Paradors of Northern Spain 2019

14 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Step back in Time on a journey that spans centuries and borders, from Barcelona into the dramatic Pyrenees and along Spain's northern coast, to where the bulls run in Pamplona... with stays at historic paradors in San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela... and across the border to Portugal to sample port in Porto, college days in Coimbra and life in Lisbon.

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Overnight stays in historic paradors; special Tauck experiences include choice of spa treatment or cooking demonstration at El Castell de Ciutat; 7-course feast set within a medieval castle; visit to the monastery atop Montserrat; wine tasting and lunch at a Porto winery; cruise aboard a Rabelo boat

What's this trip about?

    Step back in Time on a journey that spans centuries and borders, from Barcelona into the dramatic Pyrenees and along Spain's northern coast, to where the bulls run in Pamplona... with stays at historic paradors in San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela... and across the border to Portugal to sample port in Porto, college days in Coimbra and life in Lisbon.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBarcelona, Spain
End CityLisbon, Portugal

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Spain
  • Portugal

Attractions

  • Barcelona
  • Porto
  • Santiago de Compostela

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS - Cultural charms and spectacular scenery entice during overnight stays in historic paradors, authentically restored and offering modern-day comforts Two nights in Barcelona with guided sightseeing Visits to the Benedictine enclave atop Monserrat and medieval Cardona Choice of activities during a two-night stay El Castell de Ciutat, including a spa treatment, golf, cooking demonstration and more A seven-course feast in a medieval castle featuring cultural entertainment and regional cuisine Two nights in San Sebastián with a guided visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao An overnight in Oviedo at a luxuriously restored 18th-century hospice Guided exploration of Santiago de Compostela during a two-night stay at one of the world's oldest hotels Port wine tasting at Taylor's in Porto, one of Portugal's most famous port houses Cruise on a rabelo boat, used for 200 years to transport port wine, along the Douro River Guided sightseeing in Coimbra with a visit to the University's Library and Chapel Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 30 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 9 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Barcelona
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona Franca Train Station to Le Méridien Barcelona, ideally located on Las Ramblas. Join us for a private welcome reception and dinner tonight at the hotel as you get your first taste of life in Northern Spain. MEALS : D LODGING : Le Méridien Barcelona PORTOFCALL : Barcelona, Spain

Day 2 Gothic sights & whimsy in Barcelona
Walk along the tree-lined pedestrian promenade of Las Ramblas this morning with a local guide who leads you through the cobblestone lanes of its 14th-century Gothic quarter, Barri Gòtic, a medieval warren of Roman relics, hidden courtyards, shops and alfresco cafés, to t...
Day 3 Catalan Countryside
Venture into the mountains today, stopping at the saw-toothed mountain of Montserrat, just northwest of Barcelona, to visit the Benedictine monastery and see the shrine of la Moreneta, the Black Madonna. According to the legend, the statue was discovered in the year 880 ...
Day 4 Pyrenees Pleasures, Your Way
A morning walking tour of La Seu d'Urgell visits the 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral, renowned as the finest in the Pyrenees. You have a choice of afternoon activities, including a Catalan cooking demonstration, a 9-hole round of golf, a spa treatment, or a guided visi...
Day 5 Basque Beauties: Pamplona to San Sebastián
Ernest Hemingway immortalized Pamplona in "The Sun Also Rises"; walk the route followed during the "running of the bulls." Then it's on to San Sebastían in Basque Country where your first view of this popular oceanfront town is from the top of Mt. Igueldo. Settle in at your elegant Belle-Époque hotel for a two-night stay. MEALS : B, D LODGING : Hotel Maria Cristina PORTOFCALL : San Sebastián, Spain

Day 6 A day in seaside San Sebastián
A walking tour with a local guide reveals San Sebastián's Parte Vieja (Old Town); the remainder of the day and evening are yours to spend as you wish. Sample typical Basque food and enjoy the many waterfront activities including world-class surfing. MEALS : B LODGING : Hotel Maria Cristina PORTOFCALL : San Sebastián, Spain

Day 7 Art in Bilbao & An Overnight in Oviedo
Visit the Guggenheim Museum, a treasure trove of modern art, in nearby Bilbao, then continue to medieval Santillana del Mar in the Cantabria region of Spain for lunch. Wind your way through hills and valleys to Oviedo this afternoon for an overnight stay at a restored 18...
Day 8 A Pilgrimage, Centuries Old
Explore Oviedo on a walking tour this morning, seeing a mix of historic and artistic monuments, including two acclaimed churches built in the Astorian pre-Romanesque architecture when the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages. Stop for lunch in a picturesque fishing villag...
Day 9 Sights of Santiago de Compostela
Embark on a walking tour through the narrow streets of Santiago de Compostela that visits the heart of the city, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. James, dating back to the 11th century. Legend has it that a bright star led a shepherd boy to the forgotten tomb of the apost...
Day 10 Partake of Port in Portugal
Change your clocks back one hour as we drive the coastal route from Spain to Porto, Portugal. An ancient port city nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Douro River with a rich port-wine trading history, Portugal's "second city" today beats as i...
Day 11 Pastimes in Porto
Explore Porto on a walking tour, a panoramic drive along Avenida da Boavista and the coast where the river meets the sea and aboard a traditional rabelo boat on the Douro River. Look for Portugal's iconic blue tiles (azulejos ) on the façades of many churches, buildings ...
Day 12 Charms of Coimbra
Journey to the riverfront city of Coimbra today, the medieval capital of Portugal for over one hundred years and home to the historic University of Coimbra. A walking tour of the hilltop University campus includes a guided visit to the Baroque King John University Chapel...
Day 13 Highlights of Lisbon
Straddling seven hills, Portugal's charming capital city blends past with present with reminders of the "Great Period of Discoveries" and lively vignettes of daily life. Guided sightseeing today includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mosterio dos Jerónimos, commissio...
Day 14 Journey home
Tour Ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to Lisbon's International Airport or Santa Apolonia Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for check-in. MEALS : B PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,790
Price per day$414
Last Updated: 0/8/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
tauck-SN2019

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