Sightseeing Highlights

Cognac Visit a distillery.
Biarritz Visit the resort.
Burgos See the tomb of El Cid.
Segovia See the Roman aqueduct.
El Escorial Photo stop at the Monastery Palace.
Madrid Sightseeing features the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and Cervantes Monument.
Toledo Sightseeing includes visits to the Synagogue, Chapel of Santo Tome and a steel workshop.
Aranjuez See the Royal Palace.
Cordoba Sightseeing includes a visit to the Mezquita.
Seville Sightseeing includes Giralda Tower and Columbus' tomb.
Granada Sightseeing includes a visit to the Alhambra.
Valencia See Serranos and Cuarte Towers and the Town Hall.
Barcelona Sightseeing includes Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia'.
Monte Carlo See the Casinos and the Grand Prix Circuit.
Cannes Drive along the Boulevard de la Croisette and see the Film  Festival Centre.
Avignon See the Papal Palace and St. Benezet Bridge.
Beaune Visit the medieval town.
Paris Sightseeing includes views of the Louvre, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the ascent of the Eiffel Tower. Visit Montmartre by funicular.
Scenic drives through the Bordeaux vineyards, the forest of Les Landes, the foothills of the Pyrenees, across the Sierra de Guadarrama, La Mancha, through Andalusia, along the Cote d'Amethyste, Impressionist Provence, the Rhone Valley and Burgundy wine region.

Dining Highlights

• A welcome drink with your Tour Director in Paris
• 16 Buffet breakfasts (BB)
• 6 three-course dinners in hotels (D)
• 3 local speciality restaurant dinners in Granada, Barcelona and  on the French Riviera (HD)
• 25 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

• The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual  Tour Directors.
• A qualified local city guide in Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville,  Granada, Barcelona and Paris.
• Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches  with reclining seats and washroom.
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Transfers will be provided on  Days 1 and 17.
• A stylish travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and  helpful information.

First Class Hotels

You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities at these  superb hotels:

Paris: Sofitel La Defense Grande Arche
Angouleme: Mercure  de France
Burgos: Abba Burgos
Madrid (2): Fiesta Gran Colon
Seville (2): Occidental
Granada: Gran Luna de Granada
Valencia: Abba Acteon
Barcelona (2): Abba Sants
Nice (2): Radisson SAS
Lyon: Mercure Charpennes
Paris (2): Evergreen Laurel

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and  local taxes included.

DAY 1 Arrive Paris

On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport you're met and  transferred to your hotel. After check-in, time to relax or explore this beautiful  city. This evening, we enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Director and meet our fellow travelling companions.

DAY 2 Paris - Cognac - Angouleme

This morning's drive takes us past Orleans, the site of Joan of Arc's first  great victory. Then on to Cognac to visit a distillery, before arriving in Angouleme for the night. (BB D)

DAY 3 Angouleme - Biarritz - Burgos

Our morning  drive takes us through the vineyards of Bordeaux and skirt Les Landes, before a stop in the exclusive resort of Biarritz. From here our journey  takes us through the foothills of the Pyrenees and we cross into the Basque country of Northern Spain. We continue on via San Sebastian, and follow in the footsteps of El Cid as we make our way to Burgos. Here we visit the famous gothic Cathedral, before an included dinner at our hotel this evening. (BB D)

DAY 4 Burgos - Segovia - El Escorial - Madrid (2)

Today we head across the high plains to Segovia to see the Roman  aqueduct. Next we continue to El Escorial, burial place of Spanish Kings  and Queens. Then we enjoy views of the vast Monastery-Palace of Philip II before  we make our way to Madrid, where we spend the next two nights. On our arrival  we enjoy a sightseeing tour which highlights the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain and Plaza Espana. (BB)

DAY 5 Castilian Excursion

This morning after breakfast it's  a short drive to Toledo, capital of Castile. Here our local guide shows us the Cathedral and one of Europe's oldest synagogues. We will also see the El Greco masterpiece in the chapel of Santo Tome and the art of Damascene in a local steel workshop. Later, we return to Madrid with a free afternoon. Tonight, why not dine out in a typical 'meson'? (BB)

DAY 6 Madrid - Cordoba - Seville (2)

Today our  journey takes us via the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Then we continue our drive across La Mancha to Cordoba, the city of the Caliphs. On  our arrival we will visit the 'Mezquita' before our journey brings us to the Moorish  city of Seville, where we spend the next two nights. (BB D)

DAY 7 Seville sightseeing & at leisure

Our morning sightseeing reveals the tower of the Giralda, plus a visit to Columbus' tomb,  the gardens and pavilions of Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de Espana. Later,  time at leisure to perhaps wander through the Jewish District of Santa Cruz or to visit the Alcazar. Tonight after dinner, why not enjoy a fiery Flamenco show? (BB  D)

DAY 8 Seville - Granada

After breakfast we travel southeast  today in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to majestic hilltop Granada.  On our sightseeing tour we will explore the exquisite pink-gold Alhambra Palace. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore further. Tonight, we enjoy  a dinner of Andalusian specialities in a local restaurant. (BB) (HD)

DAY 9 Granada - Guadix - Valencia

Today we drive via the jagged Mora Pass towards Guadix. View troglodyte cave dwellings hewn out of the soft rock of this characteristically Spanish countryside. Then along the coast via Benidorm to sunny Valencia for the night. (BB D)

DAY 10 Valencia - Barcelona (2)

Morning orientation in Valencia shows us the Town Hall, the Bull Ring and towers of Serrano  and Cuarte. Later, we drive past the mysterious mountain of Montserrat on our approach to Barcelona. Tonight, we enjoy dinner in a typical restaurant. (BB)  (HD)

DAY 11 Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure

The gothic magnificence  of the Cathedral and art nouveau fantasies of Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia' are revealed  on our morning sightseeing. Later, time at leisure perhaps to stroll the colourful Ramblas. (BB)

DAY 12 Barcelona - Nice (2)

After breakfast this morning we will cross the French border at La Jonquera past Perpignan and into the wine-producing plains of Languedoc. From here we follow the Amethyst Coast to the Carmargue, before we continue through Impressionist Provence on our way to jet-set Nice for our two-night stay. (BB)

DAY 13 Nice - Monte Carlo Excursion

A full day at leisure  to enjoy the atmosphere of this top class resort. You may wish to take an optional  excursion into the Provencal countryside to visit St. Paul de Vence. Later, we enjoy an included excursion to glittering Monte Carlo, where  we have the chance of breaking the bank at one of the famous casinos! Afterwards,  we enjoy dinner in a specially selected local restaurant. (BB) (HD)

DAY 14 Nice - Cannes - Avignon - Lyon

Our  first stop is at Cannes where we drive along the Boulevard de la  Croisette with its Palace-hotels and the Film Festival Centre. Next through Provençal countryside, which inspired Van Gogh and Cezanne we arrive in Avignon. Here we admire the gothic Papal Palace and St. Benezet Bridge  before heading to Lyon. (BB D)

DAY 15 Lyon - Beaune - Paris (2)

After breakfast  we enjoy a morning drive along the Rhone Valley to the medieval town of Beaune where we stop to view the Hotel Dieu. Then on through the Burgundy vineyards on the Autoroute du Soleil, arriving back in Paris, 'City of Light' for two  nights. (BB)

DAY 16 Paris sightseeing & at leisure

Today's guidedsightseeing includes views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysees,  Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. Then we take the elevator to the second level of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views over the city. We also drive  to Bohemian Montmartre where we take the funicular to visit the Place du Tertre with its pavement artists - all in the shadow of the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. Tonight, why not take in one of the famous Paris cabaret shows? (BB)

DAY 17 Depart Paris

Time to bid "au revoir" as we transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for our return flight home. (BB)

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