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Maritime Travel’s Exclusive Spain’s Classics & Portugal

Embark on an Iberian adventure as you take in medieval architecture, idyllic landscapes and delectable cuisine. Explore Lisbon, Europe’s second oldest capital city. View Antoni Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces, including La Sagrada Familia. Become part of an authentic “paella experience.” Enjoy the fascinating art form that is Flamenco. Visit the exotic and expansive Alhambra Palace. Marvel at the timeless masterpieces at the Prado Museum. Visit the Jeronimos Monastery in Belém. Visit the medieval walled town of Obidos. Explore Spain and Portugal’s culture and history set against a backdrop of sunny Mediterranean shores and grand mountain ranges.

To book or for more information contact:

Maritime Travel – Leduc
Leduc Town Centre 3-6108 50th Street, Leduc, AB
Phone: (780) 986-2606
Email: leduc@maritimetravel.ca

OR

October 26 – November 9, 2024

$7,199 CAD per person
Per person, Twin Share

Travel: 15 Days
Accommodations: 14 Nights
Meals: 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Barcelona
  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Valencia
  • Paella Experience
  • Granada
  • The Alhambra
  • Seville: Choice on Tour: Seville Walking Tour or Guadalquivir River Boat Ride
  • Flamenco Show
  • Cordoba
  • Madrid
  • The Prado Museum
  • Toledo
  • Elvas
  • Lisbon
  • Belém
  • Obidos

Itinerary

You are on your way to a colourful cultural adventure featuring the best of Spain and Portugal.

Welcome to Spain. Begin your journey in the vibrant city of Barcelona. Tonight, meet your fellow travellers and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Start your morning with a walk from your hotel to some of Barcelona’s main sights, getting to experience this amazing city as it was meant to be explored – on foot. After some free time for lunch on your own, embark on a panoramic tour of Barcelona, showcasing the Columbus Monument, Parc de Montjuic, and Antoni Gaudi’s Batllo House and Casa Mila building (UNESCO). A local expert will accompany you on a visit to the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia* (UNESCO), considered to be the most famous of Gaudi’s work. Work on the basilica began in 1882, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of the architect’s death. (B)

Today, say goodbye to Barcelona! On your way to Valencia, stop in beautiful Peniscola where you will enjoy free time to explore on your own. Known as the “City in the Sea,” this fortified town and its Knights Templar Castle dating back to the 13th century are a little hidden gem. End your day in Valencia, a treasure trove of Roman and Arabic architecture, surrounded by citrus groves. Perhaps you will join an optional tour that explores the myths and legends of Valencia. (B)

On a panoramic tour of Valencia, see the City of Arts and Sciences – an ultramodern educational institution. Explore the city’s old town on foot, discovering the history with a local expert. View the ornate Serranos Towers before wandering through the bustling central market, where you’ll shop side-by-side with the locals. Enjoy time on your own to explore as you wish. Travel to Albufera, the area where paella first originated. Enjoy a short boat ride on the canals surrounding the rice field plantations. Visit a traditional fisherman’s home, known as a barraca, and enjoy a paella-making demonstration and a delicious paella lunch. (B, L)

Today you’ll make your way to Granada, the last great capital of the Moors in Spain before it fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner at a nearby restaurant.(B, D)

This morning, join a local expert for a tour of the world-famous Alhambra** (UNESCO,) a stone fortress overlooking the entire city and serving as a mesmerizing example of Islamic architecture. End your day in Seville, considered Spain’s “cultural capital.”(B,D)

Decide how you see Seville because it’s your choice! Walk the Santa Cruz Quarter with an expert guide, admiring the orange trees and white-washed houses before continuing to the Plaza de España -OR- see the city from a different perspective with a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River, drifting by timeworn bridges and towers. Later, visit the Seville Cathedral*** (UNESCO) – the largest gothic church in the world – and see Columbus’ tomb and the Giralda Bell Tower. End the afternoon with a light tapas lunch, overlooking the cathedral. This evening, enjoy an authentic flamenco show (UNESCO) featuring Seville’s most famous traditions. (B, L)

Travel to the extraordinary Moorish city of Cordoba. Upon arrival, embark on a walking tour of La Mezquita (UNESCO), an 8th-century mosque that was converted into the city’s cathedral in the 16th century. Continue your exploration of Cordoba in the city’s well-preserved and historical Jewish Quarter. Then, board the AVE high-speed train to Spain’s capital city, Madrid! Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy some free time to rest or venture out and explore on your own. (B)

During a locally guided panoramic tour of Madrid’s historic centre, see iconic sites such as the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where events have been held since the 17th century. Join a local expert to explore the priceless masterpieces of the Prado Museum, which opened in 1819 and boasts some of the world’s finest collections of art by masters such as Velazquez and Goya. Your afternoon will be free to explore this fascinating city further. (B,D)

Travel to Toledo (UNESCO), the capital of medieval Spain until 1560. Embark on a comprehensive tour, highlighting the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Then, visit the Church of Santo Tome and view El Greco’s masterpiece painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz. Bid Spain adios and cross the border into Portugal, arriving in the off-the-beaten-path town of Elvas, a garrison town recognized as a World Heritage site. (B)

After enjoying a relaxing morning in Elvas, make your way to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Spend your day uncovering legends of the country’s past, including visits to Jeronimo’s Monastery (UNESCO), the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belém (UNESCO). Enjoy time in the evening to settle into your new home for the next 3 nights. (B)

The day is yours! Discover the capital city on your own. Consider tasting the city’s mouthwatering cuisine or taking the historic tram to the vibrant Alfama district. Perhaps you will go on an optional excursion to the Portuguese Riviera, visiting the picturesque towns of Cascais and Sintra. (B)

Today, visit one of Portugal’s most famed towns – Obidos! With its labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed houses, this medieval town beckons you to linger and enjoy its charm. You may choose to try one of the local delicacies – sour cherry liquor served in chocolate cups, or simply enjoy the narrow streets and picture perfect alleyways. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip to Spain and Portugal.(B,D)

Return home with memories of a beautiful land and a diverse cultural heritage. (B)

B = BREAKFAST L = LUNCH D = DINNER

Terms & Conditions:

The Terms & Conditions: Book Now rates valid until Apr 27, 2024, valid on air inclusive packages only. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: PASSPORTS AND VISAS Documentation is required by foreign governments for all trips outside Canada. You should visit Global Affairs Canada at https://travel.gc.ca/ for general information about passports and visa requirements. Some countries require a visa in addition to a valid passport for entry, so it is important that you check with the appropriate foreign consulate or embassy for specific entry requirements and details you need to know regarding how and when to obtain the visa. Please remember the possession of valid passports and necessary visas are the responsibility of each client/passenger. If you would like assistance in ensuring you have the proper visa(s) for your trip outside of Canada, we would be happy to refer you to a company that can assist you. We strongly recommend that you have a valid passport (with seven-month validity) for all travel outside Canada. Please be advised transit visas may be required if connecting through a country on route to your final destination. INSURANCE When travelling outside Canada, health insurance is required. Contact your booking agent for more details. TRAVEL CONDITIONS There may be different living standards and practices and different standards and conditions with respect to the provision of services and accommodations outside of Canada. Effective for travel in May 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa to enter Europe will be expected to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver, for a fee, when visiting a Schengen Area Country. To identify Schengen Area Countries and to complete the ETIAS application, please visit https://www.etiasvisa.com/ To complete your tour, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing our airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times. Hotel check-in on your day of arrival is 3:00 p.m. Rooms may not be available prior to that time. Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. ***The Seville Cathedral requires a dress code that does not allow for shorts, flip flops, bare shoulders or hats. The overall activity level of this tour is a level 3. This means you’re an on-the-go traveller. You don’t want to miss a thing, so walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) isn’t a big deal. A moderately paced two-and-a-half-hour walking tour, covering several miles, hills, and uneven surfaces, is no problem for you. Walking four miles over the course of a day is very doable, as is climbing into and out of various modes of transportation (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.). You can climb three flights of stairs easily and handle altitudes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. Expect some longer days with early mornings or late nights balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure. This level is not a fit for travellers who require mobility assistance devices. If you require any special assistance while on tour, please make us aware at time of reservation so the necessary request form can be sent to your attention. *On the rare occasion that the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is not available, you will instead visit another top Spanish attraction. **Alhambra tickets are not guaranteed and subject to availability per Spanish Governing Authority. On the occasion that tickets are not available, you will visit another top Spanish attraction and your group leader or travel agent will be notified. Complete passport information is required 120 days prior to departure to book tickets to the Alhambra. If passport information is incomplete or inaccurate within 120 days prior to your tour departure, there is a strong possibility that we will be unable to confirm entrance tickets. You will be subject to any additional charges incurred from failing to provide passport information within the designated time frame. Please be advised many airlines do not provide advance seat assignments until check-in at the airport. Advance seating will be subject to the airline’s terms and conditions. For air-inclusive reservations, the name provided at time of booking must match your government-issued ID that will be used during travel. Name changes are subject to penalties. Economy air rate and schedule are applicable for groups of 10 or more travelling on the same flights and dates. A deposit of $698 per person is due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. Reservations made after the deposit due date of April 20, 2024 are based upon availability. Final payment due by August 27, 2024. Deposits are refundable up until April 27, 2024. BC Reg. #23337; Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg. # 3206405

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