Galicia is one of the most breathtaking corners of our planet. Rugged cliffs stretch boldly into the sea, as if trying to escape the continent itself. Verdant terraces hover above river gorges, while gardens and balconies gaze endlessly out across the Atlantic Ocean. Fiery sunsets melt into the horizon, casting golden light over endless sandy beaches and fantastical rock formations that stir the imagination. Here, the elegance of cities like Santiago de Compostela meets the charm of timeworn stone villages steeped in history. The atmosphere feels plucked from legend: one evening finds us dining at the foot of a lighthouse in a slow-food restaurant where everything is sourced within a stone’s throw. In Rías Baixas, we prepare seafood with our own hands before walking beneath the green canopies of albariño vines in the garden tunnels of an ancient palace winery. We drift along a river framed by steep, vineyard-clad hillsides, where lunch is paired with the heroic wines of Ribeira Sacra. At low tide, we walk beneath soaring 30-metre rock arches sculpted by the Atlantic, and greet pilgrims in Santiago and the quaint fishing villages of Combarro. As our journey unfolds, we enter royal Spain – Castile – where romance and history echo behind finely ornamented stone façades. An enchanting afternoon awaits us in Segovia, and Zamora offers us a warm evening embrace with its pure Romanesque architecture. We trace a scenic wine route through the vineyards of Rueda into the heart of Ribera del Duero, where we’ll taste verdejo – the white wine captivating the whole of Spain. Ávila greets us with its awe-inspiring city wall – one of the oldest and best-preserved fortifications in the world. And finally, in Salamanca, we pay homage to the king of Spanish delicacies: jamón. We uncover its secrets through a show-cooking session followed by a tasting lunch worthy of nobility.

Travelling in a small group of no more than seven people, in the comfort of a private van, we set off to uncover the rich contrasts of Galicia and the royal heart of Castile. It quickly becomes clear: Galicia is unlike anywhere else on the Iberian Peninsula. There are places in the world that defy description – liminal, at the edge of things. They speak deeply to the creative soul, to those who feel they don’t quite fit the mould, to those searching for something more — solitude, reinvention, or simply space to breathe. In these lands of mist and myth, the old adage rings truer than ever: “the end of the road is just a new beginning.” A beginning that greets us wiser, humbler, and full of inspiration. Come with us to dive into this land of legends, of windswept shores and timeless villages, of inspiring people who carry the old stories and traditions with quiet pride. As we move into Castile, we shift into a different rhythm – one of grandeur, romance, and bohemian beauty. This is a journey crafted for nature-lovers and culture-seekers alike. For the curious, the adventurous, the contemplative, the epicurean. It’s an eclectic blend, much like life itself – wouldn’t you agree? And for those who already know us, you won’t be surprised: we’ve chosen accommodation that’s more than just a place to sleep – it’s part of the experience. We begin by staying in a boutique hotel set right on the Atlantic coast, only to trade it later for a spot in the heart of Santiago de Compostela. As we cross into the regal lands of Castile and León, we’ll rest in a beautiful Renaissance palace in Zamora, followed by two final nights in another 16th-century palace, embraced by the ancient Roman walls of Ávila. This is a journey for those who seek more than just a destination – it’s for those in search of transformation, beauty, and meaning, wherever the road may lead.

• Dinner at a Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant featuring a zero-kilometre menu
• Cooking class with lunch and wine tasting
• Albariño wine tasting in an authentic castle in Rías Baixas
• Lunch at the foot of a castle with a themed menu
• Boat trip through the canyon of the Sil River – Ribeira Sacra
• Tasting of heroic wines at a winery in Ribeira Sacra
• Lunch in Ribeira Sacra with a zero-kilometre menu
• Authentic seafood lunch on the Costa da Morte
• Tasting of traditional Galician bread
• Tasting of Galician cheese
• Sampling of Galician empanada
• Wine tasting in Rueda
• Lunch at the foot of a castle with a bespoke menu
• Jamón cutting demonstration and tasting in the Salamanca region, renowned for its Protected Designation of Origin
• Lunch featuring nine refined dishes from a show-cooking session paired with wine
• Visits to four of Spain’s most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage cities
• Exploration of four of Spain’s finest wine regions
• Relaxation on three of Spain’s most stunning beaches
• Strolling through seven captivating towns of Galicia
• And, as always, a few delightful surprises along the way

7th – 14th June
21st – 28th June
6th – 13th September

*This journey does not require a minimum number of participants to take place.
*Galician Explorers & Castilian Connoisseurs is a programme that can also be organised privately for your family, friends, or corporate group.
*This programme can be extended with the upcoming Basque Culinary Scene experience, allowing for an immersive two-week summer adventure during the prime season to explore northern Spain, with a delightful detour into France.
*A deposit of one-third of the total cost is required upon booking, with the option to make two payments up to one month before departure.
*All our programmes are entirely original and crafted with care.

– Round-trip airfare Sofia – Málaga – Sofia with Bulgaria Air, including 10kg hand luggage and 23kg checked luggage
– All transfers as per the itinerary in a comfortable minibus with an accompanying guide and translation throughout the trip
– 1 night with breakfast in a 4-star hotel in Malaga
– 1 night with breakfast in a 4-star hotel in Seville
– 3 nights with breakfast in a 4-star hotel in Tavira, Portugal
– 2 nights with breakfast in Puerto de Santa Maria
– All entrance fees, tastings, and experiences mentioned in the programme
– All meals listed in the programme
– Travel insurance up to €10,000

– Additional charge for single accommodation – €360
– Personal expenses and all other meals not included in the programme
– Entrance fees to museums and other attractions not listed in the programme

Upon arrival at A Coruña airport, we embark on a panoramic tour of the harbour city, where charming traditional windows frame the coastal streets. From here, we journey to a hotel perched on the Atlantic shore, offering a refreshing welcome to the wild beauty of Galicia. After some leisure time to freshen up, we head to one of Spain’s most stunning lighthouses. Cape Finisterre – ts name derived from the Latin finis terrae, meaning ‘end of the earth’ – is said to be where everything ends and everything begins. Nestled on the rugged Costa da Morte, once believed to be the edge of the known world for millennia, we dine in an exceptional Michelin-recommended restaurant. Here, everything is proudly ‘kilometre zero’: every ingredient on the menu is sourced locally, and just outside the door, a ‘zero kilometre’ marker points to one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago. This is also our kilometre zero – the starting point of our journey. Though just beginning, our senses are already fully awakened.

Transitioning from ocean vistas to lush mountain landscapes, we arrive in the heart of Ribeira Sacra – meaning ‘Sacred River’. Aboard a private boat, we enjoy a tranquil one-hour cruise on the Sil River, absorbing stories of this storied land. The Romans first introduced grapevines here, and today locals honour their heritage by preserving the region’s treasures. We learn of the vital importance of sustainable agriculture, where quality triumphs over quantity. Grapes are handpicked from the steep slopes – a true ‘heroic wine’ production. Next, we enjoy lunch at a local bodega perched on a hillside, savouring traditional Galician fare crafted with farm-fresh produce and garden vegetables, accompanied by the estate’s own wines. After lunch, we visit a nearby village for a tasting of regional cheese before returning to Santiago de Compostela for a panoramic city tour. Here, consider a quirky alternative experience: imagine winning the Paris-Dakar rally without leaving the city. The ‘race’ begins near the cathedral at a tapas bar named Paris, where the challenge is to sample pinchos – the local tapas – in every establishment along the route, winding down to another bar called Dakar. It may be the slowest few kilometres you’ll ever travel, but the journey always ends in laughter and a victorious spirit.

The journey ahead will take around two hours, but is it worth it? Absolutely. We arrive at the legendary Cathedrals Beach (Playa de las Catedrales), celebrated as one of the world’s most spectacular shores by numerous respected publications. Towering rock arches soar over 30 metres high, sculpted by the relentless forces of nature into forms reminiscent of the buttresses and vaults of a Gothic cathedral. Our arrival is timed with precision to coincide with low tide, the only moment when you can stroll along this magical beach. For some, it’s simply astonishing; for others, deeply inspiring. There is no debate—it is endlessly photogenic, and we won’t pretend that one visit is ever enough. This is a place that beckons you to experience it again and again, not just tick off on a list. We have about an hour to immerse ourselves in its beauty before the returning tide erases our footprints, as if daring us to come back. For this day, we have resisted organising a lunch with an ocean view, choosing instead a detour for something more authentic. We will savour the ocean’s bounty in one of the finest local eateries – mussels, octopus, bread, olive oil—awakening every sense to the true flavours of Galicia. The remainder of the day is dedicated to the winding route back, revealing vistas that quite frankly take your breath away. We’ll pass through towns that seem frozen in time, while nature’s own rhythm pulses dynamically all around. Santiago awaits, curious to see if we’ve changed.

We continue along a picturesque wine route, home to some of Spain’s most esteemed bodegas. We stop to explore and sample the robust red wines of Toro, a dynamically developing and increasingly popular region known for its powerful reds. We pass through Rueda, the land of Spain’s most widely savoured white wine, Verdejo. Our journey culminates in the Ribera del Duero region. This river, the most significant in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, enriches the terroirs of many wine regions – including Rioja – and flows on to the Portuguese shore, where it is known as the Douro. We delve into the wine-making process and taste local vintages at an internationally acclaimed winery, remarkable not only for its premium wines but also for its avant-garde architecture, set beneath a medieval castle. Just a few steps away, we find the winery’s restaurant, where a la carte dishes typical of Ribera del Duero await us, perfectly paired with their renowned wines. After lunch, we wander through Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage city perched atop a high rock and encircled by rivers. The city impresses with its Roman aqueduct and medieval castle – said to have inspired Disney’s logo. About an hour from here lies our castle accommodation in Ávila.

When it comes to well-known tourist destinations, Ávila and Salamanca stand firm in preserving their authenticity, history, and spirit. Both cities, recognised as World Heritage sites, boast treasures around every corner. In the ancient university city of Salamanca, we discover thrilling architecture and a baroque plaza considered one of Spain’s finest, affectionately known as the locals’ ‘living room.’ Salamanca also holds the record for the highest number of city gardens, and we’ll visit one right in the city centre. It is the capital of one of the four Denominations of Origin for Iberian ham, and we’ll investigate what makes this ham so special and what characterises this region. We tour a top-class ham factory, explore its curing rooms, sample exquisite ham, and enjoy a show-cooking experience featuring a nine-course tasting menu with ham as the star, accompanied by a curated selection of regional wines. The afternoon is dedicated to Ávila. We enter through the city walls, jealously guarding monumental gems – the Gothic cathedral, a collection of Renaissance palaces from Ávila’s golden 16th century, Romanesque relics, and charming squares. We’ll take a tuk-tuk tour to uncover curious tales about the city. What everyone loves about Ávila is the tapas tradition – whether during aperitif or before dinner, tapas come free with your drink, though they can also be ordered à la carte.

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