Overview

1. Day 1: USA - Europe

   Board your overnight flight to Europe (not included).

2. Day 2: Arrive Madrid

   On arrival at Madrid Airport transfers will operate at 10.30am, 1.00pm and 3.30pm. Guests arriving later should make their own way to the hotel. Embrace la buena vida and soak up the passionate atmosphere of Madrid's vibrant streets before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation of the city's glorious sights as the sun sets on the capital.

   meal(s):WR

   hotel:NH Collection Eurobuilding

3. Day 3: Madrid – Cuenca – Valencia

   Witness the dramatic honey-coloured clifftop hanging houses of Cuenca during our first stop today before we journey to Valencia. An orientation drive will include views of the 15^th century Towers of Serrano and Quart, and the City of Arts and Sciences.

   meal(s):BB

   hotel:Silken Puerta

4. Day 4: Valencia – Guadix – Granada

   Meandering through the sierra of Spain, we arrive in Guadix. Witness how generations of Guadix locals have carved cozy abodes into their rocky surrounds, then travel through the jagged Mora Pass to Granada. This evening, sample the hearty flavors of Andalusia during a special Regional Meal at a local restaurant.

   meal(s):BB, RM

   hotel:Occidental

5. Day 5: Granada – Córdoba – Seville (3 Nights)

   Tread in the footsteps of Spain's last emirs, joining your Local Specialist for a visit to Alhambra, its amazing palaces, gardens and fountains. Soak up the tranquil atmosphere in quiet courtyards, follow its colossal ancient walls and admire the ornate stone carvings. We leave Granada behind for Córdoba where we'll join a Local Specialist to visit the mesmerizing Cathedral of Córdoba, the former mosque of the caliphs and a jewel of Hispano-Islamic art featuring striking arches and Byzantine mosaics. Our final stop for the day is beguiling Seville, our home for the next three nights.

   meal(s):BB, DW

   hotel:Meliá Lebreros

6. Day 6: Seville Sightseeing

   Seville takes center stage today as we spend the day exploring this charismatic city. We'll see the symbolic Giralda Bell Tower in the company of a Local Specialist, then visit the Maria Luisa Park. We'll walk through the imposing Plaza de España and visit the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, where the explorer Christopher Columbus is entombed. Perhaps witness the twirling of colorful skirts and rhythmic clapping of castanets this evening at a fiery flamenco performance.

   meal(s):BB

7. Day 7: Seville – Jerez and Cadiz Excursion

   We indulge in the aromatic flavors of Jerez today as we gain a Cultural Insight into the centuries-old tradition of Spanish sherry production. The leafy boulevards and quiet plazas of romantic Cádiz are our next stop.

   meal(s):BB

8. Day 8: Seville – Algarve Region

   We journey from Spain to the sun-kissed shores of southern Portugal's Algarve, a retreat for sun-worshippers with its spectacular natural landscapes and fascinating heritage.

   meal(s):BB, DW

   hotel:Agua Riverside

9. Day 9: Algarve – Lisbon Sightseeing (2 Nights)

   Travel north to the Serra de Arrábida mountains and the golden landscapes of the Alentejo where you'll enjoy a delicious Be My Guest lunch at a traditional Stud Ranch where Lusitano horses have been reared since the 18^th century. We arrive in the seafaring Portuguese capital of Lisbon this afternoon where we'll join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the spectacular 16^th century Hieronymite Monastery, and Belém Tower, built as a tribute to Vasco da Gama's journey of discovery.

   meal(s):BB, BG

   hotel:Olissippo Marques De Sa

10. Day 10: Lisbon

    Meander through the cobblestone lanes of old town Lisbon and the grand shopping boulevards that stretch from the shores of the Tagus and Lisbon Baixa to Rossio. Today is yours to embrace the charm of the Portuguese capital. Consider joining an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Queluz.

    meal(s):BB

11. Day 11: Lisbon – Fátima – Salamanca

    Follow the road taken by pilgrims over the last 100 years to the Shrine at Fátima, site of celebrated religious miracles. We leave Portugal, traveling to the historic Spanish city of Salamanca where we will view its 18^th century Plaza Mayor during our orientation tour.

    meal(s):BB

    hotel:Gran Corona Sol

12. Day 12: Salamanca – Toledo – Madrid (2 Nights)

    See the walled city of Ávila, the town of stones and saints, so named for its vast collection of Romanesque and Gothic churches. We arrive in the clifftop city of Toledo where we'll visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to one of El Greco's most famous paintings – The Burial of Count Orgaz. Join a Local Specialist for a guided walk through the quaint streets and see the oldest synagogue building still standing in Europe. Later enjoy a Cultural Insight into the historical steel industry while watching local craftsmen at work. We arrive in Madrid this evening, our home for the next two nights.

    meal(s):BB

    hotel:Ayre Gran Colon

13. Day 13: Madrid Sightseeing

    This morning we join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of Madrid where you will see the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and the Cervantes Monument with its stone representations of Don Quixote's "true love". Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city on your terms. This evening marks the end of our memorable journey through the Iberian Peninsula. Join your fellow companions and Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner.

    meal(s):BB, FD

14. Day 14: Depart Madrid

    For now it's time to say a fond adios to Spain and Portugal at the end of a memorable vacation. Return transfers on the last travel day will arrive at Madrid Airport at 8.30am and 11.00am. Conditions apply.

    meal(s):BB