SPANISH RING WITH LISBON
11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS
JC – IA – TOUR NO. 164
Madrid (2N) Barcelona (2N) Valencia (1N) Granada (2N) Seville (2N) Lisbon (2N)
Long Haul Romantic
Detail Itinerary
Day 1 ( Madrid)
Welcome to Madrid! On your arrival at the airport, we shall be waiting with transport to take you to your hotel. Our guide will greet you at the hotel and provide you with all the necessary information. In the evening, we provide a transfer to the Egyptian Temple of Debod, Plaza de España and Gran Via; a vibrant district where you can dine at one of many charming restaurants.
Day 2 ( Madrid)
This morning, experience the city on a guided tour, which showcases the city’s history and culture. You will visit the beautiful Plaza Mayor with its broad and magnificent avenues and fountains and the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, an iconic bull ring. Here you will learn about the tradition of “corridas” in the Bullfighting Museum. You will then take a walking tour of the Andalusia style Retiro Park and Crystal Palace. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
At sunset we will take you to the Plaza de Oriente in the historic centre of Madrid, opposite the Royal Palace. Take your pick from the many restaurants serving varied cuisines (Indian, Middle Eastern and Spanish).
Day 3 ( Madrid)
You will depart early in the morning towards Aragón. En route, you will visit Zaragoza a beautiful city that traces its origins to Roman times. Take a guided tour of the Basílica del Pilar. After the tour, you will have time to visit this impressive sanctuary and enjoy the city centre. Later, make your way to Catalonia to the Monastery of Poblet, one of the best preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance and guided tour included). You will then go on to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat with a ride on the rack train included for its fantastic views. Continue to Barcelona where you will arrive in the afternoon.
Important note: In the winter months, from November to March, due to the shorter days, the Monastery of Poblet will not be part of the itinerary (so you can reach Montserrat before nightfall).
Day 4 (Barcelona)
Today you will discover the beautiful Mediterranean city of Barcelona. Your visit includes an informative city tour with a local expert. You will also visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages. Visit the area where the Olympic Games took place and the basilica of La Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece of the Modernist architect, Antoni Gaudi. Subsequently, we include the entry ticket to “Poble Espanyol” (meaning “Spanish Village”) an open air architectural museum that showcases the architecture and culture of Spain. Be delighted by the best Spanish craftsmanship and discover the architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different communities in Spain. Explore the city on your own for the rest of the day. In the evening we provide transfers to Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya area, where you can select from a great variety of restaurants (including Indian, Chinese, Halal, International and regional Spanish cuisine).
Day 5 (Barcelona)
Travel south along the Mediterranean. A special stop is made at Peñiscola, a small walled town on the shores of the sea. After a short introduction by our guide, you can make your way through the town, exploring the fishing port, thirteenth century castle and the beach. You will then travel to Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, where you will see the City of Arts and Sciences, the most important modern tourist site in the city of Valencia. Next, take a walk through the historic centre of the city, and our guide will accompany us to the Cathedral. In the evening transfer to the Plaza de Toros, a bullring inspired by the Colosseum of Rome. In this area you will have time to dine in line with your preferences (Spanish, Indian, international, etc.).
Day 6 (Valencia)
Today you will travel to Alicante, a picturesque port city on the Costa Blanca famous for its colourful houses, ninth century castle and narrow streets. After lunch go on your way to the Murcia region, to Caravaca de la Cruz, a town considered by the Catholic Church as one of its five holy cities on account of a relic of Christ’s Cross. We include a ride up to the historic area on the tourist train. After this you will take a scenic route through the Andalusia region. You will arrive at Granada at the end of the day.
Day 7 (Granada)
Enjoy a full day in Granada with a tour (including entrance and local guide) of the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Arab gardens. After lunch, you will have the afternoon free to see the Cathedral with the sepulchre of the Catholic Kings. Later, take an evening transfer to the city centre of Granada, to experience an unforgettable evening of delectable food and music. Tonight you have the option to attend a flamenco dance show and visit the traditional neighbourhood of Sacramonte.
Note: in the Alhambra complex, the Nazari palaces allow a limited number of people in at a time. Sometimes your visit may be in the afternoon, depending on the timetables in which we are allowed in. In the highly improbable case of not being able to visit this area of the Alhambra, a visit to the Alcázares will be included in Seville (which has similar architecture and features).
Day 8 (Granada)
You will leave Granada today and travel towards the Costa del Sol. Arrive at the seaside resort of Malaga where you will have time for a stroll in the historic centre with its baroque cathedral and the famous Picasso Museum. After this, continue along the coastal motorway with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. You will visit Puerto Banus in Marbella lavish marina popular among the rich and famous. In the afternoon you will pass through the hills on your way to Ronda, a beautiful town perched at the top of a gorge. Continue to Seville where you will arrive at the end of the afternoon.
Day 9 (Seville)
After breakfast, a local expert take you on a fascinating tour of Seville featuring the Cathedral and its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir River, popular neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana and the beautiful Plaza de España. (Note: If the group has fewer than fifteen travellers, it can be arranged in both Spanish and English). At the end of the afternoon, you will go to the historic city centre area (Calle Alfonso XII) where you can dine at one of the many different restaurants serving your favourite cuisine ranging from Indian and Chinese to traditional Spanish.
Day 10 (Seville)
We leave Seville and travel to Palos de la Frontera, in the province of Huelva. You will visit the Carabelas Museum from where Christopher Columbus set sail for America on 3 August 1492. You will also visit the Rabida Friary a World Heritage site and a Franciscan monastery strongly linked to the history of the discovery of the Americas. After this you will travel to Portugal. You will stop at for lunch at Mertola, an ancient Muslim city, with the opportunity to visit its church that was a mosque. After this, drive through charming white washed villages on your way to Evora, a World Heritage site famous for its Roman temple, Gothic Cathedral and wide cobbled streets. The highlight of your visit will be the impressive Chapel of Bones built with over 5000 skeletons. You will arrive in Lisbon at the end of the day.
Day 11 (Lisbon)
In the morning we have a sightseeing tour with a local guide (note: Explanations may be given by our guide if the group has fewer than twelve people). We visit traditional neighbourhoods, which take in the Belem district, which is the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century. We shall look round the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower, and enter to the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Belem neighbourhood, we invite all our travellers to try a “Belem cake”, an exquisite local delicacy. The afternoon is free so that you can explore this great city independently.
We include night transportation to Restauradores Square , full of atmosphere with its bars and cafes from where we suggest you to take the “Elevador da Gloria” that brings you to the Upper district and its viewpoint.
Day 12 (Lisbon)
Enjoy your last day in Lisbon before leaving for the airport for your flight back home.
Inclusion & Exclusion
Inclusions
Travel by bus with English speaking guide, basic travel insurance, and breakfast buffet.
Includes arrival transfer
City tour in: Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Seville and Lisbon.
Evening transfer: Debod Temple and Plaza de Espana/Gran Via in Madrid, Plaza de Oriente in Madrid, Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna in Barcelona, Plaza de Toros de Valencia in Valencia, Plaza de Gracia in Granada and Bairro Alto in Lisbon.
Ticket admission: Plaza de Toros de las Ventas in Madrid, Poblet Monastery in Poblet, Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, Alhambra in Granada, La Rabida Monastery in La Rabida Monastery, the Chapel of Bones in Evora, Funicular Bairro Alto in Lisbon.
Train: Montserrat in Montserrat, Caravaca de la Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz.
Exclusions
Air fare / train fare/ monument entrance fees.
Any meals other than those specified in ‘Package Inclusions’.
Expenses of personal nature such as tips, telephone calls, laundry, liquor, etc.
Any other item not specified in ‘Package Inclusions’
Guide & entrance fees during sightseeing.
Any increase in taxes or fuel, leading to increase in surface transportation and land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to departure.
