Essential Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and France

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival in Lisbon, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, spend some time at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or unwind in your hotel.




Overnight in Lisbon



Note: Kindly check the information posters in the hotel reception area. These include all the details regarding your tour, such as the meeting time and place, along with the guide's name.

Have your breakfast and later embark on a sightseeing tour of Lisbon. Accompanied by a local guide, you will discover the traditional neighborhoods of the Belem district, the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed across the oceans in the 15-century. You will get to see various monuments and architectural structures in the city, such as the Belem Tower and the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a World Heritage Site dubbed by UNESCO. Spend the afternoon at leisure to explore this incredible city at your own pace. At the end of the afternoon, you will be transferred to Restauradores Square, known for its incredible bars and cafes, from where you may take the “Elevador da Gloria,” which will bring you to the Upper District and its viewpoint.




Overnight in Lisbon

Today you will travel to Northern Portugal and visit Fatima, an important sanctuary and pilgrimage site. Make your way through the green lands of the center as you cross the border into Spain. Lunch will be included en route in a regional restaurant (vegetarian options included). From there you will travel to Madrid, the capital of Spain, where you will arrive at the end of the day. You will be provided transportation to Plaza Mayor, where you will have plenty of choices to taste wine in typical taverns (not included).




Overnight in Madrid

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the center of Madrid including the Pa- seo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Al- calá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then will visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city center, where we will see the lake and the Glass Pal- ace. A visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) is next. This is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of the “corridas” at the Bullfighting Museum. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. At sunset we will provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restau- rants serving different cuisines, such as local Spanish food, international and Chinese. Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.




Overnight in Madrid

After breakfast, In the morning we leave for Aragón over the lands of Castile. In Zaragoza we stop briefly to see the Pilar Basilica. We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance included). We then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery following this we will continue to Barcelona, arriving in the late afternoon.



Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be done in our coach. From November to March, due to the shorter duration of the days, we will neither be ascending nor stopping in Montserrat




Overnight in Barcelona

Wake up early for an incredible city tour that will cover numerous tourist attractions across Barcelona. Your tour will take you to La Rambla – a vibrant street in Central Barcelona that connects Placa de Catalunya with the Monument of Christopher Columbus. See the famous works of Gaudi, a famous and highly respected Spanish architect known for his unique style of architecture. You can see his famous masterworks, including Sagrada Familia Cathedral and La Pedrera along Passeig de Gracia. At approximately 6:00 PM, you will be transferred to Girona, a small Catalan capital with a beautiful historic center. In this city, the cathedral stands out with its incredible staircase. Spend the rest of the evening exploring the city at your own pace.




Overnight in Girona

We leave for France, crossing Provence. We stop in Arles, a small world heritage city where we will remember Van Gogh and can see its Roman theatre and small Romanesque churches. Time for a stroll and lunch. We carry on and include admission to Carrieres De Lumiere, an im- pressive show of art, image and sound underground, in former quarries. Chambery, arrival and accommodation in the charming capital of Savoie, a medieval city with a beautiful old town and a great castle.




Overnight in Chambery

Today you will travel to Switzerland. Geneva, arrival. With our guide, we will go to the Palace of Nations (the headquarters of the United Nations in Eu- rope) to the pretty English Garden with its clock made of flowers and we can admire the “Jet d´Eau”, the tallest fountain in Europe. We go on to the picturesque walled village of Gruyere, known worldwide for its cheese. Free time to stroll and have lunch. Nearby are several of the main chocolate factories in Switzerland (NESTLE amongst them), and we visit the Cailler chocolate factory, with a tasting included!. After this we go on to Chillon Castle, built in the waters of the lake. Entrance included to this fantastic mediaeval castle. We will continue travelling through smaller roads amidst bucolic mountain landscapes and very picturesque wooden villages.- Arrival in Leysin, a beautiful little holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc, known for its winter sports resort or its hiking possibilities. Dinner included. 




Overnight in Leysin

Today´s stage has beautiful high mountain scenery. Don´t forget your winter clothes, we climb to one of the most spectacular spots in Switzerland where you can see ice and snow all year round. We include the cable car ride up to Glacier 3000 where you can walk on the sus- pended bridge in the gap between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral or “play” in the Fun Park. Stop in Interlaken and time for lunch. Among very picturesque lakes we continue to Lucerne, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Continue to Zurich, where there is time for a stroll downtown before going to the hotel.  



Note: Occasionally, for major weather reasons such as rain or strong winds, the cable car to Glacier 3000 may not operate. 




Overnight in Zurich

After a delicious breakfast, you will embark on a scenic journey to Bern, the capital city of the confederation, built around a bend in the Aare River, where its medieval architecture is well-preserved in the Old Town. From there you will travel to Paris, the capital of France. Soak up the breathtaking views of the lake before you arrive in Paris in the evening.


Overnight in Paris

Early in the morning, we will leave for Versailles Palace, the immense palace of the kings of France. After that, we will return to Paris at lunch time where we provide a transfer to the Montmartre district. We will ascend by funicular to the hill and admire the spectacular view of Paris from the top. This neighborhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cabarets… Sit down for lunch and enjoy a magical atmosphere. Then, a scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris will take place. Return to hotel. Optionally you can at- tend a variety show.


Overnight in Paris

We go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then, we enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose. Note: Sometimes queues to climb the Eiffel Tower are long. For organizational reasons, if deemed appropriate, the climb can be made at a different moment of the day. At around 17.00hrs we will leave Paris for Rouen a city museum with its houses with half-timbered walls, narrow streets and gothic churches. Accommodation in the city.


Overnight in Paris

After breakfast, make your own way to the International Airport in Paris for your flight home.