Day 1. Arrive Madrid
Be met on arrival in Madrid and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy time at leisure before tonight’s Welcome Reception.
Stay: Three Nights: Madrid, Westin Palace Hotel
Day 2. Madrid Sightseeing
Discover the Spanish capital today with a morning sightseeing tour introducing you to the hidden delights and main attractions of a city full of awe-inspiring architecture. Your tour includes a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular official residence of the King of Spain. Tonight, enjoy a delicious Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers at a paella restaurant.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 3. Madrid, Freedom of Choice Touring
Continue exploring the exciting city of Madrid today with your choice of touring options. Visit the Prado Museum, regarded as one of the greatest art galleries in the world, or take a tour of the famous Bernabéu soccer stadium, one of the world’s most prestigious soccer venues. Perhaps see the Royal Tapestry Factory, founded nearly 300 years ago by King Philip V and still producing exquisite work.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 4. Toledo, Salamanca
Depart Madrid for Salamanca today. On your way, visit Toledo, a World Heritage-listed city which features a wealth of ancient landmarks and has a long history as a centre for the arts. Here, enjoy a walking tour including a visit to the 13th century Gothic cathedral. Dine tonight at a local restaurant.
Stay: Salamanca, Palacio de San Esteban
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 5. Salamanca, Lamego, Porto, Dine Around Dinner
Explore Salamanca with a walking tour today. See the university, Plaza Mayor, House of Shells and new cathedral before travelling to Lamego for a walking tour including Lamego Castle and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. Then, visit a local bakery to try Bola de Lamego, a regional delicacy. Continue to Porto tonight and choose where to dine. Perhaps enjoy the catch of the day at a local seafood restaurant, or dine at your hotel.
Stay: Two Nights: Porto, Sheraton Port Hotel and Spa
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 6. Porto
See the sights of Porto during a tour. This afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the 14th century Alpendurada Monastery, where you can enjoy a glass of port - the fortified wine originating in Porto - accompanied by canapés. Enjoy an evening at leisure in Porto tonight.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 7. Fatima, Lisbon
Travel to Lisbon today. On the way, stop at Fatima, where you’ll visit the famous shrine, the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary. This impressive neo-Classical edifice was built in 1917 to commemorate the reported sighting of the Lady of the Rosary by three local children. After your visit, continue to Lisbon and dine tonight at a local restaurant.
Stay: Two Nights: Lisbon, Sofitel Liberdade
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 8. Lisbon Sightseeing, Cascais, Sintra
During a sightseeing tour of Portugal’s historic capital city, visit attractions including the World Heritage-listed Belém Tower and the Monument to Explorers. This afternoon, travel to the coastal town of Cascais and enjoy time at leisure over lunch. Then continue to Sintra and visit the magnificent Palacio da Pena, a stunning Romanticist palace on a hill overlooking the town. Explore the beautiful structure of this World Heritage-listed site, including the well-preserved clock tower, gateways, arches and convent.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 9. Merida, Seville
On your way to Seville today, travel via Merida for a guided tour of fascinating ancient sites. This Roman town was founded in 25 BC and boasts more Roman ruins than anywhere else in Spain. Arrive in Seville and tonight enjoy a special dinner of Spanish delicacies, accompanied by a spectacular Flamenco performance.
Stay: Two Nights: Seville, Gran Melia Colon
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 10. Seville Sightseeing
In Seville today, tour the sights by horse-drawn carriage. See the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the Giralda Bell Tower and the Alcazar of Seville. A walking tour then takes you to attractions such as the Barrio de Santa Cruz and to Maestranza bull ring.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 11. Jerez de la Frontera, Gibraltar, Marbella, Dine Around Dinner
Travel to Jerez de la Frontera today and visit the Royal School of Equestrian Art, including the Carriage Museum on site. Travel on to Gibraltar to see the famous Rock of Gibraltar Rock, and St Michaels Cave. Arrive in Marbella and choose where to dine tonight from our options - perhaps sample delicious paella, one of Spain’s most popular national dishes.
Stay: Two Nights: Marbella, Hotel Kempinski
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 12. Marbella, Freedom of Choice Touring
Choose how you discover the coastal resort of Marbella today. You may like to take a guided walking tour through the city’s attractive Old Town, see the stunning coastline during a cruise over the sparkling Mediterranean, or perhaps play a round of golf.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 13. Ronda, Granada
Travel to Ronda today and enjoy a walking tour of this picturesque city, which features ancient baths, three historic bridges and Spain’s oldest bull ring, built in 1784. Arrive in Granada and enjoy dinner in your hotel this evening.
Stay: Granada, Hotel Alhambra
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 14. Granada, Barcelona
This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Granada including a visit to the spectacular Alhambra Palace. This afternoon board your included flight to Barcelona and arrive in the vibrant coastal city. Check in to your hotel on arrival.
Stay: Three Nights: Barcelona, Le Méridien
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 15. Barcelona Sightseeing
Today take a funicular cable car ride to the top of Montjuïc Hill for unbelievable views of the city below, including the National Palace and the Olympic Complex. Then enjoy a private tour of the Castello Montjuïc, an ancient fort. Next, tour Placa Catalonia, and Las Ramblas, the promenade and centre of Barcelona life. Later, see the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, designed by artist and architect Antonio Gaudí, which is still incomplete. You’ll also enjoy a walking tour of Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter), King’s Square and Tinell, the Royal Palace. Tonight enjoy a classic Spanish Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 16. Barcelona at Leisure
Enjoy a full day to explore the colourful city of Barcelona at leisure today.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
Day 17. Barcelona, Arles
This morning, travel to Arles, calling at Perpignan on the way. On arrival, your cruise of the beautiful Rhône begins. Tonight enjoy dinner on board.
Stay: Seven Nights: APT’s luxurious Aria Class ship - the ms Amadagio
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 18. Arles, Avignon, Les Baux
In Arles this morning, enjoy a fascinating walking tour revealing the locales and vistas that inspired Vincent Van Gogh. You’ll also discover the incredible Roman ruins of the city. Then, take an excursion to the beautiful hilltop village of Les Baux, where you’ll enjoy a tour of a working olive mill and farm.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 19. Avignon, Freedom of Choice Touring, Grignan, Viviers
Today in Avignon, choose from our Freedom of Choice Touring options. Perhaps take a guided tour through the narrow streets and elegant squares to the Papal Palace, which served as a residence to the Popes that once governed the Christian world. Alternatively, see the impressive Pont du Gard, an ancient aqueduct, and visit the commune of Uzès. Enjoy an excursion to Grignan and, after dinner this evening, enjoy a ‘ghost walk’ through the largely abandoned medieval town of Viviers.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 20. Tournon, Freedom of Choice Touring
Enjoy a choice of gourmet activities in historic Tournon today. Visit a goat farm for a tour, and savour locally-produced goat’s cheese during a tasting. Alternatively, sample delicious local wines at a Rhône valley winery during a vineyard visit, tour and tasting.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 21. Vienne
Cruise to the pretty town of Vienne this morning. Situated between the famed wine-producing regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne has a significant Roman history, which is highlighted by its marvellously preserved ruins. Take a mini train-ride and see the 1st century Roman Temple of Augustus, and the medieval churches of St Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St Pierre.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 22. Trévoux
Today a morning tour takes you through Beaujolais. Visit a wine-maker in this famed region of France and sample the world-renowned Beaujolais wine during a tasting.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 23. Trévoux - Lyon, Freedom of Choice Touring
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the sights of Trévoux this morning. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail to Lyon, which is considered the gastronomic capital of France. Here, perhaps enjoy a city tour, or uncover the art of cuisine with a French cooking class.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 24. Lyon - Basel
Depart for Basel, on the borders of France, Germany and Switzerland. Stop in the beautiful Lake Geneva region for a photo, before continuing via Gruyères for a factory tour and tasting of the richly-flavoured Swiss cheese that makes this medieval town so famous.
Stay: Seven Nights APT’s Aria Class ship - the MS AmaCello
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Dinner
Day 25. Breisach, Freedom of Choice Touring Colmar/Black Forest
Today, choose between a city tour of Colmar or a tour through the famous Black Forest region of Germany. On the Black Forest tour, enjoy your drive through a scenic forested area where you will encounter a number of lakes as well as charming examples of rural architecture. Your tour will include a stop at a cuckoo clock factory and a visit to magnificent Lake Titisee. Alternatively, travel to medieval Colmar, on the Alsatian Wine Route.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 26. Speyer
On arrival in the city of Speyer today, you’ll disembark for a brief sightseeing tour. Then you’ll explore the fascinating Technik Museum Speyer, Europe’s largest private technology museum, which features more than 3,000 incredible exhibits from all areas of technical history.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 27. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Touring
Arrive in Rüdesheim, where you have a choice of activities. The Winzerexpress mini-train will take you to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Here, a tour will highlight one of the most beautiful collections of automated musical instruments in Germany. Alternatively, take a trip in a gondola for spectacular views. Perhaps visit a Rhine Valley winery for a tasting.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 28. Cochem
This morning your ship will leave the Rhine and turn onto the Moselle River, a winding and picturesque waterway. Enjoy a morning of stunning views as the scenery of the spectacular Moselle Valley drifts by. In the town of Cochem, visit Reichsburg Castle.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 29. Koblenz, Freedom of Choice Touring, Cologne
Arrive in Koblenz today and choose from two excursions. Perhaps travel to Venlo to explore the spectacular displays on show at the 2012 Floriade Horticultural World Expo†. Alternatively, you may like to take a trip to the historic city of Maastricht, where you can explore the grand ancient architecture and boutique shops. Rejoin your ship in Cologne and perhaps enjoy an evening stroll.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 30. Amsterdam, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today select your activity from our options. Perhaps take a canal cruise, visit the Van Gogh Museum, or take a guided Wetland Safari canoe tour through extraordinary landscapes.
Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Day 31. Depart Amsterdam
After breakfast today, disembark your ship. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Daily Meal Included: • Breakfast
ARIA Ships Sailing on this itinerary:
MS AmaDolce - Launched 2009
MS AmaLyra - Launched 2009
MS AmaDante - Launced 2008
MS AmaCello - Launched 2008
MS AmaLegro - Launched 2007
MS AmaDagio - Launched 2006