Spain and Portugal

•   TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS! Enjoy breathtaking vistas as you climb from seaside Marbella to cliff-top Ronda, and into the Sierra Nevada mountains to Granada

Day 1: Arrive Lisbon
A transfer is included from Lisboa Airport to Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon; atop one of the city’s seven hills, the hotel reflects the nobility and charm of historic Portugal. A guided sightseeing tour this afternoon includes a visit to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and a close-up look at the 17th- to 19th-century gilded Baroque coaches showcased in the Coach Museum; see the Discoveries Monument and the Tower of Belém, a monument to Portugal’s Golden Age. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Sintra / Cascais
Not far from Lisbon, Sintra was the favored summer retreat for Portugal’s monarchs and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic cultural landscapes. With a local guide, tour the 14th-century Royal Palace, full of remarkable decorative surprises, before visiting the seaside village of Cascais. Return to Lisbon for time at leisure; if you wish, come along on an optional visit to the city’s Rossio Square.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Explore Medieval Evora
Cross the Tagus River over Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, as you travel to enchanting Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that flourished throughout the Middle Ages – a guided tour takes you through winding medieval streets flanked by 17th-century walls, revealing Roman ruins, Moorish arcades, and more than 20 churches and monasteries. Your accommodations tonight are in a former 15th-century convent, today elegantly renovated into a heritage hotel and spa. Dine à la carte tonight at your hotel.
Overnight: Convento do Espinheiro, Evora, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Andalucia / Seville
It’s off to Andalucía today, Spain’s southern province of whitewashed villages, seaside resorts, gypsies, flamenco dancing and olive groves. A guided visit in Mérida takes in the Circus Maximus and Roman Bridge, and includes a walking tour of the well-preserved Roman theater and amphitheater. Continue to Seville for a two-night stay at one of Europe’s most luxurious royal hotels, named for King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
Overnight: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Discover Historic Seville
Explore the sights of Seville with a local guide who shares expert insights on the places you’ll see. Ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage to Seville Cathedral – begun in 1401, this immense Gothic cathedral took more than a century to complete – and the bell tower, La Giralda, originally built as a minaret in 1198. View the tomb of Christopher Columbus inside the cathedral and take a walking tour of Barrio de Santa Cruz, the city’s historic and artistic quarter, before exploring on your own.
Overnight: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Jerez de la Frontera / Gibraltar / Marbella
Andalucía is a land of fortified wines, the best of which are found in Jerez de la Frontera (translated as “sherry of the frontier”), along with fine horses and flamenco dancers. An excursion to Jerez today visits the Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Equestre (Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art), where you may watch a training session with dancing Andalucían horses, and the Carriage Museum. Lunch at a sherry bodega includes a tour of the winery! En route to Marbella, stop in Gibraltar to see the “rock,” St. Michael’s Cave and the Apes’ Den. Spend the next two nights at a beachfront hotel on the Costa del Sol.
Overnight: Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA, Marbella, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Day at Leisure in Marbella
A morning orientation tour through exclusive Marbella introduces you to its fascinating Old Town (Casco Antigua) – surrounded by shops, cafés and squares, it is dominated by 15th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación.
Overnight: Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA, Marbella, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Ronda / Granada
Travel into the mountains today amidst breathtaking views. Visit cliff-top Ronda, where a guided walking tour takes in the Moorish remains; see the Plaza de Toros, one of Spain’s oldest bullrings. Next stop is the ancient city of Granada, the capital of a Moorish kingdom for about 250 years, for a two-night stay that includes a private flamenco show. Your hotel is just steps away from the famous Alhambra Palace.
Overnight: Hotel Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: The Alhambra
Built as a “paradise on earth” by 13th-century caliphs, the Palace of the Alhambra ranks among the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture. A guided tour goes inside the Royal Palace and the terraced quarters of the Generalife. Enjoy time at leisure and dine à la carte tonight at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: From Granada to Córdoba
Journey to Córdoba today for a guided walking tour and an overnight stay. Explore the old Jewish Quarter and visit the mighty Mezquita, whose history dates back more than 1,200 years. Dine family-style at a local restaurant tonight.
Overnight: Hesperia Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 11: AVE Train ride to Madrid
It’s all aboard the AVE train in Preferente class for a rail journey to Madrid. A local guide awaits your arrival to lead an orientation tour of the capital city, including a walk through Plaza Mayor and the Mercado San Miguel, ending with a guided visit to the Royal Palace. Spend the next three nights at a historic luxury hotel ideally located in the heart of the city.
Overnight: The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 12: Museo del Prado / Madrid As You Please
Follow a guided visit to Museo del Prado, one of the world’s greatest art museums, with time exploring Madrid as you wish. Tauck includes admission to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, illustrating the history of Western art through its collection of masterpieces by Titian, Goya, van Gogh and Picasso.
Overnight: The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13: A Day in Toledo
Embark on a full-day excursion to Toledo today. A guided tour of this monument-filled city includes the Synagogue Santa Maria La Blanca, dating from the 12th century, the Church of Santo Tomé, and admission to the Cathedral. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner back in Madrid.
Overnight: The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas Airport is included; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/18/2012 - 6/1/2012	$5,790
5/25/2012 - 6/8/2012	$5,790
6/1/2012 - 6/15/2012	$5,790
6/8/2012 - 6/22/2012	$5,790
6/15/2012 - 6/29/2012	$5,790
6/22/2012 - 7/6/2012	$5,690
7/6/2012 - 7/20/2012	$4,890
7/20/2012 - 8/3/2012	$5,490
8/31/2012 - 9/14/2012	$4,890
9/7/2012 - 9/21/2012	$5,190
9/9/2012 - 9/23/2012	$5,190
9/12/2012 - 9/26/2012	$5,690
9/14/2012 - 9/28/2012	$5,790
9/19/2012 - 10/3/2012	$5,790
9/21/2012 - 10/5/2012	$5,790
9/23/2012 - 10/7/2012	$5,790
9/26/2012 - 10/10/2012	$5,690
9/28/2012 - 10/12/2012	$5,790
10/3/2012 - 10/17/2012	$5,790
10/5/2012 - 10/19/2012	$5,790
10/10/2012 - 10/24/2012	$5,690
10/12/2012 - 10/26/2012	$5,790
10/19/2012 - 11/2/2012	$5,790
10/26/2012 - 11/9/2012	$5,190
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
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.

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