Galicia, Portugal & Andalucia | 14 Days

Day 1 – Tuesday:                              MADRID – LEON – OVIEDO  
Depart from selected Madrid hotels at approximately 08:15, or the bus terminal located at, Calle Ferraz 3, Madrid, at 08:00a.m. (Check your voucher for exact information regarding your pick pickup or if you need to make your way to the terminal. Please be at the terminal no later than 07:45). Depart for Leon. Time at leisure to visit sights such as the Gothic Cathedral with its beautiful stained-glass windows, and the Basilica of San Isidoro. Continue to Oviedo. Overnight Oviedo. (D)

Day 2 – Wednesday:                      OVIEDO – LA CORUNA
Following breakfast, depart to La Coruna for a short panoramic tour. In the afternoon there is an optional excursion to the Rias Altas through typical villages of Pontedeume and Betanzos. Overnight La Coruna. (B, D)

Day 3 – Thursday:                            LA CORUNA – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Following breakfast depart to Santiago de Compostela.  Enjoy a city tour of this legendary pilgrimage town; Plaza del Obradoiro, Cathedral and more.  The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Santiago de Compostela. (B, D)

Day 4 – Friday:                                  SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – RIAS BAJAS – VIGO
After breakfast, departure for the area of the Spanish Fjords (Rias Bajas), through splendid landscapes: with a brief stop at La Toja Island. Stop at O Grove to take an optional tour on a catamaran and see an oyster and mussel farm, which includes mussel and Ribeiro wine tasting. Continuation to Vigo with free time. Overnight Vigo. (B, D)

Day 5 – Saturday:                            VIGO – VIANA DO CASTELO – BRAGA – PORTO
Cross the Portuguese border and arrive at Viana do Castelo, a city located between the mouth of the Miño River and Porto. Free time to visit the Old Town with its cobbled streets and emblazoned buildings. Continue to Braga known as the city of the archbishops and the third most populated city in Portugal. After some free time, depart for Porto, considered a World Heritage city. Overnight Porto. (B)

Day 6 – Sunday:                                PORTO
Panoramic tour of Porto to admire the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Building, and Santa Clara Church. Visit a local wine cellar to taste the famous Port wine. Overnight Porto. (B)

Day 7 – Monday:                              PORTO – COIMBRA
After breakfast, departure to Coimbra, site of one of the oldest universities in Europe and birthplace of the Fado, the music of Portugal. Lunch and time at leisure. Overnight Coimbra. (B, L)

Day 8 – Tuesday:                              COIMBRA – FATIMA – LISBON
After breakfast, travel to Fatima, an important pilgrimage centre. Free time to visit the Shrine and afterwards continue to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal located at the mouth of the Tagus River. Overnight Lisbon. (B)

Day 9 – Wednesday:                      LISBON

Morning panoramic sightseeing tour of this beautiful city, located at the mouth of the Tagus River: Edward VII Park’s hilltop viewpoint, Rossio Square, Liberdade Avenue, Madragoa District (where Fado, the traditional Portugues music was born). We will continue to the Belem District, with its famous Tower, Monument to the Navigators, and Los Jeronimos Monastery. Free afternoon. Optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais, Estoril. Overnight Lisbon. (B)

Day 10 – Thursday:                         LISBON – CACERES – SEVILLE
Morning departure to the border with Spain before continuing to Cáceres. Free time at leisure to explore its Plaza Mayor and to walk through the old city and its famous medieval quarter, very well preserved and considered a World Heritage place. Continue south to Seville in Andalucia. Overnight Seville. (B, D)

Day 11 – Friday:                               SEVILLE
Morning city sightseeing tour, including María Luisa Park, Plaza de España, the exterior of the city’s stunning Cathedral and its bell tower, called Giralda and the typical neighbourhood of Santa Cruz with its streets, squares, and narrow alleys. If you wish, you can optionally navigate the Guadalquivir River, during which you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Gold Tower and Expo 92 or visit to the Maestranza bullring. Lunch at a restaurant. Overnight Seville. (B, L)

Day 12 – Saturday:                          SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast, depart along the Route of the White Villages for Ronda. You will have some free time before continuing to Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol where you have the afternoon at leisure. Overnight Torremolinos, Costa del Sol. (B, D)

Day 13 – Sunday:                             COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Departure to Granada. Visit to the spectacular group of monuments of the Alhambra and Generalife, former residence of the Moorish kings, with its magnificent fountains, gardens, and arches. Overnight Granada. (B, D)

*Note: If the Patronato of the Alhambra and Generalife do not grant tickets for participants to visit the Alhambra and Generalife, a tour of the city of Granada will be provided instead. Visit to the Palace of Carlos V, the Archaeological Museum, Church of Santa María de la Alhambra, Royal Chapel, and a walk through the city Alcaiceria (silk market) and the Cathedral Square.

Day 14 – Monday:                           GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Following breakfast, depart towards the Imperial City of Toledo, full of history and monuments. After lunch enjoy a panoramic view from Mirador del Valle and walk through its old town. Continue back to Madrid. End of our services upon arrival into Madrid city centre. No hotel drop off. You will need to make your own way to the hotel. (B, L)

Accommodation (or similar):

OVIEDO: Iberik Santo Domingo Plaza Hotel

LA CORUNA: Exe Caruna

SANTIAGO: Oca Puerta Del Camino

VIGO: HESPERIA Vigo Hotel

PORTO: Holiday Inn Porto Gaia, or Rubens Hotels Gaía

COIMBRA: Hotel Coimbra Affiliated By Meliá

LISBON: Lutecia Smart Design Hotel

SEVILLE: Silken Al-andalus Palace

COSTA DEL SOL (TORREMOLINOS): Sol Principe 

GRANADA: Los Angeles Hotel

Includes:

–          Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with free WI-FI onboard

–          Accommodation as listed below or similar

–          Meals as per itinerary

–          Touring with Multilingual speaking guide

–          Sightseeing tour with local guide in Santiago, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Granada, and Toledo

–          Visit to a wine cellar with a tasting of Porto wine

–          Entrance fees and local taxes

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Itinerary is subject to change at any time without notice.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m. Service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          Due to special events, tours may stay in a city that is different to what is mentioned on the itinerary.

–          In the unusual event that group number is less than 12 people, the Tour Operator reserves the right to operate the tour by minibus or private car with an expert bilingual driver. Local visits to monumental cities will be by official local guides.