Highlights of Spain (Small Groups, Summer, 9 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 9-day journey through the heart of Spain, immersing yourself in its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. This multi-day tour offers a unique blend of guided exploration and free time, allowing you to discover the country's iconic landmarks and hidden gems at your own pace. From the flamboyant Modernist buildings of Barcelona to the Moorish fortresses of Andalucía, every day brings a new adventure. Learn how to cook traditional paella in Valencia, marvel at the intricate design of the Alhambra in Granada, and immerse yourself in the passionate world of flamenco in Seville. This tour is not just about sightseeing – it's about experiencing the very essence of Spain.
Included
4 Dinner with Wine (DW)
8 Breakfast (B)
Valencia: Learn the authentic recipe of paella when you join a local chef for a Cooking Demonstration. Savour the flavours of this classic dish for dinner, washed down with a glass of Sangria, during dinner.
Madrid: Toast to your travels and enjoy local specialties in one of the city's elegant central neighbourhoods.
8 nights in twin-share rooms at hand-picked hotels
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Seville: Stroll through Barrio de Santa Cruz with a Local Expert and hear how the Jewish community has shaped the city's history.
Seville: See the city's top sights on a panoramic tour with your Local Expert.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Granada: Visit the famous Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. While others wait in line, you'll be exploring accompanied by a Local Expert, keen to share insights into this Moorish landmark.
Madrid: Witness the world's finest collection of Spanish paintings, plus an impressive international collection, as you tour the Prado Museum with an art historian.
Barcelona: Dine at La Pau, an acclaimed restaurant for the quality of its seasonal menu and social impact. This social initiative generates quality employment to young people and guides them through their transition to adult life. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequality. La Pau gives a voice and life opportunity to young people who have been marginalised from the traditional educational and social systems.
Seville: The Cristina Heeren Foundation aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco and is a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Meet the students of the foundation, learn some basic flamenco steps, and then feel the passion as they perform an emotional show. The school enables students access to cultural education that otherwise may not have occurred. TreadRights sponsorship has helped students to complete their studies in advanced guitar, singing and dance. As students complete their training, they will carry on and safeguard the traditional flamenco dance, contributing to the protection of Andalusia and Spain’s cultural heritage. The Cristina Heeren Foundation advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Barcelona: Venture inside Gaudí's extraordinary masterpiece, the Sagrada Família and marvel at the contrasts of architecture. Above see its giant, tree-like pillars and spectacular vaulting. Admire the wonderful rainbow of the incredible stained-glass windows.
Barcelona: With your Local Expert, drive along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia to witness some of the finest Modernist architecture as you journey through the Eixample district to see Gaudi's extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Família.
Peñíscola: See the seaside castle featured in the film 'El Cid'.
Valencia: See the ultra-modern Centre of Arts and Sciences and the huge gates of the old town, Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart.
Seville: Guided by your Local Expert, see the Giralda Tower, former minaret of the Great Mosque and now the cathedral's belltower. Explore the narrow streets of the Santa Cruz Quarter and emerge by the great walls of the Alcazar.
Seville: Visit the Seville Cathedral with your Local Expert. Pass the altarpiece dripping with gold and see the Tomb of Columbus, held aloft by four kings.
Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Expert. Visit the Old Town, travelling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol.
Córdoba: See the 2,000-year-old Roman bridge and spend some time exploring the town.
Córdoba: Visit the incredible Mezquita with your Local Expert. Admire the forest of horseshoe arches and learn how this building symbolises many of Cordoba's religious changes over the centuries.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona
- Barcelona
- el Prat de Llobregat - Arrival day
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Begin your Spanish adventure in the vibrant city of Barcelona. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, where you can sample the city's culinary delights and get to know your companions for the next nine days.
Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Barcelona
- Barcelona
- el Prat de Llobregat
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- Sagrada Família
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Today, your Local Expert will guide you through the city's most iconic sights. Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, admire the flamboyant Modernist buildings, and visit the extraordinary Sagrada Família. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the city or join an optional experience to Montserrat and The Black Madonna.
Day 3 – Day 3: From Barcelona to Valencia
- Valencia
- Barcelona
- More
- City of Arts and Sciences
- Peniscola Castle
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Journey along the sunny Costa Dorada to the seaside resort of Peñíscola, where you'll see the hilltop castle featured in the film 'El Cid'. Continue through the famous orange groves to Valencia, where you'll visit the City of Arts and Sciences and the charming Old City. Learn how to make paella, a local specialty, during a cooking demonstration, and enjoy your creation for dinner.
Day 4 – Day 4: Valencia to Granada
- Granada
- Valencia
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- Generalife
- Castle of Lorca
- Alhambra
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Travel south toward Andalucía, passing the castle at Lorca and the unique dwellings near Guadix. Arrive in Granada, a city steeped in history, and explore the Alhambra, a remarkable fortress built by the Moors in the 13th century. Wander through the elegant gardens of the Generalife, the Royal summer residence.
Day 5 – Day 5: Granada to Seville
- Seville
- Granada
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Enjoy a leisurely morning in Granada, with the option to join an Optional Experience to the Albaicín Quarter. Later, journey through picturesque white villages and sprawling olive groves as you make your way to Seville, the capital of Andalucía.
Day 6 – Day 6: Discovering Seville
- Seville
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- Sevilla Aquarium
- Casa de Pilatos
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Visit the magnificent Seville Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Choose between a walk through the old Jewish quarter or a scenic drive around the city. In the evening, visit the Cristina Heeren Foundation, a dance school dedicated to preserving the art of flamenco. Take part in a dance lesson and enjoy a passionate flamenco performance.
Day 7 – Day 7: Seville to Madrid via Córdoba
- Madrid
- Seville
- Córdoba
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- Puente romano
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Travel along the Guadalquivir Valley to the Moorish city of Córdoba. Visit the famous Roman bridge and the magnificent Mezquita, an 8th-century mosque with a Christian cathedral built inside it. Continue through La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote, and arrive in Madrid, the vibrant Spanish capital.
Day 8 – Day 8: Exploring Madrid
- Madrid
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- Naval Museum
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Discover Madrid's historic neighborhoods with your Local Expert. Visit the renowned Prado Museum, home to works by Velázquez, Goya, Titian, and Rubens. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, perhaps visiting the beautiful city of Toledo. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 9 – Day 9: Farewell Madrid
- Madrid - Departure day
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Your Spanish adventure comes to an end today. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey. As you leave, take with you the unforgettable memories of a journey through one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
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