Journeys: Iconic Portugal & Spain

This two-week escorted tour by G Adventures takes you through a sequence of Spain and Portugal’s cultural landmarks, with the pace set to allow ample time in each place. Starting perhaps in Madrid, you head to Córdoba’s jewel, the Mezquita, notable for its forest of arches and mix of architectural styles. The red walls of the Alhambra in Granada provide a Moorish masterpiece to contrast with the whitewashed facades of Portugal’s Sintra, where the Palace of Pena rises like a fairy-tale castle amidst the hills.

Visits are peppered with local insights, such as a cork farm outing in Évora or taking in a flamenco show in Seville. The tour also includes a boat cruise on Portugal’s Douro River and a taste of Porto’s port wine cellars. The inclusion of an internal flight and varied transport means there’ll be moments to simply watch the Iberian landscape unfold, whether from train, bus, or boat. Accommodation usually centres on family-run hotels, some with staircases to carry your bags up.

Guidance comes from a National Geographic Expedition Leader and licensed local experts, providing orientation walks and cultural context, though not traditional guiding for every site. This is a considered exploration of the Iberian Peninsula’s southern reaches, framed by historical depth rather than hurry.