Country Roads of Portugal & Spain 11 Day tour from $1499     an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

The hotels on this tour are all modern & well equipped, including the Marriott in Lisbon with an outdoor swimming pool, the NH Eurobuilding in Madrid in one of the new development areas of the city and the newly opened Tryp hotel in Oviedo.

Fellow Passengers

This tour particularly attracts passengers who wish to explore the lesser known  area of Northern Spain, noted for its remarkably green scenery, whilst affording  the opportunity to revisit the capital cities of Lisbon and Madrid.

 Highlights

Highlights include Jeronimo's Monastery in Lisbon, the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, the wonderfully scenic Picos de Europa National Park and the guided visit to Madrid's Prado Museum where we admire the finest work of Vel ázquez.

Excursions & Sights

• View the modern Monument to the Discoveries and ancient Belem  Tower in Lisbon
• Visit the ancient fortified city of Obidos
• Visit the Royal Chapel in Batalha's Monastery
• Visit the neo-classical Basilica in the pilgrimage town of Fatima
• See the wine stores of the Vila Nova de Gaia in Oporto
• Visit the old fishing town of Viana do Castelo
• See the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
• See the stately Plaza Alfonso II and see the 9th century churches in Oviedo
• See the Gothic Cathedral, Royal Pantheon and basilica of San Isidoro in Leon
• Explore Segovia's Plaza Mayor in the Old Town, dominated by the impressive Cathedral
• See Madrid's Cervantes Monument in the Plaza Espana, Cibeles Fountain & Puerta del Sol
• Scenic drive along the Costa Verde

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Lisbon, Santiago de Compostela,  Leon & Madrid

Orientation tours in Oporto and Segovia

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 11

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant in Madrid

10 buffet breakfasts and 5 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This tour moves at a comfortable, leisurely pace with two nights in Lisbon, Santiago,  Oviedo and Madrid and overnight stays in Oporto and Leon. The travelling days are of a comfortable length with frequent stops, and plenty of photo opportunities.

 DAY 1 FRI - LISBON AT LEISURE

On arrival at Lisbon airport there are complimentary transfers to the tour hotel at 09.30 & 13.30hrs. Then time to relax or explore. Later, we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director. Hotel: Marriott. (BB)

DAY 2 SAT - LISBON SIGHTSEEING

Our local guide takes us first along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and  across the tree-shaded squares. We pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro  do Paco, finest square in the city, named after the palace which was destroyed in the terrible earthquake of 1755. Now our tour continues into the Belem Quarter to  visit the 16th century Jeronimos Monastery with its superbly ornate cloister and vaulted church of Santa Maria, and to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and ancient Belem Tower - a fortress set originally in the middle of the river,  but now left high and dry on the riverbank. This afternoon we are at leisure - perhaps take the funicular up into the steep alleyways of the old town, or explore the terraces  of the Alfama district? Or maybe join a tour to exotic Sintra and its royal summer residence? (BB)

DAY 3 SUN - LISBON - OPORTO

Today we head north to the fortified city of Obidos, where we walk inside the  walls to explore the craft shops, art galleries and flower decked houses that line the narrow, medieval streets. Now we continue to Batalha to visit the Royal Chapel in the ornate Gothic monastery. We then make our way to miraculous Fatima, where we join the pilgrims flocking into the great Basilica. It is here that a vision of Mary is reputed to have taken place before three local children. We stay tonight  in Portugal's second largest city and capital of the north, Oporto. Hotel: Sheraton Porto. (BB,D)

DAY 4 MON - OPORTO - SANTIAGO

This morning with our Tour Director we see the Vila Nova de Gaia wine stores which house the famous port wines. We also admire the multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles before heading north to visit the old fishing town of Viana do Castelo. We wander the pedestrian streets of the old quarter and admire the 16 Century buildings, then cross the Spanish border to stay two nights  in Santiago de Compostela. Hotel: Hesperia Peregrino. (BB,D)

DAY 5 TUE - SANTIAGO SIGHTSEEING

According to legend, the tomb containing the remains of the Apostle St James was discovered here in 813, making Santiago De Compostela the third most important  city for religious pilgrimage after Jerusalem and Rome. Remaining as one of Spain's most remarkable cities, our local guide will acquaint us with its buildings and heritage. We see the impressive Cathedral, built upon the site of the original basilica  erected over the Apostles tomb, with free time to explore in the afternoon. (BB)

DAY 6 WED - SANTIAGO - OVIEDO

Today we enjoy a scenic drive along the Costa Verde. The 'Green Coast' of Asturias,  one of Spain's most beautiful, is named after the colour of the sea, and the pine  and eucalyptus trees that line the shore. Our route reveals glorious coastal vistas before we turn inland to the modern town of Oviedo. Hotel: Tryp Oviedo. (BB,D)

DAY 7 THU - PICOS DE EUROPA EXCURSION

This morning in Oviedo we see the stately square, Plaza Alfonso II and the 9th century churches built when the city was capital of Christian Spain. Now we head  to the foothills of the Picos de Europa, Spain's second largest National Park which encompasses 647 square kms of spectacular mountain and gorge scenery. Here we visit  the holy cave of Covadonga, a shrine to Pelayo, who achieved the first Christian victory over the Moors in 722, before returning to our hotel in Oviedo.(BB)

DAY 8 FRI - OVIEDO - LEON

Our route takes us through the mountain chain that separates the northern Meseta from the Atlantic coast. Our destination is Leon - an important stop on the  'Way of St James'. With our local guide we see the many monuments from its prestigious  past including the Gothic Cathedral, Royal Pantheon and basilica of San Isidoro.  Now free time to explore the Barrio Humedo or 'wet quarter', on account of its many small bars and restaurants! Hotel: Silken Luis de Leon. (BB,D)

DAY 9 SAT - LEON - MADRID

We cross the infinite horizons of the northern Meseta this morning. We stop around lunch time at Segovia, perched on its triangular rock. We see the Roman aqueduct,  one of the finest in existence, however, it was during the 15th century that Segovia  reached its golden age. There is time to explore the old town, before continuing to the spanish capital of Madrid. Hotel: NH Eurobuilding. (BB)

DAY 10 SUN - MADRID SIGHTSEEING

Our guided sightseeing tour takes us to the Gran Via and Paseo de la Castellana. We see the Cervantes Monument on the Plaza Espana, the Puerta del Sol and Cibeles Fountain. Then we visit the Prado Museum to admire the paintings of Vel ázquez. Later, perhaps join an optional tour to Toledo? Tonight, we enjoy a highlight dinner  with wine at a local restaurant. (BB,HD)

DAY 11 - MON - MADRID

Our memorable tour ends this morning after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (BB)