Indulgent Gastronomy Tour of the Iberian Peninsula

Your first full day in Barcelona finds you embarking on a whirlwind exploratory adventure alongside your expert guide. Encounter the most iconic locales in Spain’s most famous city, while also sampling the most exceptional fare. You will start by traversing the trendy boulevard of Passeig de Gracia, then stopping to see the bewitching and whimsical Casa Batllo. You will then head to discover Antoni Gaudí’s fairytale, rainbow-colored wonderland, Parc Guell, which will amaze and delight you.

Your exploration of Barcelona will then take you to the famed La Sagrada Familia, where the ornate design of Gaudí’s stunning architectural masterpiece will leave you speechless. You will then end your tour in Old Town Barcelona, enjoying a stroll through the streets of the gorgeous Gothic Quarter and hearing the fascinating history of the city’s origins and Catalan culture. Along the way, you will be taking brief pauses to pop into several local vendors to sample the very best tapas that Barcelona has to offer.

This tour provides the perfect foundation for the exciting adventure that you embark upon late that evening. Roll up your sleeves and take your place in the kitchen alongside a local master chef, who will be teaching you how to whip up some of Spain’s most tasty tapa recipes.

After bonding with your culinary guru in the kitchen, concocting a culinary masterpiece side-by-side, you and your gracious host will sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor over a well-deserved glass of wine. One final surprise awaits as you are sent back to your accommodations with a lovely recipe book that includes all of the mouthwatering dishes that you just created.

Begin on a light and positive note as you awaken to a private yoga session on the beautiful Barcelona beach. After spending an hour under the warm sunshine, going through all of your healing yoga poses under the lead of your expert instructor, you will be ready to face a new day in this delightful paradise.

To make sure that you have enough fuel to power you through your plethora of exciting events to come, you will be treated to a gourmet brunch. Now embark on your day’s first official tour, where you will dive deep into the world of chocolate with some of Barcelona’s best chocolatiers. This cosmopolitan city has a long tradition of revering the art of crafting the finest chocolate, by celebrating with centuries of indulgent recipes, unique festivities, and the many delicious ways to enjoy this cocoa treat.

You will be led on a lovely stroll through Barcelona, stopping at some of the city’s most renowned chocolate shops for samples, learning from the masters about all things chocolate. You will even get to visit the oldest cacao mill in Barcelona en route. Once your cocoa-themed epicurean escapade has concluded, you will be free to spend the evening strolling around the beautiful streets of Barcelona, savoring your chocolate before picking among a plethora of lovely al fresco eateries to enjoy a relaxing dinner. Your driver will then pick you up and deliver you back to your luxury accommodations for a good night’s rest.

Upon awakening, you will say goodbye to Barcelona and make your way to Madrid. After checking in to your luxury accommodations in the city, you will waste no time in embarking on your first official Madrid tour. Following your personal guide, you will dive into a deliciously educational and exciting sightseeing tour of Madrid’s most magical sights and flavors. While being introduced to the most iconic landmarks and monuments in Madrid, you will be learning the Spanish words and phrases to describe them. What’s even more exciting is that you will also be sampling a plethora of authentic Spanish tapas, stopping at only the most exclusive, under-the-radar enclaves that are frequented and beloved by the residents, not the mainstream tourist mobs.

While you discover the best sights and taste the best tapas, you will also be learning how to speak Spanish, a tool that you will then get to practice throughout the day as you order your savory selections at each establishment. Then dine side-by-side while conversing with the local patrons. At the end of your tour, you will have added a wealth of Spanish words to your vocabulary, seen some stunning sights in Madrid, and also tasted some of the finest Spanish tapas. At this time, you will be happy to have the rest of the evening free to do as you wish, simply enjoying a night to explore Madrid’s delights on your own, with no plan or timeline. Once you are ready to return to your luxury accommodations, your private driver will come to pick you up and return you to your temporary Madrid abode for the night.

The stunning town of Segovia and its myriad ancient delights await to welcome you as you awaken to a new and beautiful day in Madrid. Meet your private guide at your accommodations and be carried away from the city on a full-day private tour. While you ride in a luxury vehicle to this gorgeous enclave, you will enjoy gazing at some of the loveliest scenery. Upon your arrival in Segovia, you will immediately be smitten.

While you wander among this ancient treasure, you will witness the incredible aqueduct that was built by the Romans, while listening to what life was like centuries ago in this special place from your knowledgeable guide. For those fairytale lovers, you will even get to see the Alcazar fortress, which is said to have inspired Walt Disney so much that he fashioned his iconic fairytale castle from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs after its immaculate design.

After touring the captivating castle, it would seem only fitting to follow up such an amazing delight with an equally fantastic gastronomic treat by sampling some of the finest Spanish wines at an idyllic winery. Learn all about the process of winemaking while tasting the winery’s wines, followed by an al fresco meal. While overlooking the gorgeous winery grounds and indulging in a bonafide feast, you will witness a spectacular Spanish sunset before being driven back to your Madrid accommodations.

Fast on the heels of your delicious culinary adventure the evening before, the next day finds you embarking on yet another wine-infused gourmet getaway as you spend the day stopping by three of the region’s most renowned and beloved wineries. After meeting your private guide in the morning at your Madrid accommodations, you will be taken to the Spanish countryside in a private luxury vehicle.

At each of the three wineries, you will be treated to samples of some of the most excellent wines in Spain, while being regaled with fascinating facts about the blends and the intricate process of bringing them from grape to bottle. You will even be able to stroll among some winery vineyards, actually picking some of the fruit and tasting their tart, yet sweet flavors right on the spot.

During the day, you will be treated to a decadent al fresco lunch, complete with an awe-inspiring vista overlooking one of the vast vineyards. After you finish your feast, your driver will take the scenic route to return you to your Madrid accommodations, allowing you to soak up the gorgeous scenery of the Spanish countryside thoroughly. Then, as you are dropped off at your luxury accommodations for the night, you will have learned so much about Spanish wines throughout this enlightening excursion that you will almost feel like a bonafide sommelier.

The following morning, depart Madrid and make your way to Lisbon. From the moment you arrive in Lisbon and check in to your luxury accommodations, you will fall in love with the captivating capital city of Portugal. Once you have had some time to settle in, you will meet your private guide, who will take you on a delicious gourmet tour.

The majority of your time will be spent in Lisbon’s idyllic enclave of Belem. Encounter world the famous sights of Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, and more before making an unforgettable visit to the highlight of your excursion, the iconic Belem pastry shop. It is believed to be responsible for creating the country’s signature pastry, Pasteis de Nata. After exploring the bakery and being regaled with the intriguing history of the sweet egg custard treat, you will finally get to taste the world-famous dessert for yourself.

And if that was not enough of a treat, you will then spend the evening enjoying a once in a lifetime event, learning how to bake your own Pasteis de Nata from scratch, using the famous bakery’s secret recipe. Whether you are a master baker at home yourself or a complete novice in the kitchen, you have nothing to fear, as you will be led step-by-step through the exciting process by the iconic establishment’s master baker himself. Finally, after your pastry treasure is finished baking, you will have the joy of devouring one or two of them while they are still warm, then be sent back to your Lisbon accommodations, armed with several more to enjoy later.

After surely having dreamed sweet dreams from the night before, you will awaken in Lisbon, ready for yet another day of an exciting adventure. Today’s journey will find you traveling with an expert guide to the stunning Sintra countryside to enjoy a hike among some of the country’s most stunning scenery.

Here, far from the throngs of tourists and the buzzing hustle and bustle or your run-of-the-mill sightseeing tours, you will get the rare opportunity to embrace the pristine and untouched beauty of the Portuguese countryside.

Along your nature trek, you will experience tucked away villages nestled in the mountains, whose rustic charm will instantly beguile you. You will also encounter stunning vistas that offer panoramic views of the breathtaking valleys below. Mid-day, you will stop for a light picnic lunch, then continue on your hike. Then, after you have thoroughly fallen in love with Portugal’s outdoor wonders, you will be wooed by its wine. Following your nature trek, you will stop by a respected winery on your way back to Lisbon, where you will be treated to a guided tour of the winery grounds. Then indulge in a private wine tasting paired with the local village’s famed made-from-scratch bread and fresh-pressed olive oil. Finally, you will be returned to your Lisbon accommodations for your last night in paradise.

As you awaken on your last morning in Lisbon, you will be met by a delightful gourmet brunch. After you finish savoring every delicious bite, your private driver will arrive at your luxury accommodations and deliver you to the airport.

As you catch your flight home, watching the Portugal coastline disappear from view out of your window, you will already be planning your recounting the experiences that have surely captured your heart.