Best of France & Spain
18 Days
Featuring: Paris, Cognac, Anqouleme, Burgos, Madrid, Toledo,
Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona, Nice, Monte Carlo,
Lyon
Day 1 Depart
USA Overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 Arrive Paris On arrival in
Paris you're met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in
time to explore this beautiful city. This evening, we enjoy a
welcome drink with our Tour Director and meet our fellow travelling
companions.
Day 3 Paris - Cognac - Angoulême
Today's drive takes us past Orléans, the site of Joan of Arc's
first great victory. Then on to Cognac to visit a distillery,
before arriving in Angoulême for the night. (Buffet breakfast/
Dinner)
Day 4 Angoulême - Biarritz - Burgos
A morning drive through the vineyards of Bordeaux and skirt Les
Landes, before a stop in the exclusive resort of Biarritz. We
continue through the foothills of the Pyrenees and cross into
the Basque country of Northern Spain. On via San Sebastian, we
follow in the footsteps of El Cid en route to Burgos, to visit
the famous gothic Cathedral. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 5 Burgos - Segvia - El Escorial
- Madrid (2nights) Today we head across the high plains to
Segovia to see the Roman aqueduct. Next on 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.
On our arrival a sightseeing tour will highlight the Royal Palace,
Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain and Plaza España. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 6 Castilian Excursion
We drive to Toledo, capital of Castile. Here our local guide 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, back
to Madrid with a free afternoon. This evening, why not dine out
in a typical 'meson'? (Buffet breakfast)
Day 7 Madrid - Cordoba - Seville
(2nights) Today via the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, we drive
across La Mancha to Cordoba, the city of the Caliphs. Here we
visit the 'Mezquita' before our journey brings us to the Moorish
city of Seville, for the night. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 8 Seville sightseeing & at leisure
Our morning sightseeing reveals the tower of the Giralda, plus
a visit to the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the gardens and pavilions
of Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Later, time at leisure
to perhaps wander through the Jewish District of Santa Cruz or
to visit the Alcazar. Tonight after dinner, why not enjoy a fiery
Flamenco show? (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 9 Seville - Granada We
travel southeast today in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
to majestic hilltop Granada. On our sightseeing tour we explore
the exquisite pink-gold Alhambra Palace. Tonight, we enjoy a dinner
of Andalusian specialities in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast/
Restaurant dinner in Granada)
Day 10 Granada - Guadix - Valencia
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 via Benidorm to sunny
Valencia for the night. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 11 Valencia - Barcelona (2nights)
Morning orientation in Valencia shows us the Town Hall, the
Bull Ring and towers of Serrano and Cuarte. Later, we pass the
mysterious mountain of Montserrat on our approach to Barcelona.
Tonight, we will enjoy dinner in a typical restaurant. (Buffet
breakfast/ Restaurant dinner in Barcelona)
Day 12 Barcelona sightseeing & at
leisure The gothic magnificence of the Cathedral and art nouveau
fantasies of Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia' are revealed on our morning
sightseeing. Later, time at leisure perhaps to stroll the colourful
Ramblas. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 13 Barcelona - Nice (2nights) After
breakfast we cross the French border at La Jonquera past Perpignan
into the wine-producing plains of Languedoc. From here we follow
the Amethyst Coast to the Carmargue, before we continue through
Impressionist Provence on our way to jet-set Nice for two nights.
(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 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/ Restaurant
dinner on the French Riviera)
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 we heading to
Lyon. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 16 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. From here we continue through
the Burgundy vineyards on the Auto-route du Soleil, arriving back
in Paris, 'City of Light' for two nights. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 17 Today's guided sightseeing
includes views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysées to
the Arc de Triomphe and the 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 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 Paris cabaret shows?
(Buffet breakfast)
Day 18 Paris - USA "Au
Revoir" as we transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for our
flight to America. (Buffet breakfast)
2002