Complete Spain: South to North Adventure

Introduction

In Spain, a land bursting with flavour, artistry, and passion, there's no such thing as going halfway. Start in Madrid, then travel south where the Andalucian capital of Seville will ignite your soul with the heart-pounding rhythms of flamenco. Then head north to explore the vibrant Basque and Catalan regions: soak up the energy of Barcelona, sip your way through Logroño’s wine country, indulge in San Sebastián’s legendary cuisine, and marvel at Bilbao’s striking architecture. With each region offering its own unique character, style, and language, this adventure through Spain's diverse landscapes and cultures is the full package.

• Explore Moorish palaces
• Be treated to a lively flamenco performance in Seville
• Explore the astounding red-clay fortress of the Alhambra
• Taste a traditional paella
• Witness Gaudí’s Barcelona with your own eyes
• Devour incredible food in San Sebastian
• Experience the Basque way of life

Duration: 14 days

Start/Finish City: Madrid to Bilbao

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Grading: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Travel Style: Classic

All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12.

What's Included

Your G for Good Moment: Mescladis Paella Cooking Class and Dinner, Barcelona
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Barcelona
Your Foodie Moment: Wine Tasting at a Local Winery, Logroño
Your Foodie Moment: Pintxos (Tapas) Experience, Logroño. Orientation walks in Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, San Sebastian and Bilbao. Albaicin quarter visit. Alhambra guided tour. Mezquita Mosque and Jewish quarter visit in Cordoba. Flamenco show performance. Hike a portion of the Camino de Santiago from Obanos to Puente la Reina. Entrance and visit to the royal palace of Olite. Visit Pamplona. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

What are the main highlights of this trip?

Explore Moorish palaces, Be treated to a lively flamenco performance in Seville, Explore the astounding red-clay fortress of the Alhambra, Taste a traditional paella, Witness Gaudí’s Barcelona with your own eyes, Devour incredible food in San Sebastian, Experience the Basque way of life.

Important Notes

ALHAMBRA
Due to regulations for Alhambra's ticketing system, your passport information must be provided to G Adventures at the time of booking in order to guarantee your guided tour of the Alhambra.

If your booking for this trip is confirmed with less than 90 days prior to departure, we will do our best to secure a ticket for your guided Alhambra tour. However, please note that due to high demand for tickets, we are not able to guarantee this inclusion if your booking is confirmed within this time period. In the event we cannot secure a guided tour of the Alhambra for you, alternative options such as a self-guided visit of the Alhambra (with reduced access), or visits to the nearby districts of Albaicín and Sacramonte will be arranged.

How large will the group be?

Max 16, avg 12.

Meals Included

13 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Transport

Public bus, private vehicle, train, taxi, walking.

Accommodation

Hotels (13 nts).

My Own Room

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops

Joining Instructions

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.

From Madrid airport (MAD), you can reach the city centre in a few ways. You can take the Metro Line 8 (pink) directly to Nuevos Ministerios station, which is located in the city centre. Alternatively, take the 203 bus to Atocha Train Station (only operational during daytime hours).

To arrange an arrival or departure transfer, we recommend you book through our preferred transfer provider - HolidayTaxis

We advise that you book both your arrival and departure transfers in advance. Please make sure you have the following details before booking:

- Flight number
- Flight Arrival Time and Date
- Flight Departure Time and Date
- Passenger's Name
- Number of Passengers
- Email
- Valid Mobile Telephone Number
- Drop off and/or Pick Up Address

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day.

Upon arrival to your Joining Hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon), look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!

If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS

G Adventures Office - London, United Kingdom
During office hours (Weekdays, 9am-5:30pm Local Time)
+44 20 7243 9870

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.

Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from within UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from within Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from within Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from within New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact: +441858378000

If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Packing List

Conservative Dress:
• Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
• Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Visas and Entry Requirements

All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your own responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements for your trip will vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as far as possible, but rules do change and sometimes without warning. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check the information yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.

Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here

For other nationalities, travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders, if any at all.

Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen agreement.

A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.

As of 2025, various European countries are introducing ETIAS travel authorisation as an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals.
We highly recommend you checking in advance how your nationality and country/s you are visiting may be affected. Further details can be found here

Last updated: January 27th 2025

Tipping

While conventions can vary from country to country, tipping is customary in Europe. A general rule is 10% of the bill for wait staff, and a smaller amount (€1 or €2) for other service providers.

Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

At the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is expected and appreciated. The precise amount is a personal preference, however €30-€40 per person, per week can be used as a guideline.

Optional Activities

Madrid
- Reina Sofia Museum (12EUR per person)
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (13EUR per person)
- Museo Nacional Del Prado Visit (15EUR per person)
- Plaza Mayor Visit (Free)
- Royal Palace (Palacio Real) Visit (12EUR per person)

Granada
- Albaicín (El Albayzín) Visit (Free)
- Granada Cathedral (Cathedral of the Incarnation) Visit (5EUR per person)
- Granada City Center and Tapas Gourmet Tour

Seville
- Alcázar Palace Visit (13.50EUR per person)
- Santa Cruz Quarter Visit (Free)
- La Giralda Visit (9EUR per person)
- The Golden Tower (Torre del Oro) (3EUR per person)
- Casa de Pilatos (10-12EUR per person)
- Santa Paula Convent (2EUR per person)

Barcelona
- Gothic Quarter Visit (Free)
- Las Ramblas Visit
- La Sagrada Família Visit (17-37EUR per person)
- Parque Güell Visit (10EUR per person)
- Casa Batlló (25-30EUR per person)
- Picasso Museum (12EUR per person)

Logroño
- Logroño Cathedral (Free)
- Museum of La Rioja (Free)

San Sebastian
- Cider House Visit and Tastings (55EUR per person)
- San Sebastian eBike Tour (50EUR per person)
- San Sebastian Walking Tour (50EUR per person)
- Cooking Class in San Sebastian

Bilbao
- Parque de Etxebarría Visit (Free)
- Basilica of Begoña Visit (Free)
- Guggenheim Museum Visit (13EUR per person)
- Casco Viejo Visit (Free)

Minimum Age

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

International Flights

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

LGBTQ+ Safety

The safety and well-being of all of our travelers is a priority at G Adventures and that includes our travelers who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that there are specific concerns and questions you may have about your adventure in terms of safety and security. We encourage you to visit our LGBTQ+ page for useful resources to ensure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the duration of your trip. The Equaldex tool linked on this page can be of particular help when deciding where you may want to visit next.