Portugal and Spain
Guided - 15 Nights/16 Days
A journey from where the famous Portuguese discoverers set sail for the New World off the coast of Lisbon, to Moorish Andalucia in Southern Spain.
This trip exlores a plethora of architecture, history and delightful walking. Join the Lisbon Coasts & Village with our Seville to Granada for a 16 day exploration.
Itinerary and Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive Lisbon – Private transfer to Sintra. Delightful Sintra is a dense concentration of palaces amid a magical world of peaks, gorges and woods where you spend the next four nights.
- Day 2 A circuit walk takes you up to Cruz Alta passing Pena Palace and gardens and the Castelo dos Mouros (8th C Moors Castle) on the way (10km/7.5miles).
- Day 3 Transfer to Colares high in the Serra Mountains where you walk from the conical towers of the Sintra National Palace. The palace has seen a succession of histories, cultures and royal houses come and go since its first incarnation in Moorish times. Walk up to the old monastery of Peninha then onto the palace of Monserrate with time to visit the gardens. Transfer back to Sintra (16km/10miles).
- Day 4 Transfer to Almoçame for a walk that takes you through the countryside to the coast and Cabo da Roca - the most westerly point in Europe. Cliffs spill down into secluded bays and coves of wide golden sand beaches. Return by local bus (12.8km/8miles).
- Day 5 Transfer to Lisbon. Today is free to discover Lisbon. Trundle the old town on an historic tram, ride the old wrought iron Elevador de Santa Justa for a coffee and superb views across the Baixa rooftops.
- Day 6 Lisbon. Morning city tour visiting the main attractions including Avenida da Liberdade, Rossio, the picturesque old Alfama Quarter, Black Horse Square, Belem Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries and Jeronimos Monastery. Afternoon free.
- Day 7 Travel south to Lagos in the Algarve by coach to arrive about 2pm. Wander the cobbled streets of this historical town from where most of the African expeditions put to sea during the time of the Great Discoveries.
- Day 8 Guided walk in the Cape St Vincent Natural Park – an area of unspoilt beaches backdropped by dramatic cliffs where endemic plant life is found, wildlife and 200 species of birds.
- Day 9 (Sun) Arrive in Seville.
- Day 10 Walking tour of Seville - visit Alcazar Palace and climb up Giralda Mosque Tower (3 hours).
- Day 11 Drive to Grazalema. Guided walk around Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema National Park (3 hours).
- Day 12 Day trip and walking tour in Ronda and surroundings (3 hours).
- Day 13 Free day in Grazalema. Optional walks in national park.
- Day 14 Drive to Granada. Walking tour around Moorish Quarter (2 hours).
- Day 15 Visit Alhambra Palace. Optional afternoon walk in surrounding countryside.
- Day 16 Tour ends in Granada after breakfast (Sun).
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- Day 20
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