Tour begins and ends in Barcelona, Spain.

Day 1 – Barcelona

Arrive on your own at your centrally located hotel. Time to relax before joining me for your first glass of our internationally renowned Cava! We will toast the start of our friendship and our travels together. Then we’ll take an orientation stroll around the neighborhood of our hotel, where we’ll stay for the duration of our tour, before dinner at a local restaurant (included). After enjoying the good food and wine together you can choose to stroll home, discovering different views of the city, or take the easy option and share a cab! Sleep well – Duerme bien!

Day 2 – Gaudí

Today we will take a panoramic tour of Barcelona and I will introduce you to the artist who will be forever linked with the city in the eyes of the world. We will travel in comfort in own private transport. This not only allows us to stop at strategic viewpoints and historical sites, but also enables us to access those out of the way places that you might miss if traveling on your own. We will head to Parc Güell, where a visionary young architect named Antonio Gaudi designed a private community for one of the wealthiest residents of the city at that time. Mr Güell wanted an exclusive residential area to live in but what Gaudí delivered was way ahead of its time. Although his brilliance may not have been appreciated by his employer, today Parc Güell is a must-see and an iconic part of Gaudí’s legacy.

Day 3 – Tarragona Day Trip

After an early departure, we will head south traveling parallel to the Mediterranean coast to reach today’s destination – the Roman city of Tarragona. A UNESCO World Heritage site, here we have Roman ruins and a medieval citadel merging as if one. As you wander the streets of the old section you are transported back in time and life in the former Empire becomes tangible. Our private guide will interpret the site and bring it alive for you, leading you away from the crowded spots to discover hidden gems. A photographer’s dream – make sure that your camera battery is fully charged! The walking tour and site visits will take us approximately 4 hours followed by lunch on your own and time for your own explorations. We’ll meet back together again before joining the coach to return to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy dinner on your own.

Driving time is 1.5 hours each way. Full day excursion is approximately 9 hours.

Day 4 – Exploring Gaudí’s Barcelona

This morning we will explore the city as locals, using city transit, bus and/or underground and our focus will be on two of Gaudi’s greatest works, Casa Mila (or La Pedrera) and, perhaps the greatest of them all, Sagrada Familia. Our private guide will share their expertise and personal experience to bring these masterpieces to life and to explain Gaudi’s influence on the future of the city and on architecture in general. After more than 125 years the construction of this remarkable Church is still a work in progress and the story behind this fact is fascinating. The walking tour and visits will last between 4-5 hours. The rest of the day is free for exploration and lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 5 – Surrealism in Figueres

After an early departure, today we drive north in our private minibus to Figueres to discover the genius of Salvador Dalí, his life, relationships, eccentricity and of course his works of art. We will take a private tour of the Dalí Museum in Figueres. Formerly a local theatre that had fallen into ruin, Dalí himself worked on the building over a number of years to restore it into an appropriate homage to his great works. Here you will learn for yourself how this great artist straddled the thin line between genius and madness. After the visit and some free time to explore, we will continue our drive to the town of Púbol where Dalí’s wife Gala lived. On arrival we’ll have lunch at a family run restaurant where you’re sure to enjoy some local home-cooking (included) before visiting the small castle Dali bought for his wife. His influence can be felt in every corner! From here we return to our hotel – full day excursion time approximately 9-10 hours. The rest of the evening is at leisure and dinner is on your own.

Day 6 – Free day for your own exploring

Today is yours. You are on your own to take things easy and recharge your batteries or to make plans for any extracurricular activities that aren’t part of the tour itinerary. You may decide to have a late morning and leisurely breakfast, take an excursion to the Joan Miró museum or Montserrat, or just wander around and explore the neighborhoods—my favorite thing to do! Whatever you decide, I will be on hand with help and advice to make sure that you get the most out of your day. A little reminder: Whatever you have in mind for this day, please let me know as soon as possible in order that I can assist with bookings or purchasing tickets in advance e.g. train tickets, entrances, restaurants etc. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 7 – Picasso and the Gothic quarters

This morning our walking tour will lead us to one of the largest collections of the work of the world renowned artist – Pablo Picasso. The number of pieces displayed in this permanent collection is just mind blowing! Born in Málaga, Picasso lived in Barcelona during his late teens and early twenties when the city was experiencing an artistic boom that was to have a huge influence on his later works. After our private guided tour in the Museum, you’ll have some time at leisure to wander the complex that houses the museum before we continue to explore the magnificent preserved Gothic area outside. Our guided museum visit and full walking tour will take about 4 hrs. The afternoon is at leisure and you are invited to join me in the early evening to allow me to show you some other aspects of the Catalonian way of life. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Day 8 – Natural Park of La Garrotxa and dead Volcanos

A day of Romanesque Architecture and natural beauty. An early departure driving north for another full day expedition and this time, please wear appropriate footwear because weather permitting, we’ll be taking a hike! We’ll set off in our private minibus, heading northwest to the town of Ripoll, famous for its Catalonian Romanesque architecture. Our private guide will tell us all about this exclusive site, where members of Catalonia’s historical nobility rest for eternity. We’ll explore the monastery including the cloister which are an exquisite example of this style of architecture. You will have a short break on your own in this tiny village to wander and soak up the atmosphere. Back to the bus and onwards to the town of Olot, located in the National Park of La Garrotxa where 50 extinct volcanoes are to be found. Our scenic and jaw-dropping drive will take us to the village for an on your own lunch – myself and our local guide will be pleased to give you suggestions as to where to go to enjoy the local gastronomy. If time allows, after lunch we’ll visit another couple of points of interest in town before we set off to drive to a real volcano where, depending on weather conditions, we can park and hike for about 30 minutes to the bed of the volcano. In the centre is a little hermitage built in the most pure Catalonian Romanesque style. Unfortunately the little church does not have a schedule, but if we’re lucky, we might have the chance to find it open and sneak inside. If not, the visit, landscape and hike are more than worth the visit. Back to the bus and return to Barcelona. Full day excursion including bus rides is approximately 9-10 hrs. Dinner is on your own.

Day 9 – Montjuic and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia in Barcelona.

After a good night’s rest to recover from yesterday’s exercise, today we are going by private transfer to the mountain of Montjuic. An icon of the city, this mountain is said to be the inspiration for Gaudí’s tallest spire of the Sagrada Familia. We’ll drive to the Castle at the very top where the breathtaking views of the city will stay with you long after you’ve returned home. Barcelona held the Olympics in 1992 and most of the competition sites, including the stadium are on this mountain. A panoramic drive through the complex is included, ending our private bus service when we enter the MNAC (National Museum of Art of Catalonia). This museum holds the largest collection of Romanesque art and will deepen your understanding of yesterday’s treasures, the icing on the cake! After your private guided visit to the collection, the rest of the day is at leisure. You can stay longer at the museum if you wish, or make your way back to the hotel at your own pace. An opportunity to find those last souvenirs! Lunch is on your own. Meet me in the lobby of the hotel later that evening for our farewell dinner in a nearby restaurant. I promise to provide free tissues for any tears as we remember our time and adventures together. And of course, we can’t say goodbye without toasting with the traditional Catalan Cava!

Day 10 – Bon viatge!

After our breakfast, like all good things the tour has come to the end. I’ll be around until noon and as Catalonians say: Bon viatge i fins aviat – have a good trip & I’ll see you soon.