Itinerary

Day 1:
Sat. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Sun. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meetyour Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3:
Mon. MADRID. Of the Spanish capital, situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it’s the nearest thing to heaven. You’ve only a day here and it’s certainly worth making the most of it by joining the included guided sightseeing tour: a full panoramic drive by way of the Avenida Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Parliament Square, and a picture stop outside the Royal Palace. The optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too. The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)

Day 4:
Tue. MADRID-AVILA-COIMBRA, PORTUGAL. West for a visit to fortified Avila with its many towers. Next is Salamanca, just six miles from the spot where Wellington routed Napoleon’s army in 1812. Make sure you spend some time wandering around Plaza Mayor, the grandest square in Spain. Across the frontier to Guarda, the highest town in Portugal. From here descend to the valleys of the Serra da Estrela to Coimbra for overnight. (B,D)

Day 5:
Wed. COIMBRA-FATIMA-LISBON. This morning enjoy your orientation tour of Coimbra, celebrated for its beauty and ancient university. Later, travel southwards to Batalha with a visit to its beautifully sited monastery. Today’s penultimate highlight is a visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima. A sterner and more desolate landscape accompanies you to Lisbon for your overnight in Portugal’s capital. A stop en-route includes a wine bodega and some wine tasting. (B)

Day 6:
Thu. LISBON. Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. On the included tour see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, and the impressive Black Horse Square. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion to coastal Estoril and Cascais. (B)

Day 7:
Fri. LISBON-SEVILLE, SPAIN. From the rolling plains of the Alentejo with its woodlands of cork and eucalyptus trees, southwards all the way to the brilliant light of Andalucia. Admire its neat white-painted villages and sun-drenched plantations of olives, figs, and almonds, while traveling by way of Beja into magnificent Seville. (B,D)

Day 8:
Sat. SEVILLE. At leisure in one of Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of this vibrant city. (B)

Day 9:
Sun. SEVILLE-FERRY TO MOROCCO-FEZ. An interesting drive today which starts with views of the sherry wine region before reaching the coast for embarkation on the ferry to Morocco. Next, motor south along what was once northern Africa’s infamous Barbary Coast. Join the new motorway for the drive southwards, then west, bypassing Meknes for two overnights in Fez. (B,D)

Day 10:
Mon. FEZ. At leisure in ancient Fez, which occupies a position of outstanding scenic beauty and is blessed with an ample supply of water. This morning visit the Medina on the included sightseeing tour and watch the crowds of Berbers in their flowing robes as they buy and sell their goods, accompanied by veiled women. (B)

Day 11:
Tue. FEZ-MIDDLE ATLAS-MARRAKESH. Enjoy glimpses of North African village life reminiscent of Beau Geste while motoring through the Middle Atlas on your way to Marrakesh. (B,D)

Day 12:
Wed. MARRAKESH. The highlight of this morning is the included city sightseeing. You’ll really feel as if you’ve stopped the march of time. Marrakesh has always been a meeting place—first just a group of nomad tents, now a bustling city. An optional evening excursion will be a fitting choice to end the day. (B)

Day 13:
Thu. MARRAKESH-CASABLANCA-RABAT. This morning drive northwest from the heartland of Morocco by way of Settat, to reach the most western of all Moroccan cities—Casablanca. Stop here awhile. Later in the afternoon continue by way of the motorway northwards to Rabat, Morocco’s capital for city sightseeing and an overnight. (B,D)

Day 14:
Fri. RABAT-FERRY CROSSING TO SPAIN-GRANADA. Today an early departure retraces your steps northwards for the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to mainland Spain, and drive directly to the heart of Andalucia to reach Granada for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 15:
Sat. GRANADA-MADRID. Take advantage of the included visit with a Local Guide of the Alhambra, a summer complex built by the Moorish kings. You’ll treasure the memory of its architectural beauty, dazzling ceilings, and magnificent gardens. This afternoon drive into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castle and windmills. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

Day 16:
Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT SPAIN ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Batalha, Fatima, Portuguese wine bodega, Seville, Casablanca

Itinerary

Day 1:
Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Sat. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3:
Sun. MADRID-ARANJUEZ-CUENCA-VALENCIA. Start the day by driving to nearby Aranjuez in the Castilian Plain, where you stop to visit the Royal Palace, originally built in the 14th century. Although burned down both in 1727 and 1728, it was splendidly rebuilt and became a favorite residence of Spanish royalty. Continue traveling southeast to the magnificently located old town of Cuenca, which stands high above the precipices of the Rivers Jucar and Huecar. It is famous for its “hanging houses” that are suspended over the Huecar ravine. Journey on to Valencia for two overnights. (B,D)

Day 4:
Mon. VALENCIA. Valencia is known mainly for its wonderful climate and the quality of its light. Enjoy a drive along wide avenues lined with fig and palm trees and along the old quarter’s narrow streets with its fine gothic houses and typical patios. Time to do some shopping or more personal sightseeing and, of course, the option of joining an excursion. (B)

Day 5:
Tue. VALENCIA-PENISCOLA-BARCELONA. An interesting day starts with a drive north to the nearby Castellon for a visit of its Peniscola Castle, built by the Knights Templar in the 14th century. The promontory on which the castle and town are located is a fine reminder of medieval times. Continue your journey through orange groves and seaside resorts past Tarragona to Catalonia’s lively and beautiful capital, Barcelona. (B)

Day 6:
Wed. BARCELONA. This morning’s sightseeing with a Local Guide will include a drive around Montjuich to see the Olympic Stadium and a great panoramic view of the port and city. The drive continues to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in the Houses Battlo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fees not included). (B,D)

Day 7:
Thu. BARCELONA-SARAGOSSA-PAMPLONA. See more of Catalonia as you drive northwest to Saragossa on the banks of the River Ebro. During your stop you’ll have time to see the Sanctuary of our Lady of the Pillar. Continue north through fertile valleys and the Rioja wine growing country to Pamplona, made famous by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises and Fiesta, where he described the annual running of the bulls that takes place from July 6-14. (B)

Day 8:
Fri. PAMPLONA-BILBAO-BURGOS. Start the morning by driving further into Basque Country for a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Journey northwest to the port town of Bilbao. Time for an optional visit to the spectacular Guggenheim Museum. Apart from its amazing collection of modern paintings, the building itself, by Frank Gehry, is considered one of the 20th century’s great architectural masterpieces. In the afternoon travel south to Burgos. (B,D)

Day 9:
Sat. BURGOS-SEGOVIA-AVILA-SALAMANCA. Today head southeast into Castile. Enjoy some grand scenery as you travel to the edge of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a green oasis in the Castilian desert. Stop in Segovia, magnificently perched on a rock formation at an altitude of 3,280 feet. The cathedral, the alcazar, and the Roman aqueduct are some of its more famous sights. Next, drive west to Avila for a short visit before continuing to Salamanca in time to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of its Plaza Mayor. (B,D)

Day 10:
Sun. SALAMANCA-SEVILLE. Leave early this morning and cross the mighty Tagus River and the Guadarrama, enjoying more Spanish landscapes before reaching Seville, one of Spain’s most colorful cities. (B,D)

Day 11:
Mon. SEVILLE. A full day at leisure. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of the vibrant city. (B)

Day 12:
Tue. SEVILLE-JEREZ-RONDA-GRANADA. A day to see the best of Andalusia. Head first into the Jerez region for a sherry-tasting stop. Next, journey by way of the typically white painted villages to the town of Ronda, famous for the ravine which literally cuts it in two and, of course, its bullfighting connections. Overnight in Granada in the shadow of the mighty Sierra Nevada. (B,D)

Day 13:
Wed. GRANADA-CORDOBA. Granada was the Arabs’ most treasured city; they still mourn its loss in their prayers. The glorious Alhambra is an Arabian Nights fantasy of mosaics, brilliant tiles, dazzling fountains, and tracery walls set in the cool perfumed Generalife Gardens. Learn more about it on the included visit with a Local Guide. More grand scenery this afternoon as you travel to Cordoba on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. (B,D)

Day 14:
Thu. CORDOBA-MADRID. This is perhaps Spain’s most Moorish city with its great mosque, the Mezquita, one of Islam’s most important pieces of architecture outside the Arab world. You’ll enjoy the small, whitewashed houses, the winding streets, and the colorful squares. Later, journey into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castles and windmills. Reach Madrid in time to enjoy a relaxed evening. (B)

Day 15:
Fri. MADRID. This morning the optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding. The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. Later, join the included Madrid city sightseeing. Not only because it’s the capital of Spain, but also because it is situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it''s the nearest thing to heaven. (B)

Day 16:
Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Royal Palace* in Aranjuez. Cuenca, Valencia, Pamplona, Bilbao, Loyola Sanctuary, Peniscola Castle*, Saragossa, Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, Seville, Jerez wine tasting, Ronda, Cordoba

*entrance fees included

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

• Toledo
• Granada
• Fez
• Marrakesh
• Casablanca
• Rabat
• Tangier
• Gibraltar
• Seville
• Lisbon
• Avila
• Madrid