Exclusively for Solo Travellers Your Own Room Always Visit Amazing Destinations ITINERARY BESPOKE GASTRONOMY TOUR INCLUDING ALL MEALS UNCORKED 9 DAY SOLO TOUR: JULY-AUGUST 2020
Savour delicious fresh food at traditional local restaurants. Be amazed by the beauty of the most elegant town in the Atlantic Coast. Enjoy exclusive access to some of the oldest wineries in Spain. Imagine yourself sleeping in a medieval castle in the middle of the Spanish countryside. Picture yourself discovering the secrets of Spain s world-famous wine regions Rioja & Ribera del Duero. Brush shoulders with the locals to taste delicious tapas & pintxos during guided bar visits. Be amazed by the beauty of some of Spain s best buildings designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry. Pour cider like a local during a cider house tour paired with delicious traditional Basque food. A laid-back pace with free time to relax. Plenty of scrumptious local food and wine as well as time to really appreciate the dining experience. All meals at Michelin-starred, signature and traditional restaurants and all other meals as indicated (7 lunches & 8 dinners) with wines and drinks included. This truly is a culinary feast for the senses. Will you join us? THINKING OF EXTENDING YOUR STAY? Options available are pre and post tour accommodation in both Madrid and San Sebastian. The Two s a Crowd booking team can also organise a short package in Barcelona, for you to soak up some extra Spanish culture. 2
Day 1 - Friday 14th August, 2020 ARRIVE MADRID- RIBERA DEL DUERO (D) Upon arrival into Madrid airport you will be welcomed by your guide and escorted to a private vehicle. Then you will enjoy a scenic drive to the Spanish countryside across Spain s worldfamous wine region Ribera del Duero. At the heart of Ribera del Duero is the Golden Mile of this wine region, where some of the best European wines are produced, Here we sleep in one the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries of the 12th century. The whole property is a Spanish dream with clean stone walls, French oak floors and Berber rugs throughout, the effect is warm and inviting despite the large scale of the property. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon enjoying the splendid property and its grounds at your own leisure. For dinner you will savour local specialities at the hotel s à-la-carte restaurant. Convento Las Claras, in Ribera Del Duero (4 star) Day 2 - Saturday 15th August, 2020 RIBERA DEL DUERO (B,L,D) After a full delicious breakfast your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel for a day of exploring the region. Enjoy breathtaking views as we drive through the vineyards, discovering world-famous wineries along the Golden Mile. You will visit Abadia Retuerta, a hidden gem for a wine lover among the string of exclusive wine estates found along the Duero river that crosses Northern Spain. A visit to Abadía Retuerta is more than just a winery tour: you ll immediately realise that you are in a very special place: an estate steeped in history, a unique terroir, which has been carefully cherished over the years. You will go for a 4 4 private tour of the estate and the vineyards. After a lovely ride through the vines you will learn how wines are produced inside the winery followed by a guided wine tasting of Abadia Retuerta s famous wines. Next we will be driven to Peñafiel, the heart of this wine region. We will visit Peñafiel s castle, at the top of a hill and with commanding views over the vineyards, is a must when visiting this region. Your gastronomic journey begins with an opportunity to sample the signature dish of the Ribera del Duero region, roast lamb slow-cooked using a centuries old technique, the local name is Lechazo. A selection of a-la-carte starters of local specialities will complement this fantastic meal. Of course, your meal would not be complete without an accompanying red wine from the region. After lunch you will be driven back to the hotel to relax for the remainder of the day. For dinner, you will indulge further at the hotel à-la-carte restaurant. Convento Las Claras, in Ribera Del Duero (4 star) 3
Day 3 - Sunday 16th August, 2020 RIBERA DEL DUERO - RIOJA (B,L,D) After breakfast, your driver will pick you up for your hotel to drive you to another wine region (2h 15 min). La Rioja is without a doubt Spain s most beautiful wine region and an absolute treat for the food and wine lover! The landscapes are of gentle rolling vineyard-covered hills, pretty medieval hamlets and the backdrop of the majestic Cantabrian Mountains. You will enjoy a guided visit of Lopez de Heredia-Viña Tondonia winery, one of the oldest in La Rioja. The strategic situation of their vineyards, the exceptional quality of the plantings, and the varieties used are essentially complemented by a magnificent winery, whose creation process was similar to the planting of the vineyards: slowly, with maximum care and attention. Among other features, the R. López de Heredia-Viña Tondonia winery is noted for being one of the few bodegas in the world with its own traditionally crafted cooperage with 3 master coopers constructing and repairing a hundred percent of the barrels they use. Their wines are internationally recognised as one of the most unique of the region. You will sample them in a beautiful setting inside the winery. After an unforgettable visit for the wine aficionado, you will be escorted to Haro s old town for an intimate lunch surrounded by the old walls of an imposing Augustinian monastery. The Claustro de Los Agustinos restaurant will offer to you a varied selection of products: from a casual meal of tapas and morsels prepared on the spot to the most elaborate dishes of modern cuisine. You will have the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure to explore the ancient town of Haro and its centuryold wineries. For dinner, you will indulge yourself in the hotel s a-la-carte restaurant and you will try some of the most delicious wines Rioja produces in the area. Los Agustinos Haro, in Rioja (4 star) Day 4 - Monday 17th August, 2020 RIOJA (B,L,D) After an invigorating sleep and a full breakfast, you will be driven to Elciego (15 min) to visit probably the most spectacular winery in the region: Marqués de Riscal. Founded in the mid-18th Century, Marqués de Riscal is steeped in tradition, being one of the proudest and oldest wineries in Spain, yet it has never rested on its laurels, always keeping an eagle eye on the future; an outlook arguably exemplified no better than its stunning, Frank Gehry-designed winery a ground-breaker of its time. You will enjoy a visit of the winery and wine tasting of its world-famous wines. Next to the winery, you will find probably the most beautiful town of the Rioja region, LaGuardia. Built at the beginning of the 13th century, the whole urban centre of Laguardia is enclosed by walls. You will enjoy lunch at one of the most traditional restaurants in town with delicious delicacies from the fertile surroundings. After lunch you may want to enjoy a peaceful stroll around the town centre as it constitutes an interesting historic and artistic site. As you walk you may stop in any of its numerous cellars to taste or buy some of the magnificent local wines. In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to your hotel to relax for the rest of the day. For dinner, you will indulge yourself in the hotel s à-lacarte restaurant. Los Agustinos Haro, in Rioja (4 star) 4
Day 5 - Tuesday 18th August, 2020 RIOJA- OLITE (B,L,D) After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to drive you across the Spanish countryside (1h 30 min). Today you will be part of an unforgettable experience. Have you ever slept in Castle with more than 600 years of history? Today will be be your chance. Welcome to Olite, a small town in the centre of Navarre just 42 kilometres south of Pamplona that was the seat of the Royal Court of the kingdom in the Middle Ages. The town will take you back to an era of tournaments, kings and princesses, wizards and jugglers, falconers and archers. The sleek and harmonious silhouette of the Castle-Palace stands out against the skyline of Olite. The thick walls and crenellated towers of the Palace were home to monarchs and princes. Declared a national monument in 1925, it is the best example of civil Gothic architecture in Navarre and one of the most notable in Europe. A walk through the narrow streets of Olite will take you past noble stone houses with coats or arms on their facades and grandiose wooden eaves, medieval galleries and splendid churches, and the Roman wall surrounding the town. You will enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant followed by a guided afternoon visit to the Castle-Palace before relaxing in the comfort of your room. Tonight, you will sleep in the Parador de Olite, a hotel located within stone walls that conceal medieval treasures, in a section of the majestic Palace-Castle of Olite. The hotel common areas and some of the guest rooms are located inside the palace, where the interior offers amazing stained glass windows, arcades and other characteristic medieval features. For dinner, you will enjoy a traditional meal in the hotel s restaurant. The brick columns and arches in the dining room are an excellent showcase for local ingredients and dishes such as Navarre asparagus, piquillo peppers, cordero al chilindrón (lamb in tomato and pepper sauce) and bacalao ajoarriero (cod in garlic pepper sauce). You can savor fresh produce from the farms of Navarre, including artichokes, asparagus and pocha beans. Accommodation: Your own double room at Parador de Olite, in Olite (4 star) IRAN ADVENTURE 5
Day 6 - Wednesday 19th August, 2020 OLITE- PAMPALONA (B,L,D) After breakfast, and with some time to admire Olite s castle in the morning, you will be picked up by your driver to continue the journey up to Pamplona (40 min), the capital of the Navarra region and a remarkable stop in the Camino de Santiago. A charming city which owes most of its fame to its adopted son, Ernest Hemingway, who spent a considerable amount of time in Navarra during the Spanish Civil War and was a big fan of the San Fermín Festival where the exhilarating Running of the Bulls takes place. But Pamplona has more to offer such as its beautiful Old Town. You will enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant in Pamplona s old town. After lunch you will have time to discover the cobblestone streets of Pamplona and you can follow the steps of the Running of the Bulls festival up to the Bullfighting Arena. For dinner, you will indulge yourself in a fine dining experience in probably one of the best restaurants in the city where you will discover the freshness of the local produce this region offers in a beautiful setting. Europa, in Pamplona (4 star) Please Note: this solos tour will not be in Pampalona while the Running Of The Bulls Festival is on. Day 7 - Thursday 20th August, 2020 PAMPALONA- SAN SEBASTIAN (B,L,D) This morning, after a delicious breakfast, you will be driven to another of Spanish landmark: the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao designed by the world-famous architect Frank Gehry. After the drive (2h), you will arrive in Bilbao, the heart of the Basque Country, a vibrant city where traditions and cutting-edge architecture live in perfect harmony. You will enjoy a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, a spectacular exhibition centre at the heart of the city. For lunch, you will enjoy a traditional a-la-carte Basque restaurant where you can sample one of the Basque specialities like kokotxas, croquettes, steak or cod Basque style. After lunch you will be driven to your next stop in this epicurean journey (1h 15 min) : San Sebastian, the pearl of the Cantabrian sea, is the most elegant coastal town in Spain, with influences of the French Riviera. In the late 19th century the seaside town, on the southern point of the Bay of Biscay, became a favourite destination for royalty and aristocrats who came to enjoy the sunshine and newly recognized therapeutic properties of sea bathing. A traditional afternoon stroll along the boardwalk offered an opportunity to see and be seen while the many cafés and open-air terraces were filled with high society. San Sebastian had passed from being a sleepy fishing village into a thriving cosmopolitan town requiring luxurious, modern facilities to meet the demands of its discerning guests. Serendipitously this urban blossoming occurred at the height of the Belle Époque era, and today most buildings flanking the famed La Concha beach, including the city hall, Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the Hotel Maria Cristina are constructed in this style. For dinner, you will enjoy the lively atmosphere of San Sebastian during a traditional meal in a Basque restaurant to savour delicious local specialities. Silken Amara Plaza, in San Sebastian (4 star) IRAN ADVENTURE 6
Day 8 - Friday 21st August, 2020 SAN SEBASTAIN (B,L,D) After a delicious breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and you will enjoy a walking tour around this magnificent town. The striking beauty of San Sebastian s mountains and beaches is its calling card. You will experience it in a fuller way with this tour, which gives you a more in-depth taste of the city s eye candy. You will stroll with your private guide through the Old Town s endless narrow streets, learn about architecture, history, and of course the famous food culture of San Sebastian in situ, passing by famous landmarks, churches, plazas and bars. You will enjoy a walking tour starting with the central farmers market, where you can feel the freshness of the produce they sell in a lively market where locals gather every day to buy their food. This is slow food at its best. For lunch, you will be guided to the most interesting spots to sample pintxos during a bar crawl. You will taste innovative pintxos made with local ingredients as well as the most traditional bites. After lunch you will enjoy a stroll along San Sebastian beach where you can stop in a bar for a coffee or a drink. Basque Country is a big producer of apple cider. Tonight we will enjoy our last evening surrounded by cider, wine and Basque gastronomy! Our farewell includes a guided tour of a traditional cider house followed by a magnificent traditional menu, which includes chorizo sausage cooked in cider, salt cod omelette, salt cod with peppers, bone-in ribeye steak, Basque cheese, quince jelly, walnuts, almond tiles and cigarettes from Tolosa. All washed down with either local Spanish wines, or the cider- served directly from the kupela or barrel in true txotx ritual fashion. Accommodation: Your own own double room at Hotel Silken Amara Plaza, in San Sebastian (4 star) Day 9 - Saturday 22nd August, 2020 SAN SEBASTAIN DEPARTURE (B) After breakfast our tour ends as we transfer to the airport, for either our flight home or onwards. For further adventures with Two s a Crowd, the Budapest - Amsterdam solos River Cruise starts on the 23rd August 2020. Alternately, we can organise you with additional nights in San Sebastian or Barcelona, so that you can stay and enjoy the gastronomy of the Spanish culture for longer! IRAN ADVENTURE 7
TOUR PRICE: A$7,835 PLUS INTERNATIONAL AIRFARES AND TAXES TOUR DATES: 14TH - 22ND AUGUST 2020 Tour Inclusions: Two s a Crowd Tour Host to escort you throughout All hotel accommodation in your own double room 2 nights RIBERA DEL DUERO Hotel Convento Las Claras 4* 2 nights RIOJA Hotel Los Agustinos Haro 4* 1 night OLITE Parador de Olite 4* 1 night PAMPLONA Hotel Europa 4* 2 nights SAN SEBASTIAN Hotel Silken Amara Plaza 4* Daily breakfast at all the hotels. All meals at Michelin-starred, signature and traditional restaurants and all other meals as indicated (7 lunches & 8 dinners) with wines and drinks included. All transportation from airport pickup to drop-off in a chauffeured air-conditioned brand-new minibus. Your safety and comfort are paramount. You will enjoy touring Northern Spain in safety, comfort and style. Local English-speaking guide during the whole trip (translator services and assistance at restaurants, hotels & experiences. We will break the language barrier for you, so you can get the most out of your experiences during your trip) All the experiences, visits and activities included in the itinerary. 24h concierge service during the whole trip. All baggage transportation. All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service. All currently applicable Spanish Govt. imposed taxes. Comprehensive Travel Insurance with CHI Travel Insurance (Underwritten by Allianz) or QBE. Additional premium may be payable if over 69 years, have an existing medical condition or wish to extend your travel dates. Refer to the CHI or QBE PDS for more information on policy terms and conditions Tour Exclusions: International flights and taxes. Visas (if required) Services and meals if not mentioned in itinerary as included. Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, telephone calls and other expenditures of an individual nature. NEED MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT THE TEAM: ( P hone: 1300 55 45 01 (AUS) or 0800 895 145 (NZ) Email: team@twosacrowd.com.au ABOUT TWO S A CROWD: We are an award winning tour company exclusively dedicated to the needs of solo travellers. At Two s a Crowd, single and solo travellers have access to fantastic itineraries at great prices without ever feeling like a third wheel to someone else s private getaway. Our travellers enjoy the best of both worlds: private time, personalised attention, low single supplements, as well as the camaraderie of like-minded travellers. For your peace of mind we are ATAS accredited (No A13850). Our commitment is to make solo travel more enjoyable and affordable. Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person and based on sole use rooms throughout Pricing correct at March 2019 and is subject to change until paid in full. Refer to our website for full terms and conditions. 2019 Travel Passion Pty Ltd ABN 32 140 754 856 trading as Two s a Crowd. Two s a Crowd and the disk logo are registered trademarks of Travel Passion Pty Ltd. Issued: 01/03/2019 8