Spain and Portugal Tour - 8 Days

Tour in Your Own Car - Spain and Portugal Tour

Our Spain and Portugal Tour mixes cultural/historical sites with amazing mountain roads, beautiful landscapes and immerses you into the Spanish and Portuguese culture! Start your grand tour in Madrid, then go west through deserted sweeping mountain roads before crossing the border to Portugal. Green mountains, fantastic old villages, and amazing river roads await you! Stop in Porto before exploring the Douro river region, famous for the making of Port wine, where you will stop for a sip and a proper visit. On this tour, the memories of the roads, landscapes, food and wine, and friendly welcome of the locals will stick with you for a lifetime!

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Spain and Portugal Tour

Day 1 - Arrive in Madrid

Arrive in Madrid and head to your hotel near the Plaza de España. After checking in, take a walk to the Royal Palace of Madrid and to the Cathedral before heading to the Plaza Mayor for one of the best tapas in town! Enjoy the vibrant nightlife of Madrid, but don’t forget that you will start your driving tour early the next day!

Overnight Hotel: 5-Star VP Plaza España Design

Day 2 - Drive 1: Sierra de Gredos Mountains

Drive 1 will take you through the heart of the Sierra de Gredos, small medieval villages, scenic valleys. The drive starts with a visit to the INTA NASA Madrid Deep Space Communication Center before picking up the path of the River Alberche, running 100 km west to east. The river in fact starts in the heart of the Sierra de Gredos. Make an optional stop for coffee en route to the mountains, then make the climb to nearly 1400 m to the Passo Puerto del Pico. After lunch, follow the northern perimeter of the Sierra de Gredos National Park. Then, head back to the main valley to your hotel for the evening.

Overnight Hotel: 4-Star Izan Puerta de Gredos

Day 3 - Drive 2: Sierra de Francia Mountains

Today’s drive is all about enjoying one of the most scenic and isolated national parks and mountain ranges in Europe, the Parque Natural de Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia. From your hotel, you will continue the journey west towards Portugal, and around 1 hours later head into the National Park, driving around 20 minutes further to a beautiful photo spot with views across to the mountain off Sierra de Francia – head down from this elevated spot, to the charming town of La Alberca, with its medieval castle, and bustling cobbled streets – park just outside the town, and wander into the Plaza Mayor, where you will also have lunch. Depart the town, and the next stage of the drive is all about the climb up to the Santuario de la Peña Francia, a monastery set on top of a mountain at 1700M, with the most breathtaking views of the surrounding region. Next, continue to the Medieval village at Ciudad Rodrigo. The town is for its 12th-century city walls. Inside the ramparts is the Cathedral de Santa María, with ornate Gothic and Romanesque doorways. From Ciudad Rodrigo, continue west, crossing the border into Portugal, heading into the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela, and up to your hotel, set high amongst the ski fields of this region after a very exhilarating stretch of mountain roads to finish the day!

Overnight Hotel: 4 Star, Casa de São Lourenço, Portugal 

Day 4 - Drive 3: Serra de Estrela National Park & On to Porto

First head along to the Scenic Lagoa Compride, with its hydro dam, set high in the mountains – now continue your climb up to the highest point in Portugal, the summit of Serra da Estrela. Visiting Torre, mainland Portugal’s highest peak (1993m), is a rite of passage for many Portuguese travelers. Ski crowds flock here in winter, while at other times of year visitors come for a selfie by one of the radar stations: giant ‘golf balls’ that are so retro they could beam you back to the 1950s. Now start your journey down through the heart of the National Park – make a short diversion to visit a small, yet incredibly scenic waterfall called Poço Da Broca. Continue back all the way to the recently opened Alva Valley Hotel, where you can stop for lunch. You have now exited the main mountain range - continue your journey crossing the river Dao. Make a brief stop for afternoon tea before turning north and driving directly via highway towards the city of Porto(1hrs20), arriving in time for late afternoon drinks on the hotel's terrace, on the banks of the River Douro. That evening, you have the opportunity to dine at the hotel's famed 2 Star Michelin restaurant, taking a 15-course gastronomic journey!

Overnight Hotel: 5 Star, The Yeatman Porto, Portugal

Day 5 - Drive 4: The Douro Valley

Today’s drive is much shorter in time but not in fantastic landscapes! You will start the day with some free time for yourself in Porto to explore this beautiful city and relax before heading on the road. Lunch in Porto before starting the drive in the early afternoon from your hotel. Exit the city of Porto, following East towards the beginning of the Douro Valley. Following the beautiful Route 222 that follow the river all along from the city to the inner land. Twisty roads and fantastic views over the Douro river and the vineyards is the program for this afternoon drive.  Two winery stops are included along the drive, Winery ANETO and Winery do Tedo.

Overnight Hotel: 5 Star, Quinta Nova Winery House 

Day 6 - Drive 5: Douro Valley & Duoro National Park

Today’s drive will take you on a scenic drive through the stunning Douro Valley, famous for some of the finest wines and ports in the whole of Portugal. The drive will include stops at several of the best wineries in the region. The initial part of the drive will follow the scenic SR222, recognized as one of the best driving roads in the world, indeed it won that accolade in 2015, and in many parts follows the path of the River Douro, with vineyards on either side of the river – two winery stops at Quinta do Seixo and QUEVEDO are planned. Shortly after, stop for lunch in a very beautiful and modern restaurant overlooking the Douro. Now, as you head further east, you will then divert from the main road, and follow several smaller, but equally scenic roads that continue to run close to the shoreline of the Douro – there is a stunning stretch in the heart of Park Natural do Douro International, where the river forms the borderline between Portugal and Spain. Continue through the park, stopping briefing at the border town of Miranda do Douro, where you can visit the old castle, and take a walk along the narrow-cobbled streets, before crossing the border into Spain. For the final hour, you will drive directly to your hotel on long straight sections of roads cutting through “Don Quichotte windmills” style landcsapes.

Overnight Hotel: 5 Star, Valbusenda Hotel

Day 7 - Drive 6: Zamora & Back to Madrid

Take your time in the morning for a visit of the old town of Zamora and don’t forget to visit the old castle, built during the 10^th century. After some Tapas in the main square, jump back in the car and drive directly to Madrid by the highway. Arrive at the hotel, drop the car there and enjoy some shopping in the city or just relax enjoying a drink at the bar. For the evening, we know the best place in town for a Spanish paella!

Overnight Hotel: 5-Star VP Plaza España Design 

Day 8 – Day at Leisure in Madrid

Enjoy some time in Madrid, visiting the town and its beautiful museums and parks, or just take a taxi back to the airport for your flight back, airport is approximately 30 minutes away from the hotel.

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