Iberian Odyssey Serene Coasts, Historic Cities - 19 Days

Welcome to Lisbon. We’ll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free – you can settle in, relax, or take a short walk nearby. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at reception for details about the start of your tour. 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.

This morning we set out on a panoramic tour of Lisbon – the city of seven hills – taking in its steep lanes, tiled façades and bright Atlantic light. We also visit Belem, the riverside district from which Portuguese navigators departed to cross the oceans in the 15th century.

The afternoon is yours – you can stroll through the city or head up to Bairro Alto and its viewpoint. If you wish, you can join an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril.

In the evening, we return to the hotel from lively Restauradores Square, an area filled with bars and cafés.

We leave Lisbon early, crossing the long bridge over the Tagus as we head south to the Algarve. In Lagos we explore the historic centre – once a strategic port for voyages to Africa – still enclosed by its old walls. You’ll have free time for lunch.

In the afternoon we continue to the dramatic cliffs of Cape St. Vincent, with a stop nearby to photograph the historic Sagres fortress. Later we spend time in Albufeira, a lively coastal town – you can relax on the beach or wander its old centre. Overnight in Albufeira or in a neighbouring town in the Algarve.

From Albufeira, we travel to Faro, a peaceful Algarve city, for a leisurely stroll. We then continue into the Alentejo to Mértola on the banks of the Guadiana River – a walled town-museum that was an important centre in the Muslim era, dominated by its hilltop castle and inviting whitewashed streets. Our journey ends in Évora, where we include entry to the Chapel of Bones – a unique chapel built with more than 5,000 skeletons. Afterwards, we explore this UNESCO-listed walled city, noted for its medieval palaces, Gothic religious buildings and ancient Roman temple.

From Évora, we travel through the Alentejo’s gentle landscapes to Marvão – a hilltop walled town with wide views across the region. We then continue to Castelo de Vide to see its striking castle. You’ll have time to wander the old Jewish quarter – you can visit the medieval synagogue, now a museum, or simply explore the winding lanes.

After lunch, we continue to Tomar for the Convent of Christ – once a castle‑convent of the Order of the Templars – with admission included. Before reaching Fátima, we stop in Aljustrel, birthplace of the three shepherd children linked to the apparitions, where we’ll see Lucia’s house. On arrival in Fátima, you’ll have free time at the Sanctuary – you may join the candlelight procession if you wish (not held in winter). Dinner is included.

We travel north to Porto, arriving around 11:00 a.m. On arrival, we take a 50–minute cruise on the Douro aboard a traditional Portuguese rabelo boat – a great way to view the city’s riverside from the water. Afterwards, you have free time to explore the lively Ribeira district, with its narrow streets, historic merchant houses and cafés, before we head to the hotel.

Leaving Porto, we travel north to Braga and ride the world’s oldest water powered funicular up to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus for wide views. After time to explore, you can choose to descend via its picturesque staircase. We then cross into Galicia to visit Cambados or O Grove in the Rías Baixas, where we board a glass bottom boat on the Ría de Arousa to learn about mussel and oyster cultivation – with wine and mussel tasting on board. By lunchtime we arrive in Santiago de Compostela for a guided city tour with a local expert, exploring its medieval streets and renowned pilgrimage sites dating back to the Middle Ages.

We travel along the Way of St James to Lugo, with time to explore the historic centre and its Roman walls – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then visit O Cebreiro, a traditional Galician stone village, before continuing to León for lunchtime. In León, we visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral, renowned for its stained glass, and enjoy a stroll through the historic centre. Crossing the Cantabrian Range, we arrive in Oviedo by evening. A guided city tour is included – either on arrival or the following morning – lasting about an hour and a half and taking in the cathedral dating from the 9th century, the Calatrava Congressional Palace, Campoamor Theatre and Calle de la Rúa. Dinner is included in a traditional Asturian cider house.

From Oviedo we travel into the Picos de Europa to visit the Basilica of Covadonga. Continuing along the coast, we arrive in Santillana del Mar – one of Spain’s most beautiful towns, renowned for its well‑preserved medieval quarter – and visit the nearby Altamira Cave Museum, with entry included. Later we head to Santander, the regional capital, for a panoramic tour with a local guide to explore this elegant coastal city and its beautiful bay.

After breakfast in Santander, we travel to Bilbao for a guided tour of the Basque Country’s largest city. We see the Guggenheim Museum from the outside – a landmark of contemporary architecture – and afterwards you have free time to stroll the area or visit the museum if you wish. We then continue into La Rioja, renowned for its wines, to visit the Wine Culture Museum in Briones. Arrival in Zaragoza is in the evening.

We begin with a morning panoramic tour of Zaragoza with a local guide – starting at the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, an important pilgrimage site. We then explore works by Francisco de Goya and continue to the Roman Theatre and a Renaissance palace, before a leisurely stroll by the Aljafería Palace. After lunch we travel into Catalonia to visit Poblet Abbey – a walled monastery in beautiful surroundings and one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world – with admission included. We continue to Barcelona, arriving in the evening.

In the morning, we take a panoramic tour of Barcelona, a Mediterranean city known for Gaudí’s modernist architecture, the lively Ramblas and the legacy of its World Expositions and Olympic Games. The tour ends at Maremagnum – a modern leisure and dining complex by the sea next to Columbus Square – where you can stroll through the area. The afternoon is at leisure for your own plans. We return to the hotel at the end of the day.

We travel south along the Mediterranean, pausing in Peniscola – a walled seaside town – for a relaxed stroll. We then continue to Valencia, arriving around lunchtime – you could try the city’s famous paella. At about 4.30 pm we set off for Madrid, making a brief stop at the City of Arts and Sciences before continuing. We arrive between 8.30 and 9 pm, and we include a transfer to Plaza Mayor – a popular spot where you can enjoy pinchos or a glass of wine at one of its many restaurants. Note: depending on passenger numbers, the Valencia to Madrid sector may be by high speed train.

This morning we take a comprehensive tour of central Madrid, passing the Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then visit Retiro Park to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. Admission to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – home of Real Madrid – is included. You’ll have the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, we’ll provide a transfer back to the hotel.

We depart Madrid early, travelling south through La Mancha with a stop in Puerto Lápice – a traditional Manchego village linked to Don Quixote. We continue via Despeñaperros into Andalusia and arrive in Granada, where lunch is included. In the afternoon, if you have booked the Alhambra option, you will visit the Alhambra and its Generalife Gardens with a local guide.

Important note: visitor numbers at the Alhambra are strictly regulated by law. To secure entry, tickets are issued when your tour booking is confirmed – you must provide your full name and passport or ID number at the time of reservation. Ticket costs are nonrefundable if you cancel. In the rare event the Alhambra visit cannot be arranged, we will instead visit Seville’s Royal Alcázar – a site of comparable historical and architectural significance.

Leaving Granada, we travel past the Sierra Nevada and follow the Mediterranean along the Tropical Coast – a region with a mild year round climate that supports guava, mango and avocado cultivation, and formerly sugar cane. We stop in Nerja, a seaside town set against striking cliffs, then continue to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, with its lively historic centre. You’ll have free time here for lunch and a stroll. In the afternoon we head into the Andalusian sierras to Ronda, a celebrated white town dramatically split by a deep gorge, before continuing to Seville for a late afternoon arrival. Dinner is included at the hotel.

We spend the morning discovering Seville on a guided city tour – taking in the cathedral with its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir River, and the atmospheric neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana. After the tour, we include a relaxing boat ride on the Guadalquivir for panoramic views of the city. In the evening, you can choose to attend a flamenco tablao.

Leaving Seville, we travel through the rolling hills and pasturelands of Extremadura en route to Mérida. Admission is included to the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida – its Roman theatre and amphitheatre are exceptionally well preserved and part of a World Heritage Site. You’ll then have free time for lunch and to explore the pedestrian historic centre. We continue across the border into Portugal, stopping in Évora – also a World Heritage city – known for its whitewashed streets, Renaissance palaces and cathedral. We arrive in Lisbon in the evening.

After breakfast, our journey concludes in Lisbon – we’ll end the tour here. You can use any remaining time before hotel check-out for a final stroll or a quick souvenir stop, then make your own onward travel arrangements. Safe travels and thank you for joining us.