Totally Spain 15 days Barcelona to Lisbon

Transcription

1 15 days Barcelona to Lisbon From beautiful Barcelona, take in the best of northern and southern Spain before crossing the border to end in Portugal's captivating capital. Discover Spain's rich history and delicious cuisine, rolling vineyards and lush olive groves, captivating cities, incredible architecture and more, on this 15 day tour of the Iberian Peninsular. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Small group tour, with maximum group size of 16, and unique hotels Barcelona - marvel at the city's most famous landmark, the beautiful Sagrada Familia Castell Del Remei vineyard - learn about the production of local wines and enjoy wine tasting at this historic winery Pamplona - a beautiful Basque city close to the Pyrenees mountain range with a bustling old town San Sebastian - explore Spain's beautiful gastronomic capital, with its incredible Old Town tapas and our wonderful mountain-top Bilbao - discover wonderful contemporary art at the world famous Guggenheim Museum Rioja Region - sample fine wines at Bodegas Marques de Riscal Vineyard Salamanca - wander through the city's beautiful Plaza Mayor and see Spain's oldest University, with its stunning architecture Avila - roam around one of Spain's oldest towns, surrounded by an imposing, medieval wall, with more than 2500 turrets Madrid - explore Spain's vibrant capital on a hop on hop off bus Jaen Region- visit an Olive Oil farm and sample their produce in this famous Olive Oil Region, explore Ubeda, Jaen and spend the night in a former 16th century palace which is now a parador Granada - tour the spectacular Alhambra palace, with its exquisite Moorish architecture Jerez - go wine tasting at a famous vineyard in Jerez, famed for its sherry production Toledo - Monumental Gothic cathedral and roam around the gardens of the Alcazar palace-fortress Seville - wander the streets of Andalucia's enchanting capital and be sure to sample the array of tapas bars Cordoba - marvel at the mesmerizing La Mezquita, one of the world's greatest mosques Jabugo - discover what makes Iberico Ham so special on a tour of an authentic Iberico Ham farm Ronda - roam around one of Spain's oldest towns, set on a mountain top Lisbon - independently explore Portugal's charming coastal capital What's Included 14 nights 3-4 star hotels 14 breakfasts and 4 dinners Barcelona Airport arrival transfer on day 1 All private transportation in air conditioned vehicles Guided sightseeing in Barcelona, Zaragoza, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Burgo, Salamanca, Avila, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Ronda, Jerez, Seville and Cordoba Vineyard visit and wine tasting in Zaragoza, Rioja and Jerez San Sebastian Cider House visit & tasting Olive Oil farm visit and tasting in the Jaen Region Escorted by a local English speaking tour leader (or a driver guide for groups of 2 6) Specialist local guides for scheduled sightseeing -1-

2 What's Not Included Entrance Fees: Euro (paid locally) Departure transfer - can be booked upon request International flights and visas Tipping - an entirely personal gesture DETAILED ITINERARY of Aljaferia, which dates back to the 11th century, with a history of Islam, Christianity and Catholicism. Later there's free time to explore and perhaps taste some of the delicious local Aragonese cuisine Overnight - San Sebastian - Bilbao. After breakfast on day 4, we join our local guide for a city tour of the seaside town of San Sebastian before heading eastward to our next stop, the port city of Bilbao. En route we stop to visit a Zaragoza (B) traditional family run Sideria (Cider House) for tasting. Arriving into Bilbao, we'll take in the sights of the city on a guided tour and visit the famous Guggenheim Museum, with its display of modern and contemporary masterpieces. Day 3 : Pamplona & San Sebastian Day 1 : Arrival into Barcelona Saturday. Welcome to Spain and the beautiful coastal city of Barcelona. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, or for those already in Barcelona make your way to our hotel for check in. This afternoon at 2pm we meet our guide for a tour of Barcelona. We visit the Hill of Montjuic, where we'll be treated to a wonderful view of the Barcelona harbour, then continue on to visit the spectacular and iconic Basilica of Sagrada Familia, an unparalleled architectural gem, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner/tapas in local restaurant. Note: if you'd like more time to explore Barcelona we can arrange pre tour accommodation upon request. Overnight Barcelona (D) Day 2 : Zaragoza & Vineyard Barcelona - Zaragoza. Early this morning we leave Barcelona and head west to Zaragoza. En route we will visit Castell Del Remei, a vineyard near Lleida, where we'll enjoy a tour of the vineyard with wine tasting, lunch in the vineyard restaurant is available. We continue on to Zaragoza, and after check in we'll have a walking tour with our local guide. We visit the spectacular multi-domed Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar which rises over the Ebro River, and the Palace The rest of the day is free to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the old town with its charming streets and quirky bars. Bilbao is another city of gastronomic delights, so there's no shortage of wonderful restaurants to dine in during our stay. Zaragoza - San Sebastian. After a leisurely breakfast we travel to Pamplona, a beautiful Basque city made famous by the Ernest Hemingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. We enjoy a walking tour with our local guide and there's time for a drink and tapas in the old town before we continue on to our stop for the night, San Sebastian. San Sebastian is a beautiful and charming city which tops the list of the world's best places to eat. After check in at our hotel, which sits atop Monte Igueldo, with wonderful panoramic views of the city and the bay, you have time to wander to the lively Parte Vieja The following day we venture into the world famous Rioja region, renowned for its exceptional wine. The towns and villages are set amid vineyards and wineries and are almost exclusively involved in wine production. We visit the region's most famous Bodega, Marques de Riscal, where we learn about its history, with its oldest cellar dating back to 1858, and of course enjoy a tasting session. Later this afternoon we travel on to Logrono, which is part of the famous Camino de Santiago trail. Here we enjoy a local dining experience in Calle Laurel, before returning to Bilbao where you have free time at your leisure. Overnight - Bilbao (B:2, D:1) Day 6 : Burgos & Salamanca (Old Town) and see why it's known as the food capital of Spain, with its plethora of Michelin star restaurants. Take a stroll along the lovely white sandy beach or relax by the rooftop pool. Overnight - San Sebastian (B) Days 4-5 : Bilbao & Rioja Wine Tasting Bilbao - Salamanca. Bidding farewell to the Basque Country we continue on to Burgos, to see the World Heritage Listed Gothic cathedral of Burgos, which looms large over the city skyline. After our walking tour we travel on to Salamanca this afternoon, which is home of Spain's oldest University. The old town is an ensemble of monuments, with beautiful examples of different architectural -2-

3 styles, and we'll explore the back streets of this beautiful city with our local guide. This evening there's free time to discover the local bars and restaurants. Overnight - Salamanca (B) Day 9 : Toldeo & Ubeda Granada, the land of a 1000 castles, is nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and is one of Andalucia's most interesting cities. This afternoon we enjoy a guided walk around the UNESCO Listed areas of Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter of the city, and the scenic Generalife gardens. Today's highlight is a tour of the lavish Alhambra palace, which is part palace and part fortress, with exquisite Moorish architecture. Overnight - Granada Day 7 : Avila Medieval City (B) Salamanca - Avila - Madrid. After breakfast we drive on to Avila, a UNESCO city which is famous for its well-preserved medieval city walls, which include eight monumental gates, 88 watch towers and over 2500 turrets. After our walking tour there's time for a leisurely lunch in one of the local Castilian restaurants. This afternoon we travel on to Madrid, where we're joined by a local guide for a coach tour of this exciting capital city, taking in sights such as the Royal Palace of Madrid. You have free time to explore at your leisure. Overnight - Madrid (B) Day 8 : Madrid sightseeing Madrid. Today is a free day for you to explore the wonderful city of Madrid. You will have a hop on hop off bus pass to use at your Madrid - Jaen. After breakfast we bid farewell to Madrid and head out to our first stop of the day, Toledo, which is known as the 'city of three cultures', because of the Christians, Arabs and Jews who lived here together for centuries. We enjoy a guided tour of the cathedral, Sto Tome Church and the magnificent synagogue, as we learn about the history of the town. Afterwards we continue to the beautiful Renaissance town of Ubeda in the scenic olive oil producing region of Jaen. Here we'll visit an olive oil producer and get a taste of the groves. Then there's time to wander at your leisure around this enchanting pocket sized city. We spend the night at a parador, housed within a stunning 16th century former palace and located next to the beautiful Sacra Capilla del Salvador, in the heart of the city. Overnight - Ubeda (B) Day 10 : Jaen & Granada leisure. The city is an art lover's dream, with the Museo del Prado and Centro de Reina to get you started. Visit the Plaza Mayor, Madrid's famous square, see the Royal Palace of Madrid and more. Day 11 : Ronda & Jerez Granada - Jerez. This morning we travel to Ronda, our first stop of the day. Surrounded by mountains and dramatically perched upon an inland plateau, Ronda is one of Spain's oldest towns, established in 9th century BC. We enjoy a walking tour of the historic quarter, which dates back to Islamic times when it was an important cultural hub, with many mosques and palaces. Continuing our scenic journey we pass through whitewashed villages including Arcos de Frontera, which sits on a spectacular sheer cliff. After a break for lunch we travel on to Jerez, a vibrant and chic Andalucian city, which is part of the famed Sherry Triangle. The rest of the day is free to wander around the enchanting old town, find a local Tabanco and enjoy the local wine, sherry and tapas. Overnight - Jerez (B) Days : Seville & Cordoba This evening we enjoy a group dinner with our guide and any new members of the group who join the tour today. Overnight - Madrid (B, D) Ubeda - Jaen - Granada. This morning we visit Jaen, which boasts the largest number of protected spaces, castles and fortresses in Spain. Here we'll have time to wander around the historic quarter, which has a beautiful Renaissance cathedral, before travelling on to the Andalusian city of Granada. Jerez - Seville. We start day 5 with a visit to one of the city's famous wine cellars where gain an understanding of the traditions of wine making in this area and of course, enjoy some wine tasting. Leaving Jerez, we travel on to the beautiful city of Seville. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has a rich Moorish heritage and our walking tour -3-

4 includes a visit to the cathedral and Alcazar Gardens. The streets and squares are lively and busy and Seville is credited with the invention of the tapa, and the choices are limitless, join the locals moving from bar to bar trying one at a time. The following morning we visit Cordoba, a thousand year old city which is a living legacy of the different cultures that have settled here throughout its history. Our local guide will guide us around the white-washed courtyards surrounding the exquisite and iconic Mezquita, which is one of the world's greatest Islamic buildings. In the afternoon we drive back to Seville, where the rest of the day is free to explore or perhaps enjoy a some retail therapy. Overnight - Seville (B:2) Day 14 : Jabugo & Lisbon Seville - Lisbon (Portugal). After breakfast we depart Seville and make our way to Lisbon in Portugal. We head north toward Aracena and then onto the village of Jabugo, which is famous for its Iberica ham. Here we'll stop for a short tour and taste some of their amazing produce. Then we head west across the border into Portugal. After a short lunch stop in Beja we travel through the Portuguese countryside en route to Lisbon, Portugal's captivating capital. After check in there is time to relax and tonight we gather for a final group dinner in local restaurant. Overnight - Lisbon (B, D) Day 15 : Lisbon Saturday. Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. We can arrange post tour accommodation in Lisbon and departure transfers upon request. (B) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Entrance Fees In Spain and Portugal selected entrance fees are included, however all others must be budgeted for by you. The total cost of the entrance fees which need to be paid locally is noted under Exclusions on the first page of this document. Entrance fee amounts can change and as such upon arrival to Spain your tour leader will highlight the exact total entrance fee cost for the tour. Entrance fees are to be paid in Euros cash. On our tours which combine Spain/Portugal with Morocco, please note that entrance fees are included in Morocco. Tipping There isn t one simple rule for tipping in Spain and Portugal. If you are happy with the service in restaurants then a 10% cash tip is common. However, you aren t likely to cause offence if you don t leave a tip. Hotel staff don t usually expect a tip but leaving 1-2 Euro if someone carries your bags or delivers food to your room is a nice gesture. With taxis, tips aren t expected but rounding up the total bill or leaving loose change is appreciated. It is customary to tip your tour leader and driver at the end of the tour, for a job well done. As a guideline we recommend that you budget the following: Tour leader euros per person per day Driver euros per person per day This information is given as a guide, as many travellers are unsure and uncomfortable about how much to tip. Tipping is an entirely personal gesture and the amount you tip is at your own discretion. Comfortable walking shoes Sandals or flip flops/thongs/jandals Electrical adaptor. Standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Sockets require a Continental or European style plug (two round pins) DEET based mosquito repellent and antihistamine cream Personal first aid kit including Dioralyte Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swimming costume A towel for swimming Antibacterial hand cleansing gel Pocket size phrasebook Arrival on day 1 Upon arrival in Barcelona/Madrid airport, after you have attended to customs and immigration formalities, please proceed to the arrival hall. An On The Go representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding an On The Go Tours logo signboard, ready to transfer you to our start hotel. Please have your tour voucher handy and make it available to our representative. If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight to Spain has been delayed please call the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. Please do not leave the airport or go to the hotel on your own. Call our emergency contact number and follow the advice given by our local team. Tours Starting in Madrid In the evening you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby at 7.30pm, to walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and briefing. Please have your tour voucher with you. Essential Packing A small daypack for your day-to-day needs Either a rucksack or suitcase is suitable Travel insurance documents A photocopy of your passport data pages Spare camera batteries & memory cards Mobile Phone and phone charger Lightweight clothing (check the forecast before you travel and pack appropriately) A lightweight water/windproof jacket A small umbrella Tours Starting in Barcelona Meet your tour leader and the rest of the group in the lobby of the hotel at 2pm for a city tour and in the evening you will go to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. If you flight does not arrive in time to join the city tour please let us know and you can meet your tour leader in the hotel lobby at 7.30pm to join the group for dinner. Alternatively, we -4-

5 can arrange pre tour accommodation for you upon request. Pre Tour Accommodation If you have booked pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrival transfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives very, very early in the morning) consider purchasing a night of pre-tour accommodation to save you waiting until hotel check in time, which is generally from 2pm onwards. Departure Transfers Departure transfers are not included but can be booked upon request. -5-