Northern Spain & Portugal

Welcome to Barcelona, one of the world's most stylish and cosmopolitan cities, on the cutting edge of architecture, food, fashion, style and music. The city features buildings by the genius and eccentric Antoni Gaudí, significant art collections of Picasso and Miro, and the exuberant locals will enchant you. The city's main tree-lined pedestrian mall, Las Ramblas, runs all the way from the quayside through the heart of the city and will lead you to the Gothic Quarter.

We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 6.00pm

Meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director this evening for welcome drinks at the hotel.

Begin exploring the sights of Barcelona, seeing the contrast of old and new as we drive through town and visit Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church). We then drive down to the oldest part of the city and see the Gothic Quarter, former Roman village and heart of Medieval Barcelona. We also explore the Cathedral Square and lovely narrow streets lined with beautiful handicraft shops, quaint local restaurants and buildings as old as the 14th century.

We then walk to Saint James Square, political heart of the city and end our tour at Catalonia Square. We see the famous Villa Olímpica neighbourhood and Port Olímpic marina, before continuing to the Montjuïc Mountain to take a scenic picture of the city. The afternoon is at leisure before tonight's group welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Art lovers might like to visit the Picasso Museum which exhibits works from his ‘Blue' and ‘Pink' periods. Your Tour Director can help with directions.

Today we will enjoy a morning tour of Barcelona where we'll see famous architect Antoni Gaudí's renowned buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milà along Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona's largest avenues. We'll then visit the amazing Park Güell, declared an artistic monument and World Heritage site by UNESCO. We also pass by Barcelona's monumental Bull Ring and the city park La Ciutadella, site of the 1888 World's Expo with the old triumphal arch of Barcelona. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore. Why not take some time to visit the popular Las Ramblas with its cafés, restaurants and street artists?

Optional Excursion: Montserrat - Montserrat is a mountain top monastery in Catalonia, Spain. This incredible rocky formation is a sacred place for the Catalan people. Includes entrance to Basilica and return cable car for breathtaking views up to the Monastery and with any luck you can also hear the singing of the boys choir (weekdays around 13.00 and Sundays around 12.00, the boys choir does not sing every day as they frequently travel and perform in other churches). 4hrs – from Euro 77pp (minimum 10 people)

The small Pyrenean town of Vielha, known for its ancient stone and slate architecture, is in our sights today. Capital of the Arán Valley, it is surrounded by mountains up to 2,000 metres above sea level. Departing Barcelona in the morning, we travel to breathtaking Espot, located right next to Aigüestortes National Park in the Pyrenees mountain range. Characterised by stunning peaks and almost 200 lakes, we'll explore the many sides to this landscape on a 4WD jeep tour. As part of tour, we'll see the tranquil Lake Ratera where we can take a short walk to a look out. Later this afternoon we'll continue to Vielha.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Sit back and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery as we travel through the French Pyrenees to the Bay of Biscay and the beachside town of San Sebastián. Home to some wonderful beaches and resorts, San Sebastián is a popular getaway for Spaniards during the hot summers. The cultural capital of the Basque region, it has a great mix of cosmopolitan lifestyle blended with the rural old-world feel. On our way we'll stop in the French town of Pau to stretch our legs.

Arriving in San Sebastián in the afternoon, we'll get acquainted with the city on a sightseeing tour. We'll see many sights, including Plaza de La Concha and the Old Quarter, and ride the cable car to the top of Igueldo Mountain for beautiful panoramic views of Santa Clara Island, Mount Ulia and La Concha Bay.

Special Experience: Taste txakoli, the region's famous dry white wine which pairs perfectly with a side of pintxos.

Enjoy the day at leisure to relax and explore at your own pace. Why not discover some of the many bars in the bustling old city centre?

This morning we make the trip to Bilbao, the Basque Country's largest city and a delightful mix of tradition and modernity. We'll travel just out of town to Guernica, known for the aerial bombings committed by Nazis during the Spanish Civil War. These actions inspired Pablo Picasso to create his famous painting ‘Guernica', which is now displayed at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. We will also visit the Peace Museum, with an exhibit showing how Guernica has represented democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace.

This afternoon in Bilbao we explore Frank Gehry's world-famous Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece. The building's incredible exterior isn't the only thing to see – the museum is also home to one of the world's largest art collections. The Guggenheim Foundation was founded in 1937 by Solomon R Guggenheim and is dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and understanding of art and architecture, primarily of the modern and contemporary periods. We will have free time to wander the museum at leisure and marvel at the pieces on display.

We'll take an orientation tour of the city this morning, including the Santiago Cathedral, Plaza Nueva, and Mercado de la Ribera, built on the site of the original Rivera Street market and said to be one of Europe's biggest covered food markets. We'll also make our way to the top of Mount Artxanda for spectacular city views. This afternoon is free for you to enjoy at leisure. Why not wander around the beautiful narrow lanes and streets of Casco Viejo or visit the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum?

We depart Bilbao and continue west, following the northern Spanish coastline towards the delightful town of Oviedo. Situated between the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Mountains, it is famous for its historic old quarter with a distinct medieval flavour. On our way, we'll visit the beautiful medieval town of Santillana del Mar. The town dates back to the 8th century and the village centre has been declared a national monument.

We'll have some free time to explore before we continue to the seaside village of San Vicente de la Barquera. One of the most picturesque towns on the Cantabrian coast, San Vicente de la Barquera was a former fishermen's refuge and is known for its excellent fish and seafood.

After some free time to enjoy the town and have lunch we'll depart for Oviedo. Oviedo is the perfect place for exploring on foot. Our walking tour here takes us past the cathedral, the Palace of Valdecarzana-Heredia, the Church of San Tirso, and through Porlier Square surrounded by the magnificent palaces of Toreno and Camposagrado.

Our next destination is historic Santiago de Compostela, the culmination point of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. A truly beautiful city, bursting with history, architecture and charm, the Old Town is perfect for admiring, wandering, and tasting tapas. As we continue west, we'll visit the fishing village of Luarca and have some time to wander around the colourful streets and harbour.

Next, we stop near the stunning Beach of the Cathedrals where we have some free time for lunch. This unique stretch of sand is home to a series of arched rock formations that form a ‘cathedral' at low tide, and disappear completely when the tide comes in. We'll arrive in Santiago de Compostela in the early evening.

After breakfast we discover the Galician capital on a city tour. Highlights include the famous cathedral, where legend has it the remains of the apostle St James were buried. We'll also visit the surrounding squares of Obradoiro, Quintana, Inmaculada, and Praterías, and the historic rúas. After some free time for lunch we'll travel to a nearby winery to learn all about Albariño, a variety of white wine created in the area. There will be a tasting too, of course! When we return to Santiago de Compostela, the rest of the day is at leisure for you to enjoy.

Walk part of the famous ‘Camino de Santiago', one of the most important pilgrimages for Christians during the Middle Ages.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we travel south towards Portugal. Also known as Oporto, Porto is located on the Douro River and is famous for the fortified wine from the nearby Douro Valley that shares its name, as well as its baroque architecture. On our way to Porto we stop in Braga, Portugal's third largest city, famous for its baroque churches and plazas. We'll explore the city with our Tour Director before enjoying some free time for lunch.

Arriving in Porto in the afternoon, the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy at leisure. Why not visit the interesting harbour area or spend some time at the photography museum housed in a 19th century prison? It's also nice to simply wander through the town's narrow medieval streets around the Sé (the cathedral) and enjoy the gentle lapping of the Douro River along the docks.

For dinner, you might wish to try a local dish called Francesinha. Known as Portugal's answer to the croque-monsieur, this large sandwich is filled with cured meats, steak, and sausage, covered with melted cheese and a delicious beer and tomato sauce, all served on a bed of fries – save your diet for later!

Porto is Portugal's second largest city and one of the oldest European centres. With a history dating back to approximately 300BC and a historic quarter declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are many buildings and sights to see. We enjoy a guided tour of the city this morning, including the Ribeira Quarter, St Francisco Church (outside only) and the Stock Exchange.

Special Experience: Learn how authentic port is made and get to taste it at one of the many producers in Porto. Afterwards we'll relax on board a short cruise of the Douro River, admiring the city from the water and passing under some of the city's famous bridges.

Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to unwind or explore at your own pace.

Inhabited by Romans and Arabs, Coimbra was once the capital of Portugal. Filled with medieval architecture, it is still abundant with history and tradition.

We'll arrive in Coimbra later today, but first we visit Aveiro, a city of colourful houses and numerous canals, known as the ‘Portuguese Venice'. Here we have time to see the graceful gondola-like 'moliceiros' boats and taste the local 'Ovos Moles de Aveiro' sweets (made from egg yolks and sugar, wrapped in a thin crust and moulded into various shapes). We'll take a short orientation tour, then have some time to stroll around this unique and interesting city before departing for Coimbra.

This afternoon a tour of Coimbra awaits us. The city of Coimbra is divided into two by the Mondego River: the Cidade Baixa, (lower town) which is the main commercial centre and Cidade Alta (upper town) which is the older part of the city where the university and many of Coimbra's main attractions are located. Here we'll visit the beautiful university, which dates back to the 13th century and was the first in Portugal. It is said to be one of the most important in Europe. We will also see the breathtaking Library, a masterpiece of gilt woodwork, and its courtyard where we can enjoy views over the Mondego River.

Vibrant and bustling Lisbon, Portugal's capital, is a cultural delight. From its incredible architecture to its picturesque cobblestone streets, its friendly people and so much more, the city is a must-see destination. As we make our way towards Lisbon, we stop in the medieval fortress village of Óbidos, still surrounded by high walls which date back to the 12th century. While here, we'll also enjoy a tasting of the renowned local liquor, Ginjinha. Made from ginja berries (a type of sour cherry), in Óbidos, you'll find it comes served in a chocolate cup!

Making our way inland, we'll explore Sintra, a beautiful town situated on the green slopes of a mountain range. Set amongst lush forests and overflowing with exotic gardens and palaces, Sintra was also the residence of the Portuguese Royal Family during the Middle Ages.

Special Experience: Visit the mesmerising Quinta da Regaleira, an impressive 20th century residence decorated with gothic turrets and ornate gargoyles.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we discover the sights of this amazing city. Our tour of Lisbon commences with a panoramic and walking tour of the most historical and traditional points including the Park Edward VII, Liberty Avenue, Restauradores Square, Rossio Square, Downtown (rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755), and Commerce Square. We'll continue to Belém. Known as the ‘Discoveries Quarter', it was from here that the caravels set sail for their trips to South America and to the Orient.

First, we'll see the Tower of Belém, built in Manueline style on the north bank of the River Tagus for defence purposes of the city. We'll also have a photo stop at the Monument to the Discoveries. This monument celebrates the Portuguese discoveries with special mention of Henry the Navigator. Our last stop this morning is the beautifully intricate Jerónimos Monastery, built in the 16th century to celebrate the power of King Manuel I and the magnificence of the empire.

Special Experience: Taste the famous Portuguese custard tart from Antiga Confeitaria. No visit to Lisbon would be complete without it!The rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy at leisure.

Portugal's breathtaking southern coast awaits. Today we travel to the Algarve, famous for its golden beaches, incredible coastline, and villages. We'll be staying in one of the region's prettiest towns, the charming Tavira. On our way we will stop in Faro, where we'll see some of the city highlights and have free time for lunch. Faro is the capital of the Algarve region and perfectly blends a beautiful old town, cafes, shopping and cobblestone streets with great beaches and natural reserves.

Cork is the national tree of Portugal and one of the country's most important exports. In the Algarve we'll stop to visit a traditional cork factory, learning about a variety of cork products, and sampling some of the liquor the products are used for! Afterwards we'll stroll through the cork oak plantation on a guided tour. Over the next few days you'll experience the carefree way of life in the Algarve, wandering the cobblestone streets and relaxing by the colourful harbours.

Today we'll explore the Algarve's breathtaking Ria Formosa Natural Park. Here we will cruise through the wetlands, taking in the wonderful scenery and amazing wildlife, and stopping at the peaceful Armona Island to explore. We then return to Tavira, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Our next destination is the historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Évora, a significant centre for both trade and religion in years gone by. Founded by the Romans and later fortified by the Moors, the city has a diverse mix of architecture and attractions. There will be some free time for lunch before we begin our sightseeing. Our walking tour here includes the historical quarter, Roman and Gothic Cathedral, the Roman Temple, Saint Francis Church (outside only) and the Bone Chapel.

We head back to Lisbon late this morning. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure here before tonight's group farewell dinner.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to our adventure across Northern Spain and Portugal. We hope you leave with the memories of a lifetime.