Compare Highlights of Spain - Classic Group, Winter 2021 2022 Classic Group by Insight Vacations vs Spain and Portugal 2023 by Tauck
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 9 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 2,538 | $ 6,690 |
| Price Per Day | $ 282 | $ 478 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | See the beautiful world of Spain during this 9-day guided tour. Begin in Barcelona, where a Local Expert will lead you along the city’s narrow lanes to the lively Las Ramblas and the Sagrada Família, a basilica built by the architect Antoni Gaudí. Paella was created in Valencia. Later, enjoy a private cooking demonstration at a family-run restaurant while sampling the local flavors. See glorious views of the Sierra Nevada before reaching Granada, where a Local Expert will guide you through one of the most remarkable fortresses ever built: the Alhambra. In Seville, learn the art of flamenco dancing during a private lesson, then be treated to a passionate performance by professionals. Visit the Prado Museum in Madrid with an art historian, who can share the stories behind Spanish masterpieces by artists such as Francisco Goya. |
In Spain and Portugal highlights include... Porto, Lisbon and Sintra in Portugal, and Seville, Gibraltar, Ronda, Toledo and Madrid in Spain; ride a traditional rabelo boat in Porto and a horse & carriage in Seville, and tour the incomparable Prado in Madrid.
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Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona
Airport transfers depart from Barcelona airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:00. Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 18:00 for your Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 2: Barcelona, the City of Gaudí Relaxed Start
With your Local Expert, see the narrow lanes and old squares behind the cathedral in the Barri Gòtic, Gothic Quarter. See the lively Las Ramblas and then head along the Passeig de Gràcia, adorned with elegant wrought-iron street lamps and some of the most flamboyant Modernist buildings. Continue through the Eixample district for a visit inside Gaudí’s extraordinary masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, to see the central nave with its giant, tree-like pillars, spectacular vaulting and the beautiful rainbows flooding in through the intricate stained-glass windows. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore or perhaps join an optional experience to Montserrat & The Black Madonna.
Day 3: Along the coast to Valencia Relaxed Start
Follow the sunny Costa Dorada, past the rice fields of the Ebro Delta. Stop at the seaside resort of Peñíscola and see the hilltop castle used in the film 'El Cid'.Pass through the famous orange groves to Valencia and see the City of Arts and Sciences. Later see the Old City and take in its medieval charm.Valencia is home to one of the world's greatest dishes, paella. Meet the chef of a local family-run restaurant in the heart of the Old City and learn how to make this local specialty during a Cooking Demonstration. Later, indulge in the delicious flavours of this classic dish with a glass of sangria at your Highlight Dinner.
Day 4: Exquisite Granada and Alhambra
Travel south toward Andalucía, passing the castle at Lorca and troglodyte dwellings hollowed out of the soft rock near Guadix. Enjoy views of the Sierra Nevada mountains from a distance as you reach glorious Granada. This historic city was a Moorish kingdom for almost eight centuries and was the last stronghold to fall to the Catholic monarchs of Spain in 1492. Overlooking Granada stands the Alhambra, one of the most remarkable fortresses ever built. Led by your Local Expert, explore this exquisite palace, built as a citadel by the Moors in the 13th century. A fantasy of arabesque gardens, fountains and stone cut like lace. Later, stroll through the elegant exotic gardens of the Generalife, the Royal summer residence.
Day 5: A Scenic Drive to Seville
The morning is at your leisure to explore as you wish. Perhaps join an Optional Experience and visit the Albaicin Quarter with a Local Expert. Here, in addition to falling in love with Granada, you will also uncover its pivotal role in European history. Continue your travels to Seville, past gleaming white villages and olive groves that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Day 6: Seville, the City of Carmen Relaxed Start
Explore Seville with Insight Choice. Choose to visit Seville’s Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Alternatively, join a scenic drive around the city and a short walk through the narrow lanes of Santa Cruz Quarter to enjoy a refreshing beverage. This evening, visit the Cristina Heeren Foundation, a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This private dance school is dedicated to promoting the conservation of flamenco and supports young enthusiasts from all over the world with a special focus on new talent from the Andalusian region. Feel the passion behind the choreography as you put your rhythm to the test during a dance lesson before witnessing emotions come to life in a flamenco performance. With some free time for dinner, wander the restaurants in Triana or try the local night market Lonja Del Barranco selling tapas made from fresh, local produce. Why not grab yourself a refreshing sangria for a cheers to your new found dancing feet?
Day 7: Moorish Córdoba and on to Madrid
Set off early along the Guadalquivir Valley, passing villages and towns studded with Moorish towers and fortresses. Stop in the perfectly preserved Moorish city of Córdoba and see the famous Roman bridge, built in the 1st century BC. Meet a local historian and visit the magnificent Mezquita, a beautiful 8th century mosque with a Christian cathedral built inside it. Make the most of your time at leisure and stroll the narrow streets of the city. Follow in the footsteps of Don Quixote as you travel through La Mancha and on to the capital - Madrid.
Day 8: Madrid of the Bourbons Relaxed Start
Enjoy sightseeing with your Local Expert, as they guide you through the most historic neighbourhoods in the Spanish capital. Your drive continues through the Old Quarter to discover the origins of the city. Enjoy a special visit to the renowned Prado Museum with an art historian who will guide you through the collective works of Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Rubens and more. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax at a cafe, shop in the trendy boutiques or perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience and visit beautiful Toledo? In the evening, join your Travel Director and newfound friends at a local restaurant in the heart of the city. Toast to your adventures as you enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner of regional favourites, served with wine.
Day 9: Depart Madrid
After breakfast, transfers arrive at Madrid airport at 07:00, 09:00 and 11:00.
Day 1 Arrive Porto
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Porto. A transfer is included from Porto Airport to your hotel, InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas, set within a recently renovated 18th-century palace in the heart of the city. Meet your traveling companions this evening at a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.
MEALS : D
LODGING : InterContinental Porto
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 2 A Rabelo Ride & a Taste of Port
Begin the day with a panoramic guided tour of Porto and its historic district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – with its beguiling architecture, from medieval to baroque to Beaux-Arts, winding alleyways, miradouros (lookout points), opulent palaces and churches. Following your city tour, go for a ride along the Douro River aboard a traditional, flat-bottomed rabelo boat like those used for centuries to transport port wine from vineyards along the river to Porto on the Atlantic. Visit a port wine cellar for a tour, tasting and lunch; then spend the rest of the day and evening exploring as you wish.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : InterContinental Porto
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 3 Sintra & Lisbon
An excursion from Porto today takes you to Sintra – once a favored summer retreat for Portugal's monarchs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – for a visit to the National Palace of Sintra, and time to explore on your own before returning to Lisbon for a visit to the National Coach Museum. Check into your Four Seasons hotel for a two-night stay; dine at the hotel this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal
Day 4 Lisbon discoveries
A guided sightseeing tour provides an introduction to this intriguing city and its most famous landmarks; view the famous monastery Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the nearby Tower of Belém – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the mid-16th century – and see the Discoveries Monument commemorating Portugal's "Age of Exploration" of the 15th and 16th centuries. Enjoy the rest of the day and evening as you please.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal
Day 5 Off to romantic Seville
Today you'll travel from Lisbon to Seville through the Alentejo region of Portugal, known for its rolling plains, bucolic villages and local cork trade. The region produces more than half of the world's cork supply, and you'll learn more about the Alentejo's cork industry when you visit a local cork factory. You'll travel into the border region between Spain and Portugal – an area where fortifications dotting the landscape have witnessed centuries of struggle between the Spanish, Portuguese and Moors – then through the Spanish Extremadura, a unique region that was once part of the Roman Empire and today is famous among epicures worldwide for its prized delicacy, jamon iberico. Spend the next two nights in the heart of Seville at one of Europe's most luxurious hotels, commissioned by the king of Spain for the famous Exposition of 1929. You may have dinner at your hotel this evening, or choose to enjoy an included lunch or dinner at the hotel tomorrow.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Alfonso XIII
PORTOFCALL : Seville, Spain
Day 6 A Carriage Ride and the Royal Alcázar
After getting your bearings (and an introduction to many of Seville's historic and cultural attractions) on a sightseeing tour with your local guide, ride a horse-drawn carriage through the city's historic heart. Enjoy a walking tour through the fascinating Barrio de Santa Cruz and the maze of old streets in the city's former Jewish Quarter, and a guided visit inside Seville Cathedral, one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world, and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. The evening is free to spend as you wish; enjoy lunch and dinner as you please today.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Hotel Alfonso XIII
PORTOFCALL : Seville, Spain
Day 7 The Rock of Gibraltar & Marbella
Depart Seville for famous Gibraltar, where you'll tour the fabled "Rock" by mini-coach (weather permitting), and spend some time exploring on your own with lunch as you please. Your final destination today is the glamorous coastal resort town of Marbella on the Costa del Sol, for a two-night stay.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Gran Meliá Don Pepe
PORTOFCALL : Marbella, Spain
Day 8 A Day at Leisure in Seaside Marbella
The entire day is yours to enjoy the pleasures of your elegant resort hotel, Grand Meliá Don Pepe, a paradise for the senses in the heart of the Costa del Sol. On one side is the famous Port of Marbella; on the other, gleaming white boats anchored at the exclusive Puerto Banús. And on the horizon, you can see Gibraltar and the North African coast, majestic in the distance, against the magnificent backdrop of the mountain peak La Concha de Marbella. Long a favorite of celebrities in Marbella's privileged enclave of Sierra Blanca, the resort's guest list has included Sean Connery, Julio Iglesias, Prince, Maximillian Schell, Arthur Rubinstein, Bob Hope and many more... and you, spending a perfect day as you please.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Gran Meliá Don Pepe
PORTOFCALL : Marbella, Spain
Day 9 The Mountains of Ronda to Granada
As your tour continues, journey from the Spanish coast into the mountains to visit scenic Ronda, perched on a cliff overlooking the spectacular El Tajo gorge. Ronda is synonymous with the evolution of the art of bullfighting; along with revealing the town's Moorish heritage and remains, a guided walking tour includes a visit to one of Spain's oldest bullrings, the Plaza de Toros. Continue on to Granada, situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. The city boasts extraordinary architecture from over 250 years as the capital of a Moorish kingdom; your hotel is steps away from Granada's celebrated Moorish palace, the Alhambra. Dine at a local restaurant this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Alhambra Palace
PORTOFCALL : Granada, Spain
Day 10 Treasures of the Alhambra & the Generalife
A highlight today is a guided visit to Granada's famed Moorish palace, the Alhambra, constructed to be a "paradise on Earth" by caliphs who ruled here in the 13th century. Tour the palace itself, considered to be one of the world's most beautiful, and stroll through the Generalife, the grounds of the summer palace of former sultans.Explore the sights of Granada on a historically rich guided tour before discovering the city as you please this afternoon. Nestled in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the city was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors who left their mark here in Islamic architecture, horseshoe arches, teahouses and culinary traditions. You'll also find historic basilicas, tapas bars, flamenco clubs and cafés aplenty. Enjoy a private flamenco show tonight, followed by dinner at your hotel.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Hotel Alhambra Palace
PORTOFCALL : Granada, Spain
Day 11 Córdoba and on to Madrid
Continue from Granada to Córdoba today for a visit that begins with a guided walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the Judería, Córdoba's former Jewish Quarter; from its alleyways, you can see the walls and decorative details of the candy-striped La Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque.") Your visit to this masterpiece of architecture and art reveals its nearly 1,200-year history as an early Christian church, a Moorish mosque, and, since the 16th century, a Roman Catholic cathedral. Late this afternoon, board the AVE train in Preferente class for a rail journey to Spain's amazing capital city. Arrive in Madrid for three nights at The Westin Palace, Madrid – a Belle Époque landmark in the heart of the city, a short walk from the tapas bars that American novelist Ernest Hemingway made famous. A light dinner will be served at your hotel this evening.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : The Westin Palace, Madrid
PORTOFCALL : Córdoba, Spain
Day 12 Toledo, City of Three Cultures
Set off this morning for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, known as the "city of three cultures" because for centuries Christians, Arabs and Jews have lived together behind its walls – as the range and artistry of the city's architecture attests. It was also the home of the Spanish artist El Greco whose haunting canvases include one of his most famous works, View of Toledo. From afar, Toledo still looks as it did when El Greco painted it. See Toledo up close today on a guided walking tour with a local guide. Make your way along cobbled streets paved with history, including visits to the 12th-century Synagogue Santa María la Blanca, considered one of the oldest synagogues in Europe still standing, and the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco's painting, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Have lunch in a local restaurant before returning to Madrid late afternoon.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : The Westin Palace, Madrid
PORTOFCALL : Madrid, Spain
Day 13 Explore Madrid, Museo del Prado, and a special farewell
Join a local guide for a morning orientation tour of Madrid's landmark sights that includes a walking tour of the vast Palaza Mayor and the Mercado San Miguel. Then view the art treasures of Madrid's celebrated Museo del Prado – one of the most famous art museums on Earth, just a block away from your hotel – on a guided visit with a local expert. Please join us this evening for a farewell reception followed by dinner with Castilian entertainment at your hotel.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : The Westin Palace, Madrid
PORTOFCALL : Madrid, Spain
Day 14 Journey home
Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas Airport or Madrid Atocha train station. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Madrid, Spain
