Iberian Coastal Odyssey - A Voyage from Bilbao to Valencia

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.

After a morning at sea we arrive in Gijon, the largest city in Asturias and our base for exploring nearby Oviedo, the modern capital of the Asturias region. Oviedo is recognised as the most culturally significant and historically interesting city of the province with many buildings dating back to the 8th and 9th century when Asturias first developed as a kingdom. After a panoramic drive inland we will begin our walking tour during which we will see the Gothic San Salvador Cathedral before exploring the restored Old Town decorated with beautiful sculptures.

From our berth in La Coruna our full day tour will visit Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. The city’s cathedral is the destination of the important Medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St James (in Spanish the ‘Camino de Santiago’), which is still walked today. For those keen to walk some of the route there will be the chance to hike a short section towards Santiago. Otherwise transfer directly to the site where we will visit the Conventual de San Francisco, the Faculty of Medicine and the worldfamous Plaza del Obradoiro. Inside the cathedral, we will visit the Romanic crypt and see the facade of Platerias, the Quintana Plaza, House of Parra, the facade of Azabacheria, and the facade of San Martin Pinario. Enjoy lunch at a Parador before returning to the ship. Alternatively you may like to spend the morning in La Coruna. During our guided tour we will pass by the Tower of Hercules before continuing to the convent of Santo Domingo which contains a chapel dedicated to La Coruna’s patron ‘La Virgen del Rosario’. Continue to the church of Santa Maria del Campo, built between the 12th and 15th centuries before ending at Maria Pita Square. Maria Pita is one of the most important names in the city as after days of fierce fighting against the British navy, she encouraged the inhabitants to fight once again and defeat the invaders. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

Sail this morning into the Galician port of Vigo from where you can choose to join a local boat which will take us offshore to the beautiful Iles des Cies. Part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, the Romans named them the ‘islands of the gods’ and we will spend time enjoying the natural beauty of the landscapes; see the stunning beaches, walk the paths to search for animal and plant life or maybe swim in the clear waters. Alternatively, drive to the pretty coastal village of Combarro where on a guided walking tour we will explore the narrow streets and pass the many simple fishermans’ cottages. Arriving on the seafront we find a number of ‘horreos’, grain stores raised on stone pillars which were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile in the middle of the estuary we see the ‘bateas’, floating docks used for mussel farming. We will take a private boat trip along the estuary to learn about mussel farming, and sample some of the local mussels, oysters and white wine.

Arriving in Portugal, we have a choice of tours today. Maybe visit Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city and a World Heritage Site. We will drive through its narrow streets to find 16th century arcaded buildings, Baroque churches and chapels, as well as the city’s iconic 19th century iron bridge, built by the school of Gustav Eiffel. See the city’s cathedral, located on the top of Penaventosa Hill with an amazing view over the river before some free time to stroll and explore the riverfront promenade of Cais da Ribeira with its pastel buildings, restaurants and buzzing atmosphere. Alternatively, drive to Guimaraes, often referred to as the birthplace of Portugal, it is one of the country’s most historic cities being where the first king of Portugal was born and where the reconquest of the country from the Moors began. During our guided tour we will view the 10th century castle and visit the Palace of the Dukes. After a walking tour along the charming cobblestone streets and past the wonderful Medieval buildings we will return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at sea.

Moor today in the picturesque port of Setubal where we have a choice of excursions including a full day tour to visit the Alentejo region. We will drive to Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a walking tour will explore the sights and Medieval history of this enchanting city. Evora is one of the oldest towns in the Alentejo region and we will see the well preserved Roman Temple, St Francisco Church and the Chapel of Bones before exploring the charming squares. Alentejo is a highly respected wine region traditionally producing red wines from the Tempranillo and Trincadeira grapes. We will enjoy lunch in a vineyard including a tasting before we return to the MS Hebridean Sky. Alternatively, join a half day tour to Lisbon. Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century and is a city famous for its majestic architecture, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marquis de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praca do Comercio. During our panoramic morning tour we will see the Monument to the Discoveries and Belem Tower and visit the famous Jeronimos Monastery. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at leisure in Setubal.

Spend a relaxing day at sea as we continue our journey around the Iberian Peninsula. Maybe join a lecture in the lounge or find a spot on deck to relax.

Having sailed up the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River, we arrive this morning in vibrant Seville and enjoy a morning walking tour to explore the city’s greatest monuments. Enter the Alcazar Palace with its ornate Moorish interiors and exotic terraced garden. Built by Pedro the Cruel in the 14th century with the help of Moorish craftsmen, it is still used as a residence by the King of Spain. We also visit the imposing La Giralda, Seville’s cathedral, reputed to be the largest Gothic style church in the world with its distinctive Moorish tower. We return to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch and a leisurely afternoon to explore further at your own pace.

Mid-morning we arrive at this strategic British outpost in the Mediterranean. After an early lunch on board there will be an afternoon tour and after taking in the views from Europa Point, we will continue to the Great Siege Tunnels, a labyrinth of tunnels built to defend Gibraltar from Spanish and French attacks between 1779 and 1783. Also see the Gibraltar Museum before we return to the ship and sail this evening.

Spend the morning cruising to Spain’s main naval port of Cartagena. We will enter the deep natural harbour through two fortified rocky headlands for an afternoon of exploration in this historic city that dates back to the Phoenicians. Hannibal used it as his capital city on the Iberian Peninsula and named it after Carthage in North Africa whilst the Romans used it as a strategic port and administrative centre. The city walls remained intact until the 20th century creating a dense historic centre. Take the lift or walk up to Concepcio Castle for amazing views of the city and harbour, view the Roman theatre and the archaeological site of Molinete where work continues to uncover the Roman city. Later enjoy a stroll along the tree-lined harbour promenade as we return to the MS Hebridean Sky and sail tonight.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.