another part of Spain

We had traveled through much of Spain, but not the northern area. If you want to see a different Spain, this is the trip for you. This trip encompasses climatic zones from the Mediterranean to the brown arid rain shadows of the Pyrenees to a green along the coast that will match Ireland. The trip is well paced and leaves just enough time for those with some energy and who like to explore a bit on their own via foot. The "old towns" in each city are unique and show another world centuries past. Go Ahead Tours made flight arrangements for us a week early so we spent a week before the tour in a Barcelona apartment we rented and were glad we did it. It is an amazing city, and also walkable. It takes time to really soak in the flavor and ambiance. The hotels on the tour were all located within or within walking distance of the old towns. We were lucky to have the knowledgeable and humorous Jesus Martin as tour guide. Exceptionally nice were the night foot explorations he led of the cities we visited. They were not part of the planned activities, just something he did for those who wanted to work off the dinner calories! This gave us a very different feel for the cities from daylight exploration. Jesus also arranged an unplanned optional to Biarritz, France for an afternoon out of San Sebastion and it was an added bonus. And how many travelers can say they had a tour guide who ran with the bulls in Pamplona - and lived to tell us about it? A surprise was that wine was provided with dinners. I also found wine incredibly inexpensive and available everywhere. Take a corkscrew! Some of the dinners needed wine, as the quality of them was a bit uneven. The bread and olive oil was sometimes the best thing! Don't count on butter, but who needs it? Breakfasts were good. Meals purchased on our own were all good! I didn't lose any weight. If you don't take the optional to Picos de Europa, there is little to do in the quaint Santillana del Mar. But, don't miss this optional.

Amazing Spain!

This trip was truly an amazing experience! The food, the culture, the architecture, the scenery - all stunning! Each city that we visited on this tour was so different than the last that each day offered a truly unique experience. From Guadi's architecture in Barcelona, to the beaches in San Sebastian, and the cobblestone streets and small shops in Santillana Del Mar - each destination was awe inspiring. I highly recommend this tour for the active traveler who does not like to see the world by bus. We were able to explore each destination by foot, and really experience all that Northern Spain has to offer!

Great trip!

We went on Goahead's Grand Tour of Spain two years ago. Northern Spain is different but just as interesting - it's much greener. Spain is a very clean country. We had the same guide, Jesus, for both trips - he's super! The food was great, the people are so friendly, and the history is fascinating. We went out of our comfort zone and ate octopus and squid (you don't have to try either) and enjoyed all the food so much. The picos of Europa are a must-do - they are breathtaking. Each city we went to was unique and had something to offer. We totally enjoyed the trip.

Great trip!

Sam was an incredible tour director. Great range of experiences. The visit to the Guggenheim museum in Bilboa was the highpoint for me. Love, love Barcelona and San Sebastian. Optional tour of Picos de Europa was thrilling. Great food, excellent seafood and tapas.

Barcelona and Northern Spain

Great tour! Just the right pace for active "older" adults. Good hotels, plentiful food, enough free time to make personal choices--shopping or sightseeing or resting--whatever one wants. Excellent value for the money.

Barcelona and Northern Spain

The places we visited were interesting, historic and beautiful. Enjoyed following the route and learning of the Pilgrims to the Cathedral. Food and wine were very good. Guide was well informed, helpful and kind to me as I experienced some dehydration. Some of the hotel choices could have been better. Fast paced trip.

northern spain

A great trip with a much different flavor from southern Spain. We enjoyed the Picos de Europa, a side trip well worth the expense if you enjoy spectacular mountains. San Sebastian is incredible! Being a holy year, the Way of St. James was packed with pilgrims which gave the trip a truly unique experience.

Great way to see Spain

I'd never traveled with Go Ahead and didn't really know what to expect. It was such a great experience and more than I could have hoped for. We had ample free time to do what we wanted. And the time spent with the group was time well spent. I love learning the history and nuance of where I visit and that's what Go Ahead provided. We especially loved our tour leader, Luis.

Worth the wait!

I had to wait 2 1/2 years to finally take this tour but it was worth it. I was thrilled to discover this often over looked part of Spain. The scenery was breathtaking and the art and architecture were world-class. San Sebastian was my favorite city but I enjoyed everywhere that we went. In fact, I didn't want to leave! I felt I could have stayed there forever! Our tour guide was also very helpful and fun, giving us all sorts of "trivia" as he called it. We had many engrossing discussions in the front of the tour bus comparing and contrasting Spain with the USA. It was fascinating! I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to go below the surface and see more of Spain. I have studied Spain for years-I am a Spanish teacher-but I still learned a great deal!

A Dream Trip Come True

Go Ahead must have a genius on its staff who planned the Barcelona and Northern Spain tour. Once we landed and toured the Gaudi architectural sites in Barcelona, we knew this trip would be different. We traveled through three different climate zones--the Mediterranean, continental, and Atlantic--where we viewed desert-like land, the lush Pyrenees and snow-capped Picos de Europa, and the ever-present sea in the northwest tip. The variety of the art and architectural wonders also delighted us. We saw replicas of the ancient cave paintings at Altamira, walked atop the old Roman walls of the city of Lugo, and marveled at the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art in Bilboa. The knowledge of our tour director about local culture and history seemed limitless. We were intrigued by accounts of Basque history and local customs, and we walked the route of the running of the bulls in Pamplona and saw pilgrims arriving at Santiago de Compostela. At the end of the day there was always the experience of excellent Spanish food, whether it be tapas or imaginative fish dishes. This was our second trip to Spain and we thought after the first, we'd never experience anything better, but this trip to the north was indeed "A Dream Trip Come True."