Classic Spain & Portugal

Hola! Welcome to Spain. Your adventure begins in Barcelona, known for its delicious Catalan cuisine, Gothic architecture and lively art scene. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 7 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit Gaudi's modern basilica, La Sagrada Familia, walk along the waterfront and enjoy a bowl of traditional paella or catch the funicular to Montjuic for sweeping views of the city. After the meeting, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

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Leave Barcelona behind and travel by train to Pamplona. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk and discover this well-preserved fortified medieval town. Pamplona, (named after its founder, Pompey the Great) has served for centuries as both a military stronghold and an important point along the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail. Walk down winding alleys and step inside ornate buildings like Pamplona's Gothic Cathedral – one of the most important religious structures in Spain. The rest of today is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the recently opened Museum of Modern Art, inspired by the cultural renaissance achieved by Bilbao and its Guggenheim, or find a local restaurant and tuck into some pintxos (Basque tapas).

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Today, take a bus to the seaside city of San Sebastian – a jewel of the Basque country. With its family friendly beaches and vibrant old city, San Sebastian is a fantastic place to stroll along the promenade, shop or simply relax and soak up the sun. When you arrive, take a cable car to Monte Igueldo and take in the panoramic views over La Concha Beach. The rest of today is free – maybe wander around the Parte Vieja (Old Town), a mix of alleyways wedged between the bay and the Urumea River, or head to Playa de Gros and watch the surfers riding the waves of Biscay Bay.

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Today is a free day for you to explore San Sebastian. Maybe catch the local bus to Bilbao – a port city known for its surrounding green mountains. When you arrive, maybe explore the Guggenheim Museum or walk through Casco Viejo (Old Town). You could also visit the Vizcaya Bridge. This afternoon, maybe head back to San Sebastian to see the history, art and photography displays at the San Telmo Museum. San Sebastian is home to some of the world’s best restaurants, most experimental chefs and a distinct food culture – so it won’t be hard to find something delicious for dinner.

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This morning, take a public bus to the prized vineyards of the Rioja wine region and Logrono. After checking into your accommodation for the night, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe stroll the streets and explore the city’s medieval fortifications – a favourite stop for pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela. This evening, head out on an included txikiteo of pintxos – a Basque-style tapas crawl that will fill your senses (and stomach) with the taste of the region. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of txakoli (fizzy white wine).

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After breakfast, travel to Laguardia, where you’ll join your leader for a walking tour of the town. This medieval settlement was founded in the 10th century and remains virtually unchanged. Enter the walled city through one of four grand stone gates and stroll the streets of the village – known to be one of the country’s most beautiful. After you’ve explored the town, enjoy a wine tasting at one of the underground cellars. You'll sample wines made from the indigenous grapes of La Rioja, Garnacha, Tempranillo, Viura and Malvasia. If the weather is nice, stroll through the vineyards and learn what goes on behind the scenes.

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This morning, travel to Madrid – the capital of Spain known for its elegant boulevards, manicured parks and art scene. When you arrive, check into your hotel before setting off on an orientation walk. Then, the rest of today is free for you to explore Madrid at your own pace. Maybe walk the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk) and learn about western art history, explore the gardens of Real Jardin Botanico or visit Museo Reina Sofia and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. If you're lucky enough for your trip to fall on match day, you could buy a white t-shirt and head to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to watch the mighty Real Madrid. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner.

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Enjoy a free day in Madrid. Perhaps stroll through the artistic Lavapies neighbourhood or check out the Royal Palace of Madrid – the official residence of the Spanish royal family. This evening, there will be a welcome meeting to meet your new group and new leader at 6 pm. After the meeting, head out for an optional group dinner where you can get to know your fellow travellers.

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This morning, take a local bus to Granada. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada is packed with Moorish architecture, great tapas bars and natural beauty. Walk around the old Arab quarter of the Albaicin, a labyrinth of crooked alleys, fountains, plazas and whitewashed houses, or the Alcaiceri (old silk market area) to see the craftworks on sale, like ceramics, marquetry and leather goods. The rest of today is free for you to explore Granada at your own pace – maybe climb the streets up to the Mirador de San Nicolas for sunset views over the famous Alhambra, check out the historic Renaissance Cathedral and Capilla Real or watch the world go by as you indulge in some tapas at a bar.

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Today, visit Granada's Alhambra Palace on a guided tour. Wander the dominating red fortress towers of this 11th-century complex set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The palace is made up of the Alcazaba – the 11th century Muslim wing, which has great views from the towers – and the Palacio Nazaries and Generalife, the summer palace of the sultans. After, maybe head deeper into Granada’s Moorish Albaicin quarter and check out some of the traditional tea houses. Tonight, maybe meet up again with the group for dinner.

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Travel to the vibrant city of Seville, known for its oranges, tapas and flamenco. This morning, set off on a walking tour through Seville with your leader. Explore narrow streets, hidden squares filled with orange trees and flower-adorned patios and learn about the city’s history. Then, visit the Alcazar of Seville – a grand royal palace. Known as one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Spanish Royal Family still use the Alcazar as their residence!

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Today is a free day to discover Seville. Checking out the world's largest Gothic cathedral is a must. You can also the climb the cathedral's adjoining Moorish tower, known as La Giralda. While you might have to line up, it's well worth it for the views over the city. Visit the magnificent Alcazar, a complex of palaces used by Moorish and Christian rulers through the ages, and now gaining international fame as a shooting location for ‘Game of Thrones’. Wander through the fragrant gardens and examine the Moorish and Mudejar architecture. If you feel like an injection of culture, explore Seville's Museum of Fine Arts or the Archaeological Museum. As Seville is the tapas capital of Spain, be sure to sample some of the tasty morsels on offer in one of the city's many tapas bars. In the evening, catch a local flamenco performance with the group. Charged with emotion and drama, this powerful, fiery show is a real highlight!

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Cross the border into Portugal and travel through fertile plain landscapes of orange orchards, olive groves and maize fields to the Algarve – Portugal's southern coast. When you arrive in the seaside town of Lagos, maybe walk along the cobbled streets around Lago’s Old Town and explore the plazas and churches enclosed within 16th century walls. This evening, maybe feast on freshly caught fish at a restaurant or cafe overlooking the water, before dancing your way into Lagos' nightlife.

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Most of today is free to enjoy Lagos and its surrounds. At some point during the day (depending on availability) you’ll go on a boat tour around Algarve’s rocky cliffs. Explore the jagged, weathered rockface of Pinta da Piedade, full of arches, towers, grottoes and caves that have been eroded into this limestone coast. Your leader will let you know what time you set sail in advance so you can plan other activities around it. For the rest of the day, maybe take a stroll through the alleys of central Lagos, take a boat trip and look for the Algarve dolphins or pack a book and a towel and head to Praia do Porto de Mos and Camilo Beach.

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This morning, travel to Lisbon – the capital of Portugal known for its architecture, seafood and non-stop nightlife. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk of Lisbon to find your feet. There are some great modern and ancient art museums to check out, like the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art or the National Coach Museum. The rest of today is free for you to continue exploring.Maybe visit the grand Naval Museum for an insight into the history of Portuguese navigation, or roam through the charming narrow streets of local neighbourhoods and see local life play out. As the sun goes down, maybe visit one of Lisbon's best nightlife centres in Bairro Alto, where you can enjoy an emotional fado performance (traditional Portuguese music).

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Today is a free day to further discover Lisbon. Maybe head out this morning on a tour to the medieval citadel, Sao Jorge Castle, which dates back to Moorish times and sits on the highest point of the Old Town. Look down on a city swarming with endless angular white houses and buildings with distinct red terracotta rooftops. Maybe catch a tram or hire a bike and cycle along the water to the historic neighbourhood of Belem – make sure you try a pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tart) at the famous Casa Pasteis de Belem! Maybe relax at a cafe in hilly Alfama or check out the street art spread throughout the city.

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This morning, take a train to Porto – the capital of the north that stretches along the banks of the River Douro, known as the birthplace of the fortified wine (port) and for its medieval riverside district with its cobbled streets and merchants’ houses. When you arrive, join a group tasting of some tawny and ruby ports at one of the many wine houses across the river. Then visit the Museum do Vinho and learn about the history of wine and port making. The rest of the evening is free for you to spend how you like – maybe head out for dinner at a local restaurant – your local leader will have the best recommendations.

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Today is a free day to explore Porto. The city's World Heritage-listed Ribeira district is packed with twisting alleys, staircases, and baroque churches, and is great to explore on foot. Sao Francisco church is known for its lavish interior with ornate gilded carvings. The palatial 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, was built to impress potential European investors. For a sensational view of the whole town head to the Torre dos Clerigos (Clerigos Tower). Head down Allies Avenue to see the French-inspired buildings, then make a turn for Bolhão Market. This is the city’s most famed market, bursting with fresh produce and other goodies. Up in the cathedral area you’ll find the oldest neighbourhood in Porto and a place where you’ll see its true soul. Boat cruises along the Rio Douro operate several times a day, offering insight into the history of Porto's six famous bridges. A cruise is also a great chance to snap some great photos of the colourful tiled houses lined up along the riverbank. For dinner, make sure you try the country’s most famous sandwich – the francesinha – then head to Galerias Paris Street for nightlife.

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This morning, board a bus bound for Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The capital of Galicia became a symbol of the Spanish Christians' struggle against Islam and is famous as the culmination point for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. When you arrive, visit the cathedral where St James (one of the 12 Apostles) is supposedly buried. The cathedral was consecrated in 1211 and is the central point within the medieval walls of theOlTown, standing on the Plaza del Obradoiro with its towers soaring above the town. Elaborately carved stone facades open onto grand plazas, full of pilgrims and locals spending their day in this atmospheric place. Maybe join them in one of the cafes, sitting back and listening to many of the street artists performing, or visit the cathedral and do as pilgrims do – circle the main altar admiring the greatness.

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Today, maybe join the pilgrims on the last stretch of the Santiago de Compostela route. Take an early bus to Amenal village where the walk begins. The trek will take you through the villages, fields and rivers of Galicia. In Lavacolla village, you'll cross the river where medieval pilgrims traditionally bathed to purify themselves before arriving in the holy city. From here, you’ll ascend to Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), so called for the feeling of catching a first glimpse of the towers of Compostela Cathedral. Embrace the atmosphere alongside some walkers who may have trekked over 800 km to be here! Once back in Santiago, the rest of the day is free for you to explore. Santiago de Compostela is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an open-air museum – the lively squares, the market and the University buildings are all a must-se. For your final night in town, maybe wander down the streets of Rua do Franco and Rua da Raina to try some tapas.

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Today, you'll take a train back to Madrid. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then head out on an orientation walk with your leader to get your bearings. Then, the rest of the day is free for you to explore how you wish. Maybe hang out in El Retiro Park or explore Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velazquez and other Spanish masters. Tonight, why not ask your leader the best spot for dinner and head out with your fellow travellers to cheers to a trip well-travelled.

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Today your Spain and Portugal adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned so you can depart the accommodation at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

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