Culture and Heritage Paris to Madrid Odyssey - 17 Days

Welcome to Paris. On arrival, we’ll arrange your transfer to the hotel, where you can settle in and enjoy some free time. In the afternoon, we’ll share details about the start of your tour – either in person or via the information signs at hotel reception. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We delve into France’s royal history at the Palace of Versailles – admission not included – renowned for its stunning gardens. Back in Paris, we explore Montmartre, the bohemian neighbourhood famous for its artists, painters and cabarets. To appreciate the city’s scale, we continue with a panoramic tour led by a local guide, showcasing grand avenues and iconic monuments, before returning to the hotel. In the evening, you can opt to attend a variety show.

We start in central Paris with a visit to the Eiffel Tower – admission to the second level is included. We then take an included boat cruise along the Seine, lasting around 1 hour 15 minutes. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. At 5 pm we leave Paris for the Loire Valley, arriving in Tours – the regional capital – in the evening. You can take a relaxed stroll and choose a spot for dinner in the beautiful historic centre.

Note: Queues for the Eiffel Tower can be long, so the visit may be rescheduled to a different time – or to Sunday – for logistical reasons.

We travel south from Tours through vineyard country to Bordeaux, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have free time for lunch and a wander – you might explore the Port of the Moon area and the Cathedral of St Andrew. We then continue towards the Pyrenees, reaching Lourdes in the late afternoon. Here, you can attend the candlelight procession – held from late March to the end of October – and visit the various places of worship at your own pace. Dinner is included at the hotel.

We travel through the south of France to Carcassonne, where you’ll have free time to explore the medieval citadel, walk its walls and castle, and choose a place for lunch. We then continue towards the Pyrenees, making a brief stop in Foix, a medieval town known for the Château de Foix. The drive carries us through mountain scenery – with snowy peaks visible year‑round – before arriving in Andorra, where Catalan is the official language. On the way, we make a short stop at Sant Joan de Caselles, a small 12th–century Romanesque church. We finish in Andorra la Vella, where you’ll have time to explore the city’s commercial centre or visit Caldea, the largest thermal spa in Europe. Dinner is included.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Andorra with free time to shop or take a walk. After lunch we continue into Catalonia, travelling through mountain scenery to the abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat. We take the rack railway up the mountain – ticket included – to enjoy the views. You’ll have time to explore the sanctuary (entrance not included). We then continue to Barcelona, arriving in the late afternoon.

This morning we include a panoramic tour of Barcelona – widely regarded as one of Europe’s most fascinating capitals. Open to the Mediterranean, the city is renowned for Gaudí’s modernist architecture, its lively Ramblas and the legacies of its World Expositions and Olympic Games. The tour ends at Maremagnum – a waterfront dining and leisure complex beside Columbus Square – where you can stroll through this lively area. You’ll have the afternoon at leisure to explore as you wish. We return to the hotel in the evening.

We’ll travel south along the Mediterranean coast – stopping in Peniscola, a medieval walled town edged by broad beaches – where you’ll have time for a leisurely stroll. We then continue to Valencia, arriving around lunchtime. In the afternoon, we join a guided tour of this port city on the Levantine coast, where more than 2,000 years of history are reflected in monuments from different eras – in contrast to the modern City of Arts and Sciences. After the visit, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. A traditional local dinner is included.

We travel south through the Valencian Community to Alicante, a Mediterranean city of sandy beaches and a characterful historic quarter. You have free time for a stroll – the Castle of Santa Bárbara dominates the skyline. We then cross the arid landscapes of Murcia, stopping en route for lunch. Entering Andalusia, we pause in Guadix, known for its inhabited cave houses. Its historic quarter blends a Renaissance cathedral, traditional neighbourhoods and views towards the Sierra Nevada. We continue to Granada, arriving in the late afternoon – dinner is included.

We spend a full day in Granada. If your tour includes tickets, we explore the Alhambra Palace and its exquisite Generalife Gardens – masterpieces from the Arab period. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to continue discovering the city; you could visit the cathedral, home to the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs.

Important note: Entry to the Alhambra is strictly limited by law. To secure admission, tickets are issued when your tour is confirmed – it’s essential to provide accurate personal details (full name and passport/ID number) at the time of booking. Ticket costs are non-refundable if you cancel. In the unlikely event the Alhambra visit cannot be arranged, we will instead tour the Royal Alcázar of Seville, which offers comparable historical and architectural interest.

Leaving Granada, we travel through striking mountain scenery as we descend from the Sierra Nevada to the Mediterranean. We follow the Tropical Coast – its mild microclimate supports guavas, mangoes and avocados, and once, sugar cane – and stop in Nerja, a coastal town known for its cliffs. We then continue to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol and a lively city with a beautiful historic centre, where you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll. In the afternoon we head into the Andalusian sierras to reach Ronda, a white town famed for the dramatic gorge that divides it. We finish the day in Seville, arriving in the late afternoon – dinner is included at the hotel.

This morning we take a guided tour of Seville, seeing the cathedral with its Giralda bell tower, the banks of the Guadalquivir and the characterful neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana. After the tour we include a leisurely cruise on the Guadalquivir for panoramic views of the riverfront. In the evening, you can choose to attend a flamenco tablao.

We leave Seville and travel through Extremadura’s gentle hills and open pastureland en route to Mérida. We include entry to the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida – notably the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre – a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its preservation. You’ll have time for lunch and a relaxed stroll through the pedestrian historic centre.

We then continue into Portugal, pausing in Évora – another UNESCO-listed city – known for its whitewashed lanes, Renaissance palaces and cathedral. We arrive in Lisbon in the evening.

This morning we set out on a guided tour of Lisbon – the Portuguese capital of seven hills – taking in its narrow lanes, iconic tiles, the spirit of saudade and the city’s bright Atlantic light. We also visit the Belem neighbourhood, from where the great Portuguese navigators departed in the 15th century. The afternoon is yours – you can wander up to Bairro Alto and its viewpoint, or join an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we return to the hotel from lively Restauradores Square, with its bars and cafes.

We’ll depart Portugal early, crossing the Alentejo. We’ll stop for coffee in Estremoz – a characterful town with a medieval castle and cobbled streets. Continuing into Spain, we’ll arrive in Cáceres, where you’ll have free time for lunch and a stroll through its historic centre – an exceptionally well preserved medieval and Renaissance quarter. We’ll then proceed to Madrid, arriving in the evening, with a transfer to Plaza Mayor – bustling with restaurants and vibrant life.

We begin with a comprehensive morning tour of central Madrid, taking in Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then continue to Retiro Park – a green oasis in the city centre – to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. Admission is included to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace, and in the evening we provide a return transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast, we bring the tour to a close – our services end here. We hope you leave with lasting memories of your journey.