Spain

Starting Price: $7245
Trip Length: 9 Days

Spain is Europe's second most mountainous country (only Switzerland has a higher terrain), and the climate varies dramatically according to altitude as well as latitude. In the province of Granada it is possible to ski in the mountains and lounge on a beach, both in the same day. True alpine conditions prevail in many of Spain's mountains, from the Pyrenees along the border with France to the Sierra Nevada above Granada in the south, while the central two-fifths of the country is primarily high plains crossed by mountain ranges and rivers. Besides the mainland peninsula, Spanish possessions include the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, the Canary Archipelago (in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa) and the Moroccan coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Mainland Spain can be divided into three climatic zones: the Oceanic in the north (the rainiest and greenest part along the Bay of Biscay); the Mediterranean Zone (sunny and semiarid); and central Spain (hot in summer, cold in winter, relatively dry). Spain is also divided into distinctive, politically autonomous regions, each with its own culture and history, and several with their own languages (including Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque region). Hot, arid Andalusia, to the southwest, is the home of flamenco, bullfighting and spectacular Moorish architecture.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: MADRID, SPAIN
Arrive Madrid International. Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by an iExplore Representative who will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation. Transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Madrid strikes a balance between constant, almost chaotic motion and uncompromising leisure. Madrilenos, as the city's residents are called, seem always to be on the go, except when they're taking long breaks to eat, drink and enjoy life. The competing urges to move and sit for hours are cleverly reconciled in the institution known as “ir de tapas,” which entails hopping leisurely from tapas bar to tapas bar.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure.
You will be confirmed for three nights at the Hotel Wellington in standard room accommodation, inclusive of buffet breakfast. Please note that official check-in time is 12.00pm. If your arrival is before this time we will request early check-in on your behalf however this cannot be guaranteed.
Hotel Wellington

Day 02: MADRID
Enjoy a full day guided tour of Madrid including de Prado Museum.
Your English-speaking guide and private vehicle will meet you today for a full-day tour (8 hours) of the city of Madrid. Walk with your guide across the street to visit the Prado Museum, which for many visitors is one of Madrid's main attractions. Here you can view works by Spain's three great masters: Goya, Velazquez and El Greco. After touring the Prado, your private vehicle joins you and your guide to visit the Royal Palace, whose rooms are filled with art treasures and antiques. This afternoon, enjoy an overview tour of the city’s grand avenues, plazas, parks and historic quarters such as the Austrias district.
Hotel Wellington (Breakfast)

Day 03: MADRID - TOLEDO
Today you will enjoy a full day (8 hours) excursion with your private vehicle and English-speaking guide to Toledo.
Toledo is a fortified city dating from Roman times, where in the Middle Ages the three cultures of Christianity, Islam and Judaism cohabited side by side. Visit the 13th century Cathedral, and the church of Santo Tome, where you will see El Greco’s large canvas of 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz'. You will also visit the city's oldest and largest synagogue - the 12th century Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue.
Hotel Wellington (Breakfast)

Day 04: MADRID - SEVILLE
Today you will enjoy a half-day (5 hours) with your private vehicle and English-speaking guide exploring El Escorial. Built by King Philip II of Spain, it was designed both as the burial place for his father Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and as a summer residence. At El Escorial’s heart is the church, with its exquisite retablo and marble sculptures, and the royal palace. Its overall size is remarkable: the grey-white granite pile contains 16 courtyards, 2673 windows, 1250 doors, 86 staircases and 88 fountains. In the Royal Pantheon lie the sarcophagi of most of the kings of Spain, with only a few spaces remaining to be occupied before capacity is reached.
Return to Madrid in the afternoon where you will be assisted with check-in for the AVE train bound for Seville. You will have confirmed seating in the First Class carriage and the journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Upon arrival in Seville you will be met by your driver and privately transferred to your hotel.
A reservation will be made for you this evening at Seville’s most authentic Flamenco Show, a beverage is also included. The show is approximately a five-minute walk from your hotel.
You will be confirmed at the Hotel Inglaterra in standard room accommodation inclusive of buffet breakfast.
Hotel Inglaterra (Breakfast)

Day 05: SEVILLE - GRANADA
Meet your English-speaking guide today for a 4-hour walking tour of Seville. Visit the 15th Century Cathedral, one of the most breathtaking in all of Christendom, and see La Giralda, Seville's most famous monument. The Moorish tower was erected as a minaret in the 12th century. Visit the Alcazar, a magnificent 14th century Mudejar palace that is one of the oldest royal residences in Europe still in use. You will also enjoy a walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz, a maze of narrow streets, whitewashed houses, small squares and flower festered patios.
In the afternoon you will be privately transferred to the Seville railway station where you should board the train for Granada. Please note that reservations are not possible on this service. Upon arrival into Granada you will be met and privately transferred to your hotel.
You will be confirmed at the AC Palacio Santa Paula in standard room accommodation inclusive of buffet breakfast.
AC Palacio Santa Paul (Breakfast)

Day 06: GRANADA - BARCELONA
Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour (4 hours) with a private vehicle and a local English-speaking guide in Granada. You will visit the Alhambra, one of the great remnants of the Moslem civilization of Andalusia, founded in the 1240s. Once a great citadel containing a whole community of houses, schools barracks and gardens, the Alcazaba fortress and Royal Palace are all that remain today but they offer a complex of magical, exotic buildings. Take a stroll through the lovely gardens of the Generalife Palace before returning to your hotel.
In the afternoon you will be privately transferred to Granada Airport (flight not included in tour cost.) Upon arrival into Barcelona you will be met and privately transferred to your hotel.
You will be confirmed at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona in classic room accommodation inclusive of buffet breakfast.
Hotel Condes de Barcelona (Breakfast)

Day 07: BARCELONA
Today enjoy a full day sightseeing tour (8 hours) in Barcelona with your English-speaking guide and private vehicle. This morning discover the masterpieces of Catalonia’s most famous architect, Gaudí: the Casa Mila with its wave-like facade and the impressive but unfinished Sagrada Familia Basilica. You will also visit the Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Gaudi's most colorful creations. This afternoon transfer to the true heart of the old city - the medieval Gothic Quarter. See the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, notable for its fine Gothic chapels, medieval choir stalls and shady cloister. You will also visit the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter’s earliest works are housed in the remarkable setting of a part-Gothic and part-Roman Palace.
Hotel Condes de Barcelona (Breakfast)

Day 8: BARCELONA - MONTSERRAT
Today you will enjoy a half-day (5 hours) sightseeing tour with your private vehicle and English-speaking guide to the shrine of the Black Virgin of Montserrat, high in the peaks of the Serra de Montserrat. Here you will visit the domed Basilica and the Museum, which features some old masters, among them paintings by El Greco and Caravaggio. Return to Barcelona where the remainder of the day will be at your leisure.
Hotel Condes de Barcelona (Breakfast)

Day 9: BARCELONA / DEPART
You will be privately transferred to Barcelona Airport for your onward flight.
(Breakfast)

Trip Prices

2008:

Low Season
$7245 per person, double occupancy, based on 2 persons traveling
$4835 per person, double occupancy, based on 4 persons traveling
$1275 single room supplement
$13555 solo traveler

Mid Season
$7380 per person, double occupancy, based on 2 persons traveling
$4960 per person, double occupancy, based on 4 persons traveling
$1445 single room supplement
$13805 solo traveler

High Season
$7435 per person, double occupancy, based on 2 persons traveling
$5065 per person, double occupancy, based on 4 persons traveling
$1525 single room supplement
$13970 solo traveler

Inclusions:

• Buffet breakfasts
• Accommodation in Standard Room(s) at Hotel Wellington, Madrid
• Accommodation in Standard Room(s) at Hotel Inglaterra, Seville
• Accommodation in Standard Room (s) at the AC Palacio Santa Paula, Granada
• Accommodation in Classic Room(s) at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona, Barcelona
• Private transport where stated by Mercedes E Class / Renault Safrane / Peugeot 605 / Opel Omega (or similar) for 1-2 persons and Mercedes V Class / VW Caravelle (or similar) for 3-4 persons. Please note that the vehicle provided allows for two pieces of luggage per person. For additional luggage, larger vehicles can be provided for a supplementary cost
• Tourist class rail tickets from Madrid to Seville
• Tourist class rail tickets from Seville to Granada
• English-speaking guides for all sightseeing
• Entrance fees to the Prado Museum, Madrid Royal Palace, Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo, Toledo Cathedral, Calle de Santo Tome, Synagogue Maria la Blanca, Seville Cathedral & Giralda, Reales Alcazares, Alhambra Palace, Generalife, Casa Mila, Sagrada Familia, Parc Guelle & Gaudi Musuem, Picasso Museum and Montserrat Monastery.
• Flamenco show and beverage in Seville
• The services of a local representative to meet the clients upon arrival Madrid airport, telephone monitoring at each hotel and reconfirmation of all services in advance of the guests
• Welcome pack (one per room)
• All taxes
• 24-hour emergency contact service

Exclusions:

• All air travel and associated costs
• All meals EXCEPT breakfast
• Any visas and related costs
• Entrance fees not stated above
• All items of a personal nature (e.g. beverages, telephone calls, laundry, personal insurance)
• Anything not specifically mentioned in the “Inclusions” list above
• Travel Insurance
• Visa’s (if required)
• Holiday surcharges
• Porterage
• Gratuities

High Season:
Tours Starting 1 April – 22 June 2008
Tours Starting 15 September – 9 November 2008
Tours Starting 22 December – 31 December 2008

Mid Season:
Tours Starting 15 March – 31 March 2008
Tours Starting 23 June – 13 July 2008
Tours Starting 1 September – 14 September 2008
Tours Starting 10 November – 21 December 2008

Low Season:
Tours Starting 1 January – 16 March 2008
Tours Starting 14 July – 31 August 2008

Departure Dates

Departures upon request, please call for details.

Please contact us for more details.