2027 Spain & Portugal Inc. 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.

Enjoy a relaxing morning, before we make our way to the airport around lunchtime. We join our early afternoon flight to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, where we are met and transferred to our hotel for a two-night stay.

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. This evening we enjoy a dinner featuring traditional Portuguese cuisine.

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 stop in the charming town of Ronda for a short visit before 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 a two-night stay.

Today is yours at leisure, to enjoy this beautiful city.

This morning we travel to Barcelona stopping on the way to visit the ancient Roman city of Tarragona.

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 dine together in the Ramblas district.

Mid-morning, we join the high-speed train to Madrid (approx. 3hrs), arriving early afternoon.

On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel for check in and time at leisure, until we meet to enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant this evening.

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 arrive mid-afternoon and check in at our hotel for an overnight stay. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Today we enjoy an orientation tour of 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 and restaurants. Mid-morning, we join a typical “Rabelo” boat and sail along the banks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in a typical and discover the beauty of the Douro River. After, we will visit Graham’s 1890 Lodge with a guided tour and port wine tasting before enjoying some free time before our farewell dinner together this evening.

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and make our way to Porto airport for the short flight to Lisbon. We connect with our early afternoon flight to Dubai, arriving just after midnight on 05 October. We have reserved rooms at the hotel located inside Dubai International Airport, so we can get some rest prior to joining the flight through to Auckland.

We make our way to our departure gate. Our flight departs Dubai at 10.00am.

Arrival time in Auckland is mid-morning.