8 days From the spectacular Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to the cosmopolitan capital, take in the highlights and hidden gems of northern Spain, including the beautiful Basque region. Go wine tasting in the Rioja and enjoy tasty tapas in San Sebastian, discover wonderful Spanish architecture, beautiful landscapes and more on this 8 day tour - our most popular itinerary. 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 - enjoy a walking tour in this 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 mountaintop hotel 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 - take in the highlights of Spain's vibrant capital What's Included 7 breakfasts & 2 dinners 7 nights 3-4 star hotels Guided sightseeing in Barcelona, Zaragoza, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Burgo, Salamanca, Avila and Madrid Vineyard visit and wine tasting in Zaragoza and Rioja San Sebastian Cider House visit & tasting Escorted by a local English speaking tour leader (or a driver guide for groups of 2 6) Specialist local guides for scheduled sightseeing All private transportation in air conditioned vehicles Barcelona Airport arrival transfer on day 1 What's Not Included Entrance Fees: Euro 40-50 (payable locally) Departure transfer - can be booked upon request International flights and visas Tipping - an entirely personal gesture DETAILED ITINERARY 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 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, or your flight won't arrive in time - 1 -
for the afternoon city tour, 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 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 - Zaragoza (B) Day 3 : Pamplona & San Sebastian or relax by the rooftop pool. Overnight - San Sebastian (B) Days 4-5 : Bilbao & Rioja Wine Tasting 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 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. 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. Day 6 : Burgos & Salamanca 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 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 7 : Avila Medieval City 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 (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 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 the wine country town of Logrono, which is part of the famous Camino de Santiago trail. Logrono is renowned for its culinary delights and here we enjoy an early dinner in Calle Laurel, which is packed to the hilt with tapas bars. Returning to Bilbao, we can spend the evening at leisure. Overnight - Bilbao (2) (B:2, D:1) 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. Spend the final night of the tour at leisure, sampling Madrid's wonderful nightlife Overnight - Madrid (B) Day 8 : Madrid Saturday. Our tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out today. - 2 -
Please note: if you'd like more time to explore the capital, post tour accommodation is available 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 Tipping in Spain & Portugal 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 - 3-4 euros per person per day Driver - 3-4 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. Tipping in Morocco In Morocco it is customary to tip and a tipping kitty (the amount is noted under 'what is not included' on page one of this document) will be collected by your guide at the welcome meeting on the day you arrive. This is payable in Moroccan Dirhams. USD, Euro or GBP can also be accepted, at the current exchange rate. The tipping kitty is used for the following; hotel porters, hotel waiters, local guides for city tours, airport transfer drivers, Berber camel herders and local restaurant tips. The tipping kitty does not include a tip for your Moroccan tour leader or driver and as a guideline we recommend you budget approx Euro 2-3 per day for your tour guide and Euro 1-2 for the driver for a job well done (payable in Moroccan Dirhams. Naturally the amount is up to you though, this is simply a suggestion. 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 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 Additional items required for Morocco: A torch for the Sahara Desert camp A lightweight sleeping bag for the Sahara Desert camp or a cotton sleep sheet will be adequate if travelling from May - Sep. If booking our 'Sahara Hotel Upgrade', you will not need to bring either of these. 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. 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 can arrange pre tour accommodation for you upon request. Travelling on to Morocco</p> In Morocco we include an airport to hotel arrival transfer (if you have provided us with your flight details). Arrangements are as follows: Arrive Marrakech (Menara) International Airport. After attending to customs and immigration formalities, proceed to the Arrival Hall and exit the airport. Please have your tour voucher handy and make it available to our On The Go Tours representative who will be waiting for you in the arrivals area outside the main building holding a prominent On The Go Tours logo signboard. After meeting with our - 3 -
representative you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation and transferred to our tour start hotel If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 30 minutes) or your flight to Marrakech is delayed please call or send a text message to our 24 hour contact persons, as stated on your tour voucher. Please do not leave the airport or go to the hotel on your own. Call our 24 hour contact persons and follow the advice given by our local team. 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. Spain Country Guide Spain Visas UK, AUS, NZ, USA and CAN passport holders do not require a visa at present to enter Spain for touristic purposes, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For passport holders of other nationalities not included here, please check the http://www.projectvisa.com/ visainformation/spain website for more information. South African Residents South African passport holders require a Schengen visa in order to enter Spain. A passport valid for at least three months from your departure is required and a visa will only be issued if blank pages are available. BLS International is the authorised service provider to The Embassy/Consulate of Spain in South Africa and they have a visa application centre in Cape Town and Pretoria. Please visit https://sa.blsspainvisa.com for further information. Climate The climate in Spain varies between temperate in the north and hot in the south. The southern region of Andalucia as well as most of the eastern coast of Spain enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The sun can be particularly fierce if travelling to the south in July or August, where temperatures in the cities, away from the cool breeze of the coast, can reach up to 40 degrees. In the northern Spain, the summer months are generally pleasantly warm and winters are mild but because of its elevation, the weather can be more unpredictable so be prepared for some cloudy days and rainfall. Time & Voltage Standard voltage is 220 volts, AC 50Hz. Primary sockets generally require European plugs of the two round-pin variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Spain in the Central European Time Zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1). In Summer, Daylight Saving Time is observed in Spain. During this period time is shifted forward by 1 hour to make Spain 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2 ). After the summer months the time in Spain is shifted back by 1 hour to Central European Time. Daylight savings runs between 26th March and 29th October. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Spain and ensure that you re up to date for recommended vaccinations for your home country. Other vaccines to consider are Tetanus. Visit the NHS Fit to Travel page or the CDC Traveler s Health page for more information. Currency & Holiday Money The official currency in Spain is the Euro. Check OANDA for latest exchange rates. British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be easily exchanged locally in banks or bureau de change or prior to departure. Credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in most of the major hotels, restaurants and shops. Use of American Express is not as common. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Spain is a relatively affordable destination as far as Europe is concerned. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around Euro 8-12 and it will usually be of a very high quality. A pint of domestic beer will cost around Euro 2. If you are making use of public transport in the cities, a one-way train ticket will set you back about Euro 1.4. Shopping Spain is a great place to shop with a wide choice of souvenirs to bring home from your visit. Cities like Seville, Madrid and Barcelona have high streets bursting with designer and boutique stores that are some of the best in Europe. For something a little different, the flea markets in Spain are great for a bargain. The Calle Ribera de Curtidores in Madrid takes place every Sunday and has a great vibe. You could even stroll down Barcelona s Las Ramblas and find some interesting bargains. If you're after something distinctly Spanish, consider a colourful fan. Folding hand fans may have originated in ancient Egypt but Spain has well and truly made them their own, making them a prominent feature in flamenco dancing and offering a stunning selection of colours, patterns and textures. The food markets in Spain are particularly good. Olive and olive oil go for dirt cheap yet it s also some of the best quality in the world. Wine is another thing to stock up on should it be your tipple as you can get a seriously good bottle for less than 5 Euro. Bargaining in Spain Bargaining is not generally accepted in Spain, although in the flea markets and with street - 4 -
vendors a bit of bargaining is appropriate in Spanish culture. Spanish Cuisine For many of us, Spanish food needs no introduction. Tapas is loved the world over and, of course, it s best when it s authentic. Tapas are basically appetisers and snacks, served hot or cold. Patatas bravas and croquetas are popular ones. Although tapas aren t the only type of food that Spain features. Spanish cuisine differs regionally and is heavily influenced by the history of that area. As an example, gazpacho is a typical Andalucían dish. It s a type of soup that includes tomato, cucumber, onion, bell pepper, garlic, olive oil, water, wine vinegar, salt and stale bread. In La Rioja the locals enjoy Rioja potatoes, which are basically potatoes with chorizo, garlic, olive oil, salt and the spice pimento, a Spanish sweet paprika. It s in Valencia that paella hails from. It s a delicious dish that combines white rice, chicken and rabbit, white beans, green beans, snails, rosemary and saffron. Seafood paella (replacing seafood with meat) and mixed paella (combining the two) are two popular varieties, although there are many more across Spain. Safe eating while travelling in Spain Food hygiene standards in Spain are generally very high so travellers are unlikely to fall ill from food posioning during their trip. As with anywhere in the world, it is important to be wary of any meat or fish that has not been cooked thoroughly. If food looks old, unclean or poorly prepared, it is best to avoid it. Tap Water Tap water is safe to drink in the major cities in Spain, although it should be avoided in rural areas where the sanitation quality isn t as good. It s best to play it safe with bottled water in these areas. - 5 -