SPANISH TREASURES & LISBON
11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS
JC – IA – TOUR NO. 166
Madrid (2N) Barcelona (2N) Valencia (1N) Granada (2N) Seville (2N) Lisbon (2N)
Luxury
Detail Itinerary
Day 1 ( Madrid)
elcome 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 in the heart of the city. Indian dinner included.
Day 2 ( Madrid)
This morning, you will explore Madrid on a guided tour, which showcases the city’s history and culture. 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.
Vegetarian or Indian dinner is included. Return to hotel.
Day 3 (Barcelona)
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.
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 transfer to Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya area where you can experience Barcelona’s renowned nightlife.
Indian dinner included. Return to hotel.
Day 5 (Valencia)
We travel south along the Mediterranean. A special stop is made at Peniscola, a small walled seaside town. After a short introduction given by our guide, you can make your way through the town, discovering the fishing port, the castle and the beach. Afterwards you will travel to Valencia. In the afternoon, you will take a tour of the third largest Spanish city with a local expert. Your tour will take you to its historic center, the fish market, the cathedral and the avant-garde City of Arts and Sciences, the most important modern tourist site in the city. Indian dinner included. Return to hotel.
Day 6 (Granada)
From Valencia you will make your way to Alicante, a pretty seaside resort. After lunch you will be on your way to the Murcia region, where you will see Caravaca De La Cruz, a town considered by the Catholic Church as one of the world’s 5 holy cities, its church holds a relic of Christ’s Cross. We include a ride up to the historic area on the tourist train. After this you will carry on along a scenic road to Andalusia, arriving at Granada at the end of the day.
Day 7 (Granada)
Enjoy a whole day in Granada wit a tour of the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife gardens (including entrance and local guide). After lunch you will have the afternoon free to see the Cathedral with the sepulchre of the Catholic Kings.
Later, enjoy an evening transfer to the Albaicín of Granada, a World Heritage site along with the Alhambra, where you can enjoy dinner in a restaurant in the narrow winding streets of this captivating Medieval Moorish quarter. You will also have the chance to attend a flamenco dance show and 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 have similar architecture and features).
Day 8 (Seville)
You will leave Granada today and travel towards the Costa del Sol. Arriving at the seaside resort of Malaga, 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 guides you through the delightful city of Seville featuring the Cathedral and its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir river, the popular neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana and the beautiful Plaza de España.
(note: If the group is fewer than fifteen travellers, it can be arranged in both Spanish and English). After the tour, you will take a boat trip along the river Guadalquivir, enjoying delightful views from the boat. At the end of the afternoon, you will go to the historic city centre area (Calle Alfonso XII).
Indian or vegetarian dinner included.
Day 10 (Lisbon)
Today you leave Seville and travel to Palos De La Frontera, where Columbus set sail on 3 August 1492 for America. Your tour price includes entrance to the famous Carabelas Museum. You will also see the Rabida Monastery, declared a World Heritage site, a Franciscan monastery strongly linked to the history of the discovery (entrance included). After this you will be transferred to Portugal. You will stop for lunch in MERTOLA, an ancient Muslim city known for its church. After this, travel through white villages till you reach to Evora, a World Heritage site known its wide streets and cathedral. Also included is the entrance to the impressive Chapel of Bones, built with 5000 skeletons! You will arrive at Lisbon at the end of the day.
Day 11 (Lisbon)
In the morning you have a sightseeing tour of the city with a local guide. You will visit traditional neighbourhoods, such as the Belem district, which is the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the fifteenth century. Visit the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower, and the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The afternoon is free so that you can explore this great city independently.
At the end of the afternoon, we include transportation to Restauradores Square where we suggest you take the ¨Elevador da Gloria¨ that brings you to the upper district and its viewpoint. Indian or vegetarian dinner included.
Day 12 (Lisbon)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, marking the end of our services, and head to the airport for your flight back home.
Inclusion & Exclusion
Inclusions
Europamundo General Services : Travel by bus with English speaking guide, basic travel insurance, and breakfast buffet.
Includes arrival transfer
City tour in : Madrid, Poblet, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Seville, Seville, Lisbon.
Evening Transfer: Debod Temple and Plaza de Espana/Gran Via in Madrid, Plaza de Oriente in Madrid, Ramblas and Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona, Bullring square in Valencia, Albaicin in Granada, Historic center of Seville, Praça dos Restauradores in Lisbon.
Ticket admission: Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Poblet Monastery, Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, Alhambra Palace in Granada, La Rabida Monastery and Caravel Museum, Chapel of Bones in Evora.
Train: Montserrat, Caravaca de la Cruz.
Exclusions
Anything else not mentioned in inclusions.
Air fare / Train fare / Visa Fees / Monument fare.
Expenses of personal nature such as tips, telephone calls, laundry, liquor etc.
Guide & Entrance fees during sightseeing or any other item not specified in ‘cost inclusions’
Any increase in taxes or fuel, leading to increase in surface transportation and land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to departure.
