Private Sightseeing Tours - Mallorca Interlude ULIB09

Personal Highlights:

• A “Tasting Tour” of Old Madrid
• A tour with lunch at an olive oil farm in Mallorca
• Dinner in a Michelin starred restaurant
• A walking tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter with lunch

Day 1 Depart USA

This evening you board your overnight flight to Spain to begin your exploration of Madrid, Barcelona and the enchanting island of Mallorca.

Day 2 Welcome to Madrid

You arrive in Madrid and complete immigration procedures. Upon leaving customs, you are met by your driver and given an overview of Madrid’s scenic attractions including famous squares such as Plaza de Espana, de Oriente, Plaza Mayor Puerta del Sol and Plaza Castilla and well known avenues like Castellana and Gran Via. You will then be taken to your deluxe, centrally located hotel where you can rest or begin your exploration of Spain’s capitol city. Dinner, this evening, is at the hotel’s well regarded restaurant.

Day 3 The Royal Palace and the Prado Museum

Today your morning will be focused on the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. The Royal Palace is the largest in Europe and was built by Philip V in the 18th Century. The building itself is an architectural treasure but inside is a rare and diverse collection of ceramics, tapestry and clocks. After the palace you visit the Prado, one of the most important art galleries in the world. Here are the Spanish masters including Goya, Velasquez, El Greco and Ribera. They are joined by Raphael, Rubens and Titian among others. After lunch Tthe rest of the afternoon is left open to allow you some time for personal sightseeing or some shopping. Your guide can tell you the best shopping streets. This evening we will take you on a gastronomic exploration of Madrid as you visit three different establishments in old Madrid to partake of various pairings of wine and food.

Day 4 Flight to Mallorca and a Tour of Palma

After breakfast, your morning is left open for more sightseeing or shopping. In the early afternoon your driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport for the flight to Palma de Mallorca. Upon arrival you are met by your guide and given an overview tour of the city of Palma including the Cathedral and a walking tour through the old quarter before being taken to your hotel located in the countryside in its own vineyard. Dinner is at the hotel’s Bistro this evening.

Day 5 The Wines of Mallorca

After a leisurely breakfast you take a short trip to the nearby vineyard of Macia Batle which has been producing wines since 1856. The vineyards are planted with traditional grapes such as the Mante Negro for the Red wines and Moll or Prensall for the whites. You spend some time in the tasting room sampling the wine and admiring the Art before returning to the hotel. Where we can relax, get a spa treatment or visit the beach which is nearby. Tonight we have dinner in the hotel's Michelin starred restaurant.

Day 6 The Secret of Olive Oil

Today you will visit the charming town of Soller and the olive farm that is there. The owner will show you the olive groves and take you to the old fashioned mill where the olive oil is made in the traditional way. You will have a chance to sample the various oils along with bread and local cheese before having lunch at the farm.

Day 7 Overview of Barcelona

This morning you will head to Spain’s most exciting and cosmopolitan city, Barcelona, site of the 1992 Olympic Games. The warm climate, the stunning and innovative architecture and the people themselves make this a great place to explore. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport where you board your flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival your guide will meet you and take you to lunch followed by an orientation tour of the city including, the Olympic stadium and Montjuic, site of the World Exposition in the early 20th Century, and close to the location of your hotel. After arriving at the hotel you have the chance to relax on the terrace enjoying the stunning views of the city and out to the Mediterranean.                                                     

Day 8 A Private Tour of the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas

After breakfast your guide will meet you to take you on a walking tour of the medieval part of the city called the Gothic Quarter. First you will walk down one of Barcelona's most famous streets known as Las Ramblas. Here you will see top quality stores, fine hotels and street vendors selling pets, chickens, flowers and other interesting items. Leaving Las Ramblas you enter the quaint and twisting streets of the Gothic Quarter home to residents, shops and fine restaurants. In the central part of the Quarter is the Cathedral built in the 13th Century which you will visit. You will also visit the Picasso Museum with many of the works created during his extended residency in the city. You will top off your visit at one of the area's better restaurants where a fine meal awaits. After an extended lunch you are free to continue an exploration of the Quarter or Las Ramblas before returning on your own to your hotel.

Day 9 Historical Villages of the Pyrenees

Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains just north of Barcelona are numerous and charming medieval villages with their stone houses and cafes built directly into the mountainside. After a short drive from Barcelona you begin your adventure by exploring a village’s winding cobblestone streets and buildings dating back more than 500 years. You’ll take a walk through the wooded trails and be rewarded with streams, rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views of forested valleys. A leisurely a la carte lunch with wine in a traditional Catalan restaurant provides the perfect highlight to your day in the mountains before you return to the city. This evening we enjoy Tapas and wine in the oldest bar in the city, a fitting way to finish your Spanish experience.                                                   

Day 10 Return to USA

After breakfast your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for your return flight to the US.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round