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Spain and Portugal have lots to offer as well as sun and sand, says NICK DALTON
SPAIN and Portugal have for so long been seen as beach destinations – but look beneath the surface and there’s a different world, one rich in elegant cities and spectacular mountains, beautiful rivers and ancient fortresses. The two countries are united by geography and sun, yet are very different.
One could spend the whole summer (and more) exploring the lands that curve round from the Atlantic coast to the delights of the Med.
And yet, with someone who knows where to go, you can see the highlights – both the obvious and the far less obvious – in one trip.
From the big city delights of Barcelona to hidden spots high in the unspoilt regions, you’ll find a holiday of contrasts.
Even within an organised holiday there are still various ways to go about it. Touring specialist Cosmos offers great value escorted tours while sister company Globus pushes things up a notch with in-depth experiences, VIP access and hotels at the heart of things.
Then there are Escapes by Globus which escape the crowds with itineraries from November to March – offering excellent out-of-season prices while still enjoying balmy temperatures.
There’s a big bonus whatever you choose – if you live within 50 miles of the airport, the Cosmos VIP private home pick-up service will take you there and back, cutting out so much hassle.
The 13-day Cosmos Best of Spain & Portugal tour offers a relaxing guided holiday. Starting in Madrid, it visits ancient hilltop Toledo, sophisticated Seville, orangegrove surrounded Granada and Córdoba on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, before crossing into Portugal for two nights in Lisbon.
Then two nights in Porto, followed by a trip along the vineyard-cloaked Douro Valley, popping back into Spain, visiting ornate Salamanca, before a twonight finale in Madrid.
Prices start at £1,406pp including breakfast and four dinners, one of them at a restaurant in Porto.
Other Cosmos tours include the eight-day Highlights of Andalucia (from £1,190), with two nights on the Costa del Sol and visits to cities such as Seville, and the 16-day Spain, Portugal & Morocco itinerary which crosses the Strait of Gibraltar (past The Rock) for four days in northern Africa taking in Casablanca and Marrakech. From £1,517pp.
Globus offerings include the new 11-day Portugal in Depth which takes you the length of the country, from Guimarães in the north, where Portugal’s first king was believed to have been born (and near where you get to sample tapas at a winery) to the beach-lined Algarve (an excursion heading for the farthest point of continental Europe).
Other treats include a tasting at Sandeman’s port cellar, a walking tour of Lisbon and dinners in varied restaurants. From £1,867pp.
But, of course, holidays here aren’t just for summer. Escapes by Globus trips include the new eight-day Spain and Portugal Escape, from £994. Imagine looking in amazement at Barcelona’s fairy tale Sagrada Familia cathedral, left, without the crowds.
A visit is part of two nights in the city on a tour that also features two nights each in Madrid, Seville and Lisbon. It really is a different world here out of season.