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Contact us on 1-800-759-7715

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To celebrate the launch of Specialist Journeys, enjoy 15% off our 2027 tours with code Curious15. From archaeology and ancient history to remarkable gardens, follow your curiosity somewhere extraordinary. Book by 20 October 2026.

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Two countries, one peninsula, endless history

Our Spain and Portugal tours cross a peninsula with two climates and two gardening traditions. In Andalucia, the Alhambra and Generalife at Granada sit alongside Córdoba's Great Mosque and the treasures of Seville, all of it shaped by centuries of Moorish rule. On the Atlantic side, Galicia's milder, wetter weather and its grand country pazos support camellias that bloom through February and March. The Douro valley turns to almond blossom in early spring, a match for the cherry blossom of Japan and a good deal closer to home. Mallorca hides its gardens at Raixa and Alfabia, and in the Côa valley more than a thousand Palaeolithic images are cut into open rock.

Each tour here is built around one shared interest, whether that's gardens, architecture or prehistory, and you travel with specialists who love sharing it.

Water, shade and blossom tell their own stories across Iberia, alongside the palaces, places of worship and ancient rock art.

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Route of the Almond Blossom

Route of the Almond Blossom

This tour travels through the Douro Valley, taking in the stunning almond blossom vistas which are comparable with the more famous cherry blossoms in Japan, but a lot closer to home. Spend some time exploring the vibrant city of Porto with its UNESCO World Heritage Centre – the Ribeira district is home to colourful houses, narrow cobbled streets and a surfeit of Portuguese charm. Departing from the city, we enjoy a scenic train ride through the Douro Valley with its spectacular vistas and ranks of flowering almond trees. Our destination is Vila Nova de Foz Coa, whose almond trees bloom with delicate pink and white flowers into a magnificent sight to behold. We also visit some of the Douro Valley’s notable manor houses, including Casa Mateus and Casa do Campo, as well as some of the area’s fascinating gardens.
8 days from $3,820 View Tour
Galicia's Camellia Route

Galicia's Camellia Route

Follow Galicia’s Camellia Route, a journey through one of Spain’s most atmospheric and greenest regions. Staying in La Coruña and Santiago de Compostela, we explore a landscape shaped by a mild Atlantic climate where historic estates known as pazos sit within lush gardens and wooded valleys. In late winter and early spring, camellias provide vibrant colour across riverside walks, formal terraces and hillside gardens, marking the season in shades of white, pink and red. Visit a carefully chosen collection of estates including Pazo de Mariñan, Pazo de Faramello, Pazo de Oca and Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, alongside the dramatic Castillo de Soutomaior. With time in Santiago de Compostela and its historic cathedral, this is a journey where gardens, heritage and landscape are closely interwoven, experienced at a calm and unhurried pace.
6 days from $2,095 View Tour
Gardens & Architecture of Andalucía

Gardens & Architecture of Andalucía

Andalucía is unrivalled in Europe for its wealth of history, culture, Moorish architecture and gardens, all set against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. We visit the famous Alhambra and Generalife, which commands exceptional views down towards the old city, the Albaicin. Moving on to Córdoba, we visit the Great Mosque and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with its characteristic terraced pools before discovering the treasures of beautiful Seville. We conclude in the dramatically situated town of Ronda, visiting the Alameda del Tajo Gardens and the Palacio de Mondragon, with its Moorish courtyards and gardens.
8 days from $3,085 View Tour
Gardens & Architecture of Mallorca

Gardens & Architecture of Mallorca

Away from the busy resorts, the Balearic Island of Mallorca offers a timeless, verdant landscape of wooded hills and orange groves, sweeping bays and rocky mountains. The gardens here are a delight to visit in the warm sunshine, including Raixa and Alfaiba, both with Moorish origins and later Christian influences, and the Gardens of Sóller, a botanist’s paradise. Elsewhere, we visit the monastery of Real Cartuja de Valldemosa, tour the island’s principal city of Palma, with its Gothic cathedral and Arab baths, and take an exhilarating ride on the Tren de Soller, a heritage train that runs through spectacular mountain scenery.
6 days from $2,830 View Tour
Gardens of the Neapolitan Riviera

Gardens of the Neapolitan Riviera

Southern Italy's warm climate and fertile soil make it perfect for olives, citrus fruits, and exotic plants. This has inspired stunning villas, gardens, vineyards, and lemon groves, all steeped in the ancient culture of vibrant Naples. In the Bay of Naples, the largest island Ischia hosts La Mortella, a lush garden of exotic plants and trees started by composer William Walton. Umbrella pines, ilex, arbutus, Italian cypresses, and myrtles flourish here. On the Amalfi coast in Ravello, the Villa Rufolo features terraces with umbrella pines, cypresses, and geometric flower beds. Nearby, the clifftop Villa Cimbrone offers unmatched sea views. Lastly, Pompeii provides a fascinating yet tragic glimpse into ancient history.
7 days from $3,865 View Tour

Spain and Portugal tours: your questions answered

Mostly gardens and architecture, taking in the Moorish legacy of Andalucia, the gardens of Mallorca and Madeira, and the flowering seasons of Galicia and the Douro. There is also Palaeolithic rock art in the Côa valley.

Earlier than most people expect. Camellias in Galicia flower through February and March, the almond blossom is early spring, and the southern gardens are at their best well before the summer heat arrives.

Yes. Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic, and its subtropical conditions grow orchids, bougainvillea and lilies that would not survive on the mainland.

Gardens mean gravel, terraces and slopes, Moorish palaces mean courtyards, steps and standing, and the Côa rock art sits in open valley country. Each itinerary carries an activity level of easy, moderate or active so you know what to expect before you book. 

Yes, and many guests do. Shared interest does most of the work, and conversation tends to start with whatever you have just seen.

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