Food Lover's Spanish Camino

On arrival into Bilbao make your way to your hotel and check-in. At 2.00pm you will meet with your tour leader. Later we visit the impressive Guggenheim Museum before sitting down to our first special dinner, at a Txoko in the Casco Antigua (old quarter).

We'll transfer from Bilbao to Huarte (2hrs) for a short walk to Pamplona (6km) where we'll enjoy a local coffee at Cafe Iruna and stroll through the old town. Lunch is at leisure in a well-known tapas district. Later we drive to Elciego (1hr) for a guided visit with wine-tasting at the renowned Marqués de Riscal Winery - great wines, spectacular surroundings and the chance to see another stunning creation by Gehry. Afterwards we'll transfer to Logroño (1hr) and our hotel. In the evening a local guide will introduce some historical background of the Camino and recommend some of the best spots for tapas. The choice is yours as to where to dine this evening, or optional tapas hop (payable locally). (6km/3.8mi, +100m/328ft, approx 1hr 15 mins)

We travel deeper into La Rioja today. There's the option to visit the market before we transfer to Nájera (30mins), the former capital of La Rioja. Our walk from Nájera to Azofra, across a classic Riojan landscape of wheat fields, sunflowers and vineyards, will build your appetite for the anticipated dinner at Echaurren Tradición, famed for its exceptional interpretation of local Rioja cuisine. Before dinner we transfer to Santo Domingo de la Calzada and our hotel (the Parador), with time to visit the impressive cathedral and well known 15th century Gothic henhouse (yes there is still live poultry)! A short return transfer this evening takes us to Ezcaray for a stroll, aperitif (optional, not included) and dinner. (6.3km/3.9mi max, +70m/230ft, -50m/164ft)

A short drive this morning (45mins) before we embark on a walking route from San Juan de Ortega to Cardeñuela. We will reach Burgos around midday (1.5hr transfer) and check into our hotel situated in an impressive 500 year old palace, before heading out for a traditional lunch at Ojeda Restaurant. After lunch there's free time to stroll around the historic centre, visit the fabulous Gothic cathedral where El Cid is buried, or visit the fascinating Museum of Human Evolution which is the display centre for the archaeological UNESCO Heritage site of Atapuerca. Dinner is at leisure, we suggest enjoying delicious tapas in the Old Quarter.(12.4km/ 7.7 mi, +130m/ 426 ft, -209m/ 951 ft)

This morning we drive to Leon (2hrs) where we’ll take a fascinating guided tour of the spectacular Basilica of San Isidro and the stunning cathedral, famous for its incredible stained glass windows. Following lunch in the tapas district (not included), we take a short walk along the Camino through part of the city before a driving (2hrs) into Asturias and the town of Cangas de Onis. To Spaniards, "Asturias" means rural, green, friendly, tasty and authentic. A place to relax, walk, swim and sample fresh products, straight from the garden, mountain meadows or the sea. Thanks to a relatively mild and humid climate, temperatures are pleasant, even in the height of summer, and the landscape is green year round. Rural Asturias is a patchwork of walled pastures, dense forests and farming villages, bordered by a magnificent coastline to the north and steep limestone massifs to the south. A rich cultural tradition, vibrant historical towns, pre-Romanesque churches and superb regional cooking combine to make travellers feel at home instantly. Overnight in a Parador (we stay for 2 nights). On clear days, from this historic building on the banks of the Sella River, there are distant views of the snowy summits in the Picos de Europa. (2.5km/1.6mi, flat)

Today we will walk from the Parador to visit Cangas or have a short transfer to visit the Covadonga Lakes. The lakes are a short detour from the Camino but one of the main attractions in Asturias and a place of pilgrimage as well; the Sanctuary of Covadonga is on the way to the glacial Lakes. There are few different hikes we can take here. We return to our parador in the early afternoon then depart for Casa Marcial at around 6.00pm. If weather permits, we can visit the Mirador del Fitu before dinner, from where the whole oriental coast of Asturias and Picos de Europa can be seen. Dinner tonight is in the renowned Michelin 2 starred restaurant run by chef Nacho Manzano, Casa Marcial, situated in the nearby tiny village of La Salgar.

This morning we drive to the coast to walk a picturesque section of the Camino Norte, between the towns of Ribadesella and Colunga. The views are quite spectacular as we walk from beach to beach along the limestone cliffs. After the walk we will drive to the regional capital Oviedo (30mins), where the original camino trail Camino Primitivo begins. Oviedo is a beautiful city, boasting Gothic cathedrals as well as pre Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage listed monuments. Explore the historical centre on foot and later, dinner will be tapas-style taken at a cider bar, with an opportunity to taste this special beverage. Accommodation is an iconic establishment in Asturias with over 200 years of history within its walls. (13km/8.2mi, ±200m/656ft)