Treasures of Spain, Portugal and Morocco - Winter departures

A truly kaleidoscopic adventure that takes you from some of the most cosmopolitan cities of Europe, to an exotic and vivid land of medinas and minarets.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit the city of Toledo to admire the Cathedral, & visit the chapel of Santo Tomé to see The Burial of Count Orgaz by El Greco
    * Visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville's Gothic Cathedral, built in the 15th century
    * Visit the Rock of Gibraltar, St. Michael's Cave & see the Barbary Apes!
    * Enjoy a guided tour of the fabulous Alhambra Palace & exotic water gardens of the Generalife
    * Experience the monumental Grandeur of the state apartments in Madrid's Royal Palace

Included Personal Insights

    * Enjoy a short tutorial on the wines from the Meseta regions

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * See the Plaza Mayor, Cathedrals and University buildings in Salamanca
    * Visit the Basilica in Fatima, one of the most important Catholic centres of faith
    * View the modern Monument to the Discoveries and ancient Belem Tower in Lisbon
    * View the Alcazar, Giralda Tower, and fashionable Santa Cruz quarter in Seville
    * See the Medina and Casbah of Tangier
    * Visit the Medina and shop for Moroccan carpets in Fes
    * Visit the Saadi Tombs and see the Koutobia Minaret in Marrakesh
    * View the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower in Rabat
    * Pass through the famous wine centre of Valdepentildeas
    * See Madrid's Cibeles Fountain & drive the Gran Via & Puerta del Sol
    * See Don Quixote at the Cervantes Monument in the Plaza de España, Madrid
    * Scenic Drives – Atlas Mountains, Costa del Sol, Sierra Nevada

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
    * Airport arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 17
    * (Should your flights not coincide with these arrival and departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport)

Included Quality Dining

    * Dine Around evening at a selection of restaurants in Granada. (DA).
    * Highlight Dinner featuring Flamenco in Seville (HD)
    * Highlight Dinner, folklore show and belly dancing in Fes (HD)
    * Highlight Dinner, bid farewell to your new found friends in Madrid (HD)
    * 16 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 5 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
    * Departures on tour for ew Year's Eve, enjoy a festive celebration dinner
 

Tour details based on Nov 2011 - Apr 2012 departures.

Day 1 - MADRID AT LEISURE

Welcome to Madrid - Europe's highest capital! On arrival at Madrid Airport, your airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:00, 11:00, 13:30 & 16:00. As evening falls, get to know your fellow passengers over a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Conde Duque

Day 2 - MADRID SIGHTSEEING

Take a guided tour down the wide avenues. See the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Paseo de la Castellana, Cibeles Fountain and Cervantes Monument in the Plaza de España before visiting the state apartments of the Royal Palace. In the afternoon, you are at leisure. (BB)

Day 3 - MADRID - TOLEDO - SALAMANCA

Walk through Toledo's maze of cobbled streets to see the Cathedral and admire El Greco's masterpiece in the chapel of Santo Tomé. Continue on past the walls of Avila en route to Salamanca. See the Plaza Mayor, the New and Old Cathedrals and the university buildings in the Plaza de Anaya.

Hotel: Alameda Palace (BB,D)

Day 4 - SALAMANCA - FATIMA - LISBON

From Salamanca, drive across the Portuguese frontier to Fatima to visit the great white Basilica before continuing to the capital, Lisbon.

Hotel: Marriott Lisbon. (BB)

Day 5 - 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 - LISBON - SEVILLE

Leave Lisbon via the modern Tagus Bridge and cross the border to reach Seville. A tour with a local guide includes the immense Cathedral, burial place of Christopher Columbus, and the slender Giralda Tower. Tour the Santa Cruz Quarter with its flower-decked wrought iron balconies and see the Alcazar. Tonight settle back for a Highlight Dinner and entertainment featuring a fiery Flamenco show.

Hotel: Melia Lebreros (BB,HD)

Day 7 - SEVILLE AT LEISURE

The day is free to take in more sights of your choice. Perhaps take an optional excursion to Cordoba, or enjoy a Sevilliano dinner at a local restaurant. (BB)

Day 8 - SEVILLE - GIBRALTAR - TANGIER

Cross into Gibraltar, a British territory since 1704. Visit the Rock of Gibraltar, St. Michael's Cave and see the Barbary Apes! Then set sail to exotic Morocco.

Hotel: Andalucia Golf (BB,D)

Day 9 - TANGIER - FES

On a sightseeing tour of Tangier, see the famous 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: Atlas Fez. (BB,HD)

Day 10 - FES SIGHTSEEING

During a guided tour visit the Medina and the walled city of hidden courtyards, mosques and tiny workshops, the ancient bazaar and a carpet co-operative. Afterwards, you are at leisure. (BB,D)

Day 11 - FES - MARRAKESH

Travel via the rugged Atlas Mountains, past mud-walled villages to Marrakesh.

Hotel: Atlas Medina & Spa. (BB,D)

Day 12 - 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. Perhaps try a traditional Tajine dish tonight? (BB)

Day 13 - MARRAKESH - RABAT

Did Humphrey Bogart really say 'Play it again Sam'? Find out on an orientation tour of Casablanca. Continue to Rabat to see the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower.

Hotel: Golden Tulip (BB,D)

Day 14 - RABAT - COSTA DEL SOL

Sail back across the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain and travel along the sun drenched Costa del Sol, past exclusive resorts to your hotel.

Hotel: Melia Costa Del Sol (BB)

Day 15 - COSTA DEL SOL - GRANADA

Drive past olive groves to hilltop Granada. Tour the fabulous Alhambra Palace with a local guide and visit the exotic water gardens of the Generalife. This evening choose from a selection of restaurants for your dining pleasure.

Hotel: Saray (BB,DA)

Day 16 - GRANADA - MADRID

Travel through La Mancha, via the wine centre of Valdepeñas, its roads lined with 'bodegas' and hear an informative tutorial about the wines that make this region so famous. This evening, join us for a celebration farewell dinner and bid 'hasta la vista' to your new-found friends.

Hotel: Melia Galgos. (BB,HD)

Day 17 - DEPART MADRID

Your tour draws to a close today. Departure transfers arrive at Madrid Airport at 07:00, 9:00 & 11:00. (BB)

The optional excursions for this tour are not available at this time.