|| Spain & Portugal ||
Spain & Portugal - 12 Nights / 13 Days
Itinerary :
Day01: Arrive Madrid
Welcome to Madrid, the Spanish capital city! The rest of the day is free to relax. Perhaps stroll along wide tree-lined boulevards or shop in elegant boutiques.
Day02: Madrid – Toledo – Cordoba
We enjoy a morning drive to the old capital of Castile – Toledo. Here sightseeing features the Church of Santo Tomé, the El Greco masterpiece and a Toledo steel workshop. Then we continue south to Roman-founded Cordoba in the heart of Andalusia.
Day03: Cordoba – Granada
The ‘Mezquita’ which was the Mosque of the Caliphs – today housed in a Catholic Cathedral – forms part of our guided sightseeing tour, which also includes a visit to the remains of the 14th century ‘mudejar’ style synagogue. Then we drive in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to hilltop Granada.
Day04: Granada – Costa del Sol
This morning’s sightseeing highlight is a guided visit of the exquisite Alhambra Palace, former residence of the Moorish kings. Admire the incredible lace-like carvings and the quiet courtyards filled with the refreshing sound of playing fountains, before we head south to the famous Costa del Sol and its relaxed resort atmosphere.
Day05: Costa del Sol at leisure
A full day to relax. Perhaps lounge on glorious sandy beaches, enjoy a shopping spree or people-watch from an open-air café. This afternoon, maybe take an optional excursion to the pretty hilltop village of Mijas. At cocktail hour, why not savour the atmosphere of a tapas bar?
Day06: Costa del Sol – Seville
Today our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure! But first we drive to La Linea to cross to the Rock of Gibraltar with time for duty-free shopping. Later, on to the sun-drenched sherry wine region of Jerez and to the capital of Andalusia, Seville, where tonight we enjoy a Be My Guest tapas dinner with sherry in a typical bodega restaurant.
Day07: Seville sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide is dominated by the Bell Tower and weather vane of Giralda, and includes the pools and fountains of the Maria Luisa Park, where we see the elegant pavilions built for the Hispano- American exhibition of 1929. Admire the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral before an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps take a horse and carriage through the narrow streets of the old city and later maybe enjoy a fiery Flamenco show – the best in Spain!
Day08: Seville – Lisbon
Via the best ‘Jabugo’ (ham) producing area of Spain, and past the castles of Estremadura we travel to the Portuguese border and to Lisbon for two nights. Tonight, maybe sample Portuguese specialities in a local restaurant whilst listening to haunting Fado melodies?
Day08: Seville – Lisbon
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Day09: Lisbon sightseeing & at leisure
We’ll see the Monument to the Great Explorers, the beautiful suspension bridge, and admire the magnificent Belem Tower on our guided morning sightseeing tour. Your afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit nearby Cascais fishing village and shop for pottery, cork and fishermen’s sweaters.
Day10: Lisbon – Oporto
We continue on a scenic drive through the magnificent Serra d’Aire Mountains to visit the Shrine at Fatima, scene of celebrated religious miracles. Then we continue to Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city and the capital of the North. Here, after crossing the Douro River we see the multi-coloured houses of the Ribeira quarter and the Church of St. Francis before continuing to a port cellar for wine tasting.
Day11: Oporto – Salamanca – Madrid
We return to Spain and visit Salamanca, Spain’s oldest university city, enroute to Madrid on the Castilian plateau.
Day12: Madrid sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit of the Prado museum with its magnificent Velazquez paintings, as well as views of the Royal Palace, the Puerta del Sol and the Cervantes Memorial in the Plaza de Espana. We will also drive along the Gran Via and the elegant Paseo del Prado where we will see the impressive Cibeles Fountain. Later, why not take an optional excursion to visit the austere monastery - Palace of Philip II at El Escorial and admire the moving monument to those who died in the Spanish Civil War at the Valley of the Fallen? Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with wine in a local restaurant with our Tour Director and fellow travelling companions.
Day13: Depart Madrid
This morning, after breakfast, it is time to say farewell to Spain.
Welcome to Madrid, the Spanish capital city! The rest of the day is free to relax. Perhaps stroll along wide tree-lined boulevards or shop in elegant boutiques.
Day02: Madrid – Toledo – Cordoba
We enjoy a morning drive to the old capital of Castile – Toledo. Here sightseeing features the Church of Santo Tomé, the El Greco masterpiece and a Toledo steel workshop. Then we continue south to Roman-founded Cordoba in the heart of Andalusia.
Day03: Cordoba – Granada
The ‘Mezquita’ which was the Mosque of the Caliphs – today housed in a Catholic Cathedral – forms part of our guided sightseeing tour, which also includes a visit to the remains of the 14th century ‘mudejar’ style synagogue. Then we drive in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to hilltop Granada.
Day04: Granada – Costa del Sol
This morning’s sightseeing highlight is a guided visit of the exquisite Alhambra Palace, former residence of the Moorish kings. Admire the incredible lace-like carvings and the quiet courtyards filled with the refreshing sound of playing fountains, before we head south to the famous Costa del Sol and its relaxed resort atmosphere.
Day05: Costa del Sol at leisure
A full day to relax. Perhaps lounge on glorious sandy beaches, enjoy a shopping spree or people-watch from an open-air café. This afternoon, maybe take an optional excursion to the pretty hilltop village of Mijas. At cocktail hour, why not savour the atmosphere of a tapas bar?
Day06: Costa del Sol – Seville
Today our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure! But first we drive to La Linea to cross to the Rock of Gibraltar with time for duty-free shopping. Later, on to the sun-drenched sherry wine region of Jerez and to the capital of Andalusia, Seville, where tonight we enjoy a Be My Guest tapas dinner with sherry in a typical bodega restaurant.
Day07: Seville sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide is dominated by the Bell Tower and weather vane of Giralda, and includes the pools and fountains of the Maria Luisa Park, where we see the elegant pavilions built for the Hispano- American exhibition of 1929. Admire the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral before an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps take a horse and carriage through the narrow streets of the old city and later maybe enjoy a fiery Flamenco show – the best in Spain!
Day08: Seville – Lisbon
Via the best ‘Jabugo’ (ham) producing area of Spain, and past the castles of Estremadura we travel to the Portuguese border and to Lisbon for two nights. Tonight, maybe sample Portuguese specialities in a local restaurant whilst listening to haunting Fado melodies?
Day08: Seville – Lisbon
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Day09: Lisbon sightseeing & at leisure
We’ll see the Monument to the Great Explorers, the beautiful suspension bridge, and admire the magnificent Belem Tower on our guided morning sightseeing tour. Your afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit nearby Cascais fishing village and shop for pottery, cork and fishermen’s sweaters.
Day10: Lisbon – Oporto
We continue on a scenic drive through the magnificent Serra d’Aire Mountains to visit the Shrine at Fatima, scene of celebrated religious miracles. Then we continue to Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city and the capital of the North. Here, after crossing the Douro River we see the multi-coloured houses of the Ribeira quarter and the Church of St. Francis before continuing to a port cellar for wine tasting.
Day11: Oporto – Salamanca – Madrid
We return to Spain and visit Salamanca, Spain’s oldest university city, enroute to Madrid on the Castilian plateau.
Day12: Madrid sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit of the Prado museum with its magnificent Velazquez paintings, as well as views of the Royal Palace, the Puerta del Sol and the Cervantes Memorial in the Plaza de Espana. We will also drive along the Gran Via and the elegant Paseo del Prado where we will see the impressive Cibeles Fountain. Later, why not take an optional excursion to visit the austere monastery - Palace of Philip II at El Escorial and admire the moving monument to those who died in the Spanish Civil War at the Valley of the Fallen? Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with wine in a local restaurant with our Tour Director and fellow travelling companions.
Day13: Depart Madrid
This morning, after breakfast, it is time to say farewell to Spain.