Paradors of Northern Spain

Day 1: Welcome to Spain
A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to Le Méridien Barcelona, your hotel for the first two nights of our Spain tour. At a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight, we invite you to meet those who will join you to discover the cultural diversity of Spain’s northern regions and Portugal.
Overnight: Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Art and architecture in beautiful Barcelona
Barcelona, capital of the unique Catalonia region of Spain, beguiles at every turn of your walking tour with a local guide. Highlights include the Barrio Gótico, which dates from medieval times, and la Sagrada Familia, architect Antonio Gaudí's famous Gothic-yet-modern cathedral. In Montjuïc, see the 1992 Olympic Stadium, high above the city, then spend the rest of the day as you wish in Barcelona.
Overnight: Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Captivating Catalonia
Admire delightful rural vistas of Catalonia when you travel along the Yellow Roads to the amazing mountaintop monastery at Montserrat en route to Cardona, where an ancient castle stands guard over the village. Savor a taste of Catalan cuisine when lunch is served in the medieval ambiance of the dining room of the Parador de Cardona, a 9th-century castle; visit the Romanasque Church of San Vincente. Journey on to the small towns of Castellciutat and La Seu d'Urgell in the Pyrenees, where you'll spend the next two nights at an elegant resort. Enjoy dinner à la carte at your hotel tonight; most dinners at the paradors will be full à la carte on this journey.
Overnight: El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Pyrenees pleasures
You'll be inspired by your visit to the 12th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria d'Urgell, the only Romanesque cathedral that has been preserved in the Catalonia region of the Pyrenees. After lunch, choices of activities for the afternoon include a cooking demonstration focusing on Catalan cuisine and a spa treatment. A highlight of your Spain tour awaits this evening at a special 7-course dinner at the hilltop 9th-century castle located on the grounds of your hotel.
Overnight: El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: The beguiling Basque country
Today your Spain tour takes you through the marvelous mountains of the Basque country to Pamplona, the city best known for the annual running of the bulls. You'll have time to explore and have lunch on your own before continuing on to the charming seaside town of San Sebastián; feast your eyes on this popular resort for the first time from the summit of Mount Igueldo, offering perfect vistas of the town. Your home for the next two nights is the Hotel Maria Cristina, among the most fabulous Belle Époque hotels in all of Spain.
Overnight: Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Seaside San Sebastián
If you wish, join your local guide on a walking tour of the Old Town of San Sebastián; the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please. Further explore Old Town's medieval streets while sampling some tasty Basque specialties, or enjoy the city’s many waterfront attractions – not the least of which is the famous beach popular with the international surfing set.
Overnight: Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Bilbao and the Guggenheim
Modern art is flourishing at the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, as you'll see during a visit. Continue on to medieval Santillana del Mar, then up into the magnificent Picos de Europa ("Peaks of Europe"); admire the scenic views of rural villages, gorges and valleys en route to Fuente Dé. Enjoy dinner à la carte this evening at your parador, set in the foothills of the Picos mountains.
Overnight: Parador de Fuente Dé
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: The plains of Castile and Gothic León
Make your way through the Cantabrian Cordilleras en route to central Spain's Meseta Plateau, leaving the mountains behind and journeying across the flat lands of Castile. Once the capital of the Kingdom of León, the city of León was an important pilgrimage site. A guided city tour, a visit to its magnificent Gothic Cathedral, and an overnight stay in at the Parador de León, one of the most luxurious in Spain, reveal the fascinating history of this venerable city.
Overnight: Parador de León, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: In the footsteps of pilgrims
When the grave of Saint James was discovered in this region in the ninth century, hundreds of thousands began making the arduous pilgrimage along El Camino de Santiago – the Way of St. James – on foot to visit it and the cathedral dedicated to the saint in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the town's historic quarter and a visit to the world-famous cathedral – home to the relics of the saint – prior to an overnight stay at a remarkable parador that began accommodating travelers in the 15th century; set on the same square as the cathedral, it's one of the oldest hotels in the world, and a highlight of your northern Spain tour with Tauck.
Overnight: Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Prosperous Porto in Portugal
After a morning at leisure and lunch in Santiago de Compostela, your Spain tour crosses the border into Portugal, bound for the medieval port city of Porto, nestled on the Atlantic coast. Today, Porto is Portugal's second-largest city and offers much to interest visitors.
Overnight: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, Porto, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Port, the pride of Porto
In Porto, port wine is at the heart of the matter; the city that gave this libation its name has long been known for the quality of its port, an economically important export for centuries. Your locally guided exploration of the city's intriguing sights includes the colorful market of Bolhão, the Gothic Church of São Francisco, and a walking tour of Santa Catarina Street. Learn firsthand how barrels of port have been transported for centuries on a cruise along the Douro River aboard a traditional Rabelo boat, before spending the afternoon exploring on your own. This evening, sample Porto's pride as you visit a local winery for a tour, a wine tasting and dinner.
Overnight: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, Porto, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 12: Perspectives of Portugal
Delve into Portugal's history today as you explore Coimbra, liberated from Moorish occupation in 1064 and the site of the oldest seat of higher learning in Portugal, founded by King Dinis in 1210; join your local guide on visits to the university and historic St. Michael's Chapel. Journey on to Fatima, home to the famous pilgrimage shrine commemorating the reputed appearances of the Virgin Mary to three children in 1917. Arrive in legendary Lisbon early this evening for a two-night stay.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: Lisbon discoveries
Everywhere you look in Lisbon, Portugal's beguiling capital city, you'll see reminders of the "Great Period of Discoveries" – when Portuguese mariners set sail to explore the then-unknown world and found what is now Brazil, among other notable places. During a sightseeing tour, visit Mosterio dos Jerónimos and the unique National Coach Museum; view the Tower of Belém, commemorating Vasco de Gama's expedition, and the Discoveries Monument, set at the point of departure of many 15th-century voyages. Join us tonight to share your Portugal and northern Spain tour memories with your traveling companions at a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 14: Homeward bound
Your Spain tour comes to an end in Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to Lisbon International Airport. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/13/2010 - 8/27/2010	$4,990
8/27/2010 - 9/10/2010	$4,990
9/3/2010 - 9/17/2010	$5,690
9/10/2010 - 9/24/2010	$4,990
9/24/2010 - 10/8/2010	$4,990
10/1/2010 - 10/15/2010	$4,990
10/8/2010 - 10/22/2010	$4,990
10/15/2010 - 10/29/2010	$5,690
10/22/2010 - 11/5/2010	$4,990
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Barcelona ~ San Sebastían ~ Bilbao ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Porto ~ Lisbon

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Tauck Single Specials

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