Paradors of Northern Spain

•   TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Cultural charms and spectacular scenery from Northern Spain to Portugal as you travel the Yellow Roads for several overnight stays in historic paradors, authentically restored castles, palaces and monasteries

Day 1: Arrive Barcelona
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. Welcome to Barcelona! A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to your first night’s hotel, Le Méridien Barcelona, ideally located on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Art and Architecture in Barcelona
Join a local guide for a walking tour of Barcelona to the city’s beautiful Cathedral in medieval Barrio Gótico. Take a drive to architect Antoni Gaudí’s extraordinary unfinished masterpiece, la Sagrada Família. Continue on to Montjuïc to see the Olympic Stadium, set high above the city with the harbor glistening below. The remainder of the day is free.
Overnight: Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Country Roads of Catalonia
Travel to the spectacular mountaintop monastery at Montserrat, Catalonia’s holiest place and one of the most scenic pilgrimage sites in Spain, en route to Cardona. Enjoy a taste of authentic Catalan cuisine during lunch in the medieval dining room of a 9th-century castle, the Parador de Cardona, and visit the Romanesque Church of San Vincente. Drive along the western edge of the Sierra del Cadi to tiny Castellciutat, near historic La Seu d’Urgell. Spend the next two nights surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Pyrenees at one of the region’s top-rated resort hotels. Dine à la carte this evening at the hotel, where the cuisine is inspired by the Mediterranean – most dinners at Northern Spain’s paradors will be full à la carte.
Overnight: El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: The Incomparable Pyrenees
Visit the 12th-century Cathedral in La Seu d’Urgell, one of the only preserved Romanesque cathedrals in the Catalan Pyrenees. This afternoon you’ll have a choice of activities, including a Catalan cuisine cooking demonstration and a pampering visit to the spa, “dedicated to the five senses.” Feast on a 7-course dinner this evening at a hilltop 9th-century castle on the grounds of your hotel.
Overnight: El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: The Heart of Basque Country
Travel to San Sebastián, in the heart of Basque country, for a two-night stay at a spectacular Belle Époque hotel. Stop for lunch in Pamplona, site of Spain’s annual running of the bulls, with free time to explore on your own. Your first view of Spain’s popular seaside resort is from the top of Mount Igueldo, a picture-perfect overview of the small city, shell-shaped bay and Cantabrian coastline.
Overnight: Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Enjoy Seaside San Sebastián
Join us for a walking tour of Old Town with a local guide before spending the day in San Sebastián, the aristocratic summer capital of Spain, as you wish. Stroll down the narrow medieval streets of La Parte Vieja (old town), sampling typical Basque food, and enjoy the city’s waterfront attractions.
Overnight: Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Art in Bilbao / Parador de Fuente Dé
Visit the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to view works of modern art and continue on to medieval Santillana del Mar. Drive into the impressive Picos de Europa, through gorges, remote villages and emerald valleys, en route to Fuente Dé. Overnight at a parador located in the foothills of the Picos surrounded by woodlands.
Overnight: Parador de Fuente Dé
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Castile / Parador de León
Cross the Cantabrian Cordilleras on the way to the high Meseta Plateau of Central Spain. The mountains are now behind, with the endless flats and wheat fields of Castile ahead. Arrive in León, where you’ll embark on a city tour with a local guide; visit one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Stay tonight at the ornate Parador de León.
Overnight: Parador de León, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on the Camino of Santiago to Santiago de Compostela. A local guide takes you on a walking tour through its narrow streets for a visit to the Cathedral, final destination of medieval pilgrims and the home of the relics of St. James. Spend the night at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela, which is one of Spain’s (and quite possibly the world’s) oldest hotels – it has been accommodating travelers since the 15th century, set on the same beautiful square as the Cathedral of St. James.
Overnight: Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Journey to Porto, Portugal
Spend the morning at your leisure, before driving across the border to Porto, Portugal, a medieval port city that is nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Overnight: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, Porto, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Sightsee Porto
Giving its name to port wine, Porto’s well-known export, it is not surprising that a tour of the city’s historic sights is entwined with its many wineries. A sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a walking tour along Santa Catarina Street, the colorful market of Bolhão, and a visit to the Gothic Church of São Francisco. Board a traditional Rabelo boat for a cruise on the Douro River; these boats have been used for over 200 years to transport barrels of port wine. You have the afternoon free to do as you please. Tonight, you’ll be able to sample the locally produced product when you visit a winery for a tour that’s followed by a wine tasting and dinner.
Overnight: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, Porto, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 12: Coimbra / Fatima / Lisbon
Portuguese history comes alive today as you journey to Coimbra, where a local guide accompanies you on a visit to Portugal’s oldest university, founded in 1210 by King Dinis; visit historic Saint Michael’s Chapel. See Fatima, world-famous for reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in the early 20th century, and arrive early evening in Lisbon.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: Sightseeing in Lisbon
Portugal’s capital intrigues with reminders of the “Great Period of Discoveries.” Visit Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the unique National Coach Museum; see the Tower of Belém, a defensive tower built to commemorate Vasco de Gama’s expedition, and the Discoveries Monument, where 15th-century ships set sail for new worlds. Your afternoon is free for your own explorations before tonight’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour Ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to Lisbon’s Int’l Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/10/2010 - 9/24/2010	$5,690
9/14/2010 - 9/28/2010	$5,690
9/17/2010 - 10/1/2010	$5,690
9/24/2010 - 10/8/2010	$4,990
10/1/2010 - 10/15/2010	$4,990
10/5/2010 - 10/19/2010	$CALL
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10/15/2010 - 10/29/2010	$5,690
10/22/2010 - 11/5/2010	$5,690
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.

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