Departure date: April 12, 2010

Day 0: Fly from the USA to Lisbon, Portugal.

Day 1 – April 12: Upon your arrival in Lisbon you will be met by a smiling member of our staff and transferred to your centrally located hotel. You can then rest up a bit before meeting your other travelers at around 6 p.m. for a "Welcome to Portugal" gala and dinner. Sleep in Lisbon

Day 2 – April 13: Today you will discover the beauties of Lisbon. Your sightseeing will include the Monument to the Discoveries, the Jeronimos Monastery and the Castelo de Sao Jorge. You will then have some time on your own to stroll through the small streets of Alfama, the oldest district in Lisbon, visit a few of the city’s superb museums and ride a vintage streetcar. Tonight you will experience a “Fado” dinner. Fado is a form of ballad characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea, love or desperation. The rhythm and tones of the music are deeply connected with the character of the people, the atmosphere and beauty of a city that cannot be fully explained if not experienced first hand. No trip to Lisbon would be complete without listening to Fado while enjoying the local cuisine. Sleep in Lisbon

Day 3 – April 14: Today we will drive to the famous city of Evora. We will visit the 2nd century Roman Temple of Diana, the beautiful Praca do Giraldo square, and several of the beautiful Gothic Cathedrals which signify Evora’s well preserved history throughout the ages. At lunch time we will visit one of the best wine producers of the area, where we will have an amazing tasting of local foods and wines. Sleep in Lisbon

Day 4 – April 15: We will say adeus to Lisboa this morning, and drive to Oporto, the Jewel of the North. Oporto is the second most important city in Portugal and it is a UNESCO Heritage site. En route we will stop in Coimbra, Portugal’s most intellectual city. Coimbra is home to Portugal’s oldest University, Universidade de Coimbra -- a public university dating back to the 13th century. We will see some of the area’s Roman archeological remains before heading towards Oporto. Upon arrival we will start our exploration of Oporto’s beautiful historical centre, the Clerigos Church and the riverfront (Ribeira). Tonight you will enjoy another feast of local specialties. Sleep in Oporto

Day 5 – April 16: Today we will continue to explore the beauties of Oporto before crossing the Douro River to discover  the vast wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. You will have the chance to sample some of the most amazing Port and local wines. Port is a fortified wine that is famous all over the world. Sleep in Oporto

Day 6 – April 17: Today we will drive south to Fatima, best known for its famous tombstones and apparitions. We will pay a brief visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima where the tombstones of three young visionaries lay. We will then move to the heart of the Shrine called the Chapel of Apparitions to behold the world-famous Madonna. Next, we will visit the beautiful Dominican Monastery of Batalha in the town of the same name. This late-Gothic monument is perhaps the best example of an architectural era marked by haunting spires and profusely ornate details. Finally, we will make our way to the enchanting centre of Obidos. Here we will enjoy a great dinner followed by the famous local cherry liquor known as ginjinha. Sleep in Obidos

Day 7 – April 18: Our travels today will take us to the noble town of Sintra for a day of exploring this “garden of earthly paradise” including a visit to the Palacios Nacional y Pena. Afterwards we will make our way back to Obidos where you will have the rest of the evening to relax. Sleep in Obidos

Day 8 – April 19: This morning we will make our way to the most beautiful viewpoint of all Portugal, the Cabo de Sao Vicente, Europe’s most southwesterly point. Here we can stand on windswept cliffs and look out onto the Atlantic to the point in the horizon where early explorers believed the world ended. From Cabo we will drive to the sea town of Albufeira. Sleep in Albufeira

Day 9 – April 20: This morning you will say adeus to Portugal and ¡hola! to España as we make our way south to the Andalusian capital of Sevilla, arguably Spain’s most aesthetically pleasing city.  Virtually everywhere you cast your gaze, you will find magnificent monuments and buildings which stand as a legacy to this city's fascinating heritage. Many of these monuments date back to the time of the Moorish conquest in 712 AD. The city’s Cathedral, which was originally built as a mosque by the Almohads in the late 12th century, and later became the largest Gothic church in the world, is now Europe’s third largest cathedral. Sleep in Sevilla

Day 10 – April 21: Get ready to see Cordoba. Our local guide this morning will bring to life how Córdoba has been influenced through the ages by the Jews, the Moors, and the Romans with visits to the unique mosque/cathedral and the ancient Jewish Synagogue, now a museum.  This afternoon there is plenty of free time to stroll through Córdoba's medieval quarter, a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, shady flower-filled courtyards and picturesque squares.  Sleep in Sevilla

Day 11 – April 22: Today we will transfer to Granada, a city with an amazing history that goes back to the time when Jews first settled in Spain.  Tonight we will enjoy a sultry, swirling flamenco show – a typically late Spanish-style evening!  Sleep in Granada

Day 12 – April 23: Today you will visit the Moors ancient grand palace, the Alhambra, a brilliant jewel in the universal world of architecture.  It’s actually a series of palaces and gardens that were built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century and was the residence of the Muslim kings of Granada and their court. It is currently a museum exhibiting exquisite Islamic architecture.  Sleep in Granada

Day 13 – April 24: Departure for the US from Granada. Your flight will be connecting through Madrid or Barcelona to the USA.

Price: $3,950 per person in double room

$680 single supplement

Deposit: $500 is required to hold space

Itinerary details:

3 nights in Lisbon

2 nights in Oporto

2 nights in Obidos

1 night in Albufeira

2 nights in Sevilla

2 nights Granada

What’s included in the trip:

All accommodation in very nice hotels and country inns, all breakfasts, either lunch or dinner every day, all sightseeing and guided tours as per the itinerary, 2 wine tastings, fado musical show, flamenco dance and music show, all transportation in a deluxe bus with air conditioning, professional tour leader and local guides.

What’s not included in the trip:
International air-fare to and from Portugal and Spain, personal expenses, tips for guides and drivers.