Catalonia in Depth $6,120 pp, twin share (land content only) $1,550 single supplement May 7-19, 2017 Discover Greek and Roman culture in Catalonia and its legacy The best-preserved Romanesque art and architecture in Europe Catalonia s long relationship with France and French Catalonia The history of the Jews and their expulsion from Spain The distinctive modern art and architecture of Barcelona The celebrated cuisine of Catalonia: the region of Spain with the most Michelin-starred restaurants Overview Catalonia is a region with a distinct language, culture and identity. Its history is equally unique, stretching back beyond the Roman period, to its rise in the Middle Ages as Europe s largest Empire, Aragon, and its modern quest for independence. This new 13-day tour begins in Barcelona, with its exuberant architecture and street life, before exploring the charming coastline of the Costa Brava, the rugged interior and the majestic Pyrenees. Highlights > Modernist architecture in the backstreets of Barcelona, beyond the busy sites > Empúries and Tarragona, Greek and Roman sites along the Catalonian coast > Montserrat and Sant Pere de Rodes, the spectacular mountain-top monasteries > The bizarre world of Dalí: his theatremuseum at Figueres and his house in the fishing village of Portlligat > A day in the clear mountain air of the Spanish Pyrenees > Dinner in one of Catalonia s Michelinstarred restaurants and a cava (sparkling wine) degustation > Three nights in Cadaqués, one of the Costa Brava s most beautiful coastal villages Your tour leader Michael Neuman was for a number of years Professor of Sustainable Urbanism in the Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW. He has published a book and many articles about Spain, and lived for five years in Barcelona and Madrid. Michael speaks Catalan and fluent Spanish. Getting there Emirates offers regular flights to Barcelona from most Australian cities. Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. Fitness requirement Itinerary Days 1 3: Architecture and Modernism in Barcelona. Day trip to the monastery of Montserrat. Days 4 5: Travel to Tarragona, via Sitges, for its Roman remains. Day trip to the monastery at Poblet. Days 6 8: Explore the scenery and air of the Pyrenees, and the Jewish heritage of Besalú and Girona. Days 9 13: Greco-Roman Empúries and Dalí at Figueres and Portlligat. The hilltop monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, lunch in the French Catalonian town of Colliure, and Cadaqués, the jewel of the Costa Brava. Return to Barcelona via the gardens at Blanes. Pyrenees SPAIN Vic Montserrat Poblet Barcelona Sitges Tarragona Cadaqués More details at academytravel.com.au 25
Preliminary itinerary This is a preliminary itinerary. A detailed itinerary is in preparation and will be sent to you as soon as possible. Detailed itineraries contain specific information on each day s activities, hotels, weather and your tour leader. It is possible to book on the tour immediately, based on this preliminary itinerary. What is included in an Academy Travel tour? All accommodation and breakfasts All flights and land transport within the tour All sightseeing and all entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary Some lunches and dinners generally five to seven each tour, more if you are travelling to an adventurous destination Drinks with included meals Good quality tickets to performances included in the tour program usually first or second category The services of an expert tour leader throughout the tour Extensive tour notes and background lectures on tour Selected local guides and tour managers on some tours Internet at most hotels All tipping for group activities meals, drivers, local guides What is not included? Flights to and from the tour destination Travel insurance Expenses of a personal nature laundry, phone calls Meals and additional sightseeing not listed as included in the detailed itinerary Hotels The detailed itinerary will list the hotels we have booked for this tour, together with the web address. Wherever possible we book centrallylocated four-star or higher hotels, in interesting and safe parts of the city. Most hotels have been inspected by our staff and leaders and used by past Academy Travel groups. For adventurous and emerging destinations we are not always able to offer this level and style of accommodation. The detailed itinerary will advise if a hotel is below our preferred level. To book a place on the tour In order to secure your place on a tour you need to complete the attached booking form and send it to Academy Travel together with your $500 deposit. You can also make a booking online at academytravel.com.au Some tours book out very quickly. If you have made up your mind, we suggest you do not delay in booking. If you are interested but not ready to commit, we are happy to pencil you in for a tour for a maximum of seven days while you make a final decision. The next steps Once we receive your booking we will send you a welcome pack confirming details of your booking and providing further information about the destination you are travelling to. We encourage you to plan ahead for flights and additional travel you may wish to undertake. Our experienced team of travel consultants are able to help with flights, additional travel and travel insurance. If you book your flights with Academy Travel we will provide complimentary airport-hotel transfers at the beginning and end of the tour. Tour notes and final documents are sent to you about a month before the tour commences. Academy Travel GPO Box 5057 Sydney 2001 P: 02 9235 0023 F: 02 9235 0123 E: info@academytravel.com.au Fitness Requirements of THIS tour Grade Two Participation criteria for a Grade Two tour Grade Two tours are designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, you will find a number of our itineraries challenging. On a Grade Two tour it is unlikely that you will be able to undertake all activities and get the full value of the tour. Grade Three tours are unsuitable for travellers more than 80 years old, unless you are exceptionally fit. We kindly ask travellers more than 80 years old to contact Academy Travel before submitting a booking form, so that we can provide specific advice on the physical requirements of the tour in which you are interested.