Mallorca Interlude
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Highlights:
The Balearic Islands lie off the coast of Spain, southeast of Barcelona. The three major islands are Ibiza, Minorca and the largest of the group, Mallorca, also known as Majorca. This tranquil spot offers the best of Spain combined with an island environment.
Enjoy the historic and charming capital with a countryside offering olive oil, wine and some of the best biking trails in Europe. In this suggested program we have added in a stay in Madrid and Barcelona on either end to provide a more urban experience, whether it is as a first time visitor or a return visitor eager to visit old haunts and find new ones.
The Balearic Islands lie off the coast of Spain, southeast of Barcelona. The three major islands are Ibiza, Minorca and the largest of the group, Mallorca, also known as Majorca. This tranquil spot offers the best of Spain combined with an island environment.
Enjoy the historic and charming capital with a countryside offering olive oil, wine and some of the best biking trails in Europe. In this suggested program we have added in a stay in Madrid and Barcelona on either end to provide a more urban experience, whether it is as a first time visitor or a return visitor eager to visit old haunts and find new ones.
SKU:
Explore: Mallorca
Customizable Itinerary - 12 Days (from $8,334 per person)
Day 1: Depart USA
This evening you board an aircraft for the overnight flight to Madrid to start your adventure.
Day 2: Welcome to Spain
Upon arrival in Madrid you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you on an orientation tour of the city including Plaza de Espana, and Plaza Castilla and well known avenues like Castellana and Gran Via. Upon completion of your tour you will be delivered to your hotel where your room will be ready for occupancy.
Day 3: The Royal Palace and the Prado Museum
Today will be focused on the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. Your guide will meet you in the lobby and take you to 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. You will get fast track access and inside you will view a rare collection of ceramics, tapestry and clocks along with the magnificence of the rooms. After the palace, your guide will take you to the Prado Museum, one of the most important art galleries in the world. Here you will find the Spanish masters including Goya, Velasquez, el Greco (actually Greek) and Ribera. They are joined by Raphael, Rubens and Titian among others. After an initial tour, your your guide will leave you and you can continue to explore on your own.
Breakfast
Day 4: San Lorenzo de Escorial and Valle de los Caidos
After breakfast you drive out of the city to the Monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial. This beautifully designed building is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world by many Spaniards and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will take you inside the monastery which is also a memorial to the Kings and Queens of Spain. You leave the monastery and head to the Guadarrama Mountains to the “Valley of the Fallen”, a tribute to those who died in the Spanish Civil War which immediately preceded World War II. Return to the city. In the evening enjoy dinner and authentic Flamenco.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Flight to Palma and City Tour
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Palma. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your elegant hotel located in the heart of the town. You drop off your luggage and meet your guide for a walking tour of this quaint town, a favorite of both the Spanish and the English. You will visit the cathedral and the Gothic quarter and walk through narrow and artistic streets. Along the way you will stop at Can Joan de s’aige, a café founded in 1700 where you will be served “Enseimada Mallorquina” along with hot chocolate. In the evening enjoy an a la carte dinner prepared by your hotel and served either in the tranquil inner courtyard or the roof top garden perfect for sunsets. You pick the venue.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6: Palma to Soller by Train and Tram
After breakfast your guide will meet you and take you on a tour of the Central Food Market a chance to get a glimpse of local like in Palma. You will then be taken to a unique narrow gauge railway that will take you over mountains, through tunnels and down to the quaint village of Soller where you can walk around before boarding a tram to the picturesque port of Soller. The trams, like the railway cars date back to the early twentieth century so you can enjoy an “Agatha Christie” moment as well as enjoying the scenery. You have the option of doing the journey in reverse back to Palma or we can pick you up at the Port of Soller and drive you back stopping at the wine cellars of Santa Maria dei Cami. In the evening you might want to dine at Puro Beach one of the liveliest places in Palma.
Breakfast
Day 7: Exploring the Island by Bike or Car
Today you have three options for exploring the interior and other coasts of the island. The most highly recommended is by bike either racing or mountain. We will set you up with all the equipment and provide a variety of itineraries covering duration and difficulty. The second option is for us to provide a car which you can use to follow the bike routes. We think the bike is best but if you are not into cycling this option works. The third option is for us to provide the car and the driver/guide to give you a more comprehensive experience. We can discuss the merits of each as we plan your individual program. For dinner we recommend the Royal Nautic Club overlooking the harbor.
Breakfast
Day 8: Palma to Barcelona
You have a free morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around town. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel.
Breakfast
Day 9: The Gothic Quarter, Picasso Museum and Boqueria Market
After breakfast you meet your guide for a private tour of the Gothic Quarter parts of which date back to Roman times. The name however comes from the Gothic Cathedral located in among the warren of narrow roads. Despite its name, the area is home to a lot of “of the moment’ boutiques and nightspots. It is also the location of the Picasso Museum which you will visit. Exiting the gothic quarter you cross the street and enter Boqueria Market the city’s best known food market. After giving you a highlight tour your guide will leave you at Pinnochio where you can enjoy Tapas and Cava.
Breakfast
Day 10: The Gaudi Legacy
Today your guide will meet you and by car and on foot show you the many buildings that bear the mark of Antoni Gaudi. He designed private homes, office buildings, amusement parks and department stores; most of which are still in use today. Your main emphasis will be on La Sagrada Familia his unfinished masterpiece. Started at the end of the 19th Century, there are still cranes surrounding the cathedral towers. In the evening you will join your guide for a tapas crawl through some of the trendiest areas of the city.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Cooking Catalan Style
You have the morning to do some personal exploring or last minute shopping. In the afternoon you will be taken to a professional kitchen where you learn the secrets of creating a wide variety of Tapas ranging from cold to hot. You get to enjoy your work with wine and have a new talent to take with you back home. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for the flight back home where you arrive the same afternoon.
Breakfast
This evening you board an aircraft for the overnight flight to Madrid to start your adventure.
Day 2: Welcome to Spain
Upon arrival in Madrid you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you on an orientation tour of the city including Plaza de Espana, and Plaza Castilla and well known avenues like Castellana and Gran Via. Upon completion of your tour you will be delivered to your hotel where your room will be ready for occupancy.
Day 3: The Royal Palace and the Prado Museum
Today will be focused on the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. Your guide will meet you in the lobby and take you to 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. You will get fast track access and inside you will view a rare collection of ceramics, tapestry and clocks along with the magnificence of the rooms. After the palace, your guide will take you to the Prado Museum, one of the most important art galleries in the world. Here you will find the Spanish masters including Goya, Velasquez, el Greco (actually Greek) and Ribera. They are joined by Raphael, Rubens and Titian among others. After an initial tour, your your guide will leave you and you can continue to explore on your own.
Breakfast
Day 4: San Lorenzo de Escorial and Valle de los Caidos
After breakfast you drive out of the city to the Monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial. This beautifully designed building is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world by many Spaniards and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will take you inside the monastery which is also a memorial to the Kings and Queens of Spain. You leave the monastery and head to the Guadarrama Mountains to the “Valley of the Fallen”, a tribute to those who died in the Spanish Civil War which immediately preceded World War II. Return to the city. In the evening enjoy dinner and authentic Flamenco.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Flight to Palma and City Tour
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Palma. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your elegant hotel located in the heart of the town. You drop off your luggage and meet your guide for a walking tour of this quaint town, a favorite of both the Spanish and the English. You will visit the cathedral and the Gothic quarter and walk through narrow and artistic streets. Along the way you will stop at Can Joan de s’aige, a café founded in 1700 where you will be served “Enseimada Mallorquina” along with hot chocolate. In the evening enjoy an a la carte dinner prepared by your hotel and served either in the tranquil inner courtyard or the roof top garden perfect for sunsets. You pick the venue.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6: Palma to Soller by Train and Tram
After breakfast your guide will meet you and take you on a tour of the Central Food Market a chance to get a glimpse of local like in Palma. You will then be taken to a unique narrow gauge railway that will take you over mountains, through tunnels and down to the quaint village of Soller where you can walk around before boarding a tram to the picturesque port of Soller. The trams, like the railway cars date back to the early twentieth century so you can enjoy an “Agatha Christie” moment as well as enjoying the scenery. You have the option of doing the journey in reverse back to Palma or we can pick you up at the Port of Soller and drive you back stopping at the wine cellars of Santa Maria dei Cami. In the evening you might want to dine at Puro Beach one of the liveliest places in Palma.
Breakfast
Day 7: Exploring the Island by Bike or Car
Today you have three options for exploring the interior and other coasts of the island. The most highly recommended is by bike either racing or mountain. We will set you up with all the equipment and provide a variety of itineraries covering duration and difficulty. The second option is for us to provide a car which you can use to follow the bike routes. We think the bike is best but if you are not into cycling this option works. The third option is for us to provide the car and the driver/guide to give you a more comprehensive experience. We can discuss the merits of each as we plan your individual program. For dinner we recommend the Royal Nautic Club overlooking the harbor.
Breakfast
Day 8: Palma to Barcelona
You have a free morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around town. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel.
Breakfast
Day 9: The Gothic Quarter, Picasso Museum and Boqueria Market
After breakfast you meet your guide for a private tour of the Gothic Quarter parts of which date back to Roman times. The name however comes from the Gothic Cathedral located in among the warren of narrow roads. Despite its name, the area is home to a lot of “of the moment’ boutiques and nightspots. It is also the location of the Picasso Museum which you will visit. Exiting the gothic quarter you cross the street and enter Boqueria Market the city’s best known food market. After giving you a highlight tour your guide will leave you at Pinnochio where you can enjoy Tapas and Cava.
Breakfast
Day 10: The Gaudi Legacy
Today your guide will meet you and by car and on foot show you the many buildings that bear the mark of Antoni Gaudi. He designed private homes, office buildings, amusement parks and department stores; most of which are still in use today. Your main emphasis will be on La Sagrada Familia his unfinished masterpiece. Started at the end of the 19th Century, there are still cranes surrounding the cathedral towers. In the evening you will join your guide for a tapas crawl through some of the trendiest areas of the city.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Cooking Catalan Style
You have the morning to do some personal exploring or last minute shopping. In the afternoon you will be taken to a professional kitchen where you learn the secrets of creating a wide variety of Tapas ranging from cold to hot. You get to enjoy your work with wine and have a new talent to take with you back home. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for the flight back home where you arrive the same afternoon.
Breakfast
