France & Spain Encompassed — Self-Launched
14 days · France & Spain
G Adventures charges £3,900
No-markup version: ~£1,560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 14-day Paris-to-Bilbao classic: Paris and Montmartre, Lyon's food scene, Roman Nîmes and the Pont du Gard, Gaudí's Barcelona, La Rioja wine in Logroño, a leg of the Camino de Santiago, pintxos in San Sebastián and Bilbao's Guggenheim. Swapping the group vehicle and CEO for TGV/Renfe trains, regional buses and hostel or pension stays cuts the price to roughly a third of the tour cost — while keeping every destination and experience on the original route. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Paris & night orientation walk
Paris, France
Land at CDG and take the RER B train into the city (~£10, 35–45 mins) to Gare du Nord. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the 9th/10th/11th arrondissement. In the evening do your own orientation loop: Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame exterior, the Louvre courtyard and the Pont des Arts, then a cheap dinner in the Latin Quarter or a bistro in the 11th.
🚌RER B train from CDG (~£10); metro single ~£2.15
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, central Paris (~£40–55)
- →RER B airport transfer
- →Self-guided evening walk: Île de la Cité, Louvre courtyard, Seine bridges
Montmartre, croissants & free afternoon
Paris, France
Ride the metro to Abbesses and climb to Sacré-Cœur for the best free view in Paris. Grab a croissant or pain au chocolat from a boulangerie on Rue Lepic (~£2) and wander the artist squares of Montmartre. Free afternoon — options: Louvre entry from ~£18 (book a timed slot online), a Seine river cruise with Bateaux Parisiens (~£16), or the stairs up the Eiffel Tower (~£11–25 depending on level).
🚌Metro day ticket ~£8 (Navigo Easy / carnet)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, central Paris (~£40–55)
- →Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre self-guided walk
- →Optional: Louvre (from ~£18)
- →Optional: Eiffel Tower stairs (~£11–25)
- →Optional: Seine river cruise (~£16)
TGV to Lyon & Fourvière hill
Lyon, France
Morning TGV from Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part-Dieu, 2 hours (~£30–50 if booked 1–2 months ahead on SNCF Connect — it doubles in price last minute). Check into a hostel or pension near Vieux Lyon, then walk up to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière for the city panorama, or take the funicular (~£2). Evening: eat in a bouchon in Vieux Lyon — set menus from ~£18.
🚌TGV Paris–Lyon ~£30–50; Lyon metro/funicular ~£2 per trip
🛏Hostel or pension, Vieux Lyon (~£35–50)
- →TGV Paris–Lyon
- →Fourvière Basilica & Roman theatres walk
- →Bouchon dinner in Vieux Lyon
Lyon food day
Lyon, France
Use the 48-hour Lyon public transport pass (~£13) as in the original itinerary. Morning at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse for cheese, charcuterie and praline sampling, then cross the river to the Croix-Rousse slopes and the traboules (hidden passageways) of Vieux Lyon. Optional food walking tour bookable via GetYourGuide (~£45–65) or DIY a picnic from the market (~£10).
🚌48h Lyon transport pass ~£13
🛏Hostel or pension, Lyon (~£35–50)
- →Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
- →Croix-Rousse & traboules self-guided walk
- →Optional: GetYourGuide Lyon food tour (~£45–65)
Train to Nîmes & Roman old city
Nîmes, France
Regional or TGV train Lyon to Nîmes, 2h15 via Avignon or direct (~£20–35). Drop bags at a guesthouse in the old town and walk the Roman circuit: Les Arènes amphitheatre (combine ticket with the Maison Carrée ~£12), the Maison Carrée (UNESCO), and up the Tour Magne in the Jardins de la Fontaine (~£3). Free evening with a glass of local Costières wine in Place du Forum.
🚌Intercity train ~£20–35; local buses/walking ~£3
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Nîmes old town (~£40–55)
- →Train Lyon–Nîmes
- →Les Arènes amphitheatre & Maison Carrée (combined ticket ~£12)
- →Tour Magne & Jardins de la Fontaine (~£3)
Pont du Gard & farm lunch, then train to Barcelona
Nîmes → Barcelona, Spain
Take bus B21 or the Edgard line from Nîmes to the Pont du Gard (~£2–3, 30 mins), pay the site entry (~£8 for the museum and access) and walk the aqueduct. Lunch at a village table in Remoulins or Argilliers (~£15) instead of the tour's farm-to-table stop. Return to Nîmes and catch the late TGV/AVE to Barcelona via Montpellier or Narbonne, ~3h45 (~£35–60).
🚌Bus B21 to Pont du Gard ~£3; Nîmes–Barcelona train ~£35–60
🛏Hostel in El Raval or Gràcia, Barcelona (~£30–45)
- →Pont du Gard aqueduct visit (~£8)
- →Village lunch in Remoulins (~£15)
- →Train Nîmes–Barcelona
Barcelona Gothic Quarter walk
Barcelona, Spain
Join a free/pay-what-you-want Gothic Quarter walking tour (~£15 tip) covering the cathedral, Plaça Reial and the Roman walls — the self-bookable equivalent of the CEO-led walk. Afternoon free: Museu Picasso (~£12) or Montjuïc by cable car (~£5 + £10). Evening tapas crawl in El Born (~£20). Buy a 48-hour Hola BCN travel card (~£15).
🚌48h Hola BCN travel card ~£15
🛏Hostel in El Raval or Gràcia, Barcelona (~£30–45)
- →Gothic Quarter walking tour (tip-based ~£15)
- →Optional: Museu Picasso (~£12)
- →Optional: Montjuïc cable car
- →Tapas dinner in El Born
Gaudí day in Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Book Sagrada Família online in advance (~£23–30 with tower) — the original lists this as an optional add-on and it sells out days ahead. Then walk or bus to Park Güell (~£10 timed entry) and Casa Batlló or Casa Milà from outside, or pay the ~£28 entry if you want the interior. Finish with a stroll along La Barceloneta boardwalk and a cheap seafood lunch at the market.
🚌48h Hola BCN travel card (already included); walking
🛏Hostel in El Raval or Gràcia, Barcelona (~£30–45)
- →Sagrada Família (~£23–30)
- →Park Güell (~£10)
- →Casa Batlló / La Pedrera exteriors (or ~£28 interior)
- →La Barceloneta boardwalk
Train to Logroño, winery & pintxos crawl
Logroño, Spain
Renfe/Alvia train Barcelona to Logroño via Zaragoza, ~4h (~£35–50). Check into a pension near Calle del Laurel. Afternoon winery visit and tasting in the Rioja DOCa — book a small bodega in Logroño or take a local bus to Fuenmayor (~£15–20 including tasting). Evening: pintxos crawl down Calle del Laurel, the original's 'light dinner', 3–4 plates plus wine ~£18.
🚌Train ~£35–50; local bus to wineries ~£3
🛏Pension or budget hotel, Logroño (~£35–50)
- →Train Barcelona–Logroño
- →Rioja winery tasting (~£15–20)
- →Calle del Laurel pintxos crawl (~£18)
Free day in wine country
Logroño, Spain
Free day as in the original. Take the local bus or train to Haro (~£5, 45 mins) for the Vivanco wine museum and bodega tastings, or stay in town for the free-entry Cathedral of Santo Domingo, the Museum of La Rioja and the Ebro river park. Optional GetYourGuide Rioja wine tour ~£60–85 if you'd rather let someone else drive.
🚌Local bus/train to Haro ~£5; city walking
🛏Pension or budget hotel, Logroño (~£35–50)
- →Day trip to Haro (~£5 transport + tastings)
- →Logroño Cathedral & Museum of La Rioja (free)
- →Optional: guided Rioja wine tour (~£60–85)
Camino walk, Olite castle, Pamplona & San Sebastián
Logroño → San Sebastián, Spain
Recreate the original's travel day with public transport: La Estellesa bus Logroño to Obanos (~£5, 1h), then walk a real Camino de Santiago leg from Obanos to Puente la Reina (~2.5h, free). Bus on to Olite (~£4) for the royal palace entry (~£4). Continue to Pamplona (~£3) for an hour or two around the old town, then bus or short train to San Sebastián (~£8, 1h15).
🚌Regional buses ~£20 total
🛏Pension or hostel in Parte Vieja, San Sebastián (~£45–60)
- →Camino de Santiago walk Obanos–Puente la Reina (free)
- →Palacio Real de Olite (~£4)
- →Pamplona old town stop
- →Buses Logroño–Obanos–Olite–Pamplona–San Sebastián
San Sebastián orientation & free afternoon
San Sebastián, Spain
Do your own orientation walk: Parte Vieja, Plaza de la Constitución, the harbour, and the sweep of La Concha beach. Optional: cider house lunch up in Astigarraga (~£30–35, book direct), an eBike tour (~£45), or the Monte Igueldo funicular (~£4) for the postcard view. Evening pintxos in the old town (~£20).
🚌Local bus to Astigarraga ~£3; walking
🛏Pension or hostel in Parte Vieja, San Sebastián (~£45–60)
- →Self-guided Parte Vieja & La Concha walk
- →Optional: cider house lunch (~£30–35)
- →Optional: Monte Igueldo funicular (~£4)
- →Pintxos dinner (~£20)
Bus to Bilbao & Guggenheim
Bilbao, Spain
Direct PESA/ALSA bus San Sebastián to Bilbao, 1h15 (~£7–9). Check into a hostel or pension in the Casco Viejo. Afternoon at the Guggenheim (~£13, book a time slot) and a walk along the Nervión, then the free highlights: Casco Viejo, the Ribera market, Parque de Etxebarría and the Basilica of Begoña.
🚌Intercity bus ~£8; Bilbao metro/tram ~£3
🛏Hostel or pension, Bilbao Casco Viejo (~£35–50)
- →Bus San Sebastián–Bilbao (~£8)
- →Guggenheim Museum (~£13)
- →Casco Viejo & Ribera Market walk (free)
Bilbao farewell & departure
Bilbao, Spain
Morning walk up to Parque de Etxebarría and the Basilica of Begoña for city views, coffee and a final tortilla pintxo. Catch the airport bus (Bizkaibus A3247, ~£2, 20 mins) or a train to your onward flight. If flying home the same day, Bilbao airport handles Paris, London and Dublin connections.
🚌Bizkaibus A3247 to airport ~£2
🛏Departure day — no overnight
- →Parque de Etxebarría & Basilica of Begoña
- →Airport bus to Bilbao airport (~£2)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,560 | £3,900 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,340 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,560
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does France & Spain Encompassed — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,560 per person for 14 days in France & Spain. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,560 — a saving of roughly £2,340 (60%) per person.
How long is the France & Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through France & Spain.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, city-breaks trip through France & Spain, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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