Day 1: Start of tour in Madrid Welcome to Madrid and the start of this exciting 15-day tour of Spain and Portugal! Arrive at the hotel this morning and meet your tour leader. Then it’s time for the travel fun to begin! The tour kicks off with an orientation tour of Madrid to learn more about Spain’s beautiful capital city and its highlights. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore the city this afternoon. This evening, meet up with your tour leader at the hotel for an included welcome dinner. Enjoy the delicious tastes of Spain and get to know the rest of the travellers on this group tour. Day 2: Segovia - San Sebastian Depart Madrid this morning and travel to San Sebastian on Spain’s northern coast. Along the way, stop off in Segovia, a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site which is home to the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in Europe, as well as an incredibly well-preserved Roman aqueduct that runs into the heart of the city. Arrive in San Sebastian in the late afternoon. San Sebastian is a charming city with a beautiful beach and vibrant nightlife. A foodie’s paradise, San Sebastian is known for its Basque gastronomy, so this evening is best spent exploring the beachfront bars and indulging in pintxo, northern Spain's version of tapas! Day 3: Pamplona - Zaragoza Today’s first stop is Pamplona - the historic city made famous by “the running of the bulls” during the San Fermin festival. Pamplona is packed with history! Enjoy free time to explore the beautiful medieval city centre and see the city walls and citadel. After seeing Pamplona, travel to Zaragoza and enjoy a wine tasting along the way. Arrive in Zaragoza and take a locally guided walking tour of the city. The city has experienced a long and varied history, with Roman, Moorish, Jewish and Christian communities leaving their marks over the centuries. The storied history of Zaragoza can be seen in the architecture of the Basílica del Pilar cathedral, Aljafería Islamic palace, the Roman theatre and more. Day 4: Andorra - Barcelona It’s time to hit the road to Barcelona! Today’s first stop is the tiny principality of Andorra. Enjoy free time to explore Andorra la Vella, the highest capital city in Europe and a popular ski resort. Arrive in Barcelona in the late afternoon. The cosmopolitan capital of the Catalonia region is bursting full of beautiful sights and fascinating things to see and do. The hotel for the next two nights is located in Sant Cugat, just outside the city. Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight. Day 5: Barcelona: Free Day This morning, embark on a driving tour with your tour leader and become acquainted with Barcelona’s vibrant energy. Look out for top sights including the Sagrada Família, Plaça d’Espanya and Parque de Joan Miró. The rest of the day is free to explore Barcelona! A fantastic way to see the city is on the Highlights of Barcelona optional excursion. See Palau Güell, the famous La Boqueria market, the Gothic Quarter and, of course, the magnificent Sagrada Família! Alternatively, visit the Old Town, stroll along Las Ramblas or relax in one of the city’s parks. Why not join the optional Flamenco show and dinner excursion tonight for a vibrant Spanish music and dance experience? Day 6: Peniscola - Valencia Leaving Barcelona behind, travel along the south coast towards Valencia. En route, stop for lunch in Peniscola. Home to a historic old town, a beautiful promenade and sandy beaches watched over by an imposing castle built by the Knights Templar - this is surely one of the most picturesque spots in Europe to enjoy a lunch stop! Arrive in Valencia and enjoy a guided tour of this thriving port city. Discover Valencia’s uniqueness in how it retains plenty of historic charm despite the decades of development that have given it a distinct space-age feel. Enjoy dinner in the city tonight Look forward to tasting paella - one of the dishes Valencia is famous for! Day 7: Valencia - Castillo de Belmonte - Madrid Today, it’s time to travel onwards to Madrid. Journey through the historic La Mancha region, made famous by the legend of Don Quixote - an ageing knight who, inspired by his literary heroes, sets off with his squire in search of chivalrous adventure. Next up, explore Castillo de Belmonte. Located on the hill of San Cristobal, tour the medieval castle and discover grandly furnished rooms and dungeons, and learn more about the intriguing history. Arrive in Madrid later in the afternoon. This evening, enjoy an included dinner where travellers from the Highlights of Spain & Portugal tour will join the group. Day 8: Toledo - Granada This morning, say farewell to Madrid and head to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Toledo, an ancient city in central Spain. Fall in love with this charming medieval town, complete with Gothic architecture and an impressive cathedral. The tour continues south to the Moorish city of Granada, which was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors, and the legacy is evident all around! Arrive and set off on an orientation tour of the city. Discover top attractions and gain great insight into this beautiful region of Spain. Tonight, taste local cuisine on the Granada Local Food & Wine Evening optional excursion. This unmissable culinary experience must be booked prior to the start of the tour. Day 9: Ronda - Seville This morning offers the opportunity to join our optional excursion to the awe-inspiring Alhambra Palace. As Granada’s most iconic sight and a highlight of any Spain tour, the Alhambra excursion must be booked prior to the start of the tour. This afternoon, travel to Ronda and admire the spectacular views from the ‘Puente Nuevo’ (New Bridge) before enjoying free time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, arrive in the enchanting city of Seville and get to know the city’s sights on a short driving tour. Afterwards, enjoy free time at the beautiful Plaza de Espana and sit down for an included dinner before checking into the hotel for tonight. Day 10: Seville A full day in Seville awaits! Start off with a locally guided walking tour of the city and soak up the culture, sights and sounds of Seville! Later, explore this beautiful and pleasingly compact city at your own pace. This is a town steeped in history, found in the architecture, culture and general atmosphere. Legend has it that Seville was founded by Hercules, many thousands of years ago! Seville is famous for its flamenco dance, tapas bars and orange trees. You could visit the Metropol Parasol for amazing views, tour the Seville Alcázar of Seville or visit the Museum of Flamenco. Tonight, opt-in to join the Flamenco dinner show excursion for vibrant Spanish culture and flavours! Day 11: Algarve - Lisbon Today, cross the border and travel to Lisbon in Portugal! En route, visit the Algarve, the stunning southern coastal region of Portugal that features golden beaches and limestone cliffs. Make a comfort stop at one of these beautiful beaches and enjoy the impressive views, golden sand, and azure blue waters. Arrive in Lisbon and it’s time to set out on an orientation tour of Portugal’s capital city. See Lisbon’s top sights and attractions from the imposing Sao Jorge Castle to the pastel colours of the old town - Lisbon has it all! Take note of any spots you would like to explore on the free day tomorrow! Day 12: Lisbon: Free Day Today is a free day to explore Lisbon at your leisure. See iconic landmarks including the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower, or discover the wonderful hilltop district of Bairro Alto. Be sure to taste a delicious pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tart) during your free time! Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Fátima - Portugal’s most famous pilgrimage site. Or, visit colourful Sintra for a tour and lunch; this charming UNESCO World Heritage Site village is known for its strikingly colourful monuments and was once the summer retreat for Portugal’s royal families! This evening, find a spot to enjoy one of Portugal's cultural highlights; Fado music which is some of the oldest urban folk music in the world! Day 13: Obidos - Porto Say tchau to Lisbon this morning, as Porto awaits! The first stop today is Obidos, a classic fortified town with narrow cobbled streets, picturesque houses and an imposing hilltop castle. Enjoy free time to explore. Continue the tour of Portugal and arrive in Porto - the second largest city in Portugal and one of the oldest European centres - for a driving and walking tour. See sights including Ponte de' Luis, the Clerigos Tower and many other famous landmarks. One of Portugal’s famous exports is Port wine, which you will have the opportunity to taste this afternoon at an included tasting. Tonight, join the Evening on the Douro optional with a cruise along the picturesque Douro River and an unforgettable gastronomical experience. Day 14: Guarda - Salamanca It’s time to wave goodbye to Portugal and travel back across the border to Spain. Journey through the countryside this morning and make a stop in Guarda, where you can enjoy some free time. Guarda was founded in the 12th century by King Sancho I, and many fortified towers and defensive walls from this period survive to this day. Arrive in Salamanca, Spain, and set off on a guided tour with a local guide. Visit the Casa Lis museum, old and new cathedrals, the University and much more. End the tour with some free time in the Plaza Mayor. Finally, enjoy an included farewell dinner, offering three courses of delicious food from around the province of Salamanca. Day 15: Avila - Madrid It’s the last day of the tour and time to travel back to Madrid. Depart Salamanca this morning and travel to Avila to enjoy some free time. Nestled amongst rolling hills in Spain’s countryside, Avila is notable for its many Romanesque and Gothic churches as well as its famous and incredibly well preserved medieval walls. Finally, continue on to Madrid, where this amazing 15-day tour of Spain and Portugal concludes.