Ancient caves, human origins: Northern Spain

2 June 2024 and 26 August 2024 - 7 days for £3,250

Discover some of the world's oldest known cave paintings in this idyllic part of Spain. Travel back 40,000 years to explore how our ancestors lived, played and worked. 

Experience the wonders of several renowned caves full of art from before the dawn of civilisation including El Castillo, Las Monedas, La Peña Cave, El Pindal and Tito Bustillo in small groups by torchlight. Plus visit the stunning replica of Altamira, the Museo de Evolución Humana and the Archaeological Museum of Santander.

Accompanied by a tour expert, who will give insight on the dawn of human culture and civilisation. Plus with local archaeological experts and cave custodians, you’ll enjoy specialist talks and walking seminars along the way.

You will also discover local cuisine and explore the beautiful towns and cities: Santander, Santillana del Mar, Oviedo and Bilbao including a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel.

 DAY 1: ARRIVAL INTO BILBAO AND MEET THE TOUR LEADERS

After checking in to the Hotel Mercure Jardines de Albia in central Bilbao, you will meet the tour leader, accompanying expert and your fellow guests, followed by a tour briefing.

You will then be led on an exploration of the pedestrianised Old Quarter and enjoy a tapas meal with your fellow guests. The Old Quarter is the original city from the year 1300 and contains stunning examples of churches and monuments, as well as containing a lively culinary scene.

DAY 2: MUSEUM OF HUMAN EVOLUTION IN BURGOS AND THE FIRST EVENING TALK

After breakfast, you will travel to Burgos to visit the Museo de Evolución Humana. The museum covers the archaeological and palaeontological history of the surrounding Atapuerca mountains, the many stages of human evolution and the story of Charles Darwin's exploration around the world that led to the theory of evolution. You will then have some free time in the town before checking in to the four-star Hotel NH Collection Palacio de Burgos.

As well as highly knowledgeable local guides and a dedicated tour leader, between days 1 and 6 of the tour, you will be accompanied by an expert from New Scientist, who will give presentations and walking briefings on advances in the wider world of archaeology, and what we are learning about the dawn of civilisation and culture. Tonight, you will enjoy the first talk, followed by dinner together.

DAY 3: EL PINDAL AND TITO BUSTILLO CAVES THEN OVIDEO AND A CIDER HOUSE

In the morning, you will visit the caves of El Pindal, containing the first palaeolithic cave paintings discovered in the region. The most notable of which is a woolly mammoth

Some of the smaller caves you will visit are well off the tourist trail, have irregular opening hours and are managed by local custodians without the usual tourist infrastructure. Therefore, there may have to be changes in the itinerary as the tour progresses. Your tour leader will keep you informed and a flexible attitude will help you get the best out of the tour. During some of the visits, the tour leader will be translating on your behalf if the local custodian doesn't speak English.

After visiting the charming coastal town of Ribadesella you will visit the Tito Bustillo cave. Due to a landslide at the entrance, the cave was sealed thousands of years ago, thus preserving its contents of tools and paintings, the oldest dating back 33,000 years. 

In the late afternoon, you will check into the Gran Hotel España and then have time at leisure to explore the charming town of Oviedo with its historic quarter and gothic cathedral.

The evening dinner will be in a traditional Spanish cider house.

DAY 4: PEÑA DE CANDAMO CAVE AND SANTILLANA DEL MAR

After breakfast, you transfer to Candamos and visit the Peña cave. It is a large cave with rooms leading off it and it contains several different panels of art dating back 18,000 years and covering several species.

You will continue on to Santillana del Mar, where you will visit the old city and check into a traditional style hotel. There is an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana), nor is it by the sea (Mar) as implied by its name. But it does have many historic buildings, which provide a fascinating backdrop to exploring this town. In the evening, there will be a second talk followed by dinner.

DAY 5: LAS MONEDAS AND EL CASTILLO CAVES THEN THE ALTAMIRA CAVE REPLICA

To start the day, you will enjoy a private visit to the caves of Las Monedas and El Castillo to see paintings up close. El Castillo contains one of the oldest known cave paintings, dated as more than 40,000 years old.  Located in Puente Viesgo, it is situated in a limestone hill, which hides an intricate labyrinth of caves frequented by prehistoric humans.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to the replica of the Cave of Altamira. During the 1970s, the original cave paintings were damaged by a large number of visitors. A replica cave and museum opened in 2001, reproducing the cave and its art to excellent effect. Aside from the quality of the art found here, it was one of the first European cave paintings found that suggested prehistoric origin.

Afterward, you will return to Santillana del Mar for a third talk and group dinner.

DAY 6: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SANTANDER AND THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

After breakfast, you will travel east to Santander to visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses an array of artifacts, interactive guides and vivid interpretations of stone age life. 

You will then journey back along the coast to Bilbao. On arrival, you will visit the world-famous Guggenheim Museum to view modern and contemporary art in this stunning Frank-Gehry-designed building, an awe-inspiring monument to design modernism. 

After checking back into the Hotel Mercure Jardines de Albia, there will be a farewell evening meal together.

DAY 7: DEPART BILBAO

After breakfast, there will be a group transfer to the airport or we can arrange for you to stay on for a few more nights to enjoy Bilbao.

NO FLY OPTION

If you would prefer not to fly from the UK, we suggest you look at taking the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao.