Compare Voyages to Antiquity: Exploring History’s Grandeur in France and Spain by Road Scholar vs Best of Southern Spain by G Adventures

Day 1: In Transit

In Flight

Day 2: Welcome to Nice, France!

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Best Western Plus Hotel Massena Nice

Afternoon: At 5:00 PM, meet in the hotel lobby for the program orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Please be aware that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: Welcome dinner in the hotel dining room.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 3: Nice, France; Embark Aegean Odyssey

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will be buffet-style with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee and tea. Water will be served at every meal on this program.

Morning: Enjoy a panoramic coach excursion of Nice to include the Promenade des Anglais, lined with Belle-Epoque buildings, the Quai des Etats-Unis, the harbor, the impressive Russian Orthodox cathedral and, finally the residential district of Cimiez. Next, enjoy a walk through the narrow streets of old Nice. Admire two Baroque churches: Sainte Reparte and Sainte Rita before strolling the Cours Saleya with its famous flower market.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own. Or, if you prefer, the ship offers a welcome lunch buffet following embarkation.

Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to the port to embark the Aegean Odyssey. Take some time to settle in to your cabin, freshen up, and relax. Following embarkation there will be a safety briefing provided by the ship’s staff followed by a brief orientation to the ship by your Road Scholar Group Leader. This is preliminarily scheduled for 5:00 PM, but your Group Leader will confirm timings once on board the ship.

Dinner: Aboard the ship, you may choose from either the Marco Polo Restaurant or the Terrace Café. The former serves a variety of á là carte items while the café is buffet-style. Menus are inspired by fresh local ingredients. Wine is complimentary with dinner in both dining areas. Water is served at all meals on this program.

Evening: At leisure. Most evenings aboard ship are free to enjoy as you like whether it’s attending a shipboard guest lecture or listening to live music in the Charleston Lounge. The ship departs Nice in the evening and arrives into Cannes in the middle of the night.

Day 4: Cannes, France; Monte Carlo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship, breakfast will be buffet-style with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, hot dishes, juice, milk, coffee and tea and served in the Terrace Café.

Morning: This morning the ship will provide transfers to either St. Paul de Vence, a charming medieval village nestled in the hills above Cannes or to Monaco & Monte Carlo where you can enjoy a short guided walking excursion throughout the old town. Enjoy free time in either locale or elect to remain in Cannes.

Lunch: Aboard the ship or explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities provided in your first Information Packet. Your Group Leader of the Shore Excursion team on board will be also happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: Aboard the ship or explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure. The ship will overnight in Cannes.

Day 5: Cruising the French Riviera Coast

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: At sea. In the morning, as the ship makes its way to Marseilles, you will pass close to the coast of Monte Carlo and then continue along the beautiful coastline of the Cote d'Azur passing Nice, St. Tropez and Antibes.

Lunch: Aboard the ship.

Afternoon: At sea. Take advantage of the ship's well stocked library that has a wide selection of volumes covering classical history, literature, art, architecture, and philosophy. The frequently updated collection also includes an extensive reference section as well as modern and classic novels.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: The ship arrives to Marseilles in the evening.

Day 6: Marseilles, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Activity note: Heavy walking for one or more hours over uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Explore the Provençal countryside on this full-day field trip to Avignon with its papal legacies. Your adventure starts with a 90-minute drive to Avignon which rose to glory in the Middle Ages, when a series of French born Popes fled Rome and made the town a base from which they ruled Christendom until 1407. Enjoy views of the Rhone River and Avignon's much-sung-about bridge, Pont St. Benezet. The highlight of your visit is an expert-led visit of the Pope's Palace.

Lunch: At a local restaurant featuring three-course set menu.

Afternoon: After lunch, there will be a short time to explore Avignon independently before returning to the ship in Marseilles.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: Evening departure for Sete, for tomorrow's visit to Carcassonne.

Day 7: Sete, France / Carcassonne

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: From the port of Sete, it is an hour's drive through the quintessentially French Languedoc countryside to Carcassonne. Founded by the Romans, the fortified city of Carcassonne became the largest walled stronghold of the Middle Ages and its remarkable towers and ramparts are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch: At a local restaurant featuring a three-course set menu.

Afternoon: En route back to Sete, visit Narbonne, a once prosperous sea-side city of the Roman Empire, now located almost 10 miles from the ocean. In the 5th century Narbonne was a Visigoth capital and in the Middle Ages an important Episcopal center, as can be seen in several superbly preserved monuments. Enjoy a walking excursion to see some of these including a portion of the Via Domitia, the Roman road which connected Italy to Spain.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: Early evening departure for Barcelona. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 8: Barcelona, Spain

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: This morning we explore Barcelona on an expert-led coach overview of the city which takes in some of Antoni Gaudí's most important works. We will see the impressive, unfinished Sagrada Familia church and if we are unable to visit the inside, we will enjoy a visit to Casa Mila (commonly known as La Pedrera). Enjoy a stroll along Las Ramblas and take in the sights and sounds of La Boquería Market.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Barcelona.

Afternoon: Continuation of the full-day excursion.

Dinner: Aboard the ship or explore local fare on your own.

Evening: Early evening departure for Valencia. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 9: Valencia, Spain

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Enjoy the charm of Valencia's squares and hidden corners on a walk through this fascinating city. Admire its architecture from the charming Plaza de la Reina with its stunning cathedral to the modern City of Arts and Sciences, a feat of contemporary design. Admire La Lonja, constructed in the mid-15th century and considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture.

Lunch: Aboard the ship or explore the menú del día at a tapas restaurant or two.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration of Valencia.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 10: At sea

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: At sea. Treat yourself to one of many spa services offered by the ship. Or, simply relax poolside enjoying the late spring sunshine.

Lunch: Aboard the ship.

Afternoon: At sea. Find your way to one of the ship's lounges for a conversation with fellow travelers.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: At leisure. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 11: Málaga, Spain

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Enjoy a coach ride through the Andalucían countryside from the port of Málaga to Granada. Here you will experience the majesty of the Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace. It is the most renowned building of the Andalusian Islamic historical legacy. Together with the adjoining gardens and orchards of El Generalife, this remarkable site is considered an architectural culmination of Nasrid art undertaken in the 13th and 14th centuries and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1984.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continuation of the full-day excursion to Granada.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: Midnight departure for Tangier. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 12: Tangier, Morocco

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: This morning discover Tangier, a city founded by Carthaginian colonists in the early 5th century BC. Visit its medina, or old town, filled with markets of all kinds and kasbah, the city's ancient fortifications. There will be time to visit the Kasbah Museum housed in the former sultan's palace, among other dignitaries. It has many interesting archaeological findings as well as a beautiful garden.

Lunch: Aboard the ship or explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Day 13: Seville, Spain

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aegean Odyssey

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: At sea. This afternoon cruise the Guadalquivir River, the second longest river with its entire length in Spain.

Lunch: Aboard the ship.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: The ship overnights in Seville. Free evening to prepare belongings for disembarkation.

Day 14: Disembark Seville, Spain

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Meliá Sevilla

Activity note: The Barrio de Santa Cruz is largely cobbled.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and enjoy a guided visit of Seville, the capital and largest city of Andalucía. Explore its oldest neighborhood, the Barrio Santa Cruz. Meander its labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys that open onto beautiful plazas. During medieval times, this neighborhood was the Jewish quarter and it is home to many of Seville's oldest churches. Visit its cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral – and the third largest church – in the world. In 1898 it became the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Next, visit the spectacular moorish Alcázar Royal Palace and gardens -- the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Originally a fort built by the Almohad Dynasty, it is one of the best remaining examples of Mudéjar architecture.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own. Ask you Group Leader for suggestions.

Afternoon: Check-in to hotel and enjoy some time for relaxing before heading out with your Group Leader to explore nearby Maria Luisa Park and the impressive Plaza de España, built for the World Expo in 1929, and a fine example of typical Sevillan architecture and incorporating traditional Andalucían ceramic tile.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15: Seville, Spain / Córdoba

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Meliá Sevilla

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Enjoy the rolling plains of the Andalucían countryside during this morning's transfer to Córdoba. Today's full-day field trip will include the Mezquita, a medieval Islamic mosque that was converted into a Catholic cathedral. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is most notable for its arcaded hypostyle hall, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite. Next, explore Córdoba's Jewish quarter where this population flourished between from the 10th century until their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Its historic synagogue built in Mudéjar style is a memorial to the nearly 500 years of peaceful coexistence of Christians, Jews and Muslims in this city. There will also be time to visit the Alcázar, formerly a Visigoth fortress before falling to Umayyads conquerors and much later – after its expansion – it served as one of the primary residences of Isabel I and Ferdinand II.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Following lunch, the coach departs Córdoba by mid-afternoon for the return trip back to Seville.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 16: Train to Madrid, Spain

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Meliá Galgos

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Following check-out, we transfer to Seville's Santa Justa station to board a high-speed train to Madrid departing in the mid or late-morning. The roughly 300 mile journey takes approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Lunch: On your own, likely on the train or at the station.

Afternoon: Upon arrival to Madrid's Atocha station, coach transfer to hotel for check-in. There will be time for settling in and refreshing before the evening's flamenco performance.

Dinner: Enjoy an introduction to Flamenco with a brief lecture and demonstration followed by a tapas dinner and a Flamenco show.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 17: Madrid, Spain

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Meliá Galgos

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Morning panoramic sightseeing visit of Madrid including Paseo de la Castallaña, Madrid's chic modern district, the Paseo del Prado, also known as the Triangle of Art, the Plaza de Cibeles and Town Hall, La Gran Vía, Madrid's theatre district, and Almudena Cathedral. Next, visit the Prado Museum which holds one of the world's finest collections of European art. The magnificent building, conceived and designed in 1785, first housed the collection of the Spanish crown. It opened to the public as Spain’s national art museum in 1819. With thousands upon thousands of paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings, other works and historic documents, only a small portion of these vast collections are on display at any given time. Highlights include masterpieces of the French, German, and Italian schools, early Flemish works, and the finest collection of works by Spanish grand masters such as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, and many more. One of the most famous paintings in the museum is “Las Meninas” -- the family of King Felipe IV -- by Velázquez.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration of Madrid.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare belongings for tomorrow's departure.

Day 18: Departures

Meals: Breakfast

In Flight

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer to Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) for departures. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future.

Day 1 Madrid

Arrive any time.

Day 2 Madrid

Take a brief orientation walk with your CEO, then enjoy a full day to explore this bustling capital. Discover Plaza Mayor or opt to visit the famous Royal Palace. Indulge in delicious Spanish tapas or get your art fix at the Prado Museum.

Day 3 Madrid/Granada

Journey south to Granada. Upon arrival enjoy an orientation walk. Wander through the whitewashed historic quarter of the Albaicin; with its narrow lanes and fantastic views, it's a great place to watch the sunset.

Day 4 Granada

Enjoy a guided visit to the architectural masterpiece, the Alhambra. In the evening, opt to go for a stroll and check out the local tapas and wine bars.

After visiting the Alhambra, opt to take a wander through this historic city. In the evening, opt for a night on the town. Granada is filled with trendy tapas bars and has a lively music scene.

Day 5 Granada/Cordoba/Seville

Travel to Seville via picturesque Cordoba. Go for a stroll through the historic Jewish quarter and visit the iconic Mezquita de Cordoba (mosque). In the early evening, continue towards Seville and end your day with free time to get to know the city.

Day 6 Seville

Spend a day enjoying this city and its Moorish influence. Opt to explore the district of Santa Cruz, the Alcázar palace or the world's largest Gothic cathedral. In the early evening, end your day with a dramatic flamenco performance.

Take the time to see all this great city has to offer. Opt to explore the interiors and gardens of the Alcázar, a magnificent palace dating from Moorish times, or the true heart of Seville, the Santa Cruz quarter— a charming area with winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, flowery patios, and small squares. Seville is home to the world’s largest gothic cathedral — climb the adjoining tower for great views of the city. Other attractions include the Museo Arqueológico, the Casa de Pilates and the Parque de María Luisa, which has a maze of paths, garden beds, pretty little patios, fountains, and shaded lawns.

Please note that if you wish to visit popular sites and want to avoid waiting in line, it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance. We recommend pre-arranging your visit to the Alcázar of Seville.

Day 7 Seville/Barcelona

Hop on the train and get comfortable on the journey north to Barcelona. Take an orientation walk, including visits to the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas. In the evening participate in a G Adventures supported paella cooking class, followed by a group dinner to round out the day.

Day 8 Barcelona

Depart at any time.

We highly recommend staying an extra day or two to fully experience all this lively city has to offer. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Barcelona after your tour ends. Please note that if you wish to visit popular sites and want to avoid waiting in line, it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance. We recommend pre-arranging your visit to La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà.