Spain - Running of the Bulls

Barcelona / Pamplona / Madrid

The Only Place You'll Want to Be... On a Balcony in Pamplona
Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience, view the Running of the Bulls from a Balcony located in the Heart of the Action.

Includes

* 9 Nights Accommodations | 3 nights Barcelona, 2 nights Pamplona, 3 nights Madrid
* Breakfast Daily
* Welcome Dinner with Cooking Lesson
* Farewell Dinner with Flamenco Show
* Balcony Tickets & Bull Fight
* RailEurope Trains (Barcelona - Pamplona & Pamplona - Madrid)
* All Tours and as in itinerary
* English Speaking Guides as in itinerary
* Airport / Hotel Transfers
* Train / Hotel Transfers
* Singles Travel Escort
* Taxes and Surcharges

Call 877-492-1201 for more information or to book today! Mention code 8770393

Tour Operator
Best Single Travel
Duration
10 Days
Escorted
Escorted - Yes
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1Depart HometownJuly 2 - Depart from Hometown
Depart from home town on flight to Barcelona, Spain. Rembember you are flying home from Madrid.
Day 2BarcelonaJuly 3 - Barcelona, Spain
Today you will land at the Barcelona airport and be transfered to our hotel. After check-in you will recieve a 2 day Hop On Hop Off pass. The double-decker open-top bus is the most convenient way to discover the museums and attractive sights of this exciting city. You can get on and off as many times as you wish at any of the 44 stops. A brief explanation at each stop will be given by a guide who is travelling on board. You will also be provided with a guide book.
We will meet for an optional dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Day 3BarcelonaJuly 4 - Barcelona
Discover the exuberance and beauty of Barcelona on our morning private guided tour of this exquisite Catalan city. Enjoy an overview of the main highlights of the old city centre and see some hidden spots that reveal the origins of Barcelona. In the afternoon continue to see the sights of the city with your Hop On Hop Off pass or shop in the numerous stores in and around the city centre.

Tonight enjoy our Welcome Dinner - Not only you are eating... you are being taught how to cook it by a local chef as well as learning about Spanish history and culture at the same time!
Day 4BarcelonaJuly 5 - Wine and Cava outside Barcelona
The Spanish alternative to Champaign is produced only 25 miles from Barcelona. Admire the beautiful views as we travel to this interesting region at mountain Montserrat and visit 3 bodegas where wine and/or Cava is produced.

Visit a very impressive large Cava-winery, a medium sized wine and Cava winery and a charming small size winery and we will have a complete overview of the region and the producers. Of course we will taste wines or Cavas in each winery. Between the visits we will have lunch in a typical Catalan restaurant.

Upon arriving back in Barcelona there will be time to relax before an optional dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5PamplonaJuly 6 - Barcelona to Pamplona

After breakfast we transfer with our guide to the Barcelona train station. The excitement starts to build as we board our train to Pamplona. Upon arrival we will drop our luggage off at our hotel and then locate where the group will meet after the fireworks and where our viewing balcony is located.

The party starts tonight at 11:00 p.m. with the firework display, and it's quite an impressive one too. The crowd then heads to Plaza Castillo and the surrounding streets, with live music, discos and street musicians inspiring the inebriated party-goers to move their feet. Bear in mind the fact that the partying won't stop until 8am, so pace yourself!
Day 6PamplonaJuly 7 - Running of Bulls & Bull Fight - Pamplona
It's 2:00 a.m. and everyone from seven to hundred will be out on the streets. If you don't think you can stay up all night, head back to the hotel and get some sleep just remember we will have to be at our balcony before the streets close.

Streets close at 7:00am, so be prepared for an early morning. You can watch the cops rough up the drunkards, the street sweepers prepare for the run, the mayor do the traditional walk-through, and the mass of white and red clad runners charge down the street with the bulls all from your balcony spot.

The Pamplona Bull Run is an event that people tell their grandchildren about. Considered by some to be the definitive rite of manhood, the Bull Run sees hundreds of intrepid locals and visitors risking their lives to outpace galloping, frenzied bulls as they hurtle along an 800-metre stretch of Pamplona's streets towards the bullring.

A rocket goes off at the moment the bulls are let out into the street. A second rocket goes off to let everyone know that all the bulls are now in the street. Once the bulls have gone past the run has finished for you. When you hear a third rocket go off it is to let you know that all the bulls have arrived inside the ring and a fourth and final rocket is sent off when all the bulls have been safely led into their pens. Between that first rocket and final rocket only a couple of minutes will normally have gone by - but what a couple of minutes!

At 9:30 a.m. thousands of people accompany a replica of the statue of Saint Fermin along the streets in the old part of Pamplona. San Fermin is accompanied by dancers and street entertainers, such as the Gigantes (giant-sized figures who represent the King and Queen of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America) and the Cabezudos (the Bigheads).

Let's get some rest before the bullfights begin at 6:30 p.m. The bullfighting is in the city's bullring, with the bulls that ran that morning.

Bull Fight

At 11:00 p.m. the partying starts again - What a full day and half of adventure and fun!
Day 7MadridJuly 8 - Pamplona to Madrid

Take time to relax this morning before boarding our train to Madrid. Say good-bye to our Barcelona/Pamplona guide. Our Madrid guide will meet us at the train station and immediately begin our city tour.

Once an Arabian Fortress, this city is now a thriving cultural centre bursting with monuments, galleries and museums. Highlights will include a photo stop at the Basilica San Francisco El Gran and a view of Plaza Espana.

Over dinner (optional) at a local restaurant we will discuss our tour plans for the next day.
Day 8MadridJuly 9 - Madrid
Today the group will explore Madrid with our Madrid Cards. We have access to the entire cultural offer in and around Madrid. Free entry to more than 4 of the major museums, As many journeys as we wish on the Madrid Vision hop on-hop off tour bus. With the Madrid Card we receive a guide with information on the museums and establishments associated with the program, as well as a city map. (B)

Just a few of your choices...
  • Madrid Vision is the open-top double-deckers sightseeing buses, with maximum comfort and visibility. With three different routes you will see, Modern Madrid, Monumental Madrid and Historic Madrid. All the routes are inter-connected.
  • The Prado Museum, considered to be one of the world's best art galleries, houses famous masterpieces of paintings, with the outstanding presence of Velazquez, Goya, Titian and Rubens, amongst others.
  • The Reina Sofia National Museum, located in an 18th century building, houses the most important collection of contemporary art in the Spanish State.
  • Villahermosa Palace houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, considered to be the top 20th century private collection. Durero, Titian, Goya, Degas, Renoir, Kandinsky or Rothko are some of the highlights included in this tour of Western art.
  • Royal Palace of Madrid - Philip V commissioned Sacchetti, an Italian architect, one of Juvarra's followers, with its construction. Its armoury is considered to be one of the most important in the world. The gardens stretch down towards the river.
  • A World Heritage Site, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was the political centre of Philip II. The Royal Palace, a monks monastery, a magnificent library, a large basilica with cenotaphs of the king and his father, Charles I. Most kings of Spain are buried in the Kings' Pantheon.
  • The Royal Palace of Aranjuez, 18th century, is surrounded by magnificent gardens, The Farmer's House, an 18th century mansion, is located in the Prince's garden. The Boat museum has vessels that were used to sail the Tagus river.
  • The Benedictine Abbey of the Sacred Cross Valley of the Fallen's granite cross rises up in the middle of a pine forest on the Cuelgamuros crag. It was built as a mausoleum in the years following the civil war.
  • The CABLE RAILWAY is a modern and ecological form of transport, enjoy an exciting journey, 40 metres up, observing the most emblematic monuments and buildings and the most incredible view of the capital.
  • Faunia, Madrid's nature theme park, enjoy the 140,000 m2 complex where some of the world's most incredible ecosystems have been faithfully recreated. Faunia also boasts the largest polar ecosystem in Europe.
    • Day 9MadridJuly 10 - Madrid - Toledo - Madrid
    After breakfast we drive to Toledo, one of the oldest cities in Europe, to see it's most important monuments. Enjoy our half day visit to Toledo, a city of great artistic beauty. It was once the capital of the country and is now one of the oldest cities in Europe. During a walking tour of the city centre, we visit the city's most famous monuments such as St Tome Church, Santa Maria la Blanca Synanogue, the Victorio Macho Museum and San Juan de Los Reyes Church.

    Let's celebrate our final night in Spain with a Flamenco Show and dinner.
    Day 10Return HomeJuly 11 - Madrid to Home
    After a final breakfast we have to say adios to all our new single travel friends as we are transfered to the airport and our flights home.
    Lodging Type
    Hotels
    Dining
    Total meals - 11
    Breakfasts - 9
    Dinners - 2
    Transportation
    Train
    Cultural/Educational
    Art
    Festival
    History
    Shopping
    Classes/Instruction
    Cooking
    Wine Tasting
    Disclaimer
    Deposit - $500
    Balance Due May 15

    *The deposit can be paid by credit card the balance is to be paid by check or money order. If you wish to pay the balance by credit card there is a 3% charge.

    Not included
    * International air flights
    * Tips ($12 per day - collected first day of trip)

    *The price per person is for a double room. Free roommate matching is available so there is never a need to pay a single supplement. If you wish to room alone the cost is an additional $1250

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