Book Your Very Best of Spain Tour Now!
The Very Best of Spain
Spain is a traveller’s delight! With an intense mix of cultures, a history of being conquered and being the conqueror, grande cathedrals, Moorish palaces, sleepy villages, sunny beaches, creative cuisine, and nightlife like no other country in Europe, you really can’t go wrong if you have the right tour. And if you’re reading this, you’ve found it! On our journey through Spain, we’ll eat and drink with the locals, whether we’re enjoying the freshest tapas in Ronda, sipping wine at a flamenco show in Seville, delighting in the very new craft breweries of Madrid, or eating the finest paella in Barcelona… you’ll have sensory memories to last a lifetime. Add that to the history and culture you’ll be basking in with your local guides… and you truly have the Very Best of Spain!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Traditional Catalonian cuisine
- Sagrada Familia
- Casa Mila
- Royal Palace of Madrid
- Madrid Craft Brewery
- Prado Museum
- Mercado de San Miguel
- Mezquita Mosque/Cathedral of Córdoba
- Andalusian cuisine
- Royal Chapel of Granada
- The Alhambra
- Andalusian Winery Tour
- Real Maestranza de Caballería Bullring of Ronda
- Puente Nuevo Ronda
- Tapas tour
- Seville Cathedral
- Spanish cooking class
- Royal Alcázar
- …. and much more!
July 9 – 19, 2024
$4575
Per Person + Air Based on Double Occupancy All prices in US dollars. Payment in other currencies possible – contact us.
Book Your Very Best of Spain Tour Now!
Very Best of Spain Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Catalonia!
After we settle into our Catalonian home for the next two nights, we’ll venture out into the colourful streets of Barcelona for a guided walk ending with a sumptuous welcome dinner at a top restaurant.
Sleep: Barcelona (2 nights) / Walking: Light / Meals provided: Dinner
Day 2 – Unfinished Business in Barcelona
We’ll start the day with a guided tour of Gaudi’s soon-to-be-finished Sagrada Familia – the soaring highlight of the Barcelona skyline and perhaps the most unique church you will ever lay your eyes on! After lunch we’ll visit another Gaudi masterpiece – Casa Mila (aka La Pedrara) for a tour through this unique apartment complex including a visit to the other-wordly rooftop. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free, with, as always, lots of excellent advice from your tour director. Head to the beach! Take a stroll through the unique Park Güell! Just enjoy the ambiance of Las Ramblas… it’s up to you.
Sleep: Barcelona / Walking: Moderate, mostly flat / Meals provided: Breakfast
Day 3 – Real Royal Madrid
In the morning we’ll board a train that will speed us to the centre of Spain – politically and geographically – Madrid. After checking in to the central hotel and taking some time for lunch, we’ll visit one of Europe’s grandest palaces, the Palacio Real – one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family. And speaking of royalty, that’s what we’ll eat like during our evening meal together!
Sleep: Madrid (2 nights) / Walking: Moderate, some hills / Train: 3 hours / Meals provided: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 – Old Masters of Madrid
This morning we’ll walk over to the Prado for an enlightening tour of Spain’s premier art museum, a perfectly curated collection of masterpieces from Spain and beyond. After this visual feast, you’ll be ready for another kind of feast – so we’ll head over to the Mercado de San Miguel where you’ll be turned loose on your one-stop Madrid foodie experience. Spend the rest of the afternoon venturing through Madrid’s beautiful squares and gardens as you wish.
Sleep: Madrid / Walking: Strenuous with hills and stairs / Meals provided: Breakfast
Day 5 – The Soul of Córdoba
After breakfast we’ll board a fast train to Córdoba and drop our luggage at our centrally located hotel before lunch. After lunch we’ll join our local guide who will take us through this historic town and into the Mezquita – one of the most unusual buildings in all of Europe. During the Moorish occupation this was an enormous mosque. After the Reconquista the victorious Christians decided to leave the mosque standing and just build a cathedral in the middle of it. You’ll see – there’s nothing else like it anywhere. This evening we’ll dine where the locals do on delicious Andalusian cuisine.
Sleep: Córdoba (1 night) / Walking: Moderate / Train: 2 hours / Meals provided: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 – Grand Granada
Our driver will pick us up after breakfast and transfer us through the Andalusian countryside to Granada. After checking in at the hotel we’ll have a tasty lunch nearby before joining our guide for a walking tour of this medieval town, including the Royal Chapel where you’ll see the opulent tombs of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel, who oversaw the beginning of European conquest and colonization in the Americas. Your late afternoon and evening is free.
Sleep: Granada (2 nights) / Walking: Moderate with some hills / Bus: 2.5 hours / Meals provided: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7 – Granada’s Alhambra
The last stronghold of the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula, the Alhambra is a remarkably well-preserved fortress complex of palaces and gardens. You’ll be amazed at the intricately decorated buildings and the luscious gardens and water features. In the afternoon you’ll have plenty of time to wander the cobbled streets, shops, cafés and bars of old Granada.
Sleep: Granada / Walking: Strenuous with hills / Meals provided: Breakfast
Day 8 – Help me Ronda
As we leave Granada behind, we’ll look forward to our exclusive visit to one of Andalusia’s premium wineries. In the vineyards below Ronda, we’ll tour and taste some fantastic local wine paired with the best local food products – what better way to enjoy a lunch in Spain? Then our driver will take us the short distance into Ronda, the most astoundingly beautiful hill town in Andalusia. In Ronda our local guide will share the history of this region and take us to the bullring that saw the foundation of the modern bullfighting tradition in Spain. No bullfights, but lots of fascinating history. This evening you’ll be on your own to wander from tapas bar to tapas bar, sampling some of the best in the country.
Sleep: Ronda (1 night) / Walking: Moderate with hills / Bus: 2.5 hours / Meals provided: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9 – Southern Delights of Seville
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and the most delightful big city in the south of Spain. When we arrive in town, we’ll be greeted by our local guide who will take us on a tour of her lively city, including a visit to the enormous Sevilla Cathedral – the largest gothic church in the world. After some free time to explore on your own, we’ll regroup for something really special – a Spanish cooking class! Under the friendly guidance of a local chef we’ll create our own culinary masterpieces and enjoy local drinks while we share the fruits of our labour!
Sleep: Seville (2 nights) / Walking: Moderate / Bus: 2 hours / Meals provided: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 – Real Seville
The Moorish palace of Alcázar was repurposed as a royal residence for the Spanish royal family 500 years ago and still serves the same function. We’ll tour this grand palace and gardens this morning before sitting down to our final lunch together in a fantastic tapas restaurant. This afternoon is your own, but we’ll regroup in the evening for an intense Flamenco performance near our hotel.
Sleep: Seville / Walking: Moderate / Meals provided: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11 – Adios, Amigos!
After breakfast, your tour of the very best of Spain is over! Seville’s airport and train station are both a short cab or transit ride away.
Meals provided: Breakfast
The Fine Print – What You Get:
Not so much fine print: We believe in up front pricing, not a hard-to-read long list of extra costs. Group Size: We run small group tours, less than half the size of a normal big bus tour. Our average group size is 12 travellers, plus a tour director and a driver. Transportation: Transportation is by train and chartered coach. Transportation to and from airport is your responsibility. Barcelona and Seville are well served by train connections to the airports. Activity level: This tour is suitable to people with a good fitness level. You will need to carry your own bags, climb hotel stairs, and keep a moderate pace on group walks. This trip is suitable for adults. It is not suitable for young children. Accommodations: We choose generally smaller, family-run hotels, in the 3-4 star category, that are close to the action, rather than large impersonal hotels in some industrial park outside of town. All rooms have private ensuite bathrooms with shower or bathtub. Most rooms are doubles.
- Solo travelers: You may choose to pay extra for one of the limited number of single private rooms, or you can room with another solo traveler in the group of the same gender and skip the extra fee. See the registration form for specific prices.
- Couples: Couples will usually share a room with one double or queen bed (large King beds are not common in Europe).
- Two friends traveling together: Two friends or siblings traveling together will be roomed together with two beds in a twin room. Note: some European twin beds share one headboard but they will always have separate sheets.
- Triple room: A typical triple room will be one double bed and one single bed.
Sightseeing tours and attractions: This is the main reason you are in Spain, and we understand this! Led by your tour director, and local guides when appropriate. Entrance fees to all group attractions are included. Meals: Breakfasts are always included. Note that because we stay in characteristic Spanish hotels, breakfasts will reflect local preferences . Many lunches/dinners are on us – the rest are up to you. See itinerary for breakdown. Gratuities: Unlike most tour companies who ask you to pay a “mandatory” tip to the driver and guide, with us tipping is not required.
