop in the village of Laguardia around lunchtime. This hilltop village dates back beyond the Romans to the Celts, and became an important medieval fortress whose walls still stand today. It is also a key player in the Rioja wine trade, the perfect place to enjoy a glass with your meal.

After a short drive we then arrive at The Church of Saint Mary of Eunate, a 12th-century Romanesque church known for its unique octagonal plan and surrounding cloister with 33 arches. It is also located on the Camino de Santiago or St. James Way, an ancient Christian pilgrimage route that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and the final resting place of Saint James. We plan to join the pilgrim route from Obanos village and walk a short 2 to 3km section of the Camino to Puente La Reina. This town has been heavily influenced by the Pilgrim's Route, and devotees have crossed its medieval five-arched bridge since the 14th century.We then drive to Pamplona arriving in the early evening.

This morning, we'll embark on a flavourful journey through Pamplona with a local expert leading our food tour. We'll have the chance to try a variety of regional specialties, gaining a true taste of the local culinary scene. Afterwards, we'll begin our journey south towards Reus, a drive of approximately four hours. En route we will stop for lunch. The historic city of Zaragoza is a good mid point, however at this time of year it can be extremely hot so your tour leader will assess the best options closer to the time. Upon our late afternoon arrival in Reus, we'll enjoy an introduction to the constellations and stargazing by an expert astronomer, who will also be with us for tomorrow's eclipse. This session will provide a foundation for understanding the night sky and build anticipation for the event ahead. Reus itself, the vibrant birthplace of Antoni Gaudí, awaits our exploration from our perfectly situated accommodation in the heart of the city.

Today, our journey takes us east towards the dramatic landscapes of Catalonia and the village of Siurana. Perched precariously atop a limestone cliff, this former Moorish stronghold was the last to fall in the region and upon arrival, we'll have time to explore its 9th-century castle, wander through the narrow, cobbled streets, and admire the ancient stone houses. As evening approaches, we'll make our way to the charming village of Prades our prime location for witnessing tonight's celestial spectacle. We'll take a short walk to a nearby vantage point in the Sierra, offering panoramic views, where a special picnic dinner featuring local Catalan delicacies awaits. As dusk deepens, we'll prepare to witness the solar eclipse, with the partial phase beginning around 7:30 pm, leading to the totality around 8:25 pm, lasting for almost two minutes. The partial eclipse will conclude around 8:46 pm, and we'll ensure everyone has certified eclipse glasses to enjoy this extraordinary event safely. Later in the evening, we'll transfer back to our accommodation in Reus.

Given the popularity of today's event, a level of flexibility is required to allow us the best viewing experience. We may need to head on to our viewing location earlier than planned in order to secure our spot.

Our journey takes us to Monistrol, where we'll ascend via rack railway to the Benedictine abbey of Monstserrat, a spiritual sanctuary nestled amidst a unique geological formation of jagged peaks. After visiting the monastery, take time to wander the area, soaking in the panoramic views of the Catalan landscape.

We then descend and continue on to Barcelona.

This morning we'll embark on a walking tour through the Gothic Quarter, El Born, and La Barceloneta, with the chance to explore historical food markets. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure, with options including Park Guell or the Sagrada Familia (pre-booking recommended).

After a free afternoon we have a truly hands-on and delicious experience: a paella making class! We'll learn the secrets behind creating this iconic Spanish dish, from selecting the freshest ingredients to mastering the perfect socarrat - the crispy, slightly caramelized layer of rice that forms on the bottom of the pan as the paella cooks. Get ready to chop, stir, and savour the aromas as we collectively craft our very own authentic paella. This engaging culinary session will seamlessly transition into our farewell dinner, where we'll have the pleasure of enjoying the fruits (or rather, the rice!) of our labour.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Barcelona.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN), which is around a 30-45 minute drive away.