NOTE: Minimum 4 participants required.

Day 1: BILBAO
Arrival in Bilbao and accommodations at your hotel (transfer not included).

Day 2: BILBAO
Breakfast. This morning enjoy a guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum, indisputable symbol of this city. The visit will include both the exterior and interior of this great work by Frank Ghery, with special attention to the background of the construction of this museum for the city of Bilbao. From the museum, pass along the riverfront of Bilbao to the old quarter, where we will find the "Seven Streets" and the Church of Santiago (St. James). Delighting in some quaint corners, we will enjoy a LUNCH of high quality "pintxos" (tapas in the Basque Country). In the afternoon head for the coast to visit the Hermitage of San Juan de Gazteluktxe, marveling at its unique location looking out over the Cantabrian Sea where you will be introduced to and enjoy tasting "txakoli" (a local sparkling white wine) in a winery. Return to Bilbao. Accommodations.

Day 3: BILBAO-SAN SEBASTIAN
Breakfast. We travel today to one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, San Sebastian. En route discover fishing villages like Getaria or typical places like Zarautz. Once in San Sebastian, we will enjoy a drive along the lovely Bay of La Concha, visit the Port and climb (by car) to the top of Mt. Igueldo to enjoy the stunning view. In the nearby locality of Astigarraga, we will have the chance to discover another local drink, cider, and end the day with a succulent dinner. Accommodations.

Day 4: SAN SEBASTIAN-VITORIA-LAGUARDIA
Breakfast. Our first stop today is the city of Vitoria, where we will focus on the cathedral, now in full process of renovation, which so fascinated the author Ken Follet. The cathedral will show us some of its best secrets on a tour that we must make with a "hard hat". In the afternoon we get to the wine country. In the Alava portion of La Rioja, the quaint village of Laguardia awaits us. This town keeps its medieval atmosphere, through which we walk to the impressive portico of the Church of Santa Maria. Under the streets of the town there are to be found huge wine storage deposits, one of which we will visit to taste the Rioja wine. We will continue to the city of Logroño, where on its lively Laurel Street we can take the pulse of the city. Accommodations.

Day 5: LOGRONO-SAN MILLAN DE LA COGOLLA-SANTO DOMINGO-BURGOS
Breakfast. Wine continues to be the star today as we head into the mountains and San Millan de la Cogolla, cradle of the Spanish language. We will take the occasion to visit one of the famous monasteries (Yuso) and enjoy a little stroll. In Bandaran there awaits us an interesting tour of a winery, at the end of which we will not only enjoy the rioja wine in the barrel room, but a tasty lunch in the atmospheric winery. En route to Burgos, we make our last stop of the day in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a village on the Road to Santiago, where we will learn some of its fascinating legends and architectural jewels. Continue to Burgos for accommodations.

Day 6: BURGOS & EL CID
Breakfast. Burgos and the folk hero El Cid are inseparable. An expert local guide will tell us stories of this beautiful city and its famous citizens, El Cid and his wife Doña Ximena, paying special attention to the magnificent Gothic cathedral where they are entombed. Also see the Arch of Santa Maria. Visit the town of Covarrubias, which conserves intact traditional architecture where we will enjoy lunch in an atmospheric restaurant. In the afternoon, we will continue to the Monastery of Santo Domino de Silos, for the opportunity to hear their famous Gregorian Chant, before returning to Burgos. Accommodations.

Day 7: BURGOS-RIBERA DEL DUERO
Breakfast (part of original package) and fairly early departure south into another of Spain’s most important wine regions: Ribera del Duero. Our first stop will be in the historic town of Lerma, also known as a Ducal City. It stands out as one of the greatest gatherings of Herrerian art, from the noted architect Juan de Herrera (El Escorial). Enjoy the opportunity to stroll the stone-paved streets to the impressive Main Square. Lerma also boasts a magnificent Parador, located in the former Ducal Palace. Our journey continues south entering gradually fully into the Denomination of Origin Ribera del Duero and the village of Peñafiel, dominated by its imposing castle, under which extend its famous subterranean wine storage cellars. We will visit the town’s most impressive buildings as well as the underground galleries of Protos winery, where the celebrated British architect Richard Roges has left his impression. The tour will end with a tasting of the wines of this famous winery, before heading to a restaurant to try LUNCH of the delicious local specialties. Finally we will continue to our rural lodgings, just a stone’s throw from Peñafiel, where we will find a Spa and wine depository. Here, in an atmosphere of wine, we will enjoy DINNER in these agreeable surrounding. Accommodations.

Day 8: HERITAGE OF MANKIND CITIES-MADRID
Breakfast and leave behind the land of wine toward Madrid, making two interesting stops en route. The first destination is Segovia, where we may stroll beneath the impressive Roman aqueduct, some 2000 years old. Continuing to the cathedral and the Alcazar, we take the pulse of this ancient but lively city. Free time for lunch on your own (there are many excellent restaurants and tapas bars), before continuing in the afternoon to the second jewel of the day, the city of Avila, which, like Segovia, is a Patrimony of Humanity City. Our visit will concentrate on the 11th century medieval walls and the fortress-like cathedral. Finally, our itinerary ends in Madrid. Accommodations.

Day 9: MADRID
Breakfast. Transfer out not included.

In the event that 4 minimum passengers aren’t reached, Petrabax will provide an option to purchase the tour with an additional supplement based on the actual number of travelers if under 4 passengers.