Spain & Portugal

Here are a few more details to help you before you start your trip - where it starts, how to get there, visa information and a few other handy hints. If you would like to hear the views of past passengers or meet fellow travellers, then log-on to Chatabout our online forum and get all the info you need to plan your adventure.

Accommodation Upgrades

The Iberian Adventure tour starts and finishes in Madrid. You will stay two nights in Granada, one night in Tarifa, two nights in Lagos, and your final night in Seville. Accommodation is included in the price of the tour and is based on dorm share (max 4) in Spanish hostales (budget hotels). If you want an accommodation upgrade please note the following prices:

€119 pp twin/double private ensuite (min. 2 persons)
€199 pp single private ensuite

Pre and post tour accommodation in Madrid can be pre-booked through your MyTrip account.

(Please note the accommodation upgrade cannot be booked locally and is subject to availability)

Departure Time and Joining Point in Madrid

Tour departs at 8am. Check-in 15 minutes prior to departure. Departures will be from the Busabout pick-up/drop-off point in Madrid which we'll be confirming over the next few months.

Alhambra

The 3 hour tour (in English) was described by our passengers last year as an 'absolute must'. It's Spain's most visited attraction for very good reason.

Granada, where multiple civilizations that once lived on Andalusian soil, has a cultural legacy that is a marvel of the world. The Alhambra is the joy that crowns this beautiful city at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We'll visit the Nazarian city, the Alhambra, where every square inch is a work of art, palaces and grand halls. During the tour you'll understand why the last Arabic king cried, retreating as the Catholic Kings conquered it.

Meander through the Generalife gardens with an official guide, these are some of the most impressive in the world - a UNESCO World Heritage-listed and up there on the 'Wow' scale. The name is Arabic for 'Red Fortress' and was built by the Moorish rulers of Granada as their residence and court in the mid 14th Century. If their intention was to show off how much 'bling' they had, then it worked, however the 'official' reason was to reflect the beauty of Paradise itself. Stunning Islamic architecture and decoration fill the palace and mosque along with the gardens, fountains and streams.

Our Guides don't have tickets to sell on the coach and normal queuing time is 4 to 6 hours but do not fear! Save yourself the hassle by logging in to your MyTrip account and purchasing your ticket.

Day 1: Madrid to Seville

We visit the picturesque town of Cordoba, home to the Mezquita (Mosque). Get blown away with the impressive architecture and beautiful stonework; its red and white striped arches are famed throughout Spain. Then onto Seville. We take you on a short orientation walk to the famous Alcazar Place. Afterwards you will have free time to explore Seville on your own, or join our optional tour to fully appreciate this magnificent city. Make sure you check out the third largest cathedral in the world, the Santa Cruz (Jewish) Quarter and the Plaza España in the Maria Luisa Park.

Seville has its own style of flamenco, 'sevillanas', with the dancing kicking off in local flamenco bars from around midnight. Party until the sun rises on the banks of the Gualdaquivir river, where revellers take advantage of the outdoor bars lining the river banks.

Day 2: Seville to Lagos

Spend your morning checking out the city and grab a bite to eat before we head off to the sun lovers' heaven of Portugal and the coastal, party town of Lagos! Lagos is a heavyweight among fun-loving enthusiasts. It is the hub of nightlife in the Algarve region and its beaches rate among the best on the Iberian Peninsula. After check-in we'll be heading straight into the hustle and bustle of the old town. Many claim Lagos to be the party capital of the Algarve. We'll go to a local restaurant for a great feed before taking you around the various clubs that make up this hedonistic part of Europe!

Day 3: Lagos

Once all the stories from the night before have been told you have the day to explore Lagos at your own pace. For those of you who can't bear to miss out on all that Lagos has to offer, choose from exploring the Algarve grottos by sea-kayak, try your hand at rock-climbing or spend your afternoon surfing the waves. If you'd prefer to chill out and relax, head down to the fine sand of Praia de Batata or meander through the streets of the old town. Tonight is a free night, so either head back to the bars, grab some dinner or relax. Whatever you choose, Lagos will leave a lasting impression and is sure to leave you smiling.

Day 4: Lagos to Tarifa

It's an early start but for very good reason! We're heading down to the southernmost tip of Europe and making our way along the Costa del Sol to Tarifa, a small Spanish town located on the Costa de la Luz, or 'coast of light'. They say it's here that the word 'tariff' first came into use after the local leader started charging ships to use the local port, and it's also where an abundance of activities await. There’s time to check out this quaint town, before getting ready for your optional night trip to Morocco.

This afternoon there’s the option to see Tangier by night. If you would like to add another country to their list then hop on a fast boat to Morocco for a guided tour around Tangier. Not just a new country, but a new continent – welcome to Africa!

For those who can't bear to leave Spain just yet (on a clear day you can still see over the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco), there's always the chance to catch a local bus over to Gibraltar or go whale-watching in the straits themselves. Tarifa's old town is filled with restaurants, shops and bars to visit, meaning you won't be short of things to do that evening either...

Day 5: Tarifa to Granada

We travel through Rhonda, said to be the home of the bullfight and once home to American writer Ernest Hemingway. We arrive into Granada in the late afternoon and after check-in we have an orientation walk through the city. In the evening; we'll go to some of the best local tapas bars. Granada is a student town, so those with the stamina will find plenty of opportunities for partying late into the night!

Day 6: Granada

You have the entire day to explore Granada at your leisure. Be sure not to miss the most famous Moorish relic and most visited sight in Spain, the Alhambra. Marvel at the intricate sculptures and relics carved into the walls (under Islam the artists were not allowed to depict the human form), while not forgetting to look up every so often at the intricately detailed ceiling work. Our optional tour includes entrance fees and a local guide; you also get to skip right past the massive queues that form here every day. This will certainly be one of the highlights of your trip!

If you're a bit hot and bothered after the Alhambra, there's always the chance of plunging into some Moroccan-style baths. Jump in the cold, warm or hot pools, try the flavoured tea, or if you're in real need of some relaxation, have an aromatherapy massage.

It's the last night of our tour so join your Guide and driver for some more great tapas before heading to the Sacromonte Caves later at night to see a live Flamenco show. For those of you that wish to learn the moves, there’s the option to join a Flamenco class before the show

Day 7: Granada to Madrid

It's time to say farewell to Granada and head back to Madrid, although not without an amazing scenic stop along the route of Don Quixote, the Man from La Mancha! We make a stop at Consuegra where Don Quixote famously tilted at the windmills (he thought they were giants!) overlooking the plains of La Mancha.

After Consuegra, it’s to the Imperial City of Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city. You have a couple of hours to lose yourself in the cobblestone streets and poke your head in the numerous stores filled with hand crafted steel swords and marzipan. Check out Toledo's famous Cathedral featuring significant art works by El Greco. From Toledo it's just a short drive back to Madrid.