Castilla Termal Hoteles specialise in sophisticated SPA Hotels set in historic buildings - the perfect combination. Three of these hotels are located in Castile and León, a relatively unknown area of Spain but one full of surprises and of immense cultural importance.
This 9-night tour allows both the opportunity to explore the areas around each hotel and time to relax in ‘top end’ spas with excellent facilities. The spas are all clustered around Valladolid and Soria and both cities are there to be visited. Castilla Termal Olmedo is a 42-minute (44 km) drive or 43 minutes by train from Valladolid and the Castilla Termal Valbuena 47 minutes (46.9 km) by car. The Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma is a 41-minute drive (56.8 km) from Soria.
These areas are not only historically rich with treasures from medieval times but also rich in nature with some of the most dramatic landscapes to be found anywhere in Spain.
As your flight will be into Madrid, then a few nights in the capital can be arranged, with a transfer on arrival to your hotel and then arrangements for the car to be collected in Madrid on the day you are scheduled to drive to your next destination.
Itinerary includes:
- Return flights to Madrid Airport
- Car hire
- 3 Nights at Castilla Termal Olmedo (Bed & Breakfast)
- 3 Nights at Castilla Termal Valbuena (Bed & Breakfast)
- 3 Nights at Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma (Bed & Breakfast)
- Use of the hotel's Thermal swimming pools
Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast
Day 1 - Day of arrival
On arrival in Madrid, collect your hire car and drive to Castilla Termal Olmedo (1 hour and 37 minutes - 158 km). This 4-star hotel is integrated into the renovated building of the 12th century Sancti Spiritus Convent.
After the journey, time to relax and then dinner in the hotel’s El Hontanar restaurant. Gastronomy is very much a part of the Castilla Termal hotels’ offering and the restaurant here is no exception. The menu is created with products of the area ‘Tierra de Pinares’ (pine land) with Olmedo-style codfish as the main speciality, accompanied by the best wines carefully selected from the area. Suckling lamb, stews, cheeses and the region's renown pastries also feature on the menu.
Overnight Castilla Termal Olmedo
Castilla Termal Olmedo
Day 2 - Day at leisure
Of course you can spend the whole day in the spa which has a large therma pool and contrast circuit which has body benefits such as blood circulation stimulation, thermoregulation, toxin elimination, moisturising and clearing of respiratory tracts. The mineral-medicinal waters emanate from the Sancti Spiritus Spring from below the convent and are described as chloride and sodium rich. Then there are the treatments - beauty, relaxation, world therapies and massages, spelt out in a jargon which only those versed in spas can hope to understand!
If you do not feel like spending the whole day in the spa, then there is the Rueda Wine route, with wineries which have remained intact since the middle ages with underground galleries and others which are on the front edge of innovation and development.
Overnight Castilla Termal Olmedo
Therma pool, Castilla Termal Olmedo
Day 3 - Explore Olmeda
More time in the spa is once again an option but there is much more to do. Hire a bicycle from the hotel. The Mudejar art thematic miniature world park is just around the corner. The Palacio del Caballero is 500 metres away giving a glimpse of Spanish history using modern technology.
Then there is Coca Castle, the Castle de la Mota de Medina del Campo and of course the historic centre of the town of Olmeda
Overnight Castilla Termal Olmedo
Castle de la Mota de Medina del Campo
Day 4 - Castilla Termal Valbuena
It is an hour’s drive from the Olmedo to the Castilla Termal Valbuena, the first 5-star spa hotel in Castile and León; a hotel set within the best preserved 12th century Cistercian Monastery in Europe. No doubt some exploring en route would have been in order so arrival at the hotel is more likely to be in the late afternoon or early evening in time for dinner.
The hotel’s Converso restaurant offers the best wines of the region (the hotel has 11 acres of vineyards of its own) and offers a menu which fuses traditional and modern cuisine with ingredients sourced from its own organic vegetable and spice garden.
Overnight Castilla Termal Valbuena
Castilla Termal Valbuena
Day 5 - Vineyards along the River Duero
Why not start the day with a hike, cycle or even a horse ride along the River Duero. Bicycles can be hired from the hotel which can also give information on the designated hiking and cycle paths. This is the famous ‘Golden Mile’ stretch of the river and a premier wine growing area.
After an energetic morning, the spa comes into its own. The spa waters come from the San Bernardo Spring, an aquifer at a depth of 386 metres below the monastery and it is with these waters that the Cistercian monks watered their vines. This is an impressive spa and a very relaxing place to be. The thermal pool has deconstructing water streams, curtains, water jets and rest areas. Then there are the contrast circuits and the very wide variety of treatments. The spa has 16 treatment rooms and covers an area of 2,000 square metres.
Overnight Castilla Termal Valbuena
Vineyards, River Duero
Day 6 - Exlore Valladolid
There is much to see in the area. Of course there is Valladolid, a half hour drive. The Monastery of Santa Maria de Valbuena, Penafiel Castle, the Penafiel Wine Museum - all are within a 40-minute drive of the hotel as are several wineries.
Once again the superb spa will beckon after a day’s sightseeing.
Overnight Castilla Termal Valbuena
Valladolid
Day 7 - Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
It is 111 km from Valbuena to the Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma.
Like all the Castilla Termal Hotels, the historical heritage of the Burgo de Osma is very evident as it is housed in the majestic building of the 16th century Renaissance University of Santa Catalina.
And, once more, a gourmet restaurant is here to enjoy. The ‘Argaela’ restaurant offers all the best known products of the area which include vegetables, crabs, baked lamb, stews and, of course, mushrooms - and it is mushrooms and truffles that many visitors come here for. One of the best places in Europe.
Overnight Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
Day 8 - Discover Soria
Soria contains some of the most dramatic scenery in Spain and a whole day should be devoted to visiting and walking in the Nature Parks which are within a very easy drive of the hotel. The canyon of the River Lobos stretches for more than 20 kilometres and is considered to be one of Spain’s most magnificent landscapes. The nature reserve of Calatanazor boasts one of the world’s finest juniper woods, with trees up to 14 metres high. Within the park, the medieval village and castle of Calatanazor are a must see. In the north of Soria is the glacial park of Urbion. Here, the mountains rise to 2,228 metres and the glacial landscape was shaped 2 million years ago. The area also includes several outstanding aquatic ecosystems associated with the formation of glaciers and included in the Castile and León regional wetlands list, namely the Negra, Larga and Helada lagoons.
These landscapes harbour a wide range of fauna. Reptiles such as the green lizard and the asp viper. Mammals include squirrels, beech martens, foxes, weasels, badgers, deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolves, otters and European mink. Birds of prey include short-toed eagles, peregrine falcons, golden eagles The rare grey partridge can be glimpsed.
Overnight Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
Soria
Day 9 - Spa day
Your last day probably has to be a day at the spa. The spa is under a large columned patio and receives a pleasant noon-daylight through the skylight in the centre of the cloister. The mineral-medicinal water comes from the Santa Catalina spring and is ideal for anti-stress treatments due to its sedative effect, for rheumatic ailments. The water is naturally mineralised, bicarbonated and hypothermal, rich in calcium.
The contrast area, set within 8 horseshoe arches, is an interpretation of the beautiful Mozaran chapel of the 11th century which is in the village of Casillas de Berlanga.
As in the other hotel spas, the range of treatments can also be found here.
Overnight Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
Spa, Castilla Termal Burgo de Osma
Day 10 - Day of departure
After breakfast make an early start, as it is a 1-hour and 40-minute drive (164 km) from the hotel to Madrid Airport so give yourselves plenty of time for the journey and the inevitable sightseeing along the way.