Gourmet Spain: Great Getaways for Gourmands

In the pretty village of Corteconcepción, meet an artisanal producer of Spain’s renowned Ibérico ham and sample his world-class jamón and homemade olive oil, while visiting his pig farm.Calling all foodies! Do you plan your vacations around great meals? Do you have a taste for epicurean adventure? Then whet your appetite on these great culinary getaways in Spain, a country known for its distinctive cuisine and wine. Whether a walking, biking, and motorcoach tour, there’s an option just right for you. Buen provecho!

Basque Cuisine and Rioja Wine

Join VBT’s 10-day “ Spain: Basque, Navarre and Rioja Wine Regions” biking tour as it reels through some of the country’s most distinctive culinary areas. Classic gastronomic opportunities await: Explore 12th-century San Sebastián and sample its outstanding restaurants, which rank the city as No. 2 in the world based on the number of Michelin stars per capita. Dine with the members of a txoko private gastronomic club. Explore beautiful Pamplona and enjoy the weekly juevintxo event, a Thursday-night feast of pintxos (the Basque form of tapas) washed down with a local wine or a caña, a small house beer on tap. Roam the medieval lanes of Laguardia in the Rioja wine region and sample vintages in one of the village’s few remaining underground wine cellars, where the San Pedro family has been making wines for more than 500 years. Indulge in a Michelin-star dinner in your Relais & Chateaux gastronomic hotel in Ezcaray. Sample Rioja wines in a bodega wine house near the 10th-century town of Haro then savor a private lunch in the middle of a scenic vineyard. All along the way, you’ll be cycling through small towns, rolling hills, fertile farmlands, and generations-old vineyards. Salud!

Iberico Ham and Olive Oil

Take an eight-day self-guided walking tour with Country Walkers, “ Spain: Andalusia & Seville,” and discover the hidden gems of southern Spain on a journey through Andalusia’s mountains, forests, and whitewashed villages. In Aracena, enjoy a tasting of the local goat cheese at the maker’s own shop. In the pretty village of Corteconcepción, meet an artisanal producer of Spain’s renowned Ibérico ham and sample his world-class jamón and homemade olive oil, while visiting his pig farm. Enjoy classic tapas along with fiery flamenco in the Moorish city of Seville, after visiting the magnificent Alcázar palace. Stay in a farmhouse hotel where you’ll be served a family-style meal in the kitchen. Stop in a private home in Alájar to sample the flavorful local olive oil. Near the picturesque village of Fuenteheridos, watch farmers producing honey, picking mushrooms, gathering chestnuts, or bringing their animals to graze on acorns. Such typical scenes will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

Urban Delights

Holiday Vacations’ 10-day “ Highlights of Spain” tour hits the country’s most iconic cities — from Madrid, Córdoba, and Seville to Granada, Valencia, and Barcelona. Visit world-class palaces, museums, plazas, and cathedrals as you’re guided through these grand destinations — with regional food a highlight at each. Enjoy local tapas at a special welcome dinner in Madrid. Visit an olive oil farm in Córdoba for tastings and to learn about harvesting olives and processing the oil. Stop for lunch and wine sampling at a bodega in the lovely town of Montilla in Andalucia, famous for Flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and majestic Andalusian horses. Dine on hearty paella, Spain’s national dish of rice and seafood, in Valencia, its birthplace. Join a local guide through the city’s historic center and its beautiful outdoor Mercado Central, one of the largest markets in Europe. Savor a memorable meal or two in the Mediterranean city of Barcelona, capital of the Catalan region and one of Spain’s culinary epicenters. Your taste buds will thank you.

How to Explore by Bike

VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations offer more than 55 deluxe, small-group bicycling, walking, and barge & sail vacations in 27 different countries and 10 U.S. states. They are the value leader in active biking vacations and have been rated among the “World’s Best Tour Operators” by the readers of Travel + Leisure for seven years. Each trip includes all accommodations, many meals, two expert local trip leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities, and full van support. Unlike other companies, VBT also includes round-trip international airfare from more than 30 U.S. cities and select Canadian cities for all overseas vacations. Visit vbt.com or call 800-245-3868 for more information.

How to Explore on Foot

For more than 39 years, Country Walkers has provided active, immersive, and unforgettable travel experiences on five continents. They offer two distinct ways to explore: scheduled, small-group Guided Walking Adventures and independent Self-Guided Walking Adventures. On tour, guests enjoy superb local cuisine, fine accommodations, and authentic cultural and natural encounters. Visit countrywalkers.com or call 800-234-6900 for more information.

How to Explore by Motorcoach

Holiday Vacations is one of America’s most reputable tour companies, with more than 45 years of experience. As a nationwide provider of air, rail, motorcoach,and cruise guided vacations to more than 65 destinations worldwide, their packages are inclusive of all airfare, fine hotels, meals and must-see attractions. Expert tour directors handle all travel details, assuring you a carefree and memorable vacation. Visit HolidayVacations.com for more information.For more travel experiences to Beautiful Places on Earth™ available from the Xanterra Travel Collection^® and its affiliated properties, visit xanterra.com/explore.