Spain & Portugal Incl. Douro River Cruise

Late this afternoon, we report to the airport and join the flight to Dubai.

We arrive in Dubai early this morning and after clearing Customs and Immigration formalities, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a two-night stay. There is time to rest up after the flight until mid-afternoon when we visit the Palm Jumeirah – one of the world’s most daring developments. Jutting out into the Arabian Gulf, this man-made archipelago was built in the shape of a palm tree, with a 3-mile-long trunk and a fan of fronds lined with luxury villas and five-star hotels. From water parks and wildlife encounters to beach clubs and restaurants, there is an array of different activities on offer. One of the first things that strike you when visiting the Palm Jumeirah is its size. This giant archipelago is visible from space and the outer crescent is more than 10 miles long. Afterward, we visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 160 stories high. We travel to the observation deck which will provide you with a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. We return to the hotel where we have dinner this evening.

This morning we take a sightseeing tour of the city – a fascinating historical excursion which takes you to the magnificent Jumeirah mosque and past modern palaces sprawled along the coast. In Bastakiya, see the old wind-towered houses built by wealthy merchants and the 150-year old Al Fahidi Fort. We continue our journey coach to the gold and spice souks, where we see bustling alleys with the aromas of the numerous spices and dazzling jewellery. Next up, we visit the area of La Mer – a new area nestled between Pearl Jumeira and the upcoming Jumeira Bay. There is time to explore this artsy community and to get some lunch at one of the trendy cafes before we  return to the hotel to relax & freshen up prior to our evening activity – a four-wheel drive excursion over rolling dunes deep into the heart of the desert. Watch the sun cast its orange glow over the shimmering sand and enjoy dinner and entertainment under the stars in Bedu tents.NB: For those who may have been to Dubai previously, there is the opportunity to join a tour to Abu Dhabi today, in place of the arrangements above. Price is available on request.

A morning transfer to the airport where we join the 8 hour flight to Madrid. We are met on arrival and transferred to our centrally located hotel, for our four-night stay.

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the city, down the tree lined avenues to see the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Pasco de La Castellana, Royal Palace, Park Retiro, Cibeles Fountain and the Cervantes Monument in Plaza de Espana.  The afternoon is at leisure before we meet up for dinner this evening.

Today we spend the day in Toledo.  Enjoy a guided tour through the old town where you will see churches, mosques, synagogues and houses are heaped upon one another in a haphazard, cobblestoned spiral.

Today’s excursion takes us to El Escorial Monastery followed by a visit to the Valley Of The Fallen Monument erected in memory of the millions who died in the Spanish Civil War. We learn about Spain’s intriguing history shaped by church, monarchy and 20^th century conflict.  Later we visit Segovia, strategically sited on a rocky ridge, it is deeply and haughtily Castilian, with a panoply of squares and mansions from its days of Golden Age grandeur, when it was a royal resort and a base for the Cortes (parliament).

After breakfast, we commence our journey north to San Sebastian.  After settling in to our hotel we have free time to explore or to relax before we enjoy dinner together at a traditional Basque restaurant.

This morning’s orientation tour will show us the old town – Plaza de Constitucion, San Vicente Church, Basilica of Santa Maria and San Telmo museum.  Free time to further explore – perhaps visit Bahia de la Concha beach or find a shady café for some people watching.

Today we travel the short distance to Bilbao, Spain’s northern city for art and culture.  Following an orientation tour of the city we then visit the famous Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim Museum.  Later, we continue our journey to Santander, capital of the Cantabrian region.

A full day of touring as we drive through scenic Picos de Europa National Park stopping in the alpine village of Covadonga, continuing on to the coastal city of Gijon followed by our final destination – Oviedo.  The old quarter of Oviedo is pedestrianised with squares and narrow streets, perfect for exploring and enjoying an al fresco dinner.

Today we take the coastal route stopping to visit the Galician town of Betanzos before continuing on to A Coruna – consisting of a modern port on one side of the city and a beach resort on the other.  Look out for the distinctive glass-fronted galleries of the sea-facing buildings, rising six storeys high along the Avenida da Marina in front of the port. They were originally designed so local residents, whose lives were intertwined with the ocean, could watch the activity of the harbour in shelter.  We continue on to Santiago de Compostela for a two-night stay.

We have a full day to explore Santiago de Compostela – a world famous pilgrim town and the final destination of the Camino de Santiago – a pilgrim route that starts on the border of France.  Our local guide will show us the sights in the morning with free time in the afternoon.

Today we travel to Porto via the coastal city of Vigo.  We board our river cruise ship late afternoon and enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by dinner.

During breakfast on board, enjoy the view as we depart Porto and sail to Regua.At 1pm, we arrive in Régua – the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century. Departing Régua at 2pm, we sail to Pinhão, arriving at 5pm. The small town of Pinhão is located in the centre of the famous port wine-growing region, where the Douro and its surrounding landscape are at their most picturesque. It is surrounded by enchanting vineyards and the quintas that produce the wine. Enjoy the sunset in Pinhão this evening.

We have the morning to explore Pinhão. Departing at 1pm, we sail through to Barca d’Alva, arriving at 7pm.  Amidst the hilly landscape of the Parque Natural do Douro lies Barca d’Alva. The tranquil village serves as the perfect starting point for excursions to Castelo Rodrigo and Salamanca.

We spend the morning in Barca D’Alva, before we depart at 12pm, arriving in Vega Terrón a short time later. In Vega Terrón, the Agueda joins the Douro. Both rivers form the natural border between Portugal and Spain. From here, you can take a trip to the Spanish city of Salamanca. With its new cathedral, old town and famous university, the city has a very special flair. Don’t miss Salamanca’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. This town of dazzling beauty houses some extraordinary Romanesque, Arab and Christian architectural treasures.

The morning is yours to further explore Vega Terrón. Plenty of time for self-exploration, or you can opt to join an excursion. We depart at 12.30pm and sail back to Pinhão, arriving at 6.30pm.

We depart Pinhão early this morning, sailing back through to Régua, arriving at 9.00am. We have a few hours to further explore this picturesque city, before departing at 3.00pm and sailing through to Leverinho, where we overnight.

Departing Leverinho at 8.30am, we arrive back in Porto mid-morning. We have the day to explore Portugal’s second-largest city, and the one that gave the country (and port wine) its name. Porto is the perfect blend of classic vibes and modern energy. Stroll the winding cobblestone streets and take in 18th-century townhouses alongside chic shops, restaurants, and be sure to check out the port wine cellars across the Douro River at Vila Nova de Gaia. Porto’s also a hotspot for contemporary art, from the Museu de Arte Contemporanea de Serralves (a modern art mecca) to the galleries on Rua Miguel Bombarda. But to deep dive on the city’s history, head to its old town—the vibrant Ribeira district. A UNESCO World heritage site, it shows centuries-old architecture (its 14th-century São Francisco church is a main attraction) against a backdrop of some fantastic views of the Douro River.

We farewell Porto and our river cruise ship and travel by coach to Lisbon stopping in Portugal’s third largest city, Coimbra, birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Within the university is the Biblioteca Joanina, a gem of a library with books from the 12th-century. A visit to the University library is included.  We continue on to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, for a two-night stay.  This evening we enjoy a dinner featuring traditional Portuguese cuisine.

Our guided tour of Lisbon takes us to the historic district of Belem and the Belem Tower, the traditional starting and ending point of Portuguese voyages of discovery.  We will view (from the outside) the magnificent church of San Jeronimos built in the early 16^th century as a celebration of Portugal’s territorial expansion and an expression of a unique national style.  Later in the day we visit magnificent Sintra and Cascais.

Today we head back to Spain, travelling via Faro to Seville for a two night stay. On our way to Faro we visit a small tile factory in a typical Portuguese town of Azeitao to learn about this typical Portuguese handcraft.

We enjoy a guided tour of Seville in the morning followed by a free afternoon. You’ll see Plaza de España and Parque Maria Luisa, Barrrio de Santa Cruz and the famous Alcazar. This evening we get together for a flamenco show including dinner.

En route to Granada today, we stop in stop in Zahara de la Sierra to visit an Olive Grove and indulge in some tastings of the local products. We continue on to Granada for a two-night stay.

We have a full day exploring Granada – the Cathedral, Royal Chapel and Granada’s amazing parks and gardens. The highlight of today’s tour will be a guided tour through the world famous Alhambra – a palace and fortress that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Today we travel to Valencia. Enroute, we stop in the area of Yecla that is earning popularity recently due to their wines made of Monastrell grape. We stop at the winery to have lunch and a wine tasting. Later, we continue to Valencia for an overnight stay.

This morning we travel to Barcelona stopping on the way to visit the ancient Roman city of Tarragona.  Tonight we dine together in the Ramblas district.

We enjoy a sightseeing tour of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and one of Spain’s most spectacular and vibrant cities.  Our tour includes the Gothic Quarter with its magnificent Cathedral and also Gaudi’s Segrada Familia including an inside visit.  We also visit Park Guell. After some time for lunch, we take a stroll through Olympic Port, home of the 2024 America’s Cup.

Today is free for independent exploration, shopping or relaxation.  Tonight, we get together for a final dinner.

Mid-morning, we are transferred to the airport in time to join our flight to Dubai. We arrive Dubai late evening and overnight at the airport.

This morning, we join our onward flight to Auckland.

Arrival time is mid-morning.