13 Day France & Spain: History, Culture & Wine

13 days
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Small Group Tour
3 Barcelona, 2 Carcassonne, 2 Bordeaux, 2 Bilbao, 2 Madrid
From$4,999
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit Gaudi's masterpiece, the unfinished fanciful La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona In the Catalonian city of Figueres, visit the Dali Theatre-Museum, designed by the artist Visit the impressive fortified walled city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Specially arranged wine tasting at a local vineyard of fabulous Bordeaux wines Stay at a Chateau in the countryside near the UNESCO World Heritage village of St. Emilion Visit the stunning seaside resort of San Sebastian, called the "Pearl" of northern Spain In the Basque city of Bilbao, visit the inspirational and glittering Guggenheim Museum Tour a traditional Spanish winery and cellar in the Rioja region and enjoy a wine tasting Visit the renowned Prado Museum - stand before masterpieces by Goya and El Greco †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

What's this trip about?

    3 Barcelona, 2 Carcassonne, 2 Bordeaux, 2 Bilbao, 2 Madrid

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe

Attractions

  • Barcelona
  • Bilbao
  • Bordeaux
  • Dali
  • Madrid
  • Toulouse

Trip includes

    • Small groups of maximum 22 travelers guaranteed Flights New York-Barcelona, Madrid-New York Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges 11 nights First Class accommodations
    • 3 nights Barcelona 2 night Carcassonne 2 nights Bordeaux 2 nights Bilbao 2 nights Madrid Hotel taxes, fees & service charges Hotel porterage All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates† 19 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners Wine, coffee and tea served with all meals Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned vehicles Services of local English-speaking tour manager throughout Comprehensive, guided sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary Active itinerary with unique cultural features

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Itinerary

DAY 1, Saturday - Depart for Spain
Depart for Barcelona, Spain

DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Barcelona
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Barcelona! Transfer to your hotel. This evening, attend an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 7 PM, followed by a light dinner at a local restaurant. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM Overnight: Barcelona Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Monday - Visit Montjuic, Cooking Class
The day starts with a visit to the Montjuic recreational area housing the National Palace, built as the central pavilion for the 1929 International Exhibition. Montjuic is home to the Olympic complex, a number of sports facilities built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, and ...
DAY 4, Tuesday - Discover Gaudi's Architecture
This artistic city is renowned for the famous works of Gaudi, the master architect. Visit Gaudi's legendary and still unfinished fanciful masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, a colossal church that was first started in 1882. Along the Paseo de Gracia, view the unique La Pedr...
DAY 5, Wednesday - Girona, Figueres Dali Museum, Travel to Carcassonne
Depart for Girona, northern Catalonia's largest city. The historic quarter, with its ancient arcade houses and cobbled streets, is crowned by a magnificent cathedral on the eastern bank of the River Ter. In the Old City, Arabic-style bathhouses and the preserved Call (me...
DAY 6, Thursday - Carcassonne City Tour, Local Game of Petanque
This morning, explore enchanting Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perched on a rocky hilltop surrounded by ancient towers and turrets, with expansive views of the city below. A guided walk takes you along the cobbled streets to the St. Nazaire Basilica, adorned...
DAY 7, Friday - Toulouse Sightseeing en Route to St. Emilion
After breakfast, depart for St. Emilion. Along the way, stop for an orientation tour of Toulouse, the regional capital. Known as the Pink City, on the river Garonne, Toulouse is known latterly for its modern aircraft and space rocket manufacturing. View the Capitole Squa...
DAY 8, Saturday - Bordeaux City Tour, Wine Tasting
Today discover Bordeaux nestled on the Garonne River. Distinguished for the wines that bear its name, Bordeaux is considered by connoisseurs to be among the best wine producers in the world. This bustling city with its 18th century buildings has been totally revitalized ...
DAY 9, Sunday - Biarritz, San Sebastian
Journey to the elegant coastal town of Biarritz. Once a whaling and fishing town, it was totally transformed into a resort for royalty and the rich and famous when Napoleon III and his Spanish wife Eugenie built their palace here. Continue to the stunning seaside resort ...
DAY 10, Monday - Bilbao's Old Quarter, Guggenheim Museum
In Bilbao, visit the heart of the Casco Viejo, the city's charming Old Quarter, with its original seven streets dating back to the early 1400s. View the 14th century Gothic Cathedral de Santiago with its impressive Renaissance entryway. The day's highlight is your visit ...
DAY 11, Tuesday - Wine Tasting in Rioja, Madrid
Marvel at the scenery of green fertile valleys, dramatic mountains and picturesque villages as you approach the beautiful wine region of Rioja. Here, visit a traditional Spanish winery (bodega) and walk through the lush vineyards. At the cellar, enjoy a wine tasting followed by a delectable lunch. Then, travel to extraordinary Madrid Overnight: Madrid Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12, Wednesday - Madrid City Tour
Your introduction to Madrid's striking architecture begins at grand Plaza de Cibeles Square, a neoclassical complex of marble sculptures and spectacular fountains that have become an iconic symbol for the city. View the ornate 18th century Royal Palace, Europe's second l...
DAY 13, Thursday - Depart Spain
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,999
Price per day$385
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Gate 1 Travel

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

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Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Not Included:Optional tours and gratuities.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
18 years and up
Optional Activities
Toledo Tour Toledo is a "Museum City" of great artistic beauty. Former capital of Spain and one of the oldest cities in Europe, Toledo has magnificent examples of architecture from different periods, making it one of the leading artistic cities of the country. In Toledo visit the most famous monuments, such as St. Tome Church, which houses El Greco's 'The Burial of Count Orgaz" and the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. Also admire its famous hand-crafted work, the "Damasquinado." Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 12 Price : $70 Toledo Tour Toledo is a "Museum City" of great artistic beauty. Former capital of Spain and one of the oldest cities in Europe, Toledo has magnificent examples of architecture from different periods, making it one of the leading artistic cities of the country. In Toledo visit the most famous monuments, such as St. Tome Church, which houses El Greco's 'The Burial of Count Orgaz" and the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. Also admire its famous hand-crafted work, the "Damasquinado." Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 12 Price : $70
Additional Information

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.

Trip ID
gate1-DSCV-ES-FR-13DESFRHCW-PKG-22

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