An exclusive tour through the Spanish cider regions of Asturias and the Basque

Join Santa Barbara Cider Company for an exclusive tour through the Spanish cider regions of Asturias and the Basque. Spend 8 days traveling along the ‘Green Coast’, visiting renowned orchards, cider houses, and wineries. Learn about the historical and cultural impact of cider while exploring the picturesque villages that are home to one of Spain’s greatest gastronomic pleasures. From Oviedo to San Sebastian, visiting Spanish cheese caves, experiencing the art of cider throwing, a cooking class with a renowned local chef and so much more.

Date

Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2023

Year

2023

Group Size

12 - 16

Tour Escort

Day 1 to Day 8

Oviedo – Asiegu – Covadonga – Gijon – Llanes – Miradoiro de Ruiloba – Santillana del Mar Gil Blas – San Sebastion

  • Visit Museo de las Sidra, the Cider Museum of Asturias in Nava.
  • Explore the cheese caves in Asiegu, learning about the artisanal production of Cabrales.
  • Tour the parish of Covadonga, visiting the ethereal Santa Cueva de Nuestra Señora de Covadonga, the Holy Cave of Our Lady of Covadonga.
  • Enjoy a walking tour through Gijon, looking out over the Bay of Biscay, otherwise known as the ‘Green Coast.’
  • Experience the art of cider throwing at Sideria Trabanco, performed by a trained escanciador de sidra.
  • Taste artisanal ciders at a small apple orchard, connected with the ancient Route of Santiago.
  • Tour and tasting at  Sidra Cantabria, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and services of cider in the Cantabria region.
  • Indulge in pintxos while exploring their birthplace, San Sebastian.
  • Cooking class with a renowned local chef.
  • Visit a Txakoli winery.
  • Tour the Museum Sagardoetxea, and explore their orchard while learning about the process of making cider.

Terms and Conditions

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y7g1kE9XR9O5Tih2vZLWOeXyTQNQPhYc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111659621261105642786&rtpof=true&sd=true

Not included:

• Meals and beverages not mentioned above.

• Transfers except those mentioned above.

• City taxes.

• Gratuities.

• Travel insurance.

• International airfare.

• Anything that is not included in the above list.

Important Notes

• This trip is not suitable for people with mobility problems.

• Hotels’ availability has to be verified at time of booking and price may vary depending on its availability.

Disclaimer

Due to reasons beyond our control, the itinerary and activities may be subject to change without notice and be replaced with similar tours and activities of equal or greater value. 

What is included in the price?

• Hotels listed, including breakfast and VAT tax.

• All transfer services as per program.

• English-speaking guides on all days as per program.

• All cider house and winery visits, tastings shown in itinerary.

• All other activities as shown in the itinerary.

Day 1 – October 25, 2023
Welcome to Asturias!

Once you have arrived in Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias region, you will be transferred to your hotel. There you will then meet the group and your tour manager for a walking tour of the city. History has recorded that the city of Oviedo was established by two monks in 761. On your tour, you will see sights such as the Cathedral of San Salvador, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, a Roman Catholic Church, and a basilica in the center of Oviedo.

Drive along the beautiful north coast of Green Spain, stopping for a visit to Nava. Here you will explore the Museo de las Sidra, Cider Museum of Asturias.

Welcome dinner to be hosted in the Barrel, near what is known as Cider Blvd in Oviedo.

Overnight at Hotel Soho Boutique 3*, breakfast and tax included.

Day 2 – October 26, 2023
Apple Orchards in Picos de Europa

Today you will get to know the territory and learn the preeminence of the cider and cheese combination! After checkout, you will be transferred to the orchard country. There you will begin at the town of Asiegu with a walk through town, learning about the artisanal production of both (Cabrales) cheese and cider. You will then get to explore the maturation cheese caves.

Before heading to your hotel you will stop in the ethereal Covadonga, 1 of the 11 parishes in Cangas de Onis.

Dinner will be at the hotel, drinks included.

Beginning your two-night stay at Parador de Turismo de San Pedro de Villanueva en Cangas de Onis. Breakfast and taxes included.

Day 3 – October 27, 2023
Gijon – Llanes

Begin the day with a walking tour through Gijon, looking out over the Bay of Biscay, otherwise known as the ‘Green Coast.’ Afterward, you will go for a lunch experience at Sideria Trabanco with a cider-paired meal, including 3 different ciders. Famously known for the Asturian cider ‘throw’, a trained “escanciador” or cider server take’s the bottle with the right hand and lifts their arm above their head. Keeping a straight back and serious expression, the escanciador pours the cider from above their head into a special glass. The objective is to “break” the cider in the glass, giving it a quick injection of air bubbles.

That afternoon you will be transferred to the town of Llanes, where 2 brothers have a small apple orchard, connected with the ancient Route of Santiago, where they make artisanal cider. Explore the orchard on a tour where you will learn about the different varieties of apples and then participate in preparing them for subsequent pressing.

Return to the Parador.

Day 4 – October 28, 2023
Miradoiro de Ruiloba – Santillana del Mar Gil Blas

After hotel checkout, you’ll begin driving along the beautiful coastline, stopping in Miardoio de Ruiloba for a seaside lunch. Following lunch, you will be transferred to the charming village of Santillana del Mar Gil Blas, known as one of the most historically and artistically rich towns in Spain.

Your home for the night is Parador in what used to be the Barreda-Bracho family house, a late 17th-century Baroque building, which is faithful to the style of the manor houses in the town, with a gabled roof and the family coat of arms on the façade.

Day 5 – October 29, 2023
San Sebastian

Start the day with a morning visit to Sidra Cantabria, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and services of cider in the Catabria region. That afternoon you will be transferred to San Sebastian, known for its cobblestoned old town (Parte Vieja), upscale shops, and local wine bars. It’s renowned for its Basque cuisine and boasts the second most Michelin stars per capita in the world, behind only Kyoto. Home to the humble pintxo, it’s considered by many to be the greatest gastronomic destination in Spain.

Begin your 3-night stay at Hotel Arbaso, breakfast and tax included.

Day 6 – October 30, 2023
San Sebastian

After breakfast, take a guided tour through San Sebastian, exploring local markets and indulging in pintxos. Cider has quite a popular following in the Basque country, there they are very fond of drinking cider straight from chestnut barrels and pairing it with pintxos. Beginning as an adaptation of tapas, bar La Espiga in 1930 era San Sebastian began serving pintxos to bar patrons. Pintxos were displayed in the bar window to catch the appeal of those passing by. Due to their wild success, other bars in San Sebastian also began serving pintxos, thus born a tradition!

Lunch will be a cooking class hosted by a local renowned chef. In the afternoon you will visit a Txakoli winery for a tasting of the Basque regional wine.

Overnight Hotel Arbaso.

Day 7 – October 31, 2023
Astigarraga

Start your day with a visit to Museum Sagardoetxea, exploring the orchard, and enjoying a tasting. There you will learn about “txotx”, the practice of opening barrels. Indulge in a tasting of products from the 13 cidar cellars making up the Sagardum consortium. Learn about the ripening process and creation of cider while enjoying lunch at a local cider house.

Explore on your own for the afternoon. Overnight at Hotel Arbaso.

Day 8 – November 1, 2023
Farewell!

Breakfast at the hotel, then check out. Individual departure transfers with a driver to Bilbao, San Sebastian, or Biarritz Airport.