Tales of Portugal and Spain: A Historic Journey Through Iberia

The trip was very good. Our tour coordinator Paula was very well organized, resourceful and energetic. She was also very helpful to us in two challenging situations. For one we arrived a day late due to cancellations and an incomplete booking by our air carrier TAP and missteps by Road Scholar emergency services in getting it straightened out. I communicated with Paula via email and she made the necessary arrangements to have local transportation waiting for us when we finally did arrive a day late. Also she provided critical assistance to my husband and me when he was injured due to a fall in the lobby of the Hotel Inglaterra in Seville. She guided us to a local hospital, acted as an interpreter for us communicating with the local hospital personnel, and lead me to a local pharmacy to fill prescriptions to address signficant swelling and pain caused by his injuries. We recognize that without her help we would have been very challenged to get the necessary care in a timely fashion. (We are submitting claims to AON for the trip delay at the beginning, the missed time in the program due to his injury and the medical charges associated with his care for that injury.) The tour and our many activities were interesting and our subject matter expert guides were excellent. Two of the many highlights of the tour were the cooking class in Portugal and the Ålhambra - they come to mind among the many excellent activities provided for us throughout the tour. We also believe that Road Scholar attracts participants who are interested in learning about other coutries, curious about other cultures, and are generally open minded and interesting to meet and travel with. We give the tour high marks, the only significant criticism we have concerns the problems we had with our flights to the program and failures by TAP and Road Scholar to address these problems efficiently and smoothly..

This was an incredible trip on EVERY FRONT! From the first intro to our final farewell our fabulous ,personalbe, sweet and knowledgeable guide Mayra Noguerales ensured each part of each day was a spectacular experience. Such richness, such beautify, so much to learn and eat and experience. We cannot say enough about this trip, about Mayra, about Road Scholar and their partners abroad who made this trip an unforgettable part of our lives. Thank you. Debra & Martin D.

This trip was an 11 on a 1-10 scale. The hotels were quite spectacular, especially the palace in Lisbon and the monastery in Evora. The cities were terrific. The group leader Mayra was the best tour group leader I have ever had-organized, friendly, knowledgeable and personal. The meals were good and my wife's vegetarian requirements were always met. We did a lot of walking but really not a problem for anyone who is physically fit. Every day was a new adventure. I ended up taking a few thousand pictures because there were opportunities for picture taking everywhere, Loved the extra activities such as cooking school, two private concerts, and visits to a cork farm and factory and an olive oil facility. All the tour leaders in each stop were excellent. I could improve nothing on this trip.

Excellent, well worth the time and money. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this part of the world

This tour covers a lot of ground. We were on the go everyday. Our tour director, Sylvia, made the trip interesting and easy. Along with the amazing sites, we attended a Fado show, had a private Flamenco guitar performance, and ate lunch at a family home in Spain. The hotels (especially in Portugal) were top notch and very interesting! Our group was great and I felt like we bonded on the trip. I could do this tour again!

My wife and I enjoyed this trip and learned a lot from it. Our group leader, Luisa Azevedo, did an amazing job. Our local guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. All of the hotels we stayed were unique and gorgeous. Everyone in our group was so wonderful. It was our first time with Road Scholar, it would not be our last one based on our experiences. We plan to sign up other RS trips too and share our experiences with our friends. Thank you to Luisa and all of our friends and scholars in this trip for such a good memory we have. Continue to travel and learn.

Our group leader Paula did a great job in encouraging interaction among the participants. I learned a lot from other participants in informal interactions.

This is a super interesting program but it is physically challenging. Not for people with mobility problems.

The Road Scholar tour of southern Portugal and Spain was excellent for exposing us to the history and culture of the regions. Each destination offered engaging guided experiences, delicious local cuisine, and opportunities to connect with the traditions of the Iberian Penisula. I did two Road Scholar tours back to back (northern, then southern) of Portugal and Spain in 4 weeks and this allowed me to have a captivating journey in both countries to learn more about the history and culture.

This was a wonderful trip. I was amazed at the quality of the hotels and the food we were provided. The hotels were a lot nicer than I would have stayed at if I had gone on my own. The group leader (Silvia) and the local guides were so knowledgable and fun to travel with. We learned an incredible amount about the history of Portugal and Spain. I was impressed by how the program was built in a logical order. We learned about people and events in a lecture, then would go to places where having that knowledge helped make sense of what we were seeing. I enjoyed the people I traveled with on this tour. Most of them were experienced Road Scholar adventurers who were very welcoming to me as a solo traveler on my first trip. This is a very active trip that requires a lot of walking on every variety of cobblestone and tile that you can imagine, so wear very comfortable shoes. We had some rain on a few days which made the surfaces slippery, so good gripping shoes are a must. I think the distance we walked some days was further than what the itinerary describes, so I would make sure you are prepared for 4-5 miles on some days.

Wonderful trip (9/28-10/12)! The group leader (Silvia) was the perfect leader - on top of everything. The lecturers and guides specific to locations were also top notch - it was a feast. Hotels were amazing, food was wonderful (only 1 'dud' meal). In addition to the scenery and UNESCO sites, activities were fun and provided a break. We toured a farm and a cork forest/factory, an olive oil co-op, participated in a Portuguese cooking school, had lunch in a Spanish grandma's home, and enjoyed an amazing cheese tasting. Wear sturdy shoes; consider a walking stick, the hills are killers. The activity level could use a "+" sign. Have a sun hat. I wouldn't do this trip earlier because of heat - we had a couple hot days. Then it turned cooler; had a couple days of showers but not bad. A few of the sites fall into the over-touristed, crowded category. RS does well scheduling around crowds but that is not always possible, of course. There are good respites, with drives through the countryside and less crowded adventures. Hotels had blow dryers, make-up mirrors, shampoo etc - the only thing several hotels didn't have was cream rinse. This is a wonderful trip and no one wants to be sick. A cold virus was caught by many, followed by Covid at the end. If everyone had masked on flights would that have happened? I masked until the last couple of days (for air travel, on the bus, and crowds) and didn't catch the cold until the last day - now I regret letting my guard down. At least 2 now have Covid (fortunately didn't hit until the last day). Given the crowds of tourists from all over the world at a couple of the attractions, we were sitting ducks. If we had been wearing masks maybe illness could have been avoided? Sharing in case helpful. My advice: bring masks for air travel, the bus, and crowds, and use the hand sanitizer pump provided on the bus. Who wants to be sick on an amazing trip like this?

The Iberian Pennisula program was a great trip! Two weeks packed with history of the different cultures that formed their countries. It was also paired with meeting local people to see their trades demonstrated and immersion in local culture. Don't under-estimate the amount of walking, much on hilly, uneven cobblestone roads. I would highly recommend this program for those interested in the history and culture of the Iberian Peninsula.

This was a lovely program. It offered exactly as described in the material online. Our trip leader was exceptionally gifted with knowledge of the area, relationships with hotel and restaurant hosts and expert lecturers. She made the trip run so smoothly. The other travelers were delightful, knowledgable and easy to be with throughout the trip.

This trip was fascinating, informative, and fun. We saw many things we wouldn't have had access to if we were traveling on our own. Great guided excursions in addition to adequate free time to explore on our own. And great food!

Excellent educational tour of southern Spain and Portugal.

Who knew there was so much to learn and enjoy in the Iberian Peninsula? The food! The culture! The architecture! Wonderful accommodations. I can't wait to go back.

On our own, we would never have experienced the Iberian Peninsula to the degree we did with Road Scholar. Sharing the trip with others greatly enhanced the experience.

The Road Scholar trip "Tales of Portugal and Spain: A Historic Journey Through Iberia was an amazing look at regions of these two countries and their historic beginnings and evolution. The history and the architecture of the buildings that still exist are quite remarkable and I learned so much. I especially loved the experiences we got to share in from a cooking class, private musical concert in each country, visiting places that provide these countries with their products and exports, and exploring the countryside as well as the larger towns/cities. The guide was professional yet personable, knowledgeable, organized, helpful, and made this trip perfect. I highly recommend this trip!

I had a wonderful 2 weeks seeing these parts of Portugal and Spain for the first time. There's not much more to add to the reviews that have already been left....except to say that our tour guide Mary Anne Freitas was OUTSTANDING! She was very knowledgeable of the places we visited (as were the resident guides in each town.) If you see a trip where Mary Anne is your guide, sign up! She took great care of our group.

This was an adventure on my bucket list and it exceeded my expectations. It was a wonderful mix of lectures, tours and free time to explore. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is curious about visiting Spain. I love Seville, Cordoba, Ronda, and Granada and all the towns/villages in between. What a beautiful, artistic and historical adventure. And the ability to see how Christians, Muslims and Jews lived in peace and harmony until the Spanish Inquisition changed the course of history, which was a historical and political event, we should have never repeated but unfortunately, we haven't.

Fantastic program and group leader Luisa!

History comes alive when outstanding group leaders and local guides provide lectures and commentary on the sights and places.

A MOST enjoyable and instructive adventure through historic sights in Portugal and Spain - not to be missed!

Highly recommended....informative, nice mixture of large cities, smaller towns and rural areas to explore and learn about their history, culture and cuisine. If you like salted cod and Iberian pork you're in luck!

I've done 40 trips with Road Scholar and this one stands out as the best. Great itinerary, great accommodations, and great Group Leader, Ulises. We had a wide variety of experiences that were fun while still being educational. All of the local guides were outstanding--easy to understand and they presented at the right level of detail. Our tour bus was spacious and offered wifi. I feel that I really got to know Spain and Portugal. Couldn't have asked for a better trip!

This very physically active offering delivered everything promised in the syllabus. We left with a full experience and much greater knowledge of both countries than we had going in. An excellent value for the money. ...and if you get Luisa Azevedo for your guide, you are in for a real positive experience!

Can’t rave enough about this trip, great blend of knowledge sharing, experiences, time to explore along with fabulous leader & fellow travelers.

This trip was my first with ROAD SCHOLAR and I was very impressed and enjoyed my trip immensely.

We had a great time and our tour guides were great.

Tales of Portugal and Spain exceeded our expectations! The knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, outstanding meals, deluxe accommodations, and fun and respectful fellow travelers enhanced our time delving into the cultures and history of the spectacular places we visited.

Tales of Portugal and Spain was an educational, fun tour. It had the right balance of activities, and I learned a great deal about Portugal and Spain. The group leader was fabulous, and this was a great travel experience.

This is a fabulous tour and I highly recommend it. Busy, but not stressful at all. Hopefully you will have our outstanding guide, Luisa, who was warm, extremely well organized, very knowledgeable, and available at all times. She kept track of so many details and oriented us to every hotel and town/city. The food and accommodations were outstanding. The historic hotels in Portugal were beyond your imagination. Gorgeous views, outdoor pools in beautiful settings, large and luxurious rooms. Great variety of activities from tours of small, local cheese, olive oil and cork businesses to many gorgeous palaces, cathedrals and archaeological sites. Combination of cities and beautiful tiny towns and countryside. Fado and flamenco concerts were very high quality. Cooking class in Portugal at a local home was a great group hands-on activity and so much fun. And friendly, inclusive, fun fellow travelers. I did not find the walking to be hard at all-just a pair of walking shoes are fine. No hiking boots needed. Try to find a time of year that is not hot.

I had seen that others had rated this program highly and now I know why. It is a wonderful combination of large cities and small towns in two related but quite different countries. I felt I gained understanding of the countries, their history and their traditions. Terrific guides (Mariola was truly a gift), nice places to stay, and the opportunity to explore areas on your own. It was a totally engaging, never boring trip. I loved everything about it.

I had a blast on this most interesting trip.

The historical structures and monuments were beyond what I had imagined. They were spectacular and awe inspiring. The countryside of both Portugal and Spain are beautiful. I highly recommend this program to everyone. Firoz Husain

This program is outstanding! So many wonderful sites to visit in Portugal and Spain; the lectures add so much to understanding the history and significance of the places we are seeing and visiting. Highly recommend this program.

"A Historic Journey Through Iberia" was an amazing trip! Well designed and executed, with new wonders revealed each day. A great mix of information, history, and performances as well as urban palaces, mosques, and cathedrals vs. rural farms and villages. Lodging was often more luxurious than expected. The "Keep the Pace" description is accurate; challenging at times, particularly mentally, Would have enjoyed more chances for free time to digest the info and return to favorite spots. Our team leader and local guides were top notch! Particularly enjoyed opportunities to mingle with local families and individuals and have hands-on activities. Well worth the price.

This program exceeded our expectations in almost every way. The accommodations, food, and guides were exceptional. Visits to crowded sites was handled smoothly and efficiently. We especially enjoyed being taken to places off the usual tourist route and meeting the local people.

Excellent trip. Our tour manager Mayra Noguerales was superior as were all the local guides and local talent (Fado & Flamenco). Great group of people on the tour and interesting locations. Nuño was an excellent driver and even though the roads were twisty and windy, he never flinched. Bravo to all. Thanks Judy Shulman

This was an excellent program, covering so much history, with plenty of activity so that the food could be enjoyed in extraordinarily beautiful landscapes and settings.

This trip was amazing and very educational. The guides, and especially Maria our trip leader, were organized, extremely knowledgeable, and entertaining. The hotels, especially the convent in Evora, were top class. And the food was amazing. A real winner.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar. After deciding on this trip and doing some research, my expectations were that this would be a great trip. It far exceeded them on every level. Our group leader, Luisa, had everything run like clockwork. She prepared us for each daily activity with no surprises. And she made it all seem so effortless. Pay attention to the Activity Level. It is a good deal of walking on uneven surfaces and even more challenging when the temperature gets warm or if it's raining. We all learned a lot, and many, like me, want to continue to learn more about this amazing, culturally rich, and historic part of the world.

Five Stars!! This was an amazing introduction to the history of Portugal and southern Spain. No matter how many books you’ve read, it’s not the same as being there in person with knowledgeable guides to put it all in context. Read the itinerary; it perfectly describes the daily activities. But reading the words “cobblestone walkways”, “steep inclines”, and MANY “stairs without rails” doesn’t convey the actuality of our daily walks. Be sure your shoes are up to the task. LET’S GO not only describes the activity level, but the constant movement from one location to another, in order to see so much in so little time. Our group of 22 were able to handle the daily activities, and were eager to learn. Our group leader, Luisa, had the logistics planned precisely, and the guides at our 10 locations were able to point out interesting facts that we would have missed on our own. They were all personable and knew their subject well. The cooking class was a lot of fun; don’t skip it! Lunch in the home of a local resident, cheese making (with samples), olive oil production (with samples), and the harvesting of cork (no samples) were experiences I’ll long remember. Meals on our own provided us the opportunity to enjoy sidewalk cafes, tapas bars, pastries, and gelato. Group meals were, without exception, very large, and wine flowed freely. The long drives through mountains and farm land provided eye candy and photo ops for those of us who didn’t take the opportunity to cat-nap along the way.

If you enjoy visiting Unesco World Heritage sites, this is the trip for you. Every day is packed with unique adventures. There is so much to experience in Portugal and Spain and you will come away wanting to learn more. Every detail of this trip is well planned and executed. Our group leader Louisa is a delight and the local experts were fantastic. The hotels were lovely and the food is delicious. From mosques to palaces to museums to monoliths to large cities and small villages, there is so much variety and wonder. When they say "let's go" they really mean it! Five stars!!

This trip was amazing. Each day we had three or four exciting experiences from museum visits, to farm or garden experiences, to cooking. You go well beyond the surface in a Road Scholar trip and this exploration of a somewhat hidden corner of Portugal and Spain was one I will cherish.

This trip exceeded our expectations! The food and local wines were delicious. The food portions were very generous. All the lecturers and guides were outstanding! They were both interesting and were very entertaining! The hotels were among the best quality we have stayed in on a Road Scholar trip. Every stop along the way was just amazing and there were so many marvels to take in. Each day was just as good or better than the day before!

A wonderful journey to one of the most beautiful part of the world

This was a superb trip!! Louiza, our guide, went above and beyond at every turn during the trip. Not only was she thoroughly informed about the various sites, but her selection of local guides was excellent. The schedule of the trip never missed a beat and given the number of local guides this was remarkable. We loved our time in Portugal and Andalusia, a wonderful part of the world. The mix of sites and activities was well orchestrated, and diverse enough to appeal to many different interests and tastes. I highly recommend this trip to others!

Our guide Luisa made the trip perfectly enjoyable. The sights and accommodations were spectacular. This trip allowed us to visit places that were off the beaten path, to meet local people and have a true feeling of cultural immersion.

In addition to be intellectually engaging, this program is so, so sensory rich!

I would highly recommend this trip for anyone interested in learning about the history of Portugal and Spain. It goes beyond the usual tourist attractions and takes you into the homes, occupations and lives of people in Portugal and Spain. This trip went beyond my expectations. Be prepared to walk on cobblestone streets!

A wonderfully entertaining and educational trip through Portugal and Spain, featuring a variety of activities, visits to spectacular sites, enlivened by engaging talks with local experts.

This was the trip of a lifetime for me. Every day there was so much beauty and history to explore. The lecturers and local guides were terrific, especially our intrepid Road Scholar guide Mayra. March was a lovely time to visit Portugal and Spain. We enjoyed mild weather, sunny skies, and the sweet fragrance of the orange tree blossoms. Every day added to our understanding of the fascinating history of these two countries. The art and architecture were stunning, especially the Alcazar and Alhambra. Walking up and down the cobblestone streets and stairs was a challenge at times. But fortunately, by the morning my feet had recovered enough to enjoy the next day. I highly recommend this trip.

An unbelievably FABULOUS TRIP! Very reasonable and full of wonderful historic sites with great lecturers. Also beautiful scenery as well. The Moroccan influences are truly unique and exquisite to witness!

Great trip to explore Portugal and Southern Spain!

This program visited a broad range of historical sites across southern Portugal and Spain in a whirlwind 14 days with lots of good walking exercise over cobblestone streets. From amazingly extensive Roman ruins to incredibly intricate decorative Christian artwork and astonishing Muslin geometrical tiles and carvings. I could not have predicted how interesting it was to absorb some of the history of this part of the world. I would recommend thick soles, as with hiking shoes for the cobblestone streets.

A great and varied program with a fantastic group leader.

Tales of Portugal and Spain: A Historic Journey Through Iberia was everything I wanted it to be and then some. Visits to Monsaraz, the Palace of Queluz, the White Villages of Andalusia, and the Alhambra to name a few were spectacular. Our Program guide Anthony (Tony) Muldoon was outstanding! I had a great time!!

This program is quite strenuous but worth the effort. Great scenery and the culture and people are wonderful

This was a very interesting tour and I do recommend it. I also recommend trip insurance in case you test positive for Covid while touring. Save all receipts ahead of time, and make a contingency plan just in case.

This program is a well-paced and fascinating tour. The guides and accommodations are excellent, the cooking class is great fun, and the education is terrific from farm to cathedral to monolithic remains. You won't believe the variety! Put on your comfortable shoes and go!

This program is the best of my 16 Road Scholar trips. Wonderful sites, live entertainment, hotels, and local guides. "Superlative" is not high enough rating for Group Leader Paula. Be prepared to walk on steep cobblestone streets.

We fell in love with the Iberian Peninsula and people. This Roads Scholar learning adventure was life-giving.

This is a great program with a wide variety of sites, foods, history and experiences. You will return with a much better appreciation for this part of the world.

This was a wonderful trip. Tour guide Luisa was fabulous! She provided historical and cultural information to enhance our experience and gave clear and precise information about schedules and meeting places to keep her 21 ducklings together. The local guides were also excellent. Each of them was experienced in leading tours and describing local edifices, art and culture and the history of the area. To see places that had been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous people, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and modern Iberians was amazing! Hotels and transportation were top-notch, some hotels having been monasteries and convents, still containing ornate chapels. Fun portions of the trip included the Portuguese cooking school, where we prepared a fabulous meal and the meal in a private home, where we could talk to the host about life in a small town and the dishes that had been prepared. The only negative was that upon arriving home, 17 of the 21 developed Covid, despite having been fully vaccinated and having tested negative before entering Portugal. One of the members has mentioned in e-mails after arriving home that she felt feverish mid-way through the tour, but thought it was the result of heat. (it was over 100 F on many days of the tour. ) I am not sure whether that person reported it to Luisa, but from the e-mail it sounds like she may not have. The rest of the group became sick after arriving home eight or ten days later. Since the existing policies did not work in this case, I would suggest daily temperature checks to rule out Covid during tours. It would be a minor inconvenience, but could prevent future outbreaks. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view), the US had stopped requiring negative Covid testing before returning home, so the tour was not quarantined in Spain. Instead we brought it back with us.