8 days Lisbon to Madrid Travelling from Lisbon to Madrid, explore Portugal's rich history, captivating cities, and picturesque countryside, Medieval castles and beautiful coast. Discover the fairytale Pena Palace, roam around Medieval Obidos and go wine tasting in Porto and the Duoro Valley. Then head into neighbouring Spain to explore historic Salamanca, en route to the capital Madrid. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Small group tour, with maximum group size of 16, and unique hotels Sintra - gaze in wonder at the whimsical, hill top Pena Palace with its Gothic turrets and gargoyles Fatima - visit the Shrine of our Lady, an important destination in the world of Catholic pilgrims Nazare - wander around this charming Portuguese fishing village Coimbra - explore the oldest Portuguese university with its beautiful baroque library Porto - enjoy wine tasting at one of the famous bodegas (wineries) Douro Valley - see the famous castle in Guimaraes and enjoy wine tasting at one of the most historic and renowned vineyards in the region Viseu - spend a night in a beautiful Portuguese pousada (a historical Portuguese hotel) Lisbon - explore Portugal's charming coastal capital - currently voted as Europe's No 1 hot spot to visit Cascais - admire the views in Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, and watch Portugal's famous custard tarts being hand made Salamanca - wander through the city's beautiful Plaza Mayor and see Spain's oldest University, with its stunning architecture Madrid - discover the highlights of Spain's vibrant capital on a guided tour Obidos - take in this delightful medieval walled town What's Included 7 nights 3-4 star hotels (including 1 night in a Pousada, a historic Portuguese hotel) 7 breakfasts and 2 dinners Lisbon Airport arrival transfer on day 1 Guided sightseeing in Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra, Fatima, Porto, Guimaraes & Doura Valley, Salamanca and Madrid Vineyard visit and wine tasting in the Duoro Valley Wine tasting in Porto Escorted by a local English speaking tour leader (or a driver guide for groups of 2 6) All private transportation in air conditioned vehicles What's Not Included Entrance Fees: Euro 10-20 (paid locally) Departure transfer - can be booked upon request International flights and visas Tipping - an entirely personal gesture DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Arrival Day Lisbon Saturday. Welcome to Portugal's coastal capital, Lisbon. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The afternoon is free to explore at your leisure. If time permits, wander around the Chiado and Bairro Alto area and try one of Lisbon's famous Pasteis de nata (custard pies), or admire the views from the landscaped terraces of Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara. Alternatively, you can take a ride on the Electrico - 1 -
tram and discover enchanting Alfama, one of the oldest districts of Lisbon, with its maze of cobbled streets and ancient buildings. This evening meet your guide and the rest of the group for a welcome drink and dinner in a local restaurant. If you'd like more time to explore Lisbon, we can arrange pre tour accommodation upon request. Overnight - Lisbon (D) Day 2 : Sintra & Pena Palace After breakfast we travel to the beautiful town of Sintra, in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains. On the outskirts of town we discover one of Portugal's Seven Wonders, the whimsical, 19th century Pena Palace, which stands atop a hillside. Brightly coloured Pena, with its gothic turrets, watchtowers and gargoyles is the ultimate fairytale castle and with our guide we'll explore and learn all about its history. From Sintra we travel to the coast to visit the lovely beach town of Cascais and admire the views in Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Then we tickle our tastebuds at a "pasteis de nata" shop, where we see how these delicious Portuguese custard tarts are made and sample one, before returning to Lisbon for the night. Overnight - Lisbon (B) Day 3 : Obidos & Fatima Lisbon - Fatima. Today we bid farewell to Lisbon and travel north to Obidos, a delightful Medieval Portuguese town, just one hour's drive from Lisbon. There's free time to wander around the town which is encircled by an imposing wall and see its impressive Medieval castle before we continue our journey to Nazare, a typical Portuguese fishing town. From Nazare we head inland to the town of Fatima, our final port of call. Fatima is home to one of world's most important Catholic pilgrimage sites, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, which we visit on a guided tour of the town. Overnight - Fatima (B) Days 4-5 : Coimbra & Porto Fatima - Coimbra - Porto. After breakfast, we continue our journey north passing through charming town of Tomar and on to Coimbra, which was the Medieval capital of Portugal for more than a 100 years. Here we visit Portugal's oldest university, founded in 1290, which is renowned for its amazing baroque library, built at the beginning of the 16th century. Then we continue our journey to Porto, Portugal's second largest city. After hotel check this afternoon there's free time to wander the narrow cobbled streets and later, try some tasty local cuisine at one of the many wonderful restaurants and cafes along Porto s vibrant waterfront known as the Ribeira. The following day we spend the morning with our local guide sightseeing in Porto, with its winding Medieval lanes, Baroque churches, Neo Classical buildings and small squares. Then we visit one of the most famous wine bodegas of Porto and of course sample the local tipple. This afternoon we have free time for shopping, wandering through the alley-woven Ribeira or taking a leisurely stroll along the riverside promenade. Overnight - Porto (2) (B:1) Day 6 : Duoro Valley Wine Tasting Porto - Viseu. Today we leave the coast and head inland to Guimaraes with its famous castle, labyrinth of narrow streets and picturesque squares, surrounded by Medieval buildings. We enjoy a leisurely walk around the town before continuing on through the picturesque Douro wine region, with its prestigious wine caves, historical fortress, medieval stone houses and vineyards, located on high sloping terraces. We stop to enjoy wine tasting at one of the Duoro Valley's oldest and most renowned vineyards, before travelling on to city of Viseu, located on the banks of the Paiva River. This charming city has lovely stone paved streets and alleys, public gardens and a beautiful central square. We spend the night in a Pousada, (a historic Portuguese hotel) in Viseu, where we'll be served dinner this evening. Overnight - Viseu (B, D) Day 7 : Salamanca & Madrid Viseu - Madrid (Spain). Today we bid farewell to Portugal as we head eastward, over the border into Spain. Our first stop is the beautiful and historic city of Salamanca, 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. After our guided tour - 2 -
we'll have time for lunch before continuing on to Madrid. This afternoon we enjoy a guided coach tour of Spain's vibrant capital city, where sights will include the grand Royal Palace of Madrid, Calle Mayor, Madrid's historic high street, Plaza Mayor, the grand arcaded central square, and the beautiful Plaza de la Villa with its baroque architecture. After we've seen the important sites of the city we check into our accommodation for the final night of our tour. Overnight - Madrid (B) Day 8 : Madrid Saturday. Our tour comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check out today. Post tour accommodation in Madrid and departure transfers can be booked 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 - 3 -
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 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. - 4 -
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 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. Portugal Country Guide Portugal 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 Portugal. 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. VFS Visa processing is the authorised service provider to The Embassy/ Consulate of Portugal in South Africa. Please visit http://www.vfsglobal.com/ portugal/southafrica/index.htm for more information Climate The climate in Portugal varies between temperate in the north and hot in the south. The coastal region from Lisbon to Porto is warmed by the Gulf Stream, so winters are still mild and summers are warm with temps in the high 20's The Douro Wine Region has its own microclimate. The long mountain range along the west of this region protects the valley from the cold and humid winds that sweep in from the Atlantic, creating drier conditions than along the coast, but also colder winters and warmer summers. Time & Voltage Standard voltage is 220-240 Voltz. 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. Portugal is in the Western European Time Zone, which is the same time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Like most countries in Europe, Daylight Saving Time is observed in Portugal, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour (GMT+1) 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 Portugal 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 bureaux 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. Portugal is an affordable destination for many international travellers to visit. A meal at an - 5 -
inexpensive restaurant is around Euro 5-9 and a pint of domestic beer is a steal at around a Euro. You can get good quality food and drink for a very reasonable price here. Shopping Wine is an excellent thing to shop for in Portugal and not just port wine. Portugal produces high quality wine for inexpensive prices. Ginjinha - cherry liquor - is also very famous in Portugal. It s made by infusing sour cherries into particularly potent Portuguese liquor called aguardente. In some cities a shot of this is traditionally taken in a chocolate shot glass and often these can be purchased with a bottle of Ginjinha in souvenir shops. Portuguese tiles are often beautiful and detailed. They can be seen on buildings across the country and can often be bought from souvenir shops. Portuguese Cuisine Portuguese cuisine is known for its excellent seafood, oil, stews, casseroles and starchy staples. For breakfast the Portuguese are very traditional and enjoy bread, butter, cheese, and ham, usually eaten with a hot drink. Traditional dishes include Bacalhau, which you can get in almost every restaurant. It s a salted cod dish that can be made in a variety of ways and the Portuguese will tell you themselves that there is 1000 different ways to prepare it. The most common is prepared with tomatoes, onion and olives. A favourite treat is the pastel de nata (or Portuguese tart), a small custard tart often sprinkled with cinnamon. - 6 -