We’ll start in Barcelona and explore this unique and vibrant. Then we head to the smaller town of Girona for a calmer stay while we take in mountains and the wine harvest. Next we’ll fly west (saving a 9-10 hour drive) to experience Basque country, with its incredible scenery and excellent food. We’ll stay in the charming village of Hondarribia before moving to San Sebastian, where we’ll dive into a culture that revolves around good eating. We’ll finish in Balboa, home of the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

We’ve built in multiple opportunities to be active, with hiking, biking, kayaking, and canoeing. (As we finalize the arrangements throughout the next year, we may be able to add in some horseback riding.)  We’ll also include all of study travel’s traditional learning components, exploring Spain’s cultures, history, art, architecture, and local food and drink, including an experiential activity or two, such as a cooking class. As always, all activities are optional, and as per usual, we’ll deliberately schedule free chunks of time so that you can explore your own interests, such as attending a concert, soccer game, boat ride, etc.

Keeping in tune with Mediterranean culture, where meals take place much later in the day than we’re used to, we will include several group lunches, and keep most dinners on your own, so that you can decide how much and how late to eat.

See more details below. There is only has 1 space left! You can add your name to the waitlist or, if you’re a solo traveler you can use the button above to REGISTER NOW.

This program was custom designed to combine hiking, biking, and kayaking with a look at Northern Spain’s culture, history, art, architecture, local food and drink, and more.

This itinerary is subject to change. Travel demands flexibility. We will strive to balance adaptability with remaining on schedule. Please trust that, when it is not possible to follow the plan laid out below, your program leaders will work to find substitutions that retain the quality of this Study Travel program. Various details may be added or changed due to information obtained while making reservations, or perhaps on site, especially because of the weather. BLD indicate included group meals. We have chosen to primarily have lunch together, so as not to be eating until midnight because of the Mediterranean schedule.

Friday, September 8          Depart U.S.
Individual departures from your hometown.

Saturday, September 9     Barcelona (D)
After you arrive in Barcelona, make your way to our hotel. We’ll meet up for an evening dinner reception at our hotel. Overnight at Hotel Roger de Lluria or similar.

Sunday, September 10      Barcelona (B, L)
Today we’ll begin to explore Barcelona, enjoying a Sunday morning traffic-free introductory bike ride around Barcelona. We’ll have a group lunch together followed by a guided visit to the iconic Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, still under construction. Even if you’ve seen it before, you’ll be amazed at the transformation now that the interior has been cleared of scaffolding and consecrated as a sacred space. Built using the forms of nature as a guide, this amazing building is due to be completed by the year 2026, in time for the 100-year anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudi’s death. Dinner on your own. Overnight at Hotel Roger de Lluria or similar.

Monday, September 11      Barcelona (B, L)
Today is a long day packed full of wonderful adventures. We start with a fantastic introduction to the “modernista” era on an introductory walking tour with our local guide Mariano. We’ll visit the Casa Milá, one of Gaudi´s apartment buildings on the Passeig de Gracia and enjoy the fantastic rooftop and audiovisual space in the attics. After a group lunch, we’ll visit Park Güell, Gaudi’s “garden city” turned public park. To better appreciate the phenomenal tile work known as “trencadis”, we’ll also do a hands-on workshop led by one of the art historians that has worked on the restoration of Park Güell. Those who wish might enjoy a trip in your free time this evening to see the Montjuic fountain with its lights and water that dances to music. Overnight at Hotel Roger de Lluria or similar.

Tuesday, September 12            Barcelona (B, L)
We explore the center of town today, visiting the Ramblas and the iconic Boqueria market where we will shop for ingredients to make our own lunch. Don’t worry, we’ll have the help of some local chefs to make sure we do a good job, and we’ll all leave with recipes to make at home. This afternoon there is free time for optional visits to the Picasso Museum, the Miró Foundation, or if you are a soccer fan, the Barca stadium. We’ll be keeping an eye on possible soccer games as well, to see if those who wish can attend a game while in town. If the concert schedule allows, we’ll attend a concert at the magnificent modernist venue of the Palau de la Musica Catalana. This stunning building is the work of Catalan architect Domenech i Muntaner, and delights the visitor both with its beauty and acoustics. Overnight at Hotel Roger de Lluria or similar.

Wednesday, September 13       Barcelona to Girona (B, L)
Today is another big day! This morning we head out of town to Montserrat. This visually amazing “serrated mountain” is the home to the Benedictine Monastery of Saint Mary, the image of the Virgin Mary that inspires local devotion called “La Moreneta,” and the Montserrat Boys’ Choir. We’ll have time to see the cultural sites, enjoy a beautiful mountain-y hike, and perhaps sample the digestive liqueur made by the monks that live here. After a group lunch together we’ll continue on to Girona, with free time and dinner on your own. Overnight in Girona, hotel TBA.

Thursday, September 14           Girona (B, L)
We’ll head north this morning to the beautiful Costa Brava to enjoy a half-day sea kayak adventure up along the rocky and cove-filled coast of Catalunya. Those who prefer to park it on the beach can lay down their towel and enjoy a peaceful morning. We’ll plan a traditional group lunch at the beach before heading back to Girona in the late afternoon. Evening free with dinner on your own. Overnight in Girona, hotel TBA.

Friday, September 15                Girona or Rural Hotel (BL)
Today we’ll enjoy a leisurely cycling adventure through vineyards and then visit and have a group lunch at a winery. It is the grape harvest season which brings the benefit of seeing how grapes are harvested and turned into wine. Overnight in Girona or a rural winery hotel.

Saturday, September 16           Girona to Hondarribia (B, L)
We’ll transfer to Barcelona and fly to San Sebastian, and continue on to the charming village of Hondarribia, located 20 miles east of San Sebastian. We’ll take a guided walking tour of this picturesque fishing village with its medieval wall. Our final schedule for this day will depend on flight times that are not available to us yet, but once we know the timing, we’ll confirm all the fun activities for the day. Overnight in Hondarribia, hotel TBA.

Sunday, September 17              Hondarribia (B, L)
This morning we’ll canoe down the Bidasoa River that separates France from Spain and empties into the Bay of Biscay right between Hondarribia in Spain and Hendaya in France. Group lunch at an appropriate point. After our lovely float down the river, we’ll explore some of the caves near the border of France before returning to the hotel for the evening. Anyone up for an adventure can take the water taxi across the river to France for dinner. Hondarribia has wonderful options for dinner as well. Overnight in Hondarribia, hotel TBA.

Monday, September 18           Hondarribia to San Sebastian (B, L)
Today we’ll move to our home for the next 3 nights in charming San Sebastian. Those who are up for a big hike can do part of this transfer on foot, hiking up and over Jaizkibel, the mountain separating Hondarribia from San Sebastian. The views of the Bay of Biscay on one side, and the mountains on the other. This evening we have an optional and very fun “pintxo” outing to learn how to eat from the delectable morsels atop all of the bar counters here. Overnight in San Sebastian, hotel TBA.

Tuesday, September 19            San Sebastian (B, L)
This morning we enjoy a locally guided tour of San Sebastian, including some of its modern architectural wonders and its historic old town. The funicular will take us up Mount Igueldo with its old-timey amusement park and fabulous view of San Sebastian. Our group lunch today is a special meal at a private gastronomic society. Local gastronomic clubs, closed to the public, are a mainstay of Basque culture. Though traditionally only for men, modern clubs include women as well. Friends and families get together to cook and eat on a regular basis, socializing all afternoon or into the wee hours of the morning. Evening free for an extended stroll along the waterfront or shopping in the historic center perhaps. Overnight in San Sebastian, hotel TBA.

Wednesday, September 20       San Sebastian (B, L)
Today we’ll visit some of the works of local sculptor Eduardo Chillida and are privileged to enjoy a private visit of the Chillida-Leku collection. After our visit, we’ll head to a nearby cider house where local fermented apple cider is caught in your glass as it streams from large barrels. We’ll have a short tour to learn about the cider tradition, and a leisurely ciderhouse meal of cod omelette, cod sautéed with onions and peppers, and local grass-fed beef on the grill, getting up periodically to fill our glasses in the cider room. As you can see, Basque culture revolves around good eating! After our group lunch we’ll embark on a beautiful mountain hike as the locals do to aid digestion before heading back to our hotel in San Sebastian. Overnight in San Sebastian, hotel TBA.

Thursday, September 21           San Sebastian to Bilbao (B, L)
We’ll explore a bit outside the city before continuing on to Bilbao for our last stay. Wear your comfy shoes for a visit first to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, recently made a bit more famous by Game of Thrones as “Dragonstone Island.” In Basque, Gaztelugatxe means “castle rock” and it is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. There are 241 steps for anyone who wants to make the entire hike. Group lunch at an appropriate point. From Gaztelugatxe we will head to Bilbao for the evening. Overnight in Bilbao, hotel TBA.

Friday, September 22                Bilbao (B, L)
We’ll start our day with a guided walking tour of the city, including a visit at the gem of Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum. This titanium wonder delights both in content and as an architectural wonder in itself. We’ll have some free time for exploring and packing up in the afternoon. We’ll begin our evening with a boat ride down the estuary and enjoy a fabulous final celebratory dinner together! Overnight in Bilbao, hotel TBA.

Saturday, September 23           End of Program
After breakfast, make your way to the airport for your individual flights home. ¡Hasta luego!

Dave and Pat Van Wylen are veteran group travel leaders, having led both student and adult study travel programs. Their first venture with adults was in 2015 when they led a sustainability-themed activity-based (mostly biking) program in the Netherlands. More recently, they led programs in Patagonia in 2022 and in New Zealand in 2017 and 2019. With students, they have led semester abroad programs in Asia (1998), the Middle East (2008), and Australia (2013). Dave has also taught three January interims in Peru (Peruvian Medical Experience), six interims of Cardiac Surgery and Research at Emory University in Atlanta, plus a summer Tanzania Global Health experience. Pat assisted on most of these interims as well as on an interim Health Care and Culture course in Hawaii/Micronesia.

Dave (Biology) and Pat (International and Off-Campus Studies) worked for 21 years at St. Olaf before moving to Holland, Michigan, where Dave initially served as the Dean for Natural and Applied Sciences at Hope College and now directs Hope’s Office of Possibilities. Pat coordinated Hope College adult travel programs and now runs her own business, A Little Assist, working with seniors.

Dave and Pat graduated from St. Olaf College. Dave later received his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Michigan (Go Blue) and Pat completed master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia in health administration and exercise physiology. They are delighted to lead another learning and activity-rich St. Olaf adult study travel program.
Read more about Dave and Pat leading and learning abroad

September’s weather in northern Spain is ideal for exploring.

The scenery is spectacular, and we’ll be out and about, soaking it up. The area is a hiker’s heaven, with a wide variety of trails.

Learning about the distinct Catalan culture will enrich your perspective of Spain.

San Sebastián is considered a food capital, and throughout the region you can indulge in fresh seafood, local cheeses, and of course, pintxos, northern Spain’s version of tapas.

The art and architecture, from Bilbao’s Guggenheim to everything Gaudí in Barcelona, is unrivalled.

We’re collaborating with our long-time tour operator, Venture Forth Iberia, headed by St. Olaf alumna Annette Johnson ’89. Annette knows St. Olaf, and she knows Spain, making her the ideal partner to mold and guide this experience.

This program is designed to be more active than the average study travel program. The times of higher activity will be balanced by down times as well. Activities are encouraged, but you can choose to spend your time alternatively as desired.

To minimally partake in this program, you should be capable of walking a minimum of one mile at a time over uneven terrain and up to five miles per day, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day. If you want to partake of all included activities, you should be able to hike several kilometers at one stretch, canoe and kayak, and ride a bicycle in unfamiliar territory. You always have the option of skipping a group activity and engaging in an alternative activity on your own.

Hotels will be tourist class (typically three or four star) with private baths and air conditioning. Wi-fi and laundry will likely be available at all locations.

Be sure to check the average temperatures and rainfall at our destinations for September. A couple of recommended web sites are weather.com or weatherbase.com. But keep in mind that you’ll be looking at averages and that temperatures could easily fluctuate by 5-10 degrees (or more) warmer or cooler. We recommend bringing light layers that can be added or removed as needed.

You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about recommended vaccinations for this destination. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.

UPDATED COVID INFORMATION

U.S. citizens can travel from the United States to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate , or show a negative diagnostic test result (NAAT or RAT) performed either within 72hours prior to departure to Spain for a NAAT (e.g. – PCR test) or within 24 hours prior to departure to Spain for a RAT (e.g. – rapid antigen test). (Last updated JUNE 13, 2022.) Masks may continue to be recommended or required in certain spaces, so you should be sure to pack a few quality masks like N95 or KN95.

The travel insurance included with your program fee covers illness overseas, including covid. You can read more, including the full FAQ and a Summary document, on our Travel Insurance page.

Inclusions and exclusions vary from program to program. Please read the following information carefully.

Inclusions: The program fee is $7,494 per person. Based on double occupancy, it includes discussions led by Dave and Pat Van Wylen, assistance by a dedicated tour manager/national guide, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the program, gratuities to group meal servers, guides, and drivers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas. The supplement for single occupancy is $950.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Spain is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: Airfare between your home town and Spain • Airport transfers in your home town • Any passport fees • Any recommended immunizations or vaccinations • Baggage insurance • Trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage • Beverages at group meals • Laundry • Dry cleaning • Phone charges • Room service or other items of a personal nature • Expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities • Lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.

We have deliberately included a lot of physically active and experiential activities in this program. Such experiences that go beyond the usual city or museum tour and that require oversight and support add up. Our tour operator has carefully chosen personally curated hotels and restaurants in order to keep expenses down. I think you’ll find this program is a great value for the robust experience that you’ll have.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the program.

Because of ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that a program could be postponed. In such a case, while we will strive to make full refunds when we can, there are certain expenses that may not be refunded to either St. Olaf or the participant.  

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          Full refund ($500) until January 14, 2023. If you register after January 14, 2023 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:         $2,000 on January 15, 2023
Refund if you cancel:           $1,000 until June 30, 2023

Final payment due:             July 1, 2023
Refund if you cancel:          None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Make a Payment

Complete the Traveler Information Form

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations: visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: no visa is required for Spain for stays of 90 days or less. However, you should look at your passport now and ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. Department of State for instructions.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.