Best of France & Spain
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 - Arrive Paris On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport you're met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, time to relax or explore this beautiful city. This evening, we enjoy a Welcome dinner and drink in a lively bistro near the Champs Elysées with our Tour Director and meet our fellow travelling companions. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Paris "Loire Valley "Bordeaux This morning's drive takes us past Orléans, the site of Joan of Arc's first great victory. Then on to the Loire valley for a scenic drive viewing the château of Blois and of Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. Then via Poitiers and the strange buildings of Futuroscope and through Medoc vineyards to Bordeaux for the night. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4 - Bordeaux" Biarritz — Burgos Our morning drive takes us through the Landes Natural Park before a stop in the exclusive resort of Biarritz. From here our journey takes us through the foothills of the Pyrenees and we cross into the Basque country of Northern Spain. We continue on via San Sebastian, and follow in the footsteps of El Cid as we make our way to Burgos. Here we visit the famous gothic Cathedral, before an included dinner at our hotel this evening. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Burgos — Segovia — El Escorial — Madrid (2 nights) Today we head across the high plains to Segovia to see the Roman aqueduct. Next we continue to El Escorial, burial place of Spanish Kings and Queens. Then we enjoy views of the vast Monastery-Palace of Philip II before we make our way to Madrid, where we spend the next two nights. On our arrival we enjoy a sightseeing tour which highlights the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain and Plaza España. And includes a walking tour of the Plaza Mayor and the old town using our effective audio system. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Castilian Excursion This morning after breakfast it's a short drive to Toledo, capital of Castile. Here our local guide takes us on a walking tour using our audio system which shows us the Cathedral and one of Europe's oldest synagogues. We will also see the El Greco masterpiece in the chapel of Santo Tomé and the art of Damascene in a local steel workshop. Later, we return to Madrid with a free afternoon. Tonight, why not dine out in a typical 'meson'" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 7 - Madrid — Cordoba — Seville (2 nights) Today our journey takes us via the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Then we continue our drive across La Mancha to Cordoba, the city of the Caliphs. On our arrival we will visit the 'Mezquita' with a local guide using our audio system before our journey brings us to the Moorish city of Seville, where we spend the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Seville sightseeing & at leisure Our morning sightseeing using our audio system reveals the tower of the Giralda, plus a visit to Columbus' tomb, the gardens and pavilions of Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Our local guide also takes us on a walking tour highlighting the Jewish quarter and the Casa de Pliatos. Tonight after dinner, why not enjoy a fiery Flamenco show" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Seville — Granada After breakfast we travel southeast today in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to majestic hilltop Granada. On our sightseeing tour with audio system we will explore the exquisite pink-gold Alhambra Palace. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore further. Tonight, we enjoy a dinner of Andalusian specialities in a local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 10 - Granada — Guadix — Alicante Today we drive via the jagged Mora Pass towards Guadix. View troglodyte cave dwellings hewn out of the soft rock of this characteristically Spanish countryside. Then along the coast to the seaside resort of Alicante for the night. This evening, join in the holiday atmosphere with a stroll along the sea front. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - Alicante — Barcelona (2 nights) A short drive via Valencia, where this year the Americas Cup will be held. Then,we drive past the mysterious mountain of Montserrat on our approach to Barcelona. Tonight, we enjoy dinner in a typical restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 12 - Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure The Ramblas, Plaza de Espana and Art Nouveau fantasies of Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia' are revealed on our morning sightseeing using our audio system. We will also enjoy a walking tour of the gothic quarter including the Cathedral. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - Barcelona — Nice (2 nights) After breakfast this morning we will cross the French border at La Jonquera past Perpignan and into the wine-producing plains of Languedoc. From here we follow the Amethyst Coast to the Camargue, before we continue through Impressionist Provence on our way to jet-set Nice for our two-night stay. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 14 - Nice — Monte Carlo Excursion A full day at leisure to enjoy the atmosphere of this top class resort. You may wish to take an optional excursion into the Provençal countryside to visit St. Paul de Vence. Later, we enjoy an included excursion to glittering Monte Carlo, where we have the chance of breaking the bank at one of the famous casinos! Afterwards, we enjoy dinner in a specially selected local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 15 - Nice — Cannes — Avignon — Lyon Our first stop is at Cannes where we drive along the Boulevard de la Croisette with its Palace-hotels and the Film Festival Centre. Next through Provençal countryside, which inspired Van Gogh and Cézanne we arrive in Avignon. Here we admire the gothic Papal Palace and St. Benezet Bridge before heading to Lyon. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 16 - Lyon — Beaune — Paris (2 nights) After breakfast we enjoy a morning drive along the Rhône Valley to the medieval town of Beaune where we stop to view the Hôtel Dieu. Then on through the Burgundy vineyards on the Autoroute du Soleil, arriving back in Paris, 'City of Light' for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 17 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today's guided sightseeing includes views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. Then we take the elevator to the second level of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views over the city. We also drive to Bohemian Montmartre where we take the funicular for a walking tour using our excellent audio system to visit the Place du Tertre with its pavement artists — all in the shadow of the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. Tonight, why not take in one of the famous cabaret shows" (BB)
Day 18 - Depart USA Time to bid "au revoir" as we transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
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