Spain Discovery | 9 Days

DAY 1:                                                   MADRID

Upon arrival into Madrid airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. The day is at leisure to begin exploring. Later, join your fellow travellers and your tour director for a welcome reception.

DAY 2:                                                   MADRID

We begin with a guided half-day city tour of Madrid. Our drive takes us through the Gran Vía and the Passeo de Castellana, past the Plaza de España, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Atocha Station, the fountain of Neptune, Cibeles fountain, the Bullring, the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, and many more. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 3:                                                  MADRID – TOLEDO – MADRID

We visit Toledo, a city with a wealth of monuments. It is known as the “city of the three cultures” because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there together for centuries. During our guided tour we visit the Santo Tome Church and the Synagogue of Santa María. From Toledo, we return to Madrid where the afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 4:                                                   MADRID – BURGOS – BILBAO

We Depart for Bilbao. On the way, we stop in Burgos. Upon arrival, sightseeing tour of Burgos with local guide including visit of the Cathedral. Enjoy some free time. From there, we continue to Bilbao where we have a tasting of local tapas called pintxos. (B, D)

DAY 5:                                                   BILBAO   

On our visit to Bilbao, we see the vibrant old town with many shops, squares, and typical Basque tavernas. We enter the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Gehry. The collection includes large-scale and site-specific art by such contemporary artists as Jeff Koons and Willem de Kooning. The remainder of the day is free. (B)

DAY 6:                                                  BILBAO – GETARIA – SAN SEBASTIAN – PAMPLONA

After breakfast, we depart for San Sebastian. En route, we visit Getaria, a charming Basque coastal village. Upon arrival in San Sebastian, we see the Maria Cristina Hotel. It is here, at the Kursaal, that the film festival takes place. We also see La Concha beach, a crescent-shaped urban seaboard. In the afternoon we arrive in Pamplona. Dinner is served later that night. (B, D)

DAY 7:                                                   PAMPLONA – ZARAGOZA – BARCELONA  

After breakfast, we have a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Pamplona featuring the Ciudadela, the City Walls, parks, and gardens. We will hear about the ‘Running of the Bulls’ race, part of the San Fermin festival. From Pamplona, we continue to Zaragoza for some free time. Later that afternoon, we arrive in Barcelona and the rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

DAY 8:                                                   BARCELONA

Our guided half-day sightseeing tour includes Barcelona’s most important artistic sights: Gaudi’s Batlló, Casa Milá, the Cathedral Sagrada Familia, and Guell Park, declared an artistic monument and mankind’s heritage by UNESCO. In the afternoon you are free to explore more on your own. Join your fellow travellers and your tour director for the farewell dinner. (B, D)

DAY 9:                                                  BARCELONA

After breakfast, transfer to Barcelona airport for your departure flight. End of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

MADRID:             Hotel Catalonia Goya

BILBAO:                Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao

PAMPLONA:      Hotel Maisonnave

BARCELONA:      Hotel Catalonia Gracia

INCLUSIONS:

• Arrival transfer from Madrid airport to the hotel
• 8 nights accommodation
• Luggage handling at the hotels
• Breakfast daily
• Welcome reception in Madrid (heavy hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine, beer, or soft drink)
• Tasting of local tapas called “pintxos” in Bilbao
• Dinner in Pamplona Compostela (coffee or tea included)
• Farewell dinner in Barcelona (coffee or tea included)
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Touring by modern air-conditioned motorcoach
• Professional English-speaking tour director
• Sightseeing tours with licensed local guides
• Admission included where indicated in bold letters
• Whisper technology enhanced touring
• Departure transfer from hotel to Barcelona airport

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.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m. 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.