Spanish Adventure: Explorers and Conquistadors (Family Tour) (8 Days starting from $3,390)

Spanish Adventure: Explorers and Conquistadors (Family Tour)

An 8-Day tour starting from $3,390

Length:	8 Days
Type:	Deluxe Tour
Category:	Family Spain Tour
Operator:	Tauck
Tour Code:	TKYS2009

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About This Tour

Family FYI: Did you know that Spanish food is not spicy - chile peppers in Latin American countries make food tangy, but Spanish food is seldom hot? You and your family will sample tapas and other Spanish food on one of the best Spain tours from Tauck!

What's Included
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Sightseeing
Details

Featured Dining: 7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners

Unique and Distinguished Hotels in the Best Locations:

Night 1,2 The Westin Palace, Madrid: Madrid, Spain

Night 3,4,5 Hotel Alfonso XIII: Seville, Spain

Night 6 Alhambra Palace Hotel: Granada, Spain

Night 7 Hotel Fuerte Miramar, Marbela

Note: Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples may be accommodated in a two-bedded room with rollaway cot or two adjoining rooms, when available.

Insightful Tour Directors

During your travels, you have the pleasurable advantage of being with a Tauck

Tour Director who is fully knowledgeable about the destination, its history and its culture. You can relax knowing that you are accompanied by a professional who manages the flow of events... a problem-solver (in the unlikely event a problem should arise)... an insider who saves you precious time... and a friend who will help transform your trip into a truly memorable journey.

Every Travel Expense is Included

When you travel with Tauck, you’ll save up to 40% on the cost of traveling the same itinerary on your own. What’s more, virtually every major travel expense is included: Along with most meals, your hotel accommodations, cruises, sightseeing, admissions to museums, galleries and theaters – even taxes and port charges – are built into the price of your trip. Guests are often delightfully surprised at how much is included. You can practically leave your wallet at home! A Tauck vacation offers you both superb quality and extraordinary value.

Day 1 – Arrive Madrid, capital of Spain
Tour begins: The Westin Palace, Madrid at 6:00 PM. You’ll be met upon arrival at Madrid’s Barajas Airport for an included transfer to your palatial hotel, The Westin Palace, Madrid, set right in the center of this historic capital city. Settle in for an overnight stay and join us for a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

Day 2 – Take a walk through history in Toledo
Not far from Madrid sits the magical hilltop town of Toledo, once the ancient capital of Spain, a favorite riverfront setting for the painter El Greco and today a national landmark. It’s not just its history that will inspire visions of 16th-century life. It’s also a great place to explore, with narrow streets that twist and turn past great eye-popping, jaw-dropping Gothic buildings and bakeries that tempt your sweet tooth with brightly decorated marzipan confections that look too good to eat – well almost! Spend the morning walking through the pages of history, before hopping aboard a fast train in Madrid for a ride to Seville. Meals BLD

Day 3 – Dance the Flamenco and Dine on Tapas
Some say that Seville is the romantic heart of Andalucía, where images of castanet-clicking gypsies, flower-filled balconies, flamenco dancers, prancing horses, and colorful fiestas come alive. That’s a pretty accurate description of the cultural traditions you’ll experience during your stay, giving you a real taste of what it is like to live in Andalucía. We’ll give you an overview of Seville’s enchanting city neighborhoods on a sightseeing excursion that takes you past tiny squares, whitewashed houses decked with cascading flowers, Moorish towers and Gothic cathedrals. Then it’s all aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a ride down cobblestone streets to the Cathedral – the largest in Spain – listed in the Guinness Book of Records for being so big! Be sure to look up to see the Giralda, the 308-foot-high minaret built by the Moors way back in 1184. But there’s another claim to fame that you might want to know about this Gothic church – in addition to being the burial sight of Spanish kings Alfonso X and Ferdinand III, it is also the alleged tomb of the great explorer Christopher Columbus, who discovered the New World for Spain in 1492. The word flamenco actually denotes a way of life in southern Spain, but you’ll discover its more familiar meaning when you take a flamenco dance class with a local expert. Dinner tonight introduces another favorite Spanish pastime as you take a tapas tour, sampling a variety of tasty Andalucían specialties as you go from one tapas restaurant to the next along the ancient streets of Old Seville. Meals BD

Day 4 – Meet those amazing Andalucían Horses
You don’t have to be a horse lover to get excited about today’s visit to one of the most famous equestrian schools in all of Spain, but we’re pretty sure you’ll be impressed by all that you see. Located in Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its locally produced sherry, this school trains some of the most beautiful horses in the world to dance, mesmerizing audiences with spinning pirouettes, high-kicking caprioles and more. You’ll be able to meet these dancing horses up-close in the stables, watch them perform their amazing choreographed steps during a show and view memorabilia of their renowned exploits in the museum. Enjoy free time to explore Seville on your own this afternoon and evening; there are parks to explore, colorful squares to discover, monuments to admire and great outdoor cafés which satisfy everyone’s appetite for fun. Meals BL

Day 5 – Go inside La Mezquita
Centuries of Moorish rule left a permanent imprint on towns like Córdoba and Granada, two of the very places you’ll visit today. Your first stop is Córdoba, once the grandest and most important city in all of Europe, and renowned as a center of advanced learning in art, architecture and science in the 10th century. The Moors chose this city as their capital in 711 AD, building their dazzling monument, La Mezquita, to stand as testimony to their powerful achievements. After the city fell to the Spanish King Ferdinand, this world-renowned mosque was reborn as a Roman Catholic Church. Discover the town’s ancient sights on a guided walking tour, followed by free time to explore on your own. Granada is your final destination this afternoon. The last city to fall from Moorish power, Granada is wonderland of cultural and scenic treasures, and sits majestically under the shadow of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains. Meals BD

Day 6 – Explore a real-life Moorish Palace
Moorish rulers lived in Granada for more than seven centuries before surrendering it to Spanish monarchs in 1492. But before they relinquished their beloved Arab kingdom, they built one of the most magnificent palaces on the Continent, the Alhambra. Take a guided tour with a local expert this morning, going inside the Royal Palace, always a highlight of any visit, and strolling through the fountain-filled gardens of the Generalife. Your royal journey continues during lunch at a historic hilltop castle in nearby Jaen, home to olive trees by the thousand, restored Arab baths and ornate churches. Have you ever heard of the legendary, albeit somewhat delusional, conquistador Don Quixote? You’ll hear the story of his adventurous exploits as we drive to Consuegra en route to Madrid, showing you where Don Quixote jousted with windmills that he presumed were giant invaders! Spend the next two nights in Madrid, where more Spanish adventures await. Meals BL

Day 7 – See treasures in museums, palaces & stadiums
Once you see the different treasures of Spain’s capital city, you’ll probably agree that Madrid is also the capital of cool. Your day starts with a guided visit to the Museo del Prado, just a short walk from your hotel. With more than 7,000 paintings from all over the world, the museum offers art for every style and taste. Look for works by Spain’s most famous painters: El Greco, who loved to paint the sights of Toledo; Francisco de Goya, whose work includes the grotesque “black paintings”; and the incomparable Diego Velazquez, whose use of light in his paintings is amazing. A city sightseeing tour brings you to the Royal Palace for a look inside and to the Plaza Mayor, bustling with cafés and shops. Soccer fans will cherish a visit to the 75,000-seat Real Madrid stadium, hosting games of international proportions. Say adios to Spain at our farewell dinner tonight, highlighted by an electrifying “night lights” drive through Madrid. Meals BD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Madrid, Spain. A transfer from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid’s Barajas Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1⁄2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301. Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/6/2009 - 6/13/2009	$3,390
6/20/2009 - 6/27/2009	$3,390
6/27/2009 - 7/4/2009	$3,390
7/4/2009 - 7/11/2009	$3,390
7/18/2009 - 7/25/2009	$3,390
7/25/2009 - 8/1/2009	$3,390
8/8/2009 - 8/15/2009	$3,390
8/15/2009 - 8/22/2009	$3,390

All tour prices are per person, in US dollars. Land Tour Prices Single Occupancy Rate = $4,132 Triple Occupancy Rate = $3,390 Quadruple Occupancy Rate = $3,460 Children 11 & under Discount $200 All gratuities are included International airfare is additional Recommended tour age: 8+ Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quads may be accommadated in a two-bedded room with rollaway cot or two adjoining rooms, when available.

From Madrid to Seville to Granada, southern Spain tells tales of ancient conquistadors and swash-buckling adventurers around every bend. See what the painter El Greco saw in the narrow streets of Toledo, unchanged since the 16th century.

Ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage, take flamenco lessons, and dine on tapas as you experience centuries-old cultural traditions in Seville. Andalucían horses have played starring roles on Spanish battlefields and in modern-day movies; meet them up-close during a visit to an equestrian school. The Moors called Córdoba home in the 8th century, leaving candy-striped La Mezquita for you to explore in the 21st century.

There’s nothing quite like The Alhambra to inspire visions of regal Arab kingdoms; the “giant” windmills of Consuegra to conjure up Don Quixote; or the Museo del Prado to showcase Spain’s most famous works of art.

Experience them all with your family on this amazing journey back in time. Olé!

All tour prices are per person, in US dollars.

Land Tour Prices
Single Occupancy Rate = $4,132
Triple Occupancy Rate = $3,390
Quadruple Occupancy Rate = $3,460

Children 11 & under Discount $200

All gratuities are included

International airfare is additional

Recommended tour age: 8+

Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quads may be accommadated in a two-bedded room with rollaway cot or two adjoining rooms, when available.

Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.