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Three Faces of Green Spain

Asturias, Burgos & the Basque Country
 
Explore the majestic mountains, spectacular canyons and rugged coastal scenery of northern Spain on this self-guided, three-centre walking holiday, with hire car included. Enjoy a choice of walks through contrasting landscapes and stay in accommodation of great character and atmosphere.
Three Faces of Green Spain. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Three Faces of Green Spain. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in northern Spain

Northern Spain possesses a haunting beauty. Soft spring rains water the mountains, carving out steep-sided, tree-clad valleys which plummet to the sea. Your journey begins in Asturias, where apple orchards and alpine pastures lie sandwiched between the majestic Picos de Europa and a dramatic but easily accessible coastline. This is a region of natural bounty, of lush grasslands, deciduous woodland and rich rural traditions; of sharp ciders, piquant cheeses and of some of the freshest seafood that you will ever taste.
Further east, in the little-known Zamanzas Valley in Burgos Province, are the headwaters of the mighty Ebro which, as it begins its epic journey to the Mediterranean, cuts a maze of sheer, honey-coloured canyons through the plateau. The hidden valleys and villages are astonishingly tranquil, the only sounds the mellifluous birdsong and, of course, the river. Beyond this stretch the vibrant lands of the Basques, a proud and progressive people keen to share their unique culture and glorious food. A string of lively fishing ports line the rugged coast, supplying Europe’s highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. Here, as in Asturias and the Zamanzas Valley, we have found some memorable and varied walking, as well as some truly special guesthouses, each reflecting the spirit of these three distinct corners.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for Spain for travel from 1 June onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current travel restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

We will contact customers who have a holiday booking with us in spring nearer the date of departure.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The proximity of mountains and sea means that the weather can change quite quickly. Sea mists are fairly common, particularly in the morning, but don't tend to linger long.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 11 13 13 16 19 22 25 24 24 20 15 12
    mm 123 102 95 121 90 63 52 81 71 107 142 129
  • Arrival in Collía
    Night 1: at Hotel Posada del Valle (the first of three nights here).

    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of walks from Collía: 5.5km to 22km
    The choice of walks is as wide as the scenery they explore – choose from lakeside paths, walks via authentic Asturian villages or trails through lunar landscapes of limestone crags. Many of the routes can be combined with visits to caves with prehistoric rock paintings, to pretty fishing villages, or to some of the pre-Romanesque churches which together have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    The Cares Gorge (grade 2): 22km, 7.5hrs
    The Cares Gorge (40mins by car) is one of the National Park’s ‘must-sees’. Also known as the Divine Gorge, it is surrounded by towering, craggy limestone peaks. A broad path has been carved out of the mountainside, an extraordinary feat of engineering. At first it remains high above the river, but the further you walk along the gorge, the closer you get to the water. If you walk all the way to Caín, the gorge opens up to reveal an unrivalled view of the jagged peaks at the heart of the Park. You return along the same route.

    Covadonga Lakes circuit (grade 1): 5.5km, 2hrs
    This is an easy circuit underfoot that enters the heart of the Picos from where you explore the shores of two glacial lakes. The drive up to the lakes is spectacular, first passing the sanctuary of Our Lady of Covadonga, and then the lovely viewing point of the Mirador de Reina over the Picos. If you have arrived early in the season and there is still snow on the higher routes, you may be able to combine this circuit with the lower reaches of the walk below.

    Lake Ercina to the Refugio de Ario (grade 3): 13km, 6hrs
    This is an excellent walk which takes you into the heart of the Picos de Europa. The waymarked path takes you rapidly away from the touristy areas around the lakes into the isolated heart of the mountains. At first you climb up to a meadow dotted with stone cabins once used by shepherds during the transhumance to summer pastures. From here a more demanding ascent draws you into a lunar landscape of limestone crags and pavements to finally reach a mountain refuge nestling in an elevated rocky bowl.

    Asturias village trail (grade 2): 15km, 5hrs
    This is a stunning walk, direct from the door, taking you into the heart of rural Asturias – through working farms, along verdant river valleys, passing authentic villages with many examples of the Asturian raised granary or hórreo – and a short but pretty train ride in the middle, between the villages of Arriondas and Sevares (Sebares).

    Mirador del Fito (grade 2-3): 10km, 3.5hrs; longer option: 14km, 6hrs
    This walk starts from the magnificent Fito Viewpoint, reached by taxi. Enjoy the panorama of coast and mountains before setting off across the flanks of three small peaks of the Sueve Sierra, enjoying views of the Picos de Europa and of the coast between Llanes and Gijón. You have the option of extending the route by climbing to the summit of Pico Pienzu (1,159 metres), a challenging ascent that is rewarded with another breathtaking panorama. If you are lucky, you may spot wild Asturcon ponies as you walk, but if not the sweeping views more than compensate.
    Around Collía
  • Collía to Barrio La Cuesta: 180km, 2.5hrs
    Today you drive east, to the little-known Zamanzas Valley in Burgos Province. We suggest a scenic route through the foothills of the Picos de Europa, with the option of visiting the Altamira Caves en route. Your base for the next three nights is the Molino del Canto, set on the banks of the Ebro.
  • Choice of walks from Barrio La Cuesta: 4.5km to 17.5km
    The mill’s restful atmosphere could easily lull you into inactivity, but it is well worth venturing out of the gorge to explore. We suggest a number of great walking routes during your stay here, accessed either from the door or by a short drive.

    Guided bird-watching walks
    Your host Xavier is a very enthusiastic and and experienced birdwatcher and we thoroughly recommend joining him on a bird-watching excursion, on which you may get to see dipper, kingfisher, golden eagle, chough and griffon and Egyptian vultures. He knows the English names of hundreds of bird species and can identify most by their song. With supplied binoculars or monoscope, Xavier will guarantee you see a good cross-section of the birds that live in these hills and valleys.

    Hills & Villages (grade 2): 11km, 3hrs
    This pleasant introductory walk takes you from the door of El Molino on a wander through the local villages, initially up the hill to Aylanes, via a ruined chapel, which sits below cliffs inhabited by Egyptian and Griffon vultures. From the village, you head down through woodland to Gallejones, and along the valley to Villanueva-Rampalay. After admiring the high-arching medieval bridge, you follow the river all the way back to the hotel, with plenty of birdwatching opportunities en route.

    Orbaneja loop (grade 2): 15.5km, 5hrs (grade 2); shorter option (grade 1-2): 4.5km, 1.5hrs
    This walk begins in the superbly pretty village of Orbaneja del Castillo, with a spectacular waterfall cascading through the centre of the village, and fantastic tall castle-like rock formations all around (hence its name). Take ancient drovers’ trails to climb from the village up to high, flat pastures and moorland, where you encounter unique chozos, or shepherds’ huts, and threshing floors. From here, there are great views over the winding River Ebro. While a short walk drops back down to the village again, our recommended longer option takes you through woods and pastures to descend to the nearby village of Villaescusa, from where you follow the wooded slopes of the River Ebro back to Orbaneja.

    The Pesquera de Ebro canyon (grade 2): 17.5km, 5.5hrs
    One of our favourite walks, this shows you almost everything that the canyons offer beginning with a lovely drive to the nearby village of Pesquera and the start of the walk. The outbound walk takes you through the quiet villages, small fields and atmospheric woodland of the high plateau, with regular views down into the spectacular canyon winding below. After refreshments in the riverside village of Valdelateja, you follow the river in the heart of the canyon all the way back to Pesquera, while vultures soar above.
    Around Barrio La Cuesta - bridge at Valdeteja
    Around Barrio La Cuesta - Orbaneja loop walk
  • Barrio La Cuesta to Getaria: 185km, 3hrs
    Leaving El Molino del Canto, you drive north-east, to the coastal village of Getaria and the Hotel Saiaz Getaria in the Basque Country. The quickest route is to take the motorway from Bilbao, but you may prefer to drive along the north coast instead (6hrs).
  • Choice of walks from Getaria: 7km to 14.5km
    Our suggested walks give you a taste of the region’s high green hills and vineyards, but the real drama is on the coast, where grassy slopes rise up to meet multi-coloured cliffs that plunge precipitously to the sea. The coast here is characterised by 'flysch' lines – layers of coloured sedimentary rock, sandstone and shale dating from the mid-cretaceous period (c.145 to 66 million years ago) which have then been turned 90o through tectonic activity, and are now visible as long parallel lines of rock running down sheer cliffs and straight out to sea. The first walk starts from the door, but the others are accesed by hire car.

    Zumaia to Deba (grade 2): 14.5km, 5hrs
    This is a truly wonderful walk, full of extraordinary coastal scenery, secluded farms and a remote hermitage. You drive to Zumaia railway station, then set out along clifftops with flysch lines on the beach below, ascending then descending from one dramatic bay to the next. The highlight comes with your arrival at Sakoneta Bay, a truly remarkable place and well worth time spent lingering over your picnic and simply taking in the views – the flysch lines here are fabulous. Walking partly on the Camino de Santiago you reach the town of Deba, dropping down from a hill-top hermitage which boasts views in both directions along the coast, in time for a well-earned drink before catching the train back to Zumaia (pay locally).

    Elorriaga circuit (grade 1-2): 11.5km, 3.5hrs
    This walk explores the open green countryside inland from Zumaia, with good views over the port and town, as you make your way to the remote village of Elorriaga, where you can enjoy refreshments in the small taverna (closed Wednesdays). Here, you swing back along the coast via a number of fabulous viewpoints of the unique rock formations, following part of the Zumaia to Deba walk (above) in reverse.

    Getaria to Zumaia circuit (grade 1-2): 12km, 4.5hrs
    This circuit to the west, directly out of the hotel, takes you through a hamlet with a hermitage and an abandoned pilgrims' inn, which were used for centuries on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrims’ route. Spend time exploring the delightful harbour of Zumaia and having lunch – or even enjoying a boat trip, perhaps – before returning through hillside vineyards and farmland.

    San Sebastián 'Town Trail' & walk to San Pedro (grade 1): 7km, 2hrs
    Take the train to San Sebastián (pay locally) and follow our 'Town Trail', taking in the port, riverside, old town and pintxos bars. You can also enjoy a walk over the headland past a lighthouse on your way to the nearby fishing village of San Pedro.

     
    Around Getaria - Flysch cliffs at Sakoneta
    Looking down on Getaria
 

Accommodation

Such is the charm of the accommodation that it is as important a feature of the holiday as the scenery and the walking. Indeed, these are very special places where you can be sure of a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 9 nights: 01 April 2021 - 31 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Apr - 23 May 2021 £1045 £380
    24 May - 30 Jun 2021 £1150 £425
    1 Jul - 23 Aug 2021 £1195 £430
    24 Aug - 22 Sep 2021 £1150 £425
    23 - 30 Sep 2021 £1120 £395
    1 - 22 Oct 2021 £1045 £380
    3rd & 4th person discount -£75
    Single traveller supplement £75

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 9 days' category B car hire (eg Seat Ibiza or similar with manual transmission)

    Drive time between the airport and the hotel: Bilbao out 2h30/home 1h, Asturias (Oviedo) out 1h20/home 4h, Santander out 1h45/home 2h

    We can also offer a self-drive option featuring Brittany Ferries from the UK; please contact us for details and prices

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    La Posada del Valle, Collía
    Larger: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £8
    Hotel Saiaz Getaria, Getaria
    Junior suite with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £45
    Sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £12
    Superior with sea view: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £32

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Extra night prices include an extra day's car hire
    La Posada del Valle, Collía (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Jun 2021 £100 £128
    01 Jul - 15 Sep 2021 £112 £142
    16 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £100 £128
    Molino del Canto, Barriolacuesta (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £110 £146
    Hotel Saiaz Getaria, Getaria (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 17 Apr 2021 £72 £122
    18 Apr - 01 May 2021 £85 £145
    02 May - 31 May 2021 £72 £122
    01 Jun - 30 Sep 2021 £85 £145
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 £72 £122
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bilbao, Asturias (Oviedo) or Santander

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Bilbao easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Santander Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Asturias (Oviedo) Vueling 
    Gatwick - Bilbao British Airways,  easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Asturias (Oviedo) via Madrid Iberia 
    Heathrow - Bilbao British Airways,  Iberia,  Vueling 
    Heathrow - Bilbao (via Madrid) Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Santander Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Asturias (Oviedo) (via Madrid) Iberia 
    Manchester - Bilbao easyJet 
    Manchester - Bilbao (via Barcelona) Iberia 
    Manchester - Bilbao (via Heathrow) Iberia 
    Manchester - Oviedo (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 6 dinners
    9 breakfasts
  • 9 days’ category B car hire
  • route notes and maps
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 19 reviews
  • Ms M Cordell
    USA
    21 September 2019

    If future clients want to take advantage of any of the prehistoric caves in Asturias, please suggest that they make reservations ahead of time. They book up quickly, even in what we thought was the off-season. We particularly enjoyed the small inns on this holiday. The meals in both Collia and Barriolacuesta were fantastic! Molino del Canto was such a special experience. We found Javier, Valvanera, and Carlota to be warm and welcoming, with good alternative hiking suggestions. The birding tour there is an absolute must! Getaria is an absolutely walkable and interesting town, especially the trail to the lighthouse. We ended up going to San Sebastian on a rainy day - and it was totally worth the visit as there were a number of very worthwhile sights. Most of the hikes had no facilities (or public restrooms) nearby. Be prepared!

  • Ms C Charlton
    North Shields
    01 September 2019

    This is an excellent holiday. The first hotel is very well run with excellent food and the owner is an experienced walker who can provide details of additional walks in the area as well as tips on the walks in the Inntravel pack. The second hotel is wonderful in a truly undiscovered and beautiful area, again the owner is very knowledgable about walks in the area. From the third hotel it is possible to visit San Sebastian which is a lovely city, we found it easy to get there by a direct bus service which runs every 30 mins (rather than by train as suggested in the pack as that involves driving to the next town). 

  • Mr P Laurence
    Leeds
    30 August 2019

    We had a stunning holiday experiencing the Three Faces of Green Spain in early September. We had warm sunshine for most of the trip and were able to do almost all of the walks suggested, each one of which was enjoyable in contrasting ways. Real variety of scenery and excellent food and accommodation in all three locations. As usual, the walking notes were exemplary, and the booking arrangements very smooth. 

  • Mrs A Scanlan
    Northampton
    19 August 2019

    Had a truly wonderful holiday and will definitely book with Inntravel again. The 3 different locations were an excellent contrast and allowed us to see the diversity of northern Spain.

  • Ms A Richardson
    Australia
    27 June 2019

    This was our first time with Inntravel and it was a delight.   Highlights for us were: the birdwatching tour with Javier at El Molino del Canto; the walks at Hotel Posada del Valle (and the food - lots of vegetables at last after a few weeks in Spain!); the amazing geomorphology at Zumaia.   Tip for travelling between Getaria and Zumaia - the bus is easy, quick and cheap.

  • Anon
    10 September 2018

    Three first class holidays in one!

    All the hotels were very comfortable and welcoming and the walking was superb.

    Our best ever Inntravel holiday. Thank you.

  • Ms M Golding
    Edinburgh
    01 September 2018

    The highlight for us was the stay in El Molino del Canto. Javier and Valvanera are incredibly welcoming and Valvanera's cooking was wonderful and plentiful! Possibly one of the best experiences we've had on a holiday. I would recommend taking a bird tour with Javier (again with a wonderful lunch!) - he's clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about his subject and has an amazing ability to spot birds from a distance which those of us on the tour just didn't see. We wish we had stayed an extra night or two there, instead of having 3 nights in Getaria, as it was so peaceful and there were lots of great walking in the area. The 1hr 30min walk from Obaneja del Castillo up to the plateau and back is particularly nice in the evening as the light is perfect and it's not quite so warm. On the 17.7km walk, Pesquera del Ebro we had a really nice, reasonably priced lunch at the midway point in Valdelateja (if you want to eat outside you need to go into the bar to order and bring your food out yourself as they only do table service inside).

    In Getaria we liked the pintxo bars - Kusa and Politena, which were excellent but unfortunately closed for most of the time we were there (Mon to Wed) so we only got to eat/drink in each once. A trip to one of the many txacoli vineyards in the hills around Getaria is recommended although you do need to book in advance (at least 48 hours). Having had no luck getting a slot on a tour we went to a couple of vineyards just to buy some cases of wine and got lucky at Txomin Etxaniz as we were there just as a tour was starting and they had a couple of people drop out. 

     

     

  • Ms C Harris
    Nottingham
    09 July 2018

    Overall a lovely introduction to the area of northern Spain with some great walking highlights. The hotels were contrasting and we feel we would like to return and discover these areas further.

  • Dr J Murdoch
    Peebles
    08 July 2018

    This was a very enjoyable holiday with an excellent selction of locations and hotels. The scenery was magnificent and our stay at Molino del Canto was unforgettable. The walks were very varied and the notes made them easy to follow. All arrangements went smoothly, and the staff in all three hotels could not have been more helpful.

  • Anon
    01 July 2018

    The three centres all provided a very different experience in terms of accommodation, walking terrain and activities in the areas. As all good holidays we wished we could have stayed longer.

  • Mr J Treble
    Bradford-on-avon
    19 June 2018

    We loved our holiday which visited 3 quite different areas with 3 different styles of accommodation, each having its particular strengths. It was good to be able to tailor your walking to your own abilities, preferences and the weather while Inntravel's comprehensive walking information made the all the walks easy to follow.

  • Anon
    18 June 2018

    We loved this part of Spain having never been before. The choice of locations for the three hotels was excellent, so varied giving very different experiences but all good in their own way. Highlights for us were the food at Posada del Valle and the warmth of the welcome and care of Javier and especially Valvanera At Barrio La Cuesta. We enjoyed the variety of walking and the lengths of walk were about right for us.

     

  • Mr A Reynolds
    Kingsbridge
    01 June 2018

    We enjoyed the opportunity to experience 3 different areas of northern Spain, and the 3 hotels complemented each other perfectly. The peaceful setting of El Molino and the variety of walks available particularly stood out. We would highly recommend a guided birding trip with Javier, whose knowledge and enthusiasm were outstanding. We are not bird-watchers, but really enjoyed the chance to learn from him. La Pasada del Valle extended a very warm welcome, and offered a huge variety of walks. No wonder most of the other guests had stayed before. It was worth upgrading our room at Getaria for the sea view and beautiful sunsets. We would recommend taking the train to San Sebastian to enjoy the pintxos (and everything else). The food was outstanding at both El Molina and La Pasada del Valle. In Getaria, there were plenty of good restaurants to eat at. We enjoyed watching the fishing fleet preparing to set sail whilst we ate. The drives between each hotel was not an issue. We preferred to take the scenic route rather than the motorways, and the Spanish roads are generally quiet, wide and pot-hole free!

  • Anon
    15 May 2018

    Glorious area to explore on foot and we thoroughly appreciated the variety of locations and walks offered.  Accommodation lived up to expectations - and we ate so well!  In mid-May the spring flowers were a pure delight, and whilst still seeing snow on the mountain tops we walked in pleasant temperatures every day.

  • Mr R Moore
    Barnstaple
    13 May 2018

    The whole holiday was great. Loved the birding with Javier at Molino del Canto.

  • Mr W Hoffman
    USA
    10 May 2018

    We really enjoy your holidays. Of course, we love Spain. Tomorrow we are going to Venice where 5 cruise ships are calling. Wish us luck.

  • Anon
    10 May 2018

    Once again Inntravel doesn't disappoint.  A marvellous varied, itinerary in a very special area of Spain.  We loved the remoteness, views and lack of other visitors which meant the locals weren't jaded with tourists and were happy to chat.  Also loved that most of the walks werent accessible by car - ie the canyon walk around Pesquera.  This walk is stunning for the views and wildflowers.  Also walk 3 from Getaria - circular walk from Zumaia is suggested to be an easy option.  Well it isnt really!  Again stunning views and lovely wildflowers at the end.  

  • Anon
    08 May 2018

    We loved the care taken with the food at La Posada del Valle and recommend drinking the local cider there which is more like an apple wine. Nigel took care to ask everyone where they were walking to and made sure they had maps and instructions. It is a beautiful location - the view from our bedroom window was a verdant panorama.

    We had a whole day birding with Javier at El Molino which was really amazing - he has a wealth of knowledge and such enthusiasm. Watching an Egyptian vulture as we ate our picnic lunch was a special moment. He also took photos and emailed them to me with a list of the birds we'd seen. He and Valvanera are most welcoming hosts and generous with their food.

    This was a truly special holiday! The weather in May was perfect for walking and the wild flowers were prolific.

  • Mr A O'Loughlin
    Guildford
    30 April 2018

    Lovely area to walk in. Very varied holiday but a lot of driving!
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 3/3/2021 9:28:22 PM