North of Spain & Portugal | 12 Days

Day 1 – Sunday:                            MADRID – ZARAGOZA – SAN SEBASTIAN

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 pickup or if you need to make your way to the terminal. Please be at the terminal no later than 07:45). Drive to Zaragoza with a short stop. Continue to San Sebastian for overnight. (D)

Day 2 – Monday:                           SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO – SANTANDER

Departure to Bilbao, capital of the province of Vizcaya. Short stop to admire the Guggenheim Museum building. Continue to Santander. Free time. Overnight Santander. (B, D)

Day 3 – Tuesday:                           SANTANDER – SANTILLANA – COVADONGA – OVIEDO

After breakfast, depart to Santillana del Mar, a medieval village considered a National Monument. Travel to Covadonga with free time to visit the Shrine. Continue to Oviedo. Overnight Oviedo. (B, D)

Day 4 – Wednesday:                    OVIEDO – LA CORUNA
After breakfast, departure to region of Galicia. Arrival to La Coruña. Short panoramic tour. Overnight La Coruna. (B, D)

Day 5 – 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 free. Overnight Santiago de Compostela. (B, D)

Day 6 – Friday:                               SANTIAGO – RIAS BAJAS – VIGO

Depart 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. Continue to Vigo with free time. (B, D)

Day 7 – Saturday:                          VIGO – VIANA DO CASTELO – BRAGA – PORTO

Crossing the Portuguese border, arrive at Viana do Castelo, a city located between the mouth of the river Miño 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 to Porto, considered a World Heritage city. Overnight Porto. (B)

Day 8 – Sunday:                            PORTO

Porto is considered as World Heritage city. After breakfast, begin with a panoramic tour to admire the cathedral, Stock Exchange building, St. Clara church. End the tour with a visit to a local wine cellar to enjoy a tasting of the famous “Port wine”. Overnight Porto. (B)

Day 9 – Monday:                           PORTO – COIMBRA

After breakfast, depart for Coimbra, site of one of the oldest universities in Europe and the birthplace of Fado, the music of Portugal. Lunch and time at leisure. Overnight Coimbra. (B, L)

Day 10 – 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 11 – 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 12 – Thursday:                       LISBON – CACERES – MADRID

After breakfast, departure to the border with Spain and continue to Caceres. Time at leisure to discover its Plaza Mayor and to walk through the old city and its famous medieval quarter, very well preserved and considered as World Heritage place. Continue 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)

Accommodation (or similar):

SAN SEBASTIAN: Silken Amara Plaza Hotel

SANTANDER: Santemar Hotel

OVIEDO: Iberik Santo Domingo Plaza Hotel

LA CORUNA: Exe Coruna

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

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 tur with local guide in Santiago, Porto, and Lisbon
• 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.