Spain: Andalucia, Madrid and Barcelona|S2

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Walking Tour of Marbella

On your arrival in Malaga, enjoy a private transfer to our resort hotel in Marbella, facing the spellbinding Costa del Sol and the Mediterranean Sea, and right in the atmospheric Marbella's medieval quarter. If your flight arrives in the morning, you'll get a chance to rest, enjoy the hotel's exotic gardens and pools, take a walk on the beach or on the boardwalk and get acquainted with the picturesque Marbella. In the afternoon, join the rest of the group for an introductory walking tour of Marbella, followed by a welcome dinner, featuring Andalucian cuisine and fine wines.

Meals: D

Accommodations: Hotel Fuerte, Marbella

Day 2: Ronda

We'll start our exploration of Spain and Andalucia with the iconic white villages and the atmospheric towns and villages that line the coast, as we take a short drive to Ronda, filled with history, surrounded by the untamed Serranía de Ronda Mountains, and overlooking the dramatic escarpments and the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the Rio Guadalevín through its center. We'll combine touring the town with lunch in a restaurant overlooking the gorge, then continue through the spectacular mountain landscape, past pueblos blancos, carved out of the mountainside and overlooking the Mediterranean. The evening will be free to further explore Marbella, the luxurious resort town with its medieval city center and a beautiful yacht marina.

Meals: B, L

Accommodations: Hotel Fuerte, Marbella

Day 3: Granada and the Alhambra

Today, we'll set out in the morning for the Sierra Nevada Mountains and glorious Granada. This ancient Moorish town is home to the Alhambra Palace, described as the Jewel of Moorish Spain, as well as the fascinating, exotically tangled Moorish Quarter. We'll spend the morning touring the town, then head to St. Nicholas overlook for a breathtaking view of the city and the Alhambra, and end in the Albayzin neighborhood for a traditional North African lunch. In the afternoon, we'll enjoy a privately guided visit to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens, before returning to Marbella in the evening.

Meals: B, L

Accommodations: Hotel Fuerte, Marbella

Day 4: Marbella to Madrid; Prado Museum

In the morning, we'll take the express AVE train to Madrid, where we'll check into our hotel right by the Spanish Royal Palace. After a short break to rest and to have lunch, we'll set out to tour Madrid's Prado Museum, one of the world's top art galleries, filled with masterpieces of art and antiquities, especially by Flemish, Italian and Spanish superstar painters. In the evening, we'll celebrate the region of La Mancha with a lavish dinner at a traditional Madrileno restaurant.

Meals: B, D

Accommodations: Hotel Emperador, Madrid

Day 5: Toledo

After breakfast, we'll set out for a delightful detour to Toledo, the capital of medieval Spain and one of Europe's artistic highlights. The city still looks much like it did when the artist El Greco painted here in the 16th century. We'll visit Toledo's most celebrated sites, reflecting the city's tangled Roman, Jewish, Visigothic, Moorish and Christian history, on a private guided tour. We'll return to Madrid in the evening, and enjoy a relaxing dinner at one of the city's atmospheric restaurants, followed by a fiery flamenco performance.

Meals: B, D

Accommodations: Hotel Emperador, Madrid

Day 6: Gourmet Culinary Tour; Touring Madrid

We'll spend the morning with our private Madrid guide, slowly exploring the culinary, historical and cultural wonders of Madrid, as we wind our way through the city's medieval lanes on a gourmet culinary tour. The tour will conclude at the Saint Michael's Market, where we will be spoiled with choices for a lavish lunch of freshly prepared dishes. Afterwards, we'll tour the sumptuous, beautifully furnished Palacio Real, and the rest of the afternoon will be free to enjoy the city's festive atmosphere, great shopping and its many historical surprises.

Meals: B

Accommodations: Hotel Emperador, Madrid

Day 7: Madrid to Barcelona; Sagrada Familia and Park Guell

In the morning, we'll take the express AVE train to Barcelona. After settling into our boutique hotel in the city center and some time to rest, we'll enjoy a private, historian-led, introductory walk of the city's architectural treasures, including Gaudi's newly completed cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, before continuing the tour with Casa Batllo and the otherworldly Park Guell, before a quiet dinner at the hotel's elegant restaurant.

Meals: B, D

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Emilia, Barcelona

Day 8: Barcelona: Touring the Gothic Quarter

Today, we'll spend the day enjoying Barcelona's sensual sights on a guided historical walk through Barcelona's impressive Gothic Quarter and a visit to its colossal cathedral. In the afternoon, we'll have free time to stroll through Las Ramblas, check out the antiques' market at La Boquería, visit the Picasso Museum or shop at the variety of creative artisan displays, before we meet for dinner of modern Catalan cuisine at an atmospheric, upscale restaurant.

Meals: B, D

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Emilia, Barcelona

Day 9: Catalan Cooking Class

We'll spend our last full day in Spain learning to appreciate the nuances of the Catalan cuisine, as we take a private cooking class focusing on the Mediterranean ingredients and Catalan preparation. In the evening, we'll celebrate our Spanish adventure and new friends at a contemporary Catalan restaurant, before we take an after-dinner walk to Park Montjuïc and admire its amazing magic fountains.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodations: Hotel Villa Emilia, Barcelona

Day 10: Departures

Depending on your flight departure time, you may have some free time in the morning before your private transfer to the airport.

Meals: B

This tour ends after breakfast on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in Barcelona. Enjoy a private airport transfer according to your flights departure time.

Cost:$3,880 per person/double occupancy

$1,200 single supplement

Additional nights: $340 single or double room including airport transfer