Voyages to Antiquity: Exploring History’s Grandeur in France and Spain
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Highlights
- Delve into France’s medieval history at Avignon’s Papal Palace and on the narrow streets of fortified Carcassonne.
- Examine the exquisite interiors and lush gardens of the Alhambra, a magnificent Moorish palace.
- Contrast the proud cultures of several Spanish cities including Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- 16 nights of accommodations
- 7 expert-led lectures
- 13 expert-led field trips
- 1 hands-on experience
- 1 performance
- An experienced Group Leader
- Customary gratuities throughout the program
- The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
- Taxes
Itinerary
In Flight
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 Da...
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 ...
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.
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 beau...
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 A...
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...
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 th...
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...
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...
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...
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 m...
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.
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 o...
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 Me...
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...
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...
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.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Road Scholar Reviews & Ratings
Other Road Scholar Reviews
Not a good bicycle trip
Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...
Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error
I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...
There is a nonrefundable deposit
Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...
Tour Operator
Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:
Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:
--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.
--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.
--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.
--Excellent value.
Explore Your Mind and the World:
There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.
Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Our Most Popular Tours:
Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.
Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.
Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.
National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.
Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.
Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.
Why Road Scholar?
You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."
Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.
Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.
Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.
Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.
You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."
We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.
Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.
Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.
Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Accommodation
Classically elegant, but far from stuffy and formal, premium class MV Aegean Odyssey offers passengers every comfort at sea, with a relaxed, congenial atmosphere and the highest calibre of personal service. Carrying an average of 350 passengers, Aegean Odyssey’s ideal size is perfectly suited for coastal cruising to the small inlets of the Mediterranean that larger ships cannot reach. It also allows her to navigate rivers, such as Spain’s Guadalquivir River and Gironde River in Bordeaux for a unique combination of ocean and river cruising. Aegean Odyssey features generously-sized suites and staterooms, including a special level of accommodation entitled 'Balcony Class' in categories A through D, which offers spacious staterooms with charming balconies and additional amenities including priority sightseeing boarding. With tastefully understated interiors, Aegean Odyssey combines the best of traditional elegance with all the modern conveniences of a first-class ship.
Ship’s tonnage: 11,563 Length: 461 feet Beam: 67 feet Draft: 20,5 feet Cruising speed: 18 knots Passengers decks: 7 Stabilizers: 2 Passengers cabins: 216 Passengers - lower beds: 386 Ship’s registration: Panama
16 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 15 Dinners
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations