May 13-30

18 days

New lower price - Land only $3399

 

Day 1 - DEPART CANADA Board your overnight flight. Day 2 - FRI - MADRID AT LEISURE Welcome to Madrid - built by Philip II in the 16th century, the city is Europe's highest capital! On arrival at Madrid Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30, 15:00 & 17:30. The afternoon is yours to relax with a selection of tapas at a sidewalk café. As evening falls, get to know your fellow passengers over a Welcome Drink. Hotel: NH Eurobuilding. Day 3 - SAT - MADRID - SALAMANCA Visit Toledo, former capital of Spain, to see the 13th century Cathedral and one of Europe’s oldest synagogues, and admire El Greco’s masterpiece in the chapel of Santo Tomé. Continue on past the mighty walls of St Theresa’s Avila en route to Salamanca. An orientation tour goes via the Plaza Mayor, the New and Old Cathedrals and the university buildings in the Plaza de Anaya. Hotel: Gran Hotel Spa Salamanca. (BB,D) Day 4 - SUN - SALAMANCA - LISBON From Salamanca, drive across the Portuguese frontier to Fatima to visit the great white Basilica before continuing to the capital, Lisbon. Hotel: Marriott. (BB) Day 5 - MON - LISBON SIGHTSEEING Sightseeing with your local guide, shows you Sao Jorge Castle, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belem Tower, starting point for Portugal’s great navigators and explorers, and the famous Jeronimo’s Monastery. This afternoon is at leisure. (BB) Day 6 - TUE - LISBON - SEVILLE Leave Lisbon via the Tagus Bridge and drive through the Alentejo region, across the Sierra Morena into Andalucía. Arrive in Seville and join a local guide to visit the Cathedral to see Christopher Columbus’ tomb. Continue to the Giralda Tower, Alcazar and the Santa Cruz quarter. Enjoy a Highlight dinner and ‘Flamenco’ show. During the evening, enjoy a short informative presentation on the regional wines that compliment your meal. Hotel: Melia Lebreros. (BB,HD) Day 7 - WED - SEVILLE AT LEISURE The day is free to take in more sights of your choice. Don’t miss the chance to take an optional excursion to Cordoba, or perhaps enjoy a typical Sevilliano dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a cruise on the Guadalquivir? (BB) Day 8 - THU - SEVILLE - TANGIER Cross into Gibraltar, a British territory since 1704. There is time to explore the town and take a trip to the top of the Rock to see the fortifications, St Michael’s Cave and the Barbary Apes. Then sail from Algeciras to exotic Morocco. Hotel: El Minzah. (BB,D) Day 9 - FRI - TANGIER - FEZ On a sightseeing tour of Tangier, see the Medina and the Casbah before continuing to Fez, the most ancient of Morocco’s cities. Enjoy a superb Moroccan Dinner and a Folklore Show with drums and belly dancing. Hotel: Crown Palace. (BB,HD) Day 10 - SAT - FEZ SIGHTSEEING During a guided tour of this ‘City of the Mind’, visit the Medina and the walled city of hidden courtyards, mosques and tiny workshops, the ancient bazaar and a carpet co-operative. Afterwards, consider visiting the fascinating Berber village of Meknes. (BB,D) Day 11 - SUN - FEZ - MARRAKESH The road passes through the rugged Atlas Mountains, past mud-walled villages to Marrakesh, your base for two nights. Hotel: Atlas Medina & Spa. (BB,D) Day 12 - MON - MARRAKESH SIGHTSEEING On a guided tour, see the Koutobia Minaret, visit the Saadi Tombs, and explore the Medina with its many souks. The tour ends in Jemaa el Fna Square where acrobats, dancers and fortune tellers entertain you. When night falls, you may wish to enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants to try a traditional Tajine dish. (BB) Day 13 - TUE - MARRAKESH - RABAT Head south to Casablanca. Did Humphrey Bogart really say ‘Play it again Sam’? Find out on your orientation tour. Continue to the modern capital Rabat where you see the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower. Hotel: Golden Tulip Farah. (BB,D) Day 14 - WED - RABAT - COSTA DEL SOL Sail back across the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain. Disembark at the port of Algeciras and travel along the sun drenched Costa del Sol past exclusive resorts to your hotel. Hotel: Melia Costa del Sol. (BB) Day 15 - THU - COSTA DEL SOL - GRANADA Drive along the coast and over the Sierra Nevada to hilltop Granada. A local guide will take you on a tour of the fabulous Alhambra Palace - a magnificent example of Moorish architecture. Also visit the exotic water gardens of the Generalife, the royal summer residence, where you can enjoy the fine views over the town and its hills. Hotel: Saray. (BB,D) Day 16 - FRI - GRANADA - MADRID Travel through La Mancha where Don Quixote tilted at windmills as his faithful Sancho Panza looked on, and pass through the wine centre of Valdepeñas, its roads lined with ‘bodegas’ (wine cellars). Upon reaching Madrid, why not try a restaurant on the Plaza Mayor? Hotel: NH Eurobuilding. (BB) Day 17 - SAT - MADRID Take a guided tour down the wide tree-lined avenues to see the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Paseo de la Castellana, Cibeles Fountain and the Cervantes Monument in the Plaza de España. Make a Highlight visit inside the state apartments of the Royal Palace. In the afternoon, consider a visit to the Prado museum. (BB) Day 18 - SUN - MADRID It’s time to bid farwell to your new found friends as your tour draws to a close today. Departure transfers arrive at Madrid Airport at 07:00, 09:00 & 11:00. (BB)