Splendours of the Algarve

Regional departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Portsmouth for the overnight crossing to Santander. Accommodation is in two-berth, inside cabins with en suite facilities. The crossing takes 24 hours during which you can enjoy the facilities on board.

Evening arrival in Santander, then to our overnight hotel in northern Spain.

• Included meals: Dinner

Salamanca

We depart our hotel this morning and head to Salamanca arriving early afternoon. There will be free time for you to explore this beautiful city at your leisure. Salamanca is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2002 it was chosen as the European City of Culture. After free time we continue our journey to our hotel in the Salamanca area for an overnight stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we commence our journey south, crossing the border into Portugal. We continue to Carvoeiro in the Algarve for a six-night stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

A day at leisure to explore your surroundings or why not join our optional coastal boat cruise taking in the spectacular cliffs, rock formations and caves. We travel by coach to Vilamoura where we join our boat and enjoy a relaxing cruise along the coastline. During the cruise we explore some of the fascinating caves with dark and colourful shimmering Cathedral-like vaults.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Silves

Today our included excursion takes us into the volcanic mountain range of Serra de Monchique. We visit the town of Silves, once an important Moorish city in the Algarve, a powerful trade centre, and important cultural centre. Today Silves is a quiet market town, where you can see the remains of the Moorish castle, and the ‘Ponte Romana’ which was rebuilt in the 15th century. From Silves we continue to the village of Monchique pausing en route at Foia, the highest point in the Algarve. There will be free time in Monchique for you to explore at your leisure. The centre is characterised by lots of narrow cobbled streets criss-crossing up the hillside with a spattering of cafes and restaurants. The central square boasts an attractive paved area with benches, trees and a lovely water feature, including an example of a Moorish water wheel. Monchique is a very quiet and relaxed place, which is ideal for pottering around and appreciating the fantastic views.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Lagos

Our included excursion takes us to the western Algarve, seeing Sagres, a picturesque fishing village, and to admire the views at Cape St Vincent, where Europe’s mainland ends. We also visit the small resort of Luz, with its stunning beach set against spectacular cliffs before continuing to Lagos, a fantastic town full of historical interest. Lagos has always had a seafaring connection, originally visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians and then, during the 15th century, was the base for the ‘Voyages of Discoveries’ instigated by Henry the Navigator when trade between Africa and Portugal brought a great deal of wealth into the town.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Ferragudo

Our included coastal excursion begins in Ferragudo, with its traditional fisherman’s homes. Ferragudo town is embraced by palm-fringed gardens, which run alongside a narrow riverlet up to the main cobbled square, Praça Rainha Dona Leonor. This is a lovely square home to lots of cafés, where you can sit with a delicious pastry and a coffee and watch the world go by. We continue to Praia da Rocha, a bustling holiday resort and tourist centre. The avenue, Tomás Cabreira, which runs along the top of the beach, is full of restaurants, cafes, and shops. At the end of the avenue is the Fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar, which was part of Portimão's defences against corsairs and pirates. It was built in the 17th and 18th centuries and gives a wonderful view of the beach and the cliffs on one side and the marina on the other. After free time we continue to the fishing village of Alvor, situated on the estuary of the Rio Alvor. It is well known in Algarve history as the place where King João II died in 1495. Although an earthquake destroyed much of the traditional Moorish village in 1755, you can still see remains of Alvor’s history in places such as the 16th century Igreja Martiz (church of the Divino Salvador de Alvor) with its Manueline arches and pillars.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Carvoeiro

Today is at leisure for you to relax and explore your surroundings.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Toledo

We leave our hotel early this morning and travel north to the magnificent historic town of Toledo, south of Madrid for an overnight stay. Toledo is considered by many to be a ‘Second Rome’. Behind its walls, it preserves its artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and is unique in its details, history, culture and charm.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We travel north into France to Ciboure, on the French Basque coast for an overnight stay. Please note on some dates we may stay in the Biarritz area.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Continue to the Paris area for an overnight stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Return home.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Regional departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Portsmouth for the overnight crossing to Santander. Accommodation is in two-berth, inside cabins with en suite facilities. The crossing takes 24 hours during which you can enjoy the facilities on board.

Evening arrival in Santander, then onwards to our overnight hotel in northern Spain.

• Included meals: Dinner

We head to Salamanca for the afternoon, with its splendid Renaissance architecture. Stay overnight in this beautiful city

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We head south into Portugal to Carvoeiro in the Algarve for nine nights.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Carvoeiro is a delightful resort, nestling around a picturesque cove with a beautiful beach framed by sandstone cliffs. The pretty main square with a selection of restaurants, cafés and bars is a great place to spend some time admiring the views and soaking up the atmosphere. During your stay we have arranged a programme of included and optional excursions to help you see the best of the Algarve.

• Included meals: 8 x Breakfast, 8 x Dinner

This full-day, included excursion explores the west of the Algarve. First we head to Lagos, associated with the Portuguese explorers, then the small resort of Luz with its stunning beach set against the spectacular cliffs. Enjoy a walk along the coastal promenade. We continue west to the fishing village of Sagres, then Cabo San Vicente, the most south-westerly point in Europe.

Join our optional boat excursion along the beautiful Algarve coast to admire the spectacular cliffs, rock formations and caves.

Join our included excursion to the ancient city of Silves, with its Moorish Castle and 13th century cathedral. Continue to Foia, which boasts magnificent views from the highest point of the Algarve, then Monchique, a typical village in the hills.

Join our included excursion to explore some of the resorts and coastal villages close to Carvoeiro – a day of low mileage but high interest. We begin in the small village of Ferragudo, with its old-world feel, and small square in the centre where the locals sit for a morning coffee. Next, we continue to Praia de Rocha with its impressive beach, cliffs and stylish marina. Finally, we visit Alvor, set at the head of a lagoon with views out towards the west. Take a seat in one of the many seafood restaurants and maybe enjoy a light fish meal cooked on the outside grill whilst taking in the splendid views.

We leave our hotel and head into Spain to Seville, where we stay overnight. We arrive around lunchtime and this afternoon we offer an optional city tour. See the third largest cathedral in the world and the equally imposing 12th century Alcazar Royal Palace.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We head to Cordoba, where we make a brief stop. Wander around the celebrated courtyards and patios, the Jewish and Christian Quarters. We continue to the magnificent historic town of Toledo, south of Madrid for a two-night stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the day in Toledo, regarded as the Spanish city with the greatest wealth of monuments. Behind its walls, Toledo preserves its artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues – testimony to the three cultures, Arabs, Christians and Jews, who lived there for centuries.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We travel north to San Sebastian, beautifully situated on a shell-shaped bay and with a delightful Old Town. We continue into France to Ciboure, on the French Basque coast for an overnight stay. On some dates we may stay in the Biarritz area.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Continue to the Paris area for an overnight stay.

• Included meals: Breakfast

Return home.

• Included meals: Breakfast