Highlights:

 

• Visit Pamplona, home of the world famous Bull Run (San Fermin festival), with great night life, food and beautiful architecture
• Explore Bardenas Reales, a UNESCO site with a lunar like landscape offering stunning views
• Discover Olite, a beautiful, quintessentially Basque town in the centre of Navarra
• Enjoy wineries that offer fierce competition to the neighbouring Rioja region
• Treck in the Irati forest, the second largest in Europe, as we go into the Pyrenees mountain range and enjoy stunning views

 

Included:

 

• 4 Star minimum accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis where available
• Meet and Greet at Airport
• Expert driver/guide
• Comfortable touring vehicle
• Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make

 

 

Not included

 

• Flights - purchase your own flights
• Gratuities minimum recommended $20 per person per day
• Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
• Insurance
• Personal expenses such as shopping, visas etc.
• Entrances to cathedrals and churches

 

 

Detailed Itinerary:

 

 

Day 1:

 

 

Meet and greet in Bilbao and transfer to San Sebastian for one night to enjoy some of the best food in Europe.

 

Day 2:

 

We depart San Sebastian for a short journey to Pamplona, a beautiful town in the Kingdom of Navarra. Upon arrival, we enjoy a walking tour to learn more about the incredible history here and the surrounding region, as well as the San Fermin festival. After lunch we check-in to your centrally located hotel, with free time to explore more of the town. The cathedral is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit - you can easily spend a couple of hours here. 

After dinner it is worth enjoying the nightlife Pamplona has to offer. There are numerous bars and restaurants open til late, and with 3 universities in the city there is no shortage of revellers and those enjoying a night out, every day of the week!

 

Day 3: 

 

Today we have more time to explore Pamplona. In the morning we suggest a trip to the food market and sample many local delicacies. The Museo de Navarra offers numerous art works, exhibitions and artefacts around the Navarra region which is actually located in a former hospital. We also recommend a visit to the Jardines de la Taconera - a great spot to bring some food and enjoy lunch, take a walk or relax in the sun.

 

Day 4: 

 

After breakfast we make the short journey to Olite, in the centre of the kingdom. Upon arrival we enjoy a local wine tasting before tucking in to a sumptuous lunch.We then enjoy a short walking tour of the town which is rich in history, and we explore the castle here. Not only was this the home of one of the former kings, it also offers sensational views of the surrounding region, with the desert in the south and the mountains towards the north. 

 

Day 5:

 

After our overnight stay in Olite we venture to Las Bardenas Reales. This incredible landscape provides stunning natural rock formations, caves and crevices as we venture around this large area. Depending on the heat, you can hike on certain routes, rent a bicycle or take a vehicle with a guide around the different sites. Enjoy a lunch among the peace and tranquility in this lunar like landscape before completing the designated route. We then head to our accommodation on the edge of the desert, which offers great views, lots of birdlife and an extremely tranquil setting for a good night's rest. Dinner is at the hotel which offers a range of locally sourced produce with excellent flavour.

 

Day 6: 

 

Today we head north towards the mountains, with a detour to a local vineyard for a tour and tasting to break up the journey. We continue on to the Irati forest where we check-in for 1 night at one of the most tranquil settings you can possible imagine!

 

Day 7: 

 

After breakfast we head in to the forest itself, home to some of the most delicious wild mushrooms you will see (but make sure to listen carefully to the guide to ensure you don't end up eating anything poisonous!) There are numerous trails to take depending on your preference, and the lower Pyrenees offer great views and nature too. We stop for a leisurely lunch in the small town of Garayoa. In the afternoon we do further exploration of the forest, heading up towards the French border where we come across numerous different farm animals, and views into the upper Pyrenees. We return to Bilbao afterwards for a final farewell dinner.

 

Day 8:

 

After breakfast we check out and transfer to Bilbao Airport for your trip home. Alternatively, you can choose to join another tour in the area, such as the Kingdom of Aragon or connect to Southern Spain and Portugal!