Monday, August 10, 2026 - Friday, August 21, 2026
Northern Spain,
International,
Spain
Spain's northern mountains and coastline make it an ideal destination for hiking tours during the summer months. While the rest of the Iberian Peninsula is baking in August, the north offers a moderate climate - pleasant during the day and refreshing at night. This twelve-day trip offers an active itinerary around the best-kept secrets of Spain´s northern regions. We will focus our hikes in the crown jewel for hiking, the Picos de Europa. This is one of the most impressive mountain ranges you may not have heard of. We will hike among dramatic limestone peaks and through lush valleys. We also have a few days to enjoy the verdant coastline and see the city of Bilbao and the beautiful countryside surrounding it. Expect breathtaking mountain and coastal scenery throughout as we hike a wide range of trails and historic pathways. Add wonderful Basque gastronomy, world-class wines and ciders, and the unique cultural aspects of the north and we have a well-rounded trip! A bonus of this trip is that it has been designed to coincide with the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse! Totality will pass through the Picos de Europa late in the afternoon on August 12. Our trip begins in the beautiful city of Bilbao. We will visit the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural gem known for its curvy, titanium-clad building. Some free time will allow Template Version 1.4 1.31.2024 independent exploration of this city with its quaint historic streets lined with boutiques and cafes, plazas, a cathedral, and five bridges linking the old and new towns. From there we will travel by private coach to Picos de Europa National Park, where we will have a chance to experience the total eclipse, enjoy six day-hikes, and absorb the local culture as we stay in small hotels in two beautiful mountain towns. Our final hike in this area may be one of the most spectacular in all of Spain as we walk on a narrow path cut into a cliff surrounded by towering limestone. The trail passes through about seventy tunnels carved into the rock. After our six days of hiking, we will travel to the coast to relax with an easy downriver kayak journey and end the trip with a minibus tour of the Basque region's natural and historic highlights. Excluding breaks, on the eight hiking days we will usually hike for five hours, between four and nine miles, and with a daily elevation gain between 700 and 3,100 feet. Participants should be in excellent shape and able to hike several days in a row. We will spend eleven nights in two and three-star hotels. For most of the trip, we will be accompanied by a local guide.
