Payment of bespoke program of private tours in Northern Spain | 28th of April – 12th of May | 2 pax

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Description and schedule of services
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28th of April: introductory walking tour of León city followed by a gastronomy and wine journey through its old Jewish quarter
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The Northern Spanish city of León is amongst the most elegant, vibrant and heritage-filled in the rather unexplored Spanish region of Castilla y León. Besides, León is a particularly interesting city in Northern Spain for food and wine lovers.

The city treasures some truly remarkable examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture in Spain as well as one of Gaudí’s most thought-provoking works. Also León is one of the main stops along the World Heritage pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and has a unique tapas and wines scene.
All this infuses the city with an irresistible energy, making it an ideal destination to learn about and experience the history, architecture, culture, gastronomy and wines from Northern Spain. This tour is aimed at offering an immersion into all these wonders that León has to offer, with a personal local expert.

9:30am: meet your personal local guide at your accommodation in León to start a private walking tour of León old town aimed at setting the context for your stay in the city. Your guide will give you an overview of the history and architecture of the city (excluding the landmarks that you will tour with Fresco) to later take you to probably its most impressive modern building: Casa Botines.

Built in neo-Gothic style between 1892 and 1893, this construction is an outstanding example of what Gaudí became capable of in the first stages of his brilliant career. Casa Botines is a building full of symbols that the Catalan architect conceived as a dragon: the dragon that waits outside the gates of the medieval city walls, asleep, ready to wake up. Your tour will uncover all its symbolism and meaning to later take you on a discovery journey of its Jewish quarter.

11:15am: upon arrival to the Jewish quarter, your guide will explain the circumstances that led to the arrival of the first Sephardic communities to León in the 10th century and how they turned the city into a prosperous settlement mostly because of the quality of its artisan works in leather and silver. Along the journey you will learn how these communities had to move from one part of the city to another while they faced different local conflicts that finally led to their expulsion in 1492.

12:15pm: after your introduction to the history and architecture of the city, you will start a discovery journey of its tapas and wines scene. Your León food and wine adventure will take you through the “Barrio Húmedo”. This translates as “the wet district” because it’s the area of the city with the biggest concentration of bars, pubs and taverns. The best tapas bars of León are also in this area and there’s no better way to discover and experience their food and wine wonders than hopping from one to another!.

Understanding how Spain works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the country. Food, conversation, wine, and laughter combine in perfect harmony around Spanish tables to make meals memorable. Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the country has to offer gastronomy-wise. They are small portions of food that people usually have as an appetizer be- fore a meal. However, especially when eating out, a meal can consist of several different tapas and this is what this part of the tour is about! Your host will take you on a tapas journey through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of the city, during which you’ll be able to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding drinks.

2:30pm: end of your tour back at your accommodation.

Overnight in Leon: airbnb located at Calle Alcázar de Toledo 1, León, Castilla y León 24001 (own arrangements)

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29th of April: day trip to the nature reserve of Babia y Luna with lunch in one of its villages
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Enjoy a full day discovering the natural park of Babia y Luna, a UNESCO biosphere reserve famous for its outstanding mountain landscapes, biodiversity, rich heritage and unique gastronomy.

Be taken by your personal mountain guide on an easy and pleasant hike of 6,5km around one of the rugged peaks of the natural park. Learn about the geological, wildlife and ethnographical uniqueness of the area while you also discover its very well preserved trenches, bunkers and defensive tunnels from the Spanish civil war. Top up for your day with a wonderful local lunch in a selected restaurant of the area.

8:30am: meet your personal mountain guide by the reception desk of your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable vehicle to the last inhabited village of the natural park of Babia (San Emiliano). Along the way, learn about the geography, landscape, culture and history of the Northern Spanish regions you will cross.

9:45am: upon arrival to the village, you will take a short walking tour along which you will notice and be explained about the architecture and landscape differences between the area where you departed from and San Emiliano’s. Then, you will be given the option to have a coffee and use the restroom before approaching the heart of the natural park by car first along an uphill dirt road of 4km and later on foot.

10:45am: your hike starts at the iconic hermitage of Santa María de las Nieves, a place of local pilgrimage and devotion. Then you will reach the iconic glacial valleys and limestone mountains of the natural park, while you also learn about the local farming and wild species that live in the area.

11:45pm: a highlight of this hike will be the very well preserved constructions from the Spanish civil war. The area of Babia hosted an important war front and you will understand why while you visit its bunkers, barricades and machine gun nests. Then you will be offered a light snack to recover some energy. This will include unique local delicacies including cured horse meat. During this break, you will get to learn about the elaboration process of this local treat.

1:15pm: end of your circular hike back at the hermitage and private transfer to a selected local restaurant for lunch.

1:45pm: arrival to the restaurant and traditional local lunch there. Babia has delicious local dishes based on Hispano-Bretón horse meat that you may want to try while you are explained about them by your personal local host.

3:15pm: private transfer from the restaurant back to your accommodation.

4:30pm: arrival to your accommodation and end of services for the day.

Overnight in Leon: airbnb located at Calle Alcázar de Toledo 1, León, Castilla y León 24001 (own arrangements)

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30th of April: day trip to discover the gastronomy and wine project of chef José Gordón in the village of Jimenez de Jamuz
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Considered the best meat restaurant in the world by renowned international food critics, Restaurante el Capricho is located in a remote village in the northern Spanish province of León, excavated on a clay hillside.

A place of pilgrimage for discerning meat lovers from all over the world, Restaurante El Capricho is the life project of local chef José Gordón, who remained loyal to his roots and developed with great passion a genuine gastronomy concept based on carefully selected oxen.

This exclusive experience will take you to visit the farm where José Gordón keeps his animals: the mythical, magical and mysterious oxen, which are the basis of all his work. From there, you will be taken to visit the cellars where the ox meat is cured exactly the same way it was cured 2000 years ago, to prepare “cecina”, a local delicacy from the area. Your discovery journey will then take you to another cellar where José Gordón ages his own wine and finally you will arrive to a unique cave where you will enjoy some appetizers cooked on fire as well as a wine tasting.

After this introduction to El Capricho, you will be escorted to your table at the restaurant to enjoy a degustation menu carefully curated by José Gordón himself for his most discerning guests.

10:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the ox farm of José Gordón.

11:30am: upon arrival to the farm, enjoy a private tour with José Gordón himself or a member of his team to learn all about the animals that are the origin of his gastronomy project. From there, visit the ox meat-curing cellars and the wine cellars too. Then, enjoy some appetizers and a wine tasting in an intimate cave before your degustation menu at the restaurant.

1pm: be escorted to your table to enjoy your degustation menu at the restaurant.

3pm: end of lunch and private transfer back to your accommodation in León.

4pm: arrival to your accommodation in León and end of services for the day.

Overnight in Leon: airbnb located at Calle Alcázar de Toledo 1, León, Castilla y León 24001 (own arrangements)

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12th of May: day trip from Santiago to Finisterre and Costa da Morte
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minivan to the stretch of Atlantic Coastline known as Costa da Morte. This is a stunning area in NorthWest Spain with impeccable white sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, green pastures, fishing villages and majestic lighthouses.

10:15am: upon arrival to Costa da Morte, you will be taken to visit the village of Muxia. This will make a perfect introduction to the architecture, geography and coastal charm of the area. During your stay in Muxia you will be taken to see the Sanctuary of a Virxe da Barca from where you will be able to contemplate panoramic views of the village and of the surrounding coastline.

From Muxia, you will take a scenic route towards the village of Finisterre to enjoy the beautiful coastal landscapes in this area and to also learn about the history of an extended route of the pilgrimage to Santiago that finishes 3km South of the village. You will walk these last 3km of the route from the village of Finisterre to the km0 marker near the majestic lighthouse of Finisterre.

After your introduction to the beautiful nature of this unique coastal area, you will be taken to enjoy its wonderful gastronomy in a selected local restaurant.

Then after lunch, you will continue your coastal route towards the village of Muros, where you will take a stroll to enjoy its main square, promenade and traditional Galician architecture before returning back to your accommodation.

4pm: transfer back from Muros back to your accommodation in Santiago.

5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Santiago and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Santiago: (own arrangements)

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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke program of private tours for a private group of 2 people is 2995 Euros

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This price includes
– A knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive private guide for your guided tour of León and for your full day trip to Costa da Morte from Santiago.
– All entrance tickets, admissions and tastings for all your guided tours.
– A tapas and wines lunch through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of León old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) on the 28th of April.
– Private transportation in a modern and comfortable vehicle (suited to the 4km dirt track you will have to drive on in the nature reserve in Babia) with your own personal driver – mountain guide and his assistant throughout the day for your day trip to the nature reserve of Babia.
– Light snack during your hike in the nature reserve of Babia including selected local produce from the area.
– Private transportation in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with your own personal driver to get from León to Restaurante el Capricho and back on the 30th of April.
– Private visit to the oxen farm of José Gordón with himself or a member of his team followed by a visit to his cecina curing cellars and to his wine cellar with a wine tasting and some appetizers there.
– Full degustation menu with wine at Restaurante El Capricho curated by José Gordón.
– Private transportation in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle throughout the journey for your day trip from Santiago de Compostela to Costa da Morte.
– Petrol and parkings.
– All taxes.

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This price excludes
– Lunch during your day trip to Babia and during your day trip to Costa da Morte (your personal local host will take you to a local restaurant serving quality regional food but the cost of lunch is not included. You can decide what to order following the recommendations of your hosts each day and then pay directly at the restaurants).
– Anything else not mentioned right above.

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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this tour program we require a 30% deposit of the grand total no later than the 10th of February 2023 via credit/debit card. The final 70% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the program.

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Grand total of this bespoke tour program: 2995 Euros

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30% deposit needed no later than the 10th of February to confirm the trip: 898,5 Euros.

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Final 70% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 2096,5 Euros

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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your tour program more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you cancel your tour program between 30 and 15 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the tour program.
– If you cancel your tour program between 14 and 7 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 75% of the full cost of the tour program.
– If you cancel your tour program 6 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the tour program.