1600 EURO PER PERSON
Grab your hiking boots and a good novel and join us on this unique journey in the mountains of Asturias in Northern Spain! Each day will begin with a hearty breakfast prepared by your hosts Juan Carlos and Judy. This dynamic duo has lovingly restored a 15th Century farmhouse into a beautiful rural hotel, your home away from home for this wonderful week. Pack you small daypack and away we go! We will follow local hiking trails along established footpaths, ancient trade routes, through narrow canyons, over mountain passes, along the Senda del Oso (a converted rail track) and into the lake district of Somiedo National Park. Plan to hike approximately 8 to 10 miles per day enjoying the tranquility of the surrounding area. Two evening cooking demonstration by Juan Carlos are included.
What’s Included
- All transportation during the weeklong adventure
- 7 nights of hotel rooms with private bathrooms (limited single rooms available)
- Guided walks in the surrounding mountains and river valleys with bi-lingual guide
- Healthy breakfasts
- 5 delicious home-cooked meals from the garden with wine
- Light hands-on cooking classes with Chef Juan Carlos
**All activities are optional… You can do everything or nothing at all!!
Itinerary
Day 1: Quiros
A Spanish Steps representative will meet you at the bus station in Oviedo, Spain. We recommend you sleep one night in Oviedo to enjoy this beautiful city. Upon meeting you in Oviedo, we will then head south through the Trubia River Valley Basin in the Ubinas Mountains, part of the massive Cordillera Cantabrica Mountain range. There we will walk along part of the Senda del Oso (Bear Trail), a 30-kilometer footpath recently converted from rail tracks into Via Verdes, or Greenways, for the pleasure of walking in nature. The Casa Rural de Fuentes de Lucia, a recently converted farmhouse, in the Hamlet of Faedo, will be our home for the week. It is set on a hillside of this lovely, green valley. (5-10 kilometers, Dinner included)
Day 2: Quiros
A narrow footpath out the backdoor of our rural hotel will be the start of our morning walking trail. Along the way, we will explore three grain mills, each one over 200 years old. After lunch we will explore the surrounding villages and walk along the Senda del Oso. (5-10 kilometers, Breakfast and dinner included.)
Day 3 – Senda del Oso
From Barzana, we will follow another branch of the Senda del Oso to the small town of Terverga. From there, a drive to the top of a pass will reveal the spectacular views of Puerto de Ventana. If the Cave of La Huerta is open, we will visit it. From the top of the pass, it is all downhill into Quiros. (16-20 kilometers, Breakfast is included.)
Day 4 – Somiedo
A 45-minute drive will take us into the heart of Somiedo National Park, a seldom visited park sharing its border with Castilla y Leon. The complete isolation of this area makes it seem as if time were standing still. This area was declared a natural park in 1988 due to its diverse landscape of flora and fauna and it is recognized today as a wildlife reserve for tis environmental variety and preservation of tradition. (15 kilometers, Breakfast and Dinner included)
Day 5 – San Esteban Pravia to Playa Aguilar
Let’s treat ourselves to a day at the beach. A pleasant drive along the Trubia River to the Nalon River will lead us to the town of San Estaben where these rivers finally meet the sea. Climb the steps to the top of the high coast and follow a trail to the beach of Playa Aguilar.
Day 6: Las Xanas
In the town of Villanueva, we will follow a route up and into a gorge called El Desfiladero de Las Xanas. Climbing steadily, a well-planned path hugging the sides of this canyon will take us up to the hamlet of Pedrobayo where we’ll feast on a lunch of the famous Asturian bean stew, Fabada. After a short siesta under a tree (weather permitting) we’ll follow another path that leads us back to the start of this trail. (12 kilometers, Breakfast included)
Day 7: Bermiego to Salcedo
From the hamlet of Bermiego, famous for its decorative horreos (corn cribs), we will set out on an adventure through the Ubino mountains to the small village of Salcedo. From Salcedo, we’ll continue to Barzana where we’ll dine on hearty local cuisine. (12 kilometers, Breakfast included)
Day 8: Return to Oviedo
After breakfast, we will drive you to Oviedo to arrive by 10 am.
Location
Gallery
FAQs
How many miles do we hike per day?
We average between 10-15 kilometers per day. A lot depends on the group dynamics and how much you would like to walk. I encourage people to ride in the van if feeling fatigued or to walk more miles if they have the energy or simply to kick back at the hotel with a good book if you feel so inclined. With Spanish Steps, we have the luxury of a fully supported van, which can pick you up at certain points on many of the scheduled walking trails.
What is the hotel like?
Our basecamp for the week will be a newly restored farmhouse in the tiny hamlet of Faedo in the county of Quiros, south of Oviedo in Asturias. Visit quiros.es for a tour of this beautiful, mountainous area. All bedrooms have private bathrooms, TV’s, phones, and either a balcony or patio. Visit our website for more information: fuentesdelucia.es.
Is there WIFI at our hotel?
o Yes, free WIFI is available in the hotel rooms and main house.
How many meals are included?
All breakfasts and five dinners are included in the price of this tour. Please be sure to let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian or have special dietary needs. Lunches are at your own expense. Each day we will either stop in a local village to buy picnic supplies to eat on the trail or walk to a restaurant to have lunch.
How does one get to and from OVIEDO?
- There is an airport near Oviedo (OVD) with regular flights from Madrid, Barcelona, and other points in Spain and Europe. There are international flights from London and Paris.
- For train information within Spain, visit renfe.es.
- For bus service, visit alsa.es.
- We strongly encourage you to sleep one night in Oviedo.
What kind of equipment should I pack?
I will supply you with an equipment list of basic items to pack. There really is no baggage limit on this tour since we are staying for one week at our Hotel Fuentes de Lucia. Hiking boots/trail shoes will be your most important items to pack. Please be sure your boots are well broken in.
How do I access spending money/how much should I bring?
Most expenses are already built into Spanish Steps trips. Extra snacks and beverages at the cafes and stores are additional. A meal in a café will cost you between 8 and 20 Euros. Most people travel with an ATM card. Money machines are everywhere in Spain but be sure you know your PIN number (not letters) before departing the US or home country. DO NOT bring Traveler’s checks.
Should I leave a gratuity for our guides?
This is a very common question my clients ask. As a person working hard in the service industry to please the traveler, a gratuity is much appreciated by the staff members at the end of the tour. Common industry standard is approximately 10 Euros per day from each guest per guide (80 Euro per person.)
What is the average age of the group?
The average age of the participants on Spanish Steps trips is 50 years old during the spring and fall months but younger during the summer months. Most trips are a mix of a 40/60 ration of men to women
What is the terrain like?
There will be some long, slow climbs through farming areas but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain-like terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We walk along a lot of secondary farming roads, through forests of chestnuts, hazelnuts, and apple orchards.
Is a single room available?
All accommodations are priced on double occupancy. Some people would like to be matched with a roommate. I cannot guarantee a match but will try to place you with someone if there are any requests. The price of the single supplement is 400 EUROS per person. Single rooms are limited.
Can you provide references?
We would be delighted to share with you some references from former clients who have walked with us. If you would like to contact any former Spanish Steps participants, let us know by calling us. Check out our Customer Comments.
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