Taste Of Spain

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tourhub | Expat Explore Travel | Taste Of Spain | EST | Map

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7 Days From

~~$1800~~

$1087

Taste Of Spain

7 Days Starting and ending in Madrid

Visiting: Spain, Madrid, Segovia, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Andorra, Barcelona, Peniscola, Valencia

Tour operator:

Expat Explore Travel

Tour code:

EST

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

10 - 51

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

10-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

From:

$1800

$1087 Operator discount: -$713

Tourhub Members Discount - Sign In

-40%

NB: Prices correct on 21-May-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Get a taste for all things Spain! Starting from the capital Madrid, travel to northern Spain and be charmed by Basque, Navarre and Catalonia. Also stop by Castilla La Mancha - the home of Don Quixote. Delve into real Spanish Paella in Valencia and taste Spanish wine in the heart of the Aragon region. If that's not enough, visit Pamplona, home of the bull run, and see Andorra, a stunning country wedged between Spain and France. Finally, explore the famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. It's like walking around a living, breathing travel magazine!
You can combine this itinerary with a tour of southern Spain and Portugal - click here for more information.

Highlights

Explore the historic old town of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Enjoy a two night stay in Barcelona with a full free day to explore
Visit Pamplona, Zaragoza, Valencia and San Sebastian
Visit the tiny principality of Andorra

Itinerary

tourhub | Expat Explore Travel | Taste Of Spain | EST | Route Map

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Day 1: Arrive In Madrid

Location: Spain, Madrid

Meals Included: Dinner

Welcome to the start of your Spanish adventure! Your tour leader will meet you at the hotel in Madrid this morning and give the group a brief overview of the upcoming itinerary. Then, head out on an orientation tour of Spain’s capital city! Visit top sights such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Mercado de San Miguel and more! In the afternoon enjoy the chance to join the Tapas Food Tour optional excursion for a taste of Spanish cuisine! This evening, enjoy an included dinner where you can get to know your fellow travellers and learn a bit more from your tour leader about what incredible experiences the next seven days will bring!

Orientation tour of Madrid: Explore Spain’s vibrant capital city with your tour leader. Wander the streets of Madrid and see top sights such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Mercado de San Miguel and more!

Traditional dinner in Madrid: Get a taste of Spanish cuisine and get to know your fellow travellers and tour leader over dinner at a local Madrid restaurant.

Day 2: Madrid - Segovia - San Sebastian

Location: Madrid, Segovia, San Sebastian

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, depart Madrid and travel to San Sebastian on Spain’s northern coast. Along the way, enjoy a comfort stop in Segovia, a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site city which offers the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in Europe, as well as an incredibly well-preserved Roman aqueduct that runs into the heart of the city. Later this afternoon, arrive in San Sebastian, a charming city with a beautiful beach and vibrant nightlife. Join your tour leader on an orientation tour of the city’s enchanting old town. A foodie’s paradise, San Sebastian is known for its Basque gastronomy, so this evening is best spent exploring the beachfront bars and indulging in pintxo, northern Spain's version of tapas!

Explore the historic old town of Segovia: Explore the historic old town of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights in the old town include the ancient Roman aqueduct, the Alcazar (royal palace) and Segovia Cathedral.

Enjoy a night in San Sebastian: Relax on the beach and then get to know the locals as you hit the bars for traditional pintxo!

Day 3: San Sebastian - Pamplona - Zaragoza

Location: San Sebastian, Pamplona, Zaragoza

Meals Included: Breakfast

The first stop today is Pamplona, the historic city made famous by “the running of the bulls” during the San Fermin festival. Packed with history, enjoy some free time to explore the beautiful medieval city centre and see the city walls and citadel. Then, head to Zaragoza and enjoy a wine tasting, before taking a walking tour of the city. Zaragoza has experienced a long and varied history, with Roman, Moorish, Jewish and Christian communities leaving their marks over the centuries, as seen in the Basílica del Pilar cathedral, Aljafería Islamic palace and the Roman theatre.

Visit Pamplona: Explore the history of Pamplona, including the Baroque facade of the town hall in Plaza Consistorial, the Gothic church of San Saturnino and Cámara de Comptos (the oldest building in the city, dating from the 13th century).

Wine tasting in Zaragoza: Travel from San Sebastian to Zaragoza and drive through popular wine growing regions of northern Spain. Enjoy a tasting of local Spanish wines while here. Typical Spanish grape varieties include Tempranillo, Garnacha, Albariño and Macabeo.

Enjoy a walking tour of Zaragoza: Experience the legacy of the many different cultures that have influenced the city’s history. The city centre is compact and easy to walk around; perfect for an evening stroll.

Day 4: Andorra - Barcelona

Location: Andorra, Barcelona

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

En route to Barcelona, make a comfort stop in Andorra. This tiny independent principality has a population of just 85,000 and is located between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains. Enjoy some free time to explore Andorra la Vella, the highest capital city in Europe and a popular ski resort. This afternoon, arrive in Sant Cugat, where the hotel for the next two nights is located. This town is just outside of the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, Barcelona! Enjoy an included group dinner at the hotel tonight.

Visit Andorra and Andorra la Vella: This tiny, independent principality has a population of just 85,000 and is located in the southern peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains, between Spain and France. Explore Europe’s highest capital city - Andorra la Vella - and enjoy free time in this beautiful city.

Day 5: Barcelona: Free Day

Location: Spain, Barcelona

Meals Included: Breakfast

Get acquainted with Barcelona’s vibrant energy during a driving tour this morning! Keep your eyes open for some spectacular examples of Antoni Gaudí’s eclectic art and architecture.The rest of the day is free. The best way to experience the city is on the Highlights of Barcelona optional excursion which includes a visit to the magnificent Sagrada Família plus visits to Palau Güell, La Boqueria market and the Gothic Quarter. Alternatively, see the panoramic views from Park Guell, walk along Las Ramblas, explore the ‘Old Town’, museums, art galleries and experience some of Europe’s best shopping. Join the optional excursion to see a traditional Flamenco show this evening - this is an experience not to be missed!

Enjoy a driving tour of Barcelona: The city is renowned for its art and architecture, such as the fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí. Our driving tour will introduce you to a few of Barcelona’s top attractions.

Day 6: Peniscola - Valencia

Location: Peniscola, Valencia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave Barcelona behind and travel south down the coast towards Valencia, stopping off along the way in Peniscola. With a historic old town, beautiful promenade and sandy beach overlooked by an imposing castle built by the Knights Templar, there are few more picturesque places in Europe to enjoy a lunch stop! After arriving in Valencia, enjoy a guided tour of this thriving port city, which retains plenty of historic charm despite the decades of development that have given it a distinct space-age feel. As this is the last night on tour, round off the day with a farewell paella dinner this evening.

Visit Peniscola: Enjoy a stop in Peniscola with free time for lunch. Picturesque Peniscola is a fortified seaport on a rocky headland with only a narrow strip of land connecting it to the mainland. The castle was built in the early 14th century and served as the home of the Avignon pope Benedict XIII from 1415 to 1423.

Guided tour of Valencia: Experience the bold architecture (both contemporary and art nouveau) - see the City of Arts and Sciences complex, Colón Market, Turia Gardens and the Cathedral.

Enjoy a traditional paella dinner in Valencia: Enjoy a fabulous dinner, featuring paella in the city where this classic dish is so revered.

Day 7: Valencia - End Of Tour In Madrid

Location: Valencia, Madrid

Meals Included: Breakfast

The journey continues through the historic La Mancha region, made famous by the legend of Don Quixote. Later, explore Castillo de Belmonte, with entrance to this medieval castle included in your tour package. The interiors are dominated by spectacular stucco works in the Gothic and Moorish styles and a beautiful Neo-Gothic courtyard. Later this afternoon, arrive back in Madrid for the end of the tour. Be sure to swap contact details with your newly made travel friends!

Tour the medieval Belmonte Castle: Visit Belmonte castle, with entrance included in your tour package. This beautifully restored medieval castle was built in the 15th century on the hill of San Cristobal.

What's Included

Accommodation

6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Transport

Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Meals

6 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
Experiences

Explore Madrid; capital of Spain
Enjoy a welcome dinner in Madrid
Explore the historic old town of Segovia
Enjoy a night in San Sebastian
Visit Pamplona
Sample local Spanish wines
Enjoy a walking tour of Zaragoza
Visit Andorra and Andorra la Vella; Europe’s highest capital city
See Barcelona’s spectacular architecture on a city driving tour
Enjoy a visit to Peniscola
Get to know Valencia on a guided tour
Feast on a traditional paella dinner in Valencia
Visit the medieval Belmonte Castle

What's Not Included

International flights
Travel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.

Travel insurance
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.

All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.

Mode of Transport

Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard

Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)

Accommodation

6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms

Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)

Traveller Comfort - COACH tours

We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.

Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.

Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.

We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.

For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.

With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.

For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.

Check out our Q&As

Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

All our tours are conducted in English.
Is the tour coach air conditioned?

Yes, Full air-conditioning
What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?

All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.

Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
Are flights included in this tour?

No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
What is the maximum group size?

It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
Are airport transfers included in this tour?

No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
What is the tipping policy?

Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide. Expat Explore crew members
Are vaccinations required for this tour?

We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.

In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test
Do you require a visa for this holiday?

Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?

Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
Are all entrance fees included in the price?

No, entrance fees are not included.
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
Children on tour?

Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 2005
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc

Reviews of this operator

Roger

Wonderful new addition

19-Oct-2022

Great new country and addition by Expat. One of the most interesting and beautiful countries I've ever been. Great food, scenery and lovely people.

Jamie the Kingslayer

Everything I had expected and more

01-Oct-2022

It was my first time traveling to Europe so I was nervous about everything including finding my way around, speaking the languages, and finding lodging. It turned out to be an incredible experience, I couldn't ask for a better your guide. Luke truly is the best in the business and we were so lucky o have him on the last tour of the season. I am definitely going to recommend Expat to my family and friends when they want to travel to Europe. I am going to go as far as finding out when Luke will be the guide and have family/friends specifically book the tour with him.

Randy

Outstanding!

25-Sep-2022

From orientation to farewell dinner Martina was always there to ensure that everyone was happy and enjoying the tour! It was fast paced, especially with the added excursions, but the tour covered the best of Italy and Martina was absolutely the best. She was entertaining and informative. Look forward to another tour with her!!

Emma

Perfect combination of sites, history, culture and food

19-Oct-2022

The highlights of Japan tour with Expat Explore was the ideal way to see the country. It had the perfect mix of big cities, small quaint villages, historical sites and food! The tour was well organised and a good pace to enjoy the various places and activities. We had the opportunity to be immersed in local culture and try the cuisine in a range of dining experiences. The hotels were clean and roomy to rest for days filled with adventures. Japan with Expat should be on your wish list!

CCY

Good experience

07-Oct-2022

Enjoyed the views of different places and learnt about the history of different places in UK/Ireland.

Kendra Olson United States

Classic Europe - 14 Days

03-Apr-2024

Such a great trip and saw so many places, if we did this trip on our own I think we would only get half of what we did done in this time period. It definitely was busy with not much down time but we didn’t pay to go be bored. Beautiful and memorable trip!

Travelling Solo

12 Day Italian Delights

18-Oct-2022

A great tour made even better by our tour leader Marty. She was so knowledgeable and helpful. Made us laugh, showed us amazing sites and always had great recommendations.

Tash

Really nice experience

26-Oct-2022

Loved the small country towns. Very beautiful MARTY AND ALEX THE DRIVER , made the tour experience perfect for me. She is a brilliant guide.

Disappointed

Totally exhausted

05-Oct-2022

I need a holiday to recover from this full-on, insufficient down time, tour. Late hotel arrivals, late city tours, late dinners and excessive walking due to public transport use and then early morning starts. And to top it off, no seat rotation (tour leader advised on day 2 for covid reasons) which made sense on day 2 but not by day 3 or 4 when we had been grouped together at meals, on walking tours, and sharing rooms with people we had just met...merrily spreading our germs between our group anyway! This seating rule however was waived for a special few...those who insisted that they get travel sickness (and must sit in the front seat) and..those who think the rule is not for them and aren't challenged by the tour leader anyway. No seat rotation also meant not getting the opportunity to get to know everyone on the tour on an equal basis.

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