France and Spain 11 Days

We’ll start the day by traveling to the enchanting south of France, heading towards the picturesque Loire Valley. Our first stop will be Blois, a charming city known for its stunning castle. Next, we’ll go to Tours, the regional capital situated on the banks of the Loire River, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll and a delightful lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the splendid Château de Villandry, renowned for its gardens and flowers. Tickets to the gardens included. Our journey will then take us to Amboise, a captivating city with a fascinating medieval quarter along the Loire River. Dinner will be included.

Embark on a day of discovery in the Loire Valley, starting with a morning stroll through Amboise, home to the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final three years. Delving deeper into the Loire region, we´ll explore the iconic Château de Chenonceau (tickets included), built like a bridge over the river. Next, we will visit Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley (visit to the park included). Continuing our journey into central France, our next stop will be Limoges, renowned for its porcelain. We suggest visiting its historic center, where the highlight is Saint Etienne Cathedral.

We’ll leave Limoges for the Dordogne, home to one of the great historic rivers in central France. Few regions contain so many charming villages and enchanting landscapes. We’ll arrive at Lascaux, where we’ll visit the museum and the replica of the caves (tickets included) and learn about the site’s prehistoric times with its magnificent cave paintings. After that, we’ll visit Sarlat, a UNESCO World Heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic center, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In Beynac, we’ll explore a medieval castle overlooking the river (admission included). We’ll end the day in Rocamadour, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary ¨perched¨ on a cliff; we suggest walking down the Via Crucis and taking the lift back up. Dinner will be included.

We´ll visit the impressive Padirac Chasm, where we´ll enjoy a boat ride on the river 75 meters underground. Afterwards, we´ll proceed to Collonges-la-Rouge, a picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St. James. Following lunch, we´ll journey to Saint-Emilion, located in the heart of the Bordeaux wine-producing region, with time for a leisurely stroll. We’ll arrive in Bordeaux in the evening.


Note: The Padirac Chasm may be closed from November until the end of March due to weather conditions.

The entire center of Bordeaux has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. Prepare to be captivated by the ¨Water Mirror¨ and explore the historic old town with its charming pedestrian streets and 11th-century cathedral. Later, you´ll have free time to stroll along the Garonne River banks, lined with quaint restaurants perfect for lunch, or if you wish, you can visit Cité du Vin, an impressive interactive museum that delves into the history and production of wine. Afterward, we continue towards the Pyrenees, arriving in Lourdes by mid-afternoon. You´ll have time to visit the sanctuary (we suggest attending the candlelit procession). Dinner will be included.

We´ll travel through the south of France, starting in Carcassonne, where we´ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch in this city famous for its medieval walls, impressive castle, and picturesque historic district (La Cité). Afterward, we´ll continue towards the Pyrenees mountain range, making a brief stop in Foix, a medieval town renowned for the Château de Foix. We’ll continue through the Pyrenees, with their snowy peaks visible year-round, and arrive in Andorra, a small country where the official language is Catalan. On our route, we´ll make a short stop at Sant Joan de Caselles, a small Romanesque church from the 12th century. We´ll continue to Andorra la Vella, Andorra’s capital, where you´ll have free time to explore the city with its bustling commercial life or visit Caldea, the largest thermal spa in Europe. Dinner will be included.

We’ll have free time in Andorra for shopping or a walk. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey to Catalonia. The mountain countryside will lead us to the impressive abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where we’ll take a rack train up the mountain (included) to enjoy its fantastic scenery. After exploring the sanctuary, we’ll continue to Barcelona, arriving in the late afternoon.

In the morning, we´ll embark on a panoramic tour of Barcelona, renowned as one of the most fascinating European capitals. This vibrant city, nestled along the Mediterranean Sea, is famous for Gaudi’s modernist architecture, the bustling Ramblas, and its rich history, highlighted by the Universal Exposition and the Olympics hosted here. You´ll have free time in the afternoon. In the evening, we´ll provide a transfer to Maremagnum, a contemporary entertainment and dining complex by the sea, located near Plaza de Colón. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the lively area and choose from a variety of dining options.

We’ll travel south along the Mediterranean, making a special stop in Peniscola, a charming walled town by the sea surrounded by picturesque landscapes, where we’ll have time for a stroll. We’ll then continue to Valencia, a vibrant port city on the Levantine coast, arriving around lunchtime. Will you try the famous paella? At approximately 04:30 p.m., we’ll continue our journey to Madrid, but not before making a brief stop at the avant-garde City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia. We’ll arrive in Madrid between 08:30 and 09:00 p.m. As a way of welcoming you to the city, we’ll include a transfer to the Plaza Mayor, a popular spot to enjoy pinchos or wine at one of its many restaurants.

Note: Depending on the number of passengers, the journey from Valencia to Madrid might be carried out by high-speed train.

The morning will begin with a comprehensive tour of central Madrid, featuring highlights like Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. We’ll then visit Retiro Park, a beautiful oasis in the city center, where we’ll see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. Admission is included to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid—considered by many to be the best football club in the world. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. In the evening, we’ll provide a return transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast, end of our services.