FIRST THINGS FIRST: Consider Early Arrival Options
Your flight to Seville, Spain, should land on Day 1 of the itinerary — this means you should depart your home airport the day prior — your round-trip travel time on this Journey is 10 Days (9 Days, 8 Nights Land). The trip ends in Barcelona. Airfare is not included. Inquire about our Business Class and Premium Economy Airfare. Also check out our Temptation Journey to Portugal — the perfect pre-tour adventure to Spain.
Spain Adventure Day-by-Day Itinerary
DAY 1: WELCOME TO SEVILLE - THE HEART OF ANDALUSIA
Make your way to Seville airport, clear customs and then meet our driver for the included transfer to the hotel.
Discovery Walk: Seville
Enjoy a discovery orientation walk with the Journey Tour Captain this afternoon to better learn the sights around our hotel in the heart of the city.
Welcome to Seville Dinner
Later tonight, we join the Journey Tour Captain tonight for a welcome dinner in Seville. Every Journey dinner is a gala event and it will be especially so in this intriguing city. Remember that we dine in family-run restaurants where you choose your dinner from the menu which includes wine, beer, soft drinks and cocktails.
Accommodations in Seville, 3 Nights with breakfast
Deluxe: Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla, Hotel Alfonso XII or Similar
Walking on Your Journey
We enjoy walking the cobblestone streets and many stairs of Spain, so get ready for exploring the cities and villages by foot. Plan to be on your feet for up to three (3) hours standing and walking up-and-down stairs, cobblestone streets, and hopping on-and-off our private (and sometimes public) transportation in all weather conditions (rain, sun, hot and cold weather). Our pace is unhurried but you must be physically capable of walking.
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DAY 2: SEVILLE EXPLORING
Today's Adventure: Plaza de España and Maria-Luisa Park
Plaza de España, a magnificent and colorful square looks like a movie set and actually has been used as one! Built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929, it features brilliant mosaic murals and benches. Its many buildings are now used as government offices. We will visit the tranquil Maria-Luisa Park with its monuments,fountains and many native and exotic plants.
Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.
Tonight, join the Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore at your leisure.
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DAY 3: DAY AT LEISURE IN SEVILLE
Enjoy a complete day at leisure. There is so much to see and do in Seville. Consider one of the following:
• Cooking Class - Sevilla
— In the company of an expert chef, participants learn how to make several courses including a special Spanish dessert. It is a different experience where the participants learn to prepare a multiple-course meal and then partake in the sampling of the prepared dishes while enjoying the olive oils and wines of the region! -Duration 3-5 hours. $248 per person.
• Game of Thrones Sevilla Tour
— A detailed visit to the locations selected by HBO MAX for its acclaimed series Game of Thrones in Seville. It Includes a Private visit to the Alcazar of Seville (Kingdom of Dorne) and Italica (dragon pit), so breathtaking that they barely needed any CGI. Sometimes the real world doesn't live up to the fictional world that TV and movie sets create. That's not the case though for the set of Dorne, one of the fictional settings on "Game of Thrones. " Producers had to add very little turn it into Dorne. And the a private car ride to Italica, the First Roman city in Hispania, a city that gave birth to two Roman Emperors: Hadrian and Trajan. Well HBO used the ruins left to recreate the Dragonpit. Visit it and feel the History behind it's walls, where actual gladiators fought and gave their lives to entertain. And also a glimpse of how wealthy romans lived back in those days. So let me take you through a journey that mixes Real and Fictional worlds together. -Duration 3.5 Hours. $290 per person (2 guest minimum)
• Day Trip to Ronda and the White Villages
— This is one of those places where images cannot capture the beauty of this place. Ronda and the white villages are located inside the Grazalema mountain range. For decades a place with difficult access, but now its slowly growing, slowly. Life here happens really slow, but people really enjoy their secluded air. Hub to lots of open air activities, grazalema and Zahara de la sierra offer that quietness that is always welcomed . And Ronda, a city that echoes History and gallantry, protected by a breathtaking gorge from one side, and surrounded by roman, then muslim walls, home to the Bullfight as we know it. the Place where Orson Wells himself chose to be buried. A place where it was common to see Ernest Hemingway having a drink after the bullfight. I'll take to the best viewpoints in all this places, we'll stop for the best food in town. Did you know that Hemingway's "For whom bell tolls " was inspired an episode that happened in Ronda few years ago? Let's explore this and more with a private tour guide! -Duration 8 Hours. $630 per person (2 guest minimum)
Tonight, join the Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore at your leisure.
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DAY 4: SIGHTS IN CORDOBA , AND ON TO GRANADA
After breakfast, we will depart Seville for a short 45 minute train journey to Cordoba,best known for its immense Mezquita-Cathedral, a World-Heritage Site.
Today's Adventure: Cordoba
We will meet our Local Guide and enjoy our expertly guided tour of the Mezquita followed by a stroll along Calleja de las Flores (Flower Street) where we will glimpse into the many patio gardens. Cordoba is known for its Patio Flower Festival in early May. After lunch on our own and free time for more exploration or shopping, we depart Cordoba in late afternoon to continue our train journey to Granada, our home for two nights.
Welcome to Granada Dinner
Tonight join your Journey Tour Captain for a gala dinner with breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The two combine for an unforgettable experience.
Accommodations in Granada, 3 Nights with breakfast
Deluxe: Palacio Gran Vía, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
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DAY 5: GRANADA DISCOVERY
Today's Adventure: Historic Granada
After breakfast, join the Tour Captain and our Local Guide for a tour (with skip-the-line access) of the Alhambra, the majestic palace fortress which became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella following the Christian Reconquista in 1492. After our tour of the buildings we will have time to visit the famous castle gardens.
We finish our sightseeing mid-day and the balance of the day is at leisure.
This afternoon you may optionally consider exploring the Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Incarnation and the Royal Chapel, where Ferdinand and Isabella are entombed. And visit the nearby Arab Spice Market reminiscent of a souk where visitors can stroll through the vibrant shops and stalls. Seasonality and timing may affect open hours.
Tonight join your Journey Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore at your leisure. Perhaps sample tapas at one of the restaurants in cathedral square.
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DAY 6: DAY AT LEISURE IN GRANADA
Enjoy a complete day at leisure in Granada. Optional incluce the "Realejo Short Tour" which is Granada's former Jewish Quarter, or a walking and tasting experience, or perhaps a night walk through the Albaicin, known as Granada's most attractive quarter. Or just explore at your leisure!
Consider one of the following:
• Cooking Class - Granada
— In the company of an expert chef, participants learn how to make several courses including a delicious dessert. It is a different experience where the participants learn to prepare a multiple-course meal and then partake in the sampling of the prepared dishes while enjoying the olive oils and wines of the region! -Duration 3-5 hours. $248 per person.
• Graffiti Street Art Tour
— We will see a different neighbourhood, an authentic taste away from the main touristic streams. Get inspired by the fresh colors and amazing styles of Granada. We will walk through different little streets and learn along about the importance of art and a very special local artist. We will end the tour at a big square with the opportunity to have a coffee or a beer and reflect on the tour. Make sure to bring your camera if you like photography! -Duration 2 Hours. $120 per person.
• Local Life Foodies Tour
— You could call this a culinary learning experience! Find out about Granada food culture during this 3'5 hour eating tour. Start in the morning with a "second breakfast" (Spanish-style), learn about local cheese, Iberian & Serrano ham, fruit & veg, craft beer, wine, sample some tasty tapas and finish with a dessert stop. Meet the people behind the food related businesses who make the city tick. -Duration: 3.5 hours. $130 per person.
• Hike Around Granada
— Are you ready to get to the highest viewpoint of Granada and enjoy the amazing view of the city and the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada? Come with me and let me take you on a hike on a secret trail from there where we will have superb spots to take pictures, breath fresh air and enjoy nature, passing on to a secret Valle ! The views are just mindblowing and believe me, no other tourists go there! We will pass by an ancient water cistern, caves and end in a hidden street to find our way through the famous Sacromonte district. -Duration: 2.5 Hours. $140 per person.
Tonight, join the Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore at your leisure.
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DAY 7: TO BARCELONA
After breakfast this morning, we will make our way to the airport for our flight to Barcelona. The required flight today is quoted separately at time of booking. Book early for best savings.
After we arrive at our hotel in the Gothic Quarter, we will have time to freshen up and free time for lunch or a snack.
Discovery Walk: Barcelona
This afternoon join your Tour Captain for an introductory walk in the Gothic Quarter to La Rambla and La Boqueria with its market stalls.
Welcome to Barcelona Dinner
This evening join your Tour Captain for a gala dinner including wine, beer, soft drinks, cocktails. We will sample typical Catalan cuisine, influenced by the region's position on the Mediterranean.
Accommodations in Barcelona with breakfast, 3 Nights
Deluxe: Grand Hotel Central, Iberostar Selection Paseo de Gracia, or Similar
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DAY 8: EXPLORATION OF BARCELONA
Today's Adventure: Barcelona City Tour + Park Guell
After breakfast we join our Tour Captain and Local Guide for a walking and driving tour of Barcelona. We will drive along Passeig de Gracia, one of the main streets passing Gaudi-designed houses, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila. We will see the Old Port and the Arc de Triomf, built for the Universal Exposition of 1888. We will have skip-the-line tickets for a tour of Sagrada Familia, the unfinished crown jewel of the city. We then take in the Park Güell on the outskirts of the city. The Gaudi-designed park is an innovative harmony of nature and architecture. We will enjoy the gardens, mosaic benches and whimsical buildings.
We return to our hotel for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
Tonight, join the Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore at your leisure.
DAY 9: DAY AT LEISURE IN BARCELONA
Enjoy a day at leisure. Consider one of these options for your day:
• Barcelona Food Market with Cooking Class
— Chef Yves will pick you up at the Hotel, and we will be walking to one of the 30 food markets in town. Together, we will explore the fresh and seasonal ingredients at the different food stalls, and jointly define the menu, adapted to your taste. Having done the groceries, and chosen the wines to pair the menu, we will walk to the private kitchen space, where chef Yves will guide you through a hands-on cooking class, where you will experience with your own hands, the cooking of a full menu consisting on a starter, main dish and dessert with Yves's passion as an inspirational guide. At the market, we can also choose to elaborate a tapas menu, based on 3/4 tapas and a dessert. We will enjoy the full meal together while chatting about the culinary and cultural aspects of Catalonia/ Spain. -Duration 4.5 hours. $470 per person.
• Sitges & Catalan Culture
— Sitges sizzles with beach life, the cradle of the indianos, late-night clubs, and an enviable festival calendar. Sitges has been a resort town since the 19th century and was a key location for the Modernisme movement, from the hand of Santiago Rusiñol. I'll show you Palau Maricel and the Cau Ferra, an eclectic art museum showcasing works across 10 centuries in a former seaside residence. Enjoy their own wine. Like no other in the world. Its name comes from the variety of grape with which it's made, which comes from Sitges: la Malvasia. Fall in love with one of the most charming sea towns of Catalunya. -Duration: 5 Hours. $670 per person.
• Costa Brava and Camí de Ronda Hike
— Come and find out why the Costa Brava has become such a sought-after destination and a source of endless inspiration to countless artists. Our hike will take us across sandy and virgin beaches, isolated coves, old fishing villages, ancient sites and finish in one of the most beautiful towns of the Costa Brava with its infamous white-washed and blue buildings. -Duration: 8.5 Hours. $620 per person.
Our Special Journey Finalé
Tonight meet your Tour Captain and fellow travelers to celebrate our journey together. We will toast one another with a festive apéritif and then proceed to our gala finalé dinner. As our journey ends, we reminisce about our exploration of Spanish culture and history. We don't say Adios - we simply say Hasta la proxima! - until next time.
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DAY 10: TO MADRID
This morning we enjoy breakfast and make our way to the airport for our late morning flight to Madrid (some itineraries may use the train or microcoach). This is a required flight. Upon arrival, we make our way to the heart of the city and our home for the next 3 days and nights.
Accommodations in Madrid, 3 Nights with breakfast
Deluxe: Hotel Palacio Del Retiro or NH Collection Gran Via
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DAY 11: MADRID EXPLORATION
Today's Adventure: Discoveries of Madrid
Today we meet our Journey Tour Captain and Local Guide to begin our city exploration - passing the monumental Felipe IV Gate and Retiro Park, a lush green space in the center of the city which is a World Heritage Site. We make our way to the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid. We will tour this magnificent former royal residence highlighting the wealth of art and opulent appointments. We will visit the famous, bustling food market, Mercado San Miguel, to browse the many culinary options and have lunch on our own. This afternoon we visit the world-renowned Prado Art Museum, Spain’s national museum. The museum houses one of the finest collections of European art including works by Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Titian and Velasquez.
We return to our hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure.
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DAY 12: TOLEDO
Today's Adventure: Discoveries of Toledo
Today, enjoy train travel to Toledo where you will meet our local guide and enjoy an amazing tour of this historical city. This is a great way to understand the history of Toledo and greater Spain. Toledo was the capital before Madrid and known as the Capital of the Empire.
Firstly you will go by taxi to the other side of the Tagus River to enjoy with the amazing views of the old town. The area is called the "Capital of Three Religions. " The Catedral (the most important of Spain' which is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe with a Christian name and looks like a mosque. Still we use traditions and expressions from the Moors and the Jews. And I will show you one of the most breathtaking of the monuments: the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes (Saint John of the Monarchs). You will learn the reasons that it was build by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, and we will delve into the history of the end of the XVth century.
We return to our hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure.
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DAY 13: DEPARTURE DAY
This morning we bid Farewell to Journey's Spain Adventure. You can fly from Madrid international airport for your transatlantic flight or you might want to extend your journey to other parts of Europe - perhaps to Andorra or to the South of France.
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