Iberian Experience | Guided Small Group Tour | 16 Days

DAY 1:                                MADRID

Arrival at Madrid Airport and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, meet the tour director and fellow travellers for a welcome tapas dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Madrid. (D)

It is recommended to arrive in Madrid no later than 5:00pm to enjoy the evening program.

DAY 2:                                MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Madrid, exploring the historic Barrio de la Morería, Habsburg Quarter, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa. Continue past highlights including the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptune Fountains, Puerta de Alcalá, Gran Vía, Salamanca District, Paseo de la Castellana and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Madrid independently. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

DAY 3:                                MADRID – SALAMANCA – PORTO 

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Madrid and travel to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its impressive architecture and historic university. Enjoy free time to explore before continuing across the Portuguese border to Porto. Overnight in Porto. (B)

DAY 4:                                PORTO 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, including the Cathedral, Stock Exchange Palace and Church of Santa Clara. Continue with a scenic Douro River cruise, followed by a visit to a traditional Port Wine Cellar for a tasting. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Porto. (B)

DAY 5:                                PORTO – AVEIRO – COIMBRA 

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Aveiro, known for its picturesque canals, and enjoy a ride aboard a traditional moliceiro boat. Continue to Coimbra for a guided sightseeing tour, discovering its historic streets, rich heritage and famous university city atmosphere. Overnight in Coimbra. (B)

DAY 6:                                COIMBRA – BATALHA – NAZARÉ – LISBON

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Batalha and visit the magnificent Batalha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Gothic and Manueline architecture. Continue to the seaside town of Nazaré, with free time to explore before travelling to Lisbon. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

DAY 7:                                LISBON

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon, featuring Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Monument to the Discoveries, Marquês de Pombal Square and Liberty Avenue. The afternoon is at leisure to explore independently. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

DAY 8:                                LISBON – MÉRIDA – CÓRDOBA

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Portugal and return to Spain, stopping in Mérida, a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its impressive Roman heritage. Enjoy free time to explore before continuing to Córdoba. Overnight in Córdoba. (B)

DAY 9:                                CÓRDOBA – SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover Córdoba with a visit to the magnificent Mosque-Cathedral, followed by a stroll through the narrow streets of the historic Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, continue to Seville. Overnight in Seville. (B)

DAY 10:                             SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Seville, including María Luisa Park, magnificent Plaza de España and the charming Santa Cruz Quarter. Along the way, admire the city’s historic architecture, including the iconic Giralda and Seville Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Seville. (B)

DAY 11:                             SEVILLE – GRANADA

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel along the historic Caliphate Route, passing through Andalusia’s olive-growing countryside en route to Granada. Visit the spectacular Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, renowned for their Moorish architecture, elegant courtyards and beautiful landscaped gardens. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Granada. (B)

DAY 12:                             GRANADA – VALENCIA

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Granada and travel towards Spain’s Mediterranean coast to Valencia, a vibrant city combining historic charm with striking contemporary architecture. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Valencia. (B)

DAY 13:                             VALENCIA – BARCELONA

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Valencia, discovering the Old Town, Valencia Cathedral and Central Market area. Continue to the spectacular City of Arts and Sciences before enjoying a tasting of traditional horchata. Later, depart for Barcelona. Overnight in Barcelona. (B)

DAY 14:                             BARCELONA

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Barcelona, passing Gaudí’s famous La Pedrera and Casa Batlló before continuing to Montjuïc Hill, the Olympic Ring, Columbus Monument and waterfront. Visit the magnificent Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s most iconic masterpiece. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening, join fellow travellers for a farewell dinner. Overnight in Barcelona. (B, D)

DAY 15:                             BARCELONA – ZARAGOZA – MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Barcelona and travel towards Madrid, stopping in Zaragoza, the historic capital of Aragón. Enjoy free time to explore and see the magnificent Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, set beside the Ebro River. Continue to Madrid for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 16:                             MADRID

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Madrid Airport. End of services. (B)

ACCOMODATION (OR SIMILAR):

MADRID: A Loft by Marriott, or Meliá Castilla

PORTO: BessaHotel Boavista, or Vila Galé Porto

COIMBRA: Aeminium Coimbra affiliated by Meliá

LISBON: VIP Entrecampos, or VIP Art´s, or Lutecia

CORDOBA: NH Califa

SEVILLE: NH Collection Plaza de Armas

GRANADA: Sercotel HMO Martina, or Catalonia Granada

VALENCIA: EXE Rey Don Jaime, or Eurostars Acteon

BARCELONA: Granados 83, or ABBA Sants, or Catalonia Plaza

INCLUDES:

• 15 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels
• Meals as per itinerary
• Private return airport transfers in Madrid on the first and last day of tour
• Transportation by luxury coach throughout the tour
• English-speaking tour director throughout
• Guided sightseeing tours in Madrid, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona
• Entrance fees to the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Alhambra in Granada and Sagrada Família in Barcelona
• Douro River cruise in Porto
• Port wine tasting in Porto
• Traditional boat cruise along the Aveiro estuary
• Traditional horchata tasting in Valencia

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.
• 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.
• *Minimum 6 passengers required for English-only tour. If the minimum of 6 passengers is not met, the supplier may offer an alternative coach tour that is operated on a multilingual basis.
• Baggage Policy: 1 suitcase per person up to a maximum of 25 kilos and maximum measurement of 157cm dimension (the dimensional measurement of a suitcase is the sum of length, width and height). Only suitcases of higher measures will be accepted if they are shared between two passengers. Handbags should be taken care of personally with you. Only one hand baggage per person is allowed. Compulsory excess baggage penalties apply. We recommend that you carry only the luggage you will need. Remember that your trip will be more enjoyable if you don’t have to continually worry about heavy and bulky baggage.
• If the panoramic tour of Madrid is not operated for technical reasons, it will be replaced by the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off Bus 1 day instead.
• Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto and Barcelona local city tax is not included and is to be paid directly to the hotel.