Faith and Food Spain 13 APRIL - 3 MAY 2018 LED BY LISA AND SERGIO TARZIA TOLL FREE 1300 554 654 MORE INFORMATION www.missiontravel.com.au/spain2018
Faith and Food Spain is renowned for both its faith and food. The highlight for Christians visiting Spain is the city of Santiago de Compostela, the resting place of the Apostle James. Thousands take the pilgrims walk along the Camino or Way to reach the city. This tour will involve a bit of walking (to burn off some calories!) but we will combine it with a cultural and gastronomic experience enjoying Spanish food, local wines & art, and of course community. Join Lisa and Sergio Tarzia as we explore the known and not so well known parts of Northern Spain for the holiday of a lifetime! Our first tour in what we hope to be a series of destinations focussing on the things we all love: God, food, art, nature and each other. This Christian Leisure tour will allow you to travel with like-minded people and explore fascinating and picturesque Northern Spain. We will enjoy the rustic and delicious flavours of Basque food food, pintxos, seafood and wine to match. We will explore incredible artwork and scupltures at the Guggenheim museum and see the early works of Gaudi. And lastly we will walk the well-worn pilgrimage road and enter the city of Santiago de Compostela by foot, the resting place of the Apostle James. Along the way we will study the bible, praise God together in church and in nature and wonder in His creation along the Camino. Lisa and Sergio Tarzia Lisa Tarzia is the owner of Mission Travel and has led several tours and missions since 2007. Her husband Sergio introduced her to Spain and she has been hooked ever since. Lisa & Serg honeymooned in Spain, led a walking tour of the Camino in 2014 and are so excited to return to explore the North! Sergio is a passionate Argentine who migrated to Australia 30+ years ago. He is a great cook, talented musician, tri lingual and lover of people. He makes a great tour host!
Itinerary DAY 1 / FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2018 Depart Australia If you are purchasing the full tour package you will depart Australia on an Emirates flight via Dubai to Madrid with a connection to Bilbao. DAY 2 /SATURDAY 14 APRIL Arrive Bilbao On arrival at Bilbao, you will be met and transferred to the Hesperia hotel with the remainder of the day free to recover from your long flight. The hotel is located a short walk from the Old Town of Bilbao so you are free to explore some of this trendy industrial city. Otherwise stroll along the Nerviom River and explore the transformation of Bilbao from a rugged industrial city to an arts and culture haven. Meet the rest of the group for dinner at the hotel. HOTEL: Hesperia Bilbao MEALS: Dinner DAY 3 / SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2018 Bilbao Today we enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town of Bilbao including the Gothic style Cathedral dedicated to the apostle James. We then spend time at the Guggenheim Museum. The rest of the day is free so that you can extend your time at the museum or explore other parts of Bilbao. HOTEL: Hesperia, Bilbao and Dinner (Pintxos Tour) DAY 4 / MONDAY 16 APRIL 2018 Basque Coast After breakfast we will enjoy a day trip to the Basque coast. A guided tour along the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, one of the most interesting Biscay tourist destinations and its sandy area has given shelter to many flora and fauna species. Visit to Gernica, a town particularly important for the Basques a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine produced only in Basque Country. This guided tour will be completed with an apperitive of local products as a light lunch. Visit to Bermeo, known since ancient times as one of the most important fishing ports of the Cantabrian coastline. You will see the popular Basque architecture reflected in the fishermen s houses. Then a guided visit to the Port area, full of colour and terraces. On the way to Bilbao, a short stop in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a small rocky island said to resemble a castle, which could explain why it has suffered numerous attacks over the centuries. HOTEL: Hesperia, Bilbao and Lunch DAY 5 /TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018 Rioja Wine Region After breakfast we drive to the gorgeous town of Laguardia for a guided visit. Surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery, the medieval walled town of Laguardia is the central point of the La Rioja Alavesa wine region. In the village, the original layout can be appreciated and, as you stroll along with your guide, you will be able to see the walls, ramparts, towers and fortified gateways. Enjoy a winery visit with tastings and lunch. Continue to Elciego for another winery visit and tasting as well as time to explore the Old Quarter of the town. Return to Bilbao for dinner at the hotel. HOTEL: Hesperia, Bilbao, Lunch, Dinner DAY 6 /WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL 2018 Getaria - San Sebastian After breakfast and check out we farewell Bilbao and travel to Getaria. a gorgeous fishing town also famous for its Txakoli wine. During the Middle Ages, and later also, when harpoons were still thrown by hand, the people from this village were whale hunters. Visit and lunch at a traditional Cider House: at the heart of the Basque Country and surrounded by apple orchards, this cider farm is the result of cider making tradition which dates back to XVI century. The traditional menu includes: cod-fish omelette, T-bone steaks, cheese with quince preserve and walnuts. And of course, you can drink all the cider you want directly from the barrel. Continue on to San Sebastian. Few cities have earned such lavish titles as San Sebastian The Beautiful, Pearl of the Sea and Incomparable..A visit to this charming Belle Époque resort built around a crescent-shaped bay will show you why it has been admired by so many for so long. Dinner tonight at the hotel. Then, a guided tour to a Txakoli winery located in the very heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Their star product is the Txakoli, HOTEL: Astoria 7, San Sebastian., Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 /THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2018 Tolosa Day Trip Today we embark on another day trip to the region of Tolosa where we will visit a local cheese producer and enjoy a tasting. Continue to the confectionery museum Museo Confiteria Gorrotxategi. Return to San Sebastian for the remainder of the day & evening free (a good opportunity to book a local dinner). HOTEL: Astoria 7, San Sebastian. DAY 9 /FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2018 Pasaia Day Trip Breakfast at the hotel. Located on the eastern coast of Gipuzkoa, a few kilometres from its capital, Pasaia is formed by four neighbourhoods situated on a rough and mountainous land, encompassed by the Ulía and Jaizkibel Mountains, and on both sides of the Bay of Pasaia. The most interesting buildings are located in Pasai Donibane and San Pedro. Both of them divided by the bay, they are connected with a small motorboat. Closely linked to the sea from time immemorial, it s worth getting to know the primitive shipbuilding techniques and the different boats in Albaola, the sea factory of the basques. Albaola is an innovative environment where nautical craftsmanship and technology is recovered and showcased. It shows the Nao San Juan ( 16th century whaleship) replica construction. Return to San Sebastian where you will have the remainder of the day & evening free. You have the option to dine tonight at a Michelin star restaurant in San Sebastian (surcharge applies)*. HOTEL: Astoria 7, San Sebastian DAY 10 /SATURDAY 21 APRIL 2018 San Sebastian - Free Day A free day for you to explore or relax. HOTEL: Astoria 7, San Sebastian DAY 11 / SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018 San Sebastian Satillana Del Mar Cobreces Comillas Ribadesella After breakfast we travel to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful hisotric town in the Cantabria province. The town is in such a perfect state of preservation, with its bright cobbled streets, flowerfilled balconies and tanned stone and brick buildings huddling in a muddle of centur ies of history, that it seems too good to be true. That s what holidays are all about! Enjoy some free time wandering through the town before continuing on to Cobreces and stop at the beach to see the Cliff of El Bolao (you will feel like you are in Ireland). For the more active there is an option to walk along the path from Cobreces to Comillas (approx. 10 km). Lunch is at your leisure before a tour of the town of Comillas including the Old Quarter with a visit to Capricho Gaudi, one of Gaudi s early works. Continue to Ribadesella for dinner and overnight. HOTEL: Villa Rosario, Ribadesella, Dinner DAY 12 /MONDAY 23 APRIL 2018 Ribadesella Colunga Today we set off from Ribadesella and walk approximately 20 kms/3-4 hours to Colunga. The Camino continues uphill towards the village of Vega, at the foot of the impressive Monte Redondu. Reaching Vegas beach, we cross the Regatu del Acebu and climb to the charming village of Berbes. Then, the Camino goes downhill to the beach of El Arenal de Mons, where the mouth of the River de los Romeros can be seen. After passing a Templar site and the Benedictine Monastery of Santiago (founded in the 11th century), we arrive in Colunga. after some free time the bus will return us to Ribadesella for our second night. HOTEL: Villa Rosario, Ribadesella, Lunch, Dinner DAY 13 /TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 Oviedo - Ribadeo After breakfast and check out we drive to the town of Oviedo. The compact but characterful and historic casco antiguo (old town) of Asturias civ ilised capital is agreeably offset by elegant parks and busy, modern shopping streets to its west and north. Oviedo is a fun, sophisticated city, with a stash of intriguing sights, some excellent restaurants and a lively student population (being a university town). On arrival we will do a walking tour of the old town and free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will drive to Ribadeo and in doing so we enter into Galicia. Although Ribadeo s greatest tourist attraction is unquestionably its beaches, the borough also offers many other spectacular areas for us to enjoy. These include the Port of Porcillán, Cargadeiro Viewpoint, the marina, the fishing village of Rinlo or the lighthouse on Pancha Island. The remainder of the day and evening is at your leisure. We recommend dinner at Parrilla O Piano. HOTEL: Parador del Ribadeo
DAY 14 / WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2018 Excursion to Luarca Today we drive the town of Cadavedo, less than one hour from Riabadeo where we commence or walk to Luarca. The walk is easy and should take no more than 4 hours to complete. Hidden on the Asturian coast, Luarca is a quiet town of white houses which preserves all the charm and attraction of its seafaring tradition. Built around an S-shaped cove sitting between sheer cliffs, the historic quarter of Luarca, its promenade and the port are all worth visiting. A small river divides the town in two, although several narrow bridges are there to unite it. Its most characteristic buildings are the lighthouse, the chapel of Atalaya and the cemetery overlooking the sea, cut from the rock by pickaxe and the final resting place of the remains of the Nobel laureate Severo Ochoa, a native of this town. At the end of the day we will drive back to our Parador in Ribadeo for dinner in the hotel. HOTEL: Parador del Ribadeo, Dinner DAY 13 /SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2018 Farewell Lunch in Finisterre Our last day of the tour will be spent driving to the town of Finisterre on the far west Coast of Galicia. In Roman times it was considered the end of the world. Cape Finisterre is the final destination for many pilgrims on the camino. It is about 90-km from Santiago de Compostela and has a recent tradition for pilgrims to burn their clothes or boots at the end of their journey at Cape Finisterre. Instead we will enjoy a wonderful lunch overlooking the ocean to celebrate what has been an incredibly enriching journey in so many ways. Return to Santiago de Compostela for our last night. HOTEL: AC Palacio Carmen, Santiago de Compostela, Lunch SUNDAY 29 APRIL 2018 Luarca Depart Santiago for Home or Enjoy Barcelona Extension After breakfast we check-out and transfer to the Santiago airport for our flight to Barcelona. DAY 15 / THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2018 Emirates have connecting flights back to Australia OR you can take our 3 night Barcelona option and explore this amazing city! After breakfast and check out we will farewell Ribadeo and the sea and drive inland to Monte de Gozo which will allow us to walk the last 5 kms of the camino into Santiago de Compostela! MONDAY 2 MAY 2018 / WEDNESDAY 4 MAY 2018 All pilgrims walk into town and congregate in the square outside the Santiago Cathedral. The day is free to chat to others who have completed the walk and enjoy the atmosphere. Arrive in Australia if you have not chosen the Barcelona extension or, If you have chosen the Barcelona extension you will arrive in Australia on Wednesday 4 May. Check in to the 5 star AC Palacio Carmen for a 2 night stay. SUNDAY 29 APRIL - 1 MAY 2018 Walk into santiago De Compostela HOTEL: AC Palacio Carmen, Santiago de Compostela, Dinner DAY 12 /FRIDAY 27 APRIL 2018 Santiago De Compostela Today we enjoy a guided walking tour of the city of Santiago including attending the Pilgrim s Mass at the Cathedral. HOTEL: AC Palacio Carmen, Santiago de Compostela,Dinner Arrive in Australia Barcelona Extension If you haven t been to Barcelona before it would be a crying shame to be in Spain and not visit! 29 April: Fly from Santiago to Barcelona Airport transfer to hotel Free time 30 April: Sightseeing with a local guide including Gaudi s remarkable Sagrada Familia and Park Guell as well as a walking tour of the Old City including the Boqueria market. 1 May: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Tour Costs Price is based on a minimum of 20 people. TOUR PRICE PER ADULT Twin share $5,799 Special group airfare - including domestic Spain flights $2,199 Single room supplement $1,275 Barcelona 2 night extension $699 Barcelona Single supplement $360 Inclusions 15 nights hotel accommodation in hotels listed Not included Meals not mentioned Escorted by hosts Lisa Tarzia and Spanish speaking Sergio Tarzia Drinks Travel insurance Transport in air conditioned motor coach Additional tip for waiters, porters All sights mentioned in the itinerary Personal expenses laundry, internet, shopping Local guides for walking tours as highlighted Any other items not listed in the itinerary Meals breakfast daily, lunch/dinner as listed including Pinxtos dinner tour and lunch at Cider house Porterage in/out of hotels (1 piece per person) Winery visits and tastings Cheese and confectionery tastings Tipping to local guides/driver Barcelona extension includes 2 nights accommodation Special group airfare includes: Economy class airfares to Spain Breakfast daily Emirates (must depart as a group on 14 April) Guided visits in English in Barcelona including Old Quarter, Boqueria market, Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia Domestic flights in Spain (Madrid-Bilbao & SantiagoBarcelona) Return airport transfers Price based on 15 passengers minimum TOLL FREE 1300 554 654 MORE INFORMATION www.missiontravel.com.au/spain2018