Tour Inclusions

11 Nights
16 Meals 11 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Hotel
Driver
Tour Leader

Iberian Inspiration

12 days
Spain / Portugal
Max 18 Passengers

Overview

East meets West and past meets present: Spain and Portugal offer a heady mix of treasures, from Arabic palaces and Roman temples to Catholic cathedrals and Jewish synagogues. Join us as we take to the scenic back roads on this journey into the heart of ancient Iberia.

Worth Noting…

On Day 6, we’ll explore Granada at our own pace. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets to the extraordinary Alhambra palace complex well in advance!

Tour Starts/Ends
1 Overnight Stop
Day Stop

Tour Highlights

Experience the historic charm of Córdoba, Granada, Úbeda, Estremoz and Ronda with stays in charming old town hotels
Sample authentic jamón ibérico at a traditional farm in Sierra de Aracena
Enjoy a traditional flamenco show in Seville
Visit the spectacular Córdoba Mezquita – a UNESCO-protected mosque

Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Expand Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Madrid (Spain)
Our tour will begin in vibrant Madrid, where we’ll meet the group and kick off our adventure with a delicious welcome dinner. Salud! Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Gran Vía Madrid (or similar)
- Meals
  - Dinner
Day 2 - Madrid – Toledo
After breakfast we’ll take in all the highlights of this captivating capital on an orientation tour. Then we’ll board the mini-coach and head for Toledo – a beguiling riverside city where centuries of history come alive. A guided city tour and visits to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca will help us get a grip on the area’s unique cultural heritage before we retire to our hotel for the night. Accommodation: Hotel Carlos V (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 3 - Toledo – Valdepeñas – Córdoba
Today our journey will continue south across the vast plains of La Mancha towards Valdepeñas – where we’ll pause to visit a local bodega for a wine tasting session and lunch. Appetites satisfied, we’ll move on to beautiful Córdoba – our home for the next two nights. Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería de Córdoba (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Lunch
Day 4 - Córdoba
Prepare to step back in time to the days of Islamic Iberia – a locally guided tour of Córdoba’s Old Town awaits! After visiting the spectacular Mezquita (a UNESCO-protected mosque), you’ll be free to explore the city at your own pace. Seek out hidden squares and local cafés, pamper yourself at a traditional hammam or simply sit back and marvel at the city’s magnificent architecture – this afternoon is all about you. Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería de Córdoba (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 5 - Córdoba – Úbeda – Granada
Our next stop will be Úbeda, a World Heritage-listed town filled with spectacular Renaissance palaces. There will be just enough time to pause and taste some authentic Spanish olive oil before we move on to enchanting Granada. Accommodation: Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 6 - Granada
An energetic university city with an ancient past – Granada is yours to explore at leisure today. No visit here would be complete without wandering the lavish interiors of ancient Alhambra. Purchase your tickets well in advance to secure the opportunity to explore the intricately carved archways and vibrant gardens of this breathtaking Moorish palace. Accommodation: Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 7 - Granada – Ronda
You can rest assured that today’s journey will be just as much fun as the destination! From Granada, our path will turn east as we make the scenic journey to the mountaintop city of Ronda, where we’ll get our bearings on an orientation tour. Tonight, we’ll come together for dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Maestranza (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 8 - Ronda – Grazalema, Arcos and Jerez – Seville
Today it’s back on the road – with stops at the picturesque white villages of Grazalema and Arcos to look forward to. This afternoon we’ll set our sights on Jerez – where we’ll be treated to a sherry tasting session and tapas lunch at a local winery. Tonight, a traditional flamenco show will help us settle into Seville. Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Lunch
Day 9 - Seville
We’ve a full day to spend getting acquainted with the charismatic city of Seville. First, a locally guided walking tour and a visit to the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alcázar of Seville. Then, the day is yours to spend at your leisure. Whether you want to seek out Roman ruins, hunt down Moorish mosaics or visit classical squares, there are plenty of historic sites to keep you occupied here. Feeling hungry? You could always sample some Andalucían specialities at one of the city’s abundant bars... Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 10 - Seville – Sierra De Aracena
Back to nature today. After breakfast we’ll make tracks to the Sierra de Aracena, an unspoilt mountain range peppered with castles, quaint villages and pastures. While we’re here, we’ll pay a visit a local pig farm – where we’ll be lucky enough to taste some authentic jamón ibérico and local cheeses. Accommodation: Hotel Convento Aracena (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 11 - Sierra De Aracena – Monsaraz (Portugal) – Estremoz
Our first stop of the day will be Monsaraz, a charming Portuguese hilltop village with sweeping views of the Alqueva Dam. We’ll take some time to explore its narrow streets before moving on to Estremoz for an afternoon of leisure time. Tonight, we’ll raise a toast to our Iberian adventure over a farewell dinner. Accommodation: Pousada Castelo de Estremoz (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 12 - Estremoz – Évora – Lisbon
Onwards to Évora, the capital of the Alentejo region. This afternoon will see our tour come to a close in postcard-perfect Lisbon.
- Meals
  - Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation

- 11 nights in hand-picked accommodation

The Crew

- Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Transport

- Premium mini-coach transportation

Reviews

16 reviews

Reviews Rating

28th December 2019
Review rating

The tour was a great coverage of southern Spain & some of Portugal. We covered many of the important historical sites with local guides who were very knowledgeable. Also we had enough free time to explore ourselves which was good. A CAUTIONERY NOTE: On one day we visited an Iberian Black Pig Farm which was NOT on the itinerary. You may not be aware that any visit to a farm overseas, particularly to a pig farm, must be declared to Australian Quarantine Authorities on return to Australia (because of pig swine disease which does not exist in Australia). SEVERE PENALTIES CAN APPLY IF NOT DECLARED. Obviously long delays are experienced on return to Australia. IT IS IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE THAT AUSTRALIAN CLIENTS ARE ADVISED OF THIS & ALLOWED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON WHETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY. I think this may also apply to New Zealand clients. My opinion would be to eliminate this excursion from your itinerary.
8th August 2019
Review rating

it lived up to my past experience - well organised interesting sites to see and a balance between organised and free time
4th August 2019
Review rating

Outstanding tour, well organised, great coach with a friendly safe driver, comfortable accommodation and a tour guide (Edwina, aka Eddi) who was simply the most knowledgeable, sweetest, most helpful & flexible guide we could have wished for. She was simply brilliant and an asset to the company.