Travel back in time with a 9-day guided tour through Spain and Portugal, immersing yourself in the charm of ancient sites. Explore the cobblestone streets of a former Roman colony and indulge in the rich flavors of a 'Pastel de Nata' tart, crafted from a closely guarded 200-year-old recipe. Witness the mesmerizing sizzle of metal in the hands of a master artisan, imparting the age-old craft of Damascene.
Includes
9 Day Insight Vacations Guided Holiday
9 Nights in stylish, hand picked hotel accommodation
Authentic dining inclusive of 8 breakfasts and 3 Dinners with Wine all with tea or coffee
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach
An expert Insight Travel Director
From time to time, your Travel Director will enchant you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination
Baggage handling everywhere, we include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels
Hotel and restaurant tips are included
Personal radio headsets, gives you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights without missing any of your local expert's fascinating insights and commentaries
Additional experiences during your free time that can be purchased at an additional cost
Top Rated Highlights
Toledo City Tour
Seville Cathedral Visit
Seville Panoramic City Tour
Granada City Tour
Seville Old Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
Explore the Ancient City of Évora
See the Golden Stone Buildings of Salamanca and much more!
Unique Insight Experiences
At a Damascene workshop, meet a master artisan for a personal insight into this ancient craft. Witness firsthand their precision as they inlay gold and silver into iron, using a chisel and a hammer.
Make Travel Matter Experiences
Discover Flamenco at the Cristina Heeren Foundation Seville: The Cristina Heeren Foundation aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco and is a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Meet the students of the foundation, learn some basic flamenco steps, and then feel the passion as they perform an emotional show.
Excludes
Flights
Tranfsers not mentioned
Visas
Travel Insurance
Items of a personal nature
Extras
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Additional experiences that have been curated by your Travel Director from their own in-depth local knowledge can be signed up for on tour at an additional cost.
Airport Transfers: If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Advertised price is based on 29 June 2024 departures. Ask us for alternative departures.
Highlights
8 Nights in stylish hotel accommodation
11 Meals
Unique Insight Experiences
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Madrid
While in Madrid, explore the elegant boulevards, expansive parks and varied architectural styles. Join your Travel Director for your Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers over a delightful evening of good food and wine.
Arrival Transfer: 09:00, 11:30, 13:30, 16:00, 00:00
Welcome Meeting: Meet your Travel Director at 18:00
Accommodation: Barceló Emperatriz
Included Meals: Dinner with Wine
Day 2: The old capital of Toledo and on to Granada
Visit the fascinating city of Toledo, situated high above the River Tagus. This was Spain's capital during the golden era, where Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures flourished side-by-side through the Middle Ages. From here you will venture south to meet a local artisan in a Damascene workshop for a personal insight into this ancient craft, handed down by the Moors centuries ago. Then enjoy a walk within the city walls of Toledo, through the narrow cobbled streets, led by your Local Expert. Visit the Church of Santo Tomé, housing El Greco's famous painting, ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.'
Your journey continues to Granada.
Accommodation: Vincci Albayzín, Granada
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 3: The Alhambra Palace and Seville, City of Carmen
'Give him alms, woman, because there is nothing sadder in life than being blind in Granada', proclaims the inscription on the walls of the Alhambra. Bathed in the morning light, the Alhambra Palace awaits—a fantasy of arabesque gardens, fountains and stone cut like lace. Explore with your Local Expert before visiting the exotic water gardens of the Generalife, the summer residence of the Spanish royals. Take a moment to relax in the sunshine as you enjoy the fine views over the town and its three verdant hills before continuing on to Seville.
Visit the Seville Cathedral, the burial place of Christopher Columbus.
Explore the city with Insight Choice. Choose to embark on a walk through the old Jewish quarter. Alternatively, enjoy a drive with panoramic views.
Accommodation: Meliá Sevilla
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Free Time and Flamenco in Seville
This day is yours to completely relax or continue exploring this fascinating city. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to Córdoba and visit the magnificent Mezquita, an 8th century mosque with a Christian cathedral built inside it? 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.
Accommodation: Meliá Sevilla
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Évora and onto Lisbon
Continue to the lively university town of Évora, one of the best preserved towns in Portugal, with architectural styles dating back to Roman Times.
Visit the fascinating Capela dos Ossos, a chapel decorated with 5000 bones, before making your way to Lisbon.
Accommodation: Turim Saldanha Hotel, Lisbon
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Lisbon and the Age of the Discoveries
During your stay, a guided orientation of the city with your Local Expert takes you along the avenues of the Lower Town and beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco, the finest square in the city.
Visit the Belém Quarter and enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same, secret recipe for almost 200 years.
View the Monument to the Discoveries and the historic Belém Tower. This fortress was originally set in the middle of the river, but is now left high and dry on the riverbank. Visit the cloisters of the 500-year-old Jerónimos Church with its beautiful Manueline architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps join an Optional Experience to the beautiful Portuguese Riviera?
Accommodation: Turim Saldanha Hotel, Lisbon
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Holy Fátima and Salamanca
Travel into the green hills north of Lisbon to visit Fátima, the most celebrated place of pilgrimage in Portugal. Visit the chapel commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three children in 1917. Cross the border, returning to Spain and continue to Salamanca, famous for its golden stone buildings and the handsome arcades of the Plaza Mayor. Across the River Tormes, see the Puente Romano with 15 of its 26 arches dating from the time of the ancient Romans.
Accommodation: Hotel Alameda Palace, Salamanca
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Ávila and Madrid
Cross the rock-strewn hills of the Castile, to arrive at Ávila. Admire the impressive city still entirely enclosed within its 11th-century walls, a unique occurrence in Europe. Return to Madrid to explore more of the capital with your Local Expert. At a local restaurant, join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a lively Celebration Dinner.
Accommodation: Barceló Emperatriz
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: Farwell Madrid
Today bid farewell to your journey along Spain, Portugal & Morocco as you transfer to the airport
After breakfast, transfers arrive at Madrid-Barajas airport at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00
Included Meals: Breakfast
Terms & conditions
Prices are per person twin share, include discounts, and are subject to availability and rate of exchange changes. Offers above are a guide only and will vary depending on departure date, our guide price is based on the cheapest departure within the stipulated season and availability is correct at time of loading. Visas may be necessary and insurance is essential. Pentravel and Tour Operator terms and conditions apply, and can be requested. Excludes flights, transfers, visas, travel insurance and anything not mentioned. Savings are not valid on all itineraries and/or departure dates, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn/changed at any time without notice. High season supplements and block out dates may apply, pricing varies pending departure date. Package excludes flights. You can do optional free-time add-on experiences in your free time and pay for them as you travel (additional costs apply). Insight Vacations reserves the right to withdraw promotional offers and adjust savings anytime. All savings / discounts mentioned have already been included in the advertised price. Pentravel and Tour Operator reserves the right to withdraw or amend promotional offers at any time. Other conditions may apply. Advertised price is based on 16 November 2024 departure. At time of loading this may not be a definite departure. These packages are based on CASH price. E&OE;.
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