Historic Spa Hotels of Spain

Begin your trip in relaxing style with included VIP airport lounge access before boarding your flight to Bilbao, picking up your hire car and driving to Castilla Termal Baineario de Solares, an elegant white building that sits in a one-hundred-year-old park. It became the first spa in Cantabria during the Belle Epoque in the 20th century, and now boasts a thermal pool, sauna, thermal walkway and more. Their 'contrast circuit' is particularly special, combining steam baths, heated-pool dips, dry saunas and ice fountains, all designed to eliminate toxins. There are also a host of other treatments to choose from, including chocolate wraps and volcanic stone massages. The charming bright rooms lined with balconies look over the tree-lined garden and, come evening, excellent gastronomy in either the cosy fireside restaurant or summer terrace offers the likes of local Cantabrian cheeses, sea bream with mussel ragout and Liebana beef cheeks, accompanied by excellent wines.

Stay: Castilla Termal Solares Spa

Enjoy a relaxing spa treatment or two before perhaps heading to Santander and its modern delights, from the spectacular museum Centro Botín to its urban beaches – El Sardinero is particularly spectacular and ideal for whiling away the hours before you sample one of the excellent tapas restaurants that line the shore. The Atlantic coastline is also lovely for a rugged walk, dotted with picturesque – and often empty – bays, before you stop at La Maruca for local beer and seafood. 

Stay: Castilla Termal Solares Spa

After breakfast, transfer to your next hotel, the Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena that sits within the walls of the best-preserved Cistercian monastery in Europe, built in the 12th century and right in the heart of the Ribera del Duero wine region. Rooms are ultra-cosy, with timber beams, white stone walls and distressed wood touches, offset with gorgeous bathrooms with free-standing baths. Most spectacular are the barn-conversion-esque suites with sprawling timber ceilings – and many have access to the private garden with a sauna. They're only surpassed by, naturally, the exquisite spa, that includes an enormous thermal mineral-medicinal pool, sauna, hammam and every treatment you can think of. Take dinner this evening among the exquisite white-stone walls of the restaurant – we recommend the tasting menu, where you'll enjoy the likes of tuna tataki, seabass with chimichurri, Iberian pork flank and Brioche French toast with caramelised cream – best enjoyed alongside world-class wines, paired perfectly to each dish.

Stay: Castilla Termal Monastery de Valbuena

Enjoy the delights of the hotel this morning, or perhaps head to Ribera del Duero’s excellent wineries. The history-steeped streets of San Bernado are also just moments away, from its historic bullring to Spain's first firefighter’s station. Come back to the hotel and perhaps enjoy a wine tasting experience in the spectacular monks winery before another dinner where the likes of Iberian ham croquettes, duck confit and Castilla suckling lamb cutlets are all on the menu.

Stay: Castilla Termal Monastery of Valbuena

After breakfast, move to your next hotel, the wonderful Castilla Termal Balneario de Olmedo that rises above the ruins of the old Sancti Spiritus convent, founded in the 12th century. Rooms are refined, fresh and bright – the special suite is particularly cosy, all low lighting, timber beams and cosy seating areas. The wonderful thermal pool is enormous, with additional indoor and other outdoor pools, Jacuzzis, bubble massage seats and a hammam steam bath, as well as a sprawling relaxing area with a cosy crackling fireplace.

Stay: Castilla Termal Spa of Olmedo

You’ll be situated in the town of Olmedo, in the province of Valladolid, considered to be one of the ‘Mudejar Capitals’ and boasting a rich history and artistic heritage. Explore the beautiful park of Pasion Mudejar before a tapas lunch in one of the cosy restaurants then, come evening, delight in the hotel’s excellent cuisine, enjoying ultra-fresh local fish and meat in the modern ambience of the restaurant. 

Stay: Castilla Termal Spa of Olmedo

After breakfast today, head to your final hotel of the trip, the Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma, situated in the ancient site of the Renaissance University of Santa Catalina. We recommend upgrading to a junior suite, where a dark, ultra-modern bathroom is offset against traditional white-stone walls. The spa truly feels historic and is an interpretation of the beautiful Mozarab chapel of the 11th century. Enjoy the likes of a sauna with colour therapy, river-pebble foot baths, bi-thermal showers and a hammam steam bath alongside creative rituals such as de-stressing mud wraps and antioxidant wine hydro-massages. The refined restaurant is all distressed wood floors, dark walls, intimate lighting and original stone walls, their splendour matched by such creative delights as crispy duck with roast apple cream, beef carpaccio and grilled beef skirt steak with fried yucca.

Stay: Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma 

Enjoy a relaxing day at the hotel today, or head into the town of El Burgo de Osma, designated as an Historic Artistic Site. Don’t miss the pretty Roman bridge that's shadowed by the spectacular hilltop Castle of Osma, the cathedral and tomb of El Burgo de Osmo and the University of Santa Catalina, which in itself is stunning, before enjoying a final dinner either in town or at the hotel.

Stay: Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma 

After breakfast, from El Burgo de Osma continue back north via the heritage towns of Burgos and Vitoria-Gasteiz to Bilbao airport where you will drop off your car hire and board your flight back to the UK.