Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 28th of October – 12th of November | 2 pax
–
Description and schedule of services
–
28th of October. Arrival to Madrid airport and evening at leisure.
–
8:20pm: upon your arrival to Madrid airport, make your own way by taxi to your hotel in the city.
9:30am: arrival to your hotel and evening at leisure. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
Overnight in Madrid. Double room with views to the retiro park in hotel Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII
–
–
29th of October. Day at leisure in Madrid
–
All day: enjoy your whole day at leisure in Madrid.
Overnight in Madrid. Double room with views to the retiro park in hotel Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII
–
–
30th of October. Private introductory walking tour of Madrid old town including a visit to the Prado Museum
–
9:30am: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town aimed at setting the context for your stay in the city.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the city in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan city it is today.
A highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor, where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
Your introductory tour of Madrid will finish at its most iconic museum: The Prado. There your guide will take you on a private tour that will allow you to travel through Spanish history of art while you enjoy the remarkable works of Spanish master painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco amongst others. This will allow you to understand how different historical periods shaped the artistic creation at each time and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
1:30pm: after your introductory tour of Madrid, you may want to get back to your hotel by taxi or enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the city following our recommendations.
Overnight in Madrid. Double room with views to the retiro park in hotel Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII
–
–
31st of October. Day trip from Madrid to Toledo by train
–
Make your own way on foot or by taxi to Madrid Atocha Train station
9:25am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Toledo.
9:58am: upon arrival of your high-speed train to Toledo train station, make your own way on foot or by taxi to Toledo old town.
10:20am: upon arrival to Toledo old town, meet your personal local host at a previously agreed meeting point to start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Jewish history, from its origins and maximum splendor under the Hispanic-Muslim rule until the Christian conquest of the city. Along your tour you will visit the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which is an extraordinary example of the Jewish-Sephardic heritage of the city.
Your tour will also take you to see some remarkable evidences of the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city, such as the former Mosque of el Cristo de la Luz.
You will then visit the former church of San Román which is the most exquisite example of the interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures that took place in Toledo. This is especially present in the architecture and iconographic program of the church which features some impressive frescoes from the Middle ages.
Finally, to top up your tour you will visit the Cathedral of Toledo, which is one of the most important ones ever erected in Spain.
1:50pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure and to maybe explore the city a bit further before your return to Madrid. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
4:13pm: departure of your high-speed train from Toledo to Madrid.
4:46pm: arrival of your high-speed train to Madrid train station and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid. Double room with views to the retiro park in hotel Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII
–
–
1st of November. Train from Madrid to Seville
–
Make your own way on foot or by taxi to Madrid Atocha train station.
11:50am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Seville.
2:30pm: upon arrival of your train to Seville train station, make your own way on foot or by taxi to your hotel in Seville and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
Overnight in Seville. Junior Suite at hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza (4*)
–
–
2nd of November. Private introductory walking tour of Seville
–
9:30pm: meet your personal local host at your accommodation to go on a private introductory tour of Seville old town aimed at setting the context of your stay in the city.
Along this tour, you will learn about the Roman origins of the city and about the subsequent civilisations that settled down in Seville in the following centuries (Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and Christians). During your journey, you will explore 3 different quarters in the old town with a very particular architecture, character and history. These will be the quarters of Santa Cruz (where the Jewish – Sephardic community of Seville used to live), el Arenal (which once hosted the thriving commercial activity of the port city that Seville used to be) and Triana (home of potters, ceramicists, bullfighters, fishermen and flamenco dancers).
In Triana you will learn about the origins of flamenco music in Southern Spain and also about its evolution throughout the centuries. This will set the context for (and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of) the flamenco performance in a small and intimate venue that you will witness later during your trip.
1pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville. Junior Suite at hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza (4*)
–
–
3rd of November. Private walking tour of Seville UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral and the Archive of the Indies.
–
9:30am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the Archive of the Indies.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendor in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the New World was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish you will visit the Archive of the Indies. The Archive of the Indies is an iconic neoclassical building erected to keep invaluable documents from all those commercial expeditions that took place between Seville and the New World. Learning about it will uncover probably the most glorious period of the history of Seville and how it connects to the American continent and to the present character of the city.
1:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville. Junior Suite at hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza (4*)
–
–
4th of November. Day trip from Seville to Cadiz by train
–
Make your own way on foot or by taxi to Seville train station.
9:57am: departure of your high-speed train from Seville to Cadiz.
11:29pm: upon arrival to Cadiz train station, meet your personal local host for a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Phoenician origins and on the period when the city held the monopoly of all trade with the new world, formerly established in Seville.
You will start this tour seeing incredibly well preserved evidence of the Phoenician past of the city. This will allow you to understand who the Phoenicians were, where they came from, what brought them to Cadiz, what they brought to Cadiz and why they based themselves in the city. All this will reveal the impact that their arrival had in the culture and development of Southern Spain in the following centuries until the Roman times.
Later, you will travel forward in time to the 18th century, when the city held the monopoly of all trade with the Americas, formerly established in Seville. The bourgeoisie that settled down in Cádiz in this period transformed the city completely into a refined and cosmopolitan colonial hub. These new inhabitants commissioned the construction of very impressive civil and religious buildings to prove their financial status. You will be taken to visit some hand-picked ones, to later understand that these merchants brought to Cádiz not only material wealth, but also new ideas and new perspectives on subjects such as politics and the economy, which resulted in the first Spanish constitution, proclaimed in the city of Cadiz in 1812.
2pm: end of your tour of Cadiz and free time for lunch and to further explore the city at leisure before your train back to Seville. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
5:40pm: departure of your train back to Seville.
7:20pm: arrival of your train to Seville and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville. Junior Suite at hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza (4*)
–
–
5th of November. Day at leisure in Seville and evening flamenco performance
–
7:20pm: be at a selected flamenco venue in Seville old town ready for the show that will start at 7:30pm with 4 performers onstage: 2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist. Upon arrival, collect your tickets, which will be reserved on your name and take your seats.
7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8:30pm: end of the flamenco performance.
Overnight in Seville. Junior Suite at hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza (4*)
–
–
6th of November. Train from Seville to Granada
–
9:13am: departure of your high-speed train from Seville to Granada.
11:43am: upon arrival to Granada train station, make your own way by taxi to your hotel in Granada and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in the city. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
Overnight in Granada. Deluxe double room at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
–
–
7th of November. Private introductory walking tour of Granada old town
–
10am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your to go on a 3h walking tour of Granada old town that will allow you to discover, learn about the history and architecture and experience the beauty of three different quarters of the city.
These are three key areas in the history of the city that also stand out for their beauty and authenticity.
You will start visiting the first quarters that developed in Granada after the Christian conquest of the city in 1492. It is in these areas where the Cathedral of Granada was erected and in one of its chapels, the so-called Royal Chapel, you will visit the tombs of the monarchs that were responsible for the conquest of the city (Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón). Their tombs are an exquisite sample of Spanish renaissance sculpture.
Near this chapel, you will also visit the palace of la Madraza: a unique building that originally was a medieval Quran School and that later was used as a residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
From there you will be taken to the nearby quarter of El Realejo. This part of Granada was once home to the Sephardic community that lived in the city from the 8th century until 1492. Your tour of El Realejo will take you to the spot where the main synagogue was while you are explained about the origins of this Hispanic-Jewish settlement and about the events that happened in this part of the town during the centuries when it was inhabited by Jewish people. Along your tour you will also learn about important members of the Sephardic community of Granada and about their contribution to subjects such as medicine, poetry, philosophy and translation in medieval Spain.
Later, you will be taken to the iconic quarter of el Albayzín, located on top of a hill and overlooking the Alhambra. El Albayzín was the part of Granada where regular people would live: people whose social scheme inside the walls of the palatial areas of the Alhambra was rather unclear.
The quarter of Albayzín is a UNESCO site and it treasures some of the most beautiful corners and views of the Alhambra that the city of Granada has to offer. Your local host will share the most special ones with you, while you are explained about the architecture and infrastructures that the quarter had in the medieval times and of which you will see beautifully preserved evidence.
This introduction to the city of Granada will set the historical context for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.
1pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada. Deluxe double room at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
–
–
8th of November. Private walking tour of the Alhambra and El Generalife
–
9:30am: be met by your personal Alhambra expert and be transferred by taxi to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and El Generalife are located.
9:45am: start your private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife. This tour will allow you to enjoy the exquisite refinement of the most splendorous construction that the Muslims built in Spain: the Alhambra. The Alhambra was a palatial town, formed by different parts, all of which you will get to discover with your local host in order to understand how they all worked together, the role that each of them had and the different people who inhabited them. After your tour of the Alhambra you will be taken to the Generalife or summer palace of the Nasrid Sultans, where they would go to get away from the hustle of life in the Alhambra. The Generalife is a magical place designed for relax and contemplation and its gardens, architecture and views are simply spectacular.
1:30pm: end of your private tour of the Alhambra and rest of the day at leisure in Granada.
Overnight in Granada. Deluxe double room at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
–
–
9th of November. Train from Granada to Córdoba
–
1:18pm: departure of your high-speed train from Granada to Córdoba.
2:55pm: upon arrival to Córdoba train station, make your own way by taxi to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your stay in the city.
Overnight in Córdoba: deluxe double room at hotel Palacio del Bailío (5*)
–
–
10th of November. Private walking tour of Córdoba old town
–
10am: be met by your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3,5h discovery journey of the historical centre of the city.
A UNESCO site since 1994, Córdoba is an inspirational city, which during the Middle Ages, saw a peaceful interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures. Jews, Muslims and Christians coexisted then in the city turning it into a unique intellectual hub that gave birth to very renowned philosophers, poets, scientists and doctors. This also resulted in the construction of unique buildings of remarkable historical significance.
During your private walking tour, you’ll learn about the period of maximum intellectual splendour of the city and you will see beautiful examples of architecture and urban planning that will allow you to recreate all the grandeur of this era, which has the Great Mosque – Cathedral, the synagogue, the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs as its most representative constructions.
The Great Mosque-Cathedral is probably the most thought-provoking building in Spain and your personal local host will uncover all its beauty and complexity for you. You will understand its origins, its different enlargements and the role that the building has played in the culture and social fabric of the city throughout the centuries.
The synagogue will allow you to understand the very important Jewish – Sephardic community that Córdoba once had and how much it embraced Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts in its places of devotion.
In the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew you will be explained about the transformations that the Jewish quarter of Córdoba suffered after the pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts.
The Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs will be your last stop. This is a fortification treasuring Roman and Visigothic remains that became an important royal residence in the Hispanic-Muslim and Christian times. Your tour of this landmark will be a journey through the history of the city and also through probably the most beautiful gardens that one can find in Córdoba.
1:30pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Córdoba: deluxe double room at hotel Palacio del Bailío (5*)
–
–
11th of November. Private walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Medina Azahara.
–
10am: make your own way by taxi to the Archaeological site of Medina – Azahara, just outside Córdoba.
10:25am: upon arrival to Medina-Azahara, meet your personal local host and start a private walking tour of the site to understand the massive palatial complex that it once was, the different parts it featured, their functions, the relationships between the people who inhabited it, its defensive system, the political role it played during the caliphate of Córdoba and the reasons that led to its decay and abandonment.
1:30pm: after your tour, make your own way back to Córdoba by taxi.
Overnight in Córdoba: deluxe double room at hotel Palacio del Bailío (5*)
–
–
12th of November. Train from Córdoba back to Madrid and departure flight
–
2:41pm: departure of your high-speed train from Cordoba to Madrid.
4:36pm: arrival to Madrid train station and end of trip.
–
–
Pricing
–
–
The cost of this bespoke trip for a private group of 2 pax is 8465 Euros
–
This price includes
– 15 nights accommodation as per mentioned above.
– All private tours mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for the sites mentioned in each tour.
– High-speed train tickets to travel from Madrid to Toledo and back.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class) to travel from Madrid to Seville.
– Regional train tickets to travel from Seville to Cadiz and back.
– High-speed train tickets to travel from Seville to Granada.
– High-speed train tickets to travel from Granada to Cordoba.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Cordoba to Madrid.
– A list of recommended things to do and of places to eat in each of the places where you will be based.
– 24h assistance during your trip.
– All taxes.
–
This price excludes
– Any meals
– Any flights
– Anything else not mentioned right above
–
Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this bespoke trip at this price we required a deposit of 2025 Euros no later than the 22nd of June at 11:59pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card. This has already been paid. The final 6440 Euros must be paid via the same method no later than 20 days prior to the start of the trip.
–
Grand total of this tour program: 8465 Euros
–
2025 Euros deposit needed no later than the 22nd of June to confirm the trip: PAID
–
–
Final payment needed no later than 20 days prior to the start of the trip: 6440 Euros
–
Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 20 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge the deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 20 and 10 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 10 and 3 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 60% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 40%.
– If you cancel your trip 2 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country, we will give you a full refund.
