TRAVEL ITINERARY & PRICING

Tuesday, 01 JULY 2008
Tour officially starts at 4:00 PM in the Lobby of the tour hotel.
Special Walking Tour in Old Madrid to places associated with author Ernest Hemingway.
Welcome Dinner with the tour leader at Antigua Casa Sobrino de BOTIN, Europe’s oldest restaurant (1725).
Overnight in Madrid at the Hotel Regina. (D)

Wednesday – 02 JULY – La Rioja
Travel by bus to the Rioja Alta wine region, where we’ll stop for a brief visit of the spectacular gothic cathedral in Burgos (884). This former capital of Castile and Leon was also home to the romantic hero El Cid. Lunch and overnight at Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a former 12th century pilgrims’ hospital, next to the cathedral, built by Saint Dominic to give shelter to pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela, and famous for their regional cuisine. (B, L)

Thursday – 03 JULY – La Rioja
Rioja area wine bodega tour and special lunch in Haro, a lively town that is the center of the Rioja Alta wine region.
Overnight in the Gothic town of Olite to stay at the Parador de Olite, housed in a section of the restored royal palace of the kings of Navarra. (B, L, D)

Friday – 04 July – Pamplona
Transfer to Pamplona. A City Tour of Pamplona is followed by a special
4th of July Celebration Dinner

Overnight at the Hotel Maisonave, in the center of Pamplona. (B, D)

Saturday – 05 JULY - Pamplona
Day in Pamplona to explore the city and the sites associated with the Fiesta de San Fermin. We’ll walk the route the bulls and runners will follow in the Encierros (Running of the Bulls). Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Maisonave. (B, D)

Sunday – 06 JULY – Pamplona – Burguete
12:00 Noon - Fiesta de San Fermin Chupinazo or Opening Celebration
Join the crowd in the plaza or view the ceremony from (balcony seats opposite City Hall available for additional fee).
Group Lunch

Afternoon attendance at the fiesta’s only Bullfight on Horseback (ticket included in price).

Transfer to the town of Burguete, check into the small, rustic inn made famous in the Ernest Hemingway novel, The Sun Also Rises. The inn is known for its excellent food and offers a respite from the noise and non-stop activity of Pamplona.
Dinner and Overnight at Hostal Burguete. (B, L, D)

TRAVEL NOTE: For those wishing to overnight in Pamplona for the Fiesta days of 6, 7 and 8 JULY, we can make your in-town arrangements at additional cost.

Monday – 07 JULY – Burguete - Pamplona
Our chartered bus will take participants to the Plaza del Castillo, main square of Pamplona, arriving by 7:00 AM (one hour trip).
8:00 AM - First Encierro or Running of the Bulls (Balcony Seats are available as an extra cost option).
12 Noon – View the Apartado, the daily sorting of the bulls into pens at the bullring for the afternoon bullfight (ticket included in price)
Group Lunch
Daily Parades and special events including the formal medieval Procession of San Fermin, where the effigy of San Fermin is carried from the cathedral through the streets of Pamplona accompanied by the famous Gigante figures and Cabezudos. (Tickets to the afternoon Bullfight are available as an additional cost option).
(9:00 PM) Transfer, (Late) Dinner, and Overnight in Burguete (B, L, D)

TRAVEL NOTE: Travelers planning to hike the Pilgrim’s Way on 08 JULY will return early to Burguete for a transfer to St. Jean Pied de Port, France

Tuesday - 08 JULY – Burguete - Pamplona – Roncesvalles
Day in Pamplona
Early morning transfer to Pamplona for those going to 2nd encierro - Running of the Bulls (Balcony seats available at additional cost). Opportunity to attend 2nd Apartado and bullfight (additional cost option). Return to Burguete for late dinner.

Hiking the Pyrenees Mountains
Those who choose to hike on this day from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Roncesvalles (Burguete) in Spain (approx. 27 kilometers over a Pyrenees Mountain pass) will complete the first and most spectacular leg of the ancient and still popular El Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James Pilgrimage), and can acquire official documentation (pilgrim’s carnet), and attend the pilgrim’s service at the Monastery of Roncesvalles.

Visiting the Irate River and Roncesvalles
Non-hikers not going into Pamplona can enjoy a visit to the Irati River, where Ernest Hemingway fished, and visit the Monastery of Roncesvalles, a key site on the Camino de Santiago and the site of the battle between Charlemagne’s rear guard and the Basques, that inspired the most important epic poem in French literature, “The Song of Roland.”
Dinner and overnight for all in Burguete. B, D)

Wednesday – 9 JULY – Burguete - Bilbao – Santillana del Mar
Transfer to the Basque city of Bilbao on the Rió Nervión to visit the famous Guggenheim Museum (modern art) designed by architect Frank Gehry (entrance fee included), (B)

Those on the 9-Day Tour will return to Madrid by train from Torrelavega (near Santillana del Mar) on July 10 or from Bilbao or Pamplona on July 09, depending on preference. Train tickets and overnight in Santillana del Mar July 09 or Madrid July 09 are included.

OPTIONAL TOUR EXTENSION: 10 – 13 JULY
Participants choosing the four day tour extension will travel from Bilbao to Santillana del Mar to spend the night in the beautifully preserved medieval village with an overnight at the Parador Gil Blas in Santillana, housed in a 15th century stone mansion on the Plaza Mayor.

Thursday – 10 JULY – Santillana del Mar – Leon
Enjoy Santillana del Mar in the morning. Afternoon travel to Leon, a former Roman camp turned medieval capital with time to enjoy the sites of this historical and picturesque city. Overnight at the spectacular Hostal (Parador)de San Marcos, an historic landmark along the “Way of St. James.” The cathedral is especially renowned for its stained glass. (B, D)

Friday – 11 JULY – Leon – Santiago de Compostela
Transfer into Galicia and the final destination of the famous pilgrimage route, Santiago de Compostela, the third most important place of Christian pilgrimage in the middle-ages after Jerusalem and Rome. Those who wish to hike the final stretch into Santiago may do so, and present their documentation at the majestic and towering Cathedral of Santiago (11th century) directly across the plaza from where the group will be staying at the incomparable Hostal (Parador) de Los Reyes Catolicos, inaugurated to house pilgrims in 1499, and considered to be one of the oldest operating hotels in Europe. According to legend, the remains of Saint James are buried in the cathedral. (B, D)

Saturday – 12 July – Santiago de Compostela
Free day to explore the narrow streets and old squares of Santiago.
Overnight at the Hostal (Parador) de los Reyes Catolicos. (B, D)

Sunday– 13 July – Santiago de Compostela – Madrid
Transfer to Madrid.
Farewell Dinner and Overnight in Madrid. (B, D)

Northern Spain Fiesta LAND Program Pricing - 2008:
9 DAY TOUR: 01- 09 JULY: To Be Announced
13 DAY TOUR: 01- 13 JULY:

Also Available in other convenient Travel Segments:
6 day - 04- 09 JULY:
10 day - 04- 13 JULY:
Tour Extension: 10 -13 JULY:
Persons joining the group for this portion, arrive Torre la Vega from Madrid (train ticket included) on 09 JULY

Single supplement prices on request.

TOUR INCLUDES:

Hotel Accommodations as indicated
Ground Transportation from Madrid and back to Madrid
Transfers as indicated
Meals as indicated
Tours and Museum Entrance Fee as indicated
Other Tickets as Indicated
Accompanying English Speaking Guide

Not Included:
International Airfare and airport departure taxes

Call Ernest Hemingway Travel Destinations for more info:
(800) 367 – 7378 or (847) 625 – 3529