Journey Through Spain

(18 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera, Marbella, Ronda, Granada, Barcelona, Costa Brava

This comprehensive luxury tour is perfect for those wanting an in-depth exploration of Spain.

Begin in Madrid, the Spanish capital known for its elegant squares, stately Habsburg architecture, leafy boulevards and superb museums. With your expert private guide, explore the city according to your interests. Perhaps tour the majestic Royal Palace and the world-renowned Prado Museum to see paintings and sculpture from the royal collections, or the equally impressive Reina Sofia or Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. Stroll through the narrow backstreets of elegant shopping and residential districts. One evening, enjoy a private “tapas tasting” tour of some of the city’s most beloved tapas bars.

One day, enjoy a private excursion to Toledo. Known as the city of three cultures, Toledo once flourished as a unique center where Jews, Muslims and Christians lived in harmony. Accordingly, this mix of cultures is reflected in the city’s architecture and layout. Toledo was also home to the painter known as El Greco, and many of his paintings still remain here—including his masterpiece, The Burial of Count Orgaz. See this and other works by El Greco during private touring. Also explore the city’s splendid medieval center, including the elaborate cathedral and the old Jewish quarter.

Next, tour Cordoba. A capital under the Romans and the Moors, Cordoba has a fascinating history, which you will learn about as you explore the UNESCO-listed ancient city center and the town’s whitewashed backstreets.

Continue to Seville, the capital of Andalusia and a city flavored as much by the sounds of flamenco and the smell of orange blossoms as by its 500-year domination by the Moors. Take an insider’s tour of this beautiful city, visiting the charming neighborhoods of Santa Cruz, the gardens and mosaic tile-covered rooms of the Reales Alcazares—a spectacular Moorish palace, specialty boutiques and markets, and other cultural highlights. On a day trip, visit Jerez de la Frontera, the sherry capital of the world, where a wine expert will lead you on a tasting tour through local vineyards and sherry bodegas (wineries). Also stop in nearby Sanlucar de Barrameda, a beautiful seaside town, to sample some of its renowned manzanilla.

Next, tour Ronda, the most dramatic of Andalusia's famed whitewashed villages. Visit a modern olive oil mill in the Andalusian mountains and taste a selection of oils from what is considered to be the best producer in the area. Continue to Marbella, the jewel of the sun-drenched Costa del Sol. Stay at the luxurious Marbella Club Hotel, once the private residence of a prince and now one of Europe's premier beach resorts. During leisure time, wander through the lush, sub-tropical grounds to the beach, or enjoy your resort's wide range of facilities, including a beach club, swimming pool, thalasso spa, private golf course, riding stables and gourmet restaurant headed by a Michelin-starred chef.

Continue to Granada, one of the richest and most populated cities in Europe during Moorish rule and still one of Spain's most breathtaking cities. During private touring, explore the extraordinary Alhambra—one of the highlights of Spain—a stunning Moorish castle, palace and garden complex on a hillside overlooking the town. Visit the Generalife, the country retreat of Moorish royalty just behind the Alhambra. With a local resident, wander the labyrinthine streets of the Albaicin—the old Arab Quarter—and discover a world full of winding, hilly streets and alleys; Moorish ramparts, fountains and cármenes (traditional villas); and restaurants, shops and teterías (Arabic tearooms).

Next, visit Barcelona, one of Europe's most dynamic centers of modern art and contemporary culture. With your private guide, tour the city’s famous boulevards, the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the central food market, and neighborhoods that are centers of Barcelona's design movement. Discover Gaudi's fantastical buildings, such as Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo and the hillside Parc Guell. Also visit several of the city’s many excellent museums and architectural landmarks. During leisure time, enjoy Catalan cuisine, which is at the cutting edge of Spanish cooking.