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Saranjan ToursSaranjan Tours
Tour Professionals for Iberia and Latin America
Imagine a day…Linger over breakfast on a sunny terrace with views to the sierra. Wind through ancient oak forest along a Roman road to picnic by a stream. Ponder the mystical in a medieval convent steeped in incense. Ascend to a windmill to meet an artist at work, and feast on her colorful still lifes. Relax over aperitifs back at your 18th century finca filled with antiques and lounging dogs. Sit down to dinner by the pool and relish the sound of silence, as you sip a gran reserva.
Saranjan Tours continues to offer the best of Spain & Portugal to discriminating travelers. Travel with us across the
centuries—from prehistoric caves to Moorish castles, through rolling vineyards to dazzling white villages with timeless Mediterranean vistas. Experience Iberia’s vibrant modern cities—the avant-garde art and award-winning architecture, the designer shops and restaurants guaranteed to satisfy the most demanding fashionista and foodie.
Saranjan Tours was founded by Jania García and Sarah Banks in 1994 to share their passion for Iberia. The past twelve years have rewarded us with enthusiastic travelers, matched by exciting developments on the ground—Spanish and Portuguese artists,
architects, chefs and winemakers continually in the news. Today, our clients cook with Michelin chefs, cycle medieval routes on dedicated bike paths, soak in wine baths at a spa, visit family farms and artisans at work, and along the way gain a deeper appreciation of the subtleties of another way of living.
Like the pattern of a Moorish tile, life in Iberia is colorful and its history complex. Turn these pages and consider a journey of discovery.
copyright © 2011 Saranjan tours & designOrdonia
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Custom Tours ..........................................................................3
Romantic Spain & Portugal ..............................................4
Jewish Roots ............................................................................6
Basque Country & Barcelona ...........................................6
Markets & Spa ..........................................................................6
Old & New Portugal .............................................................7
Celtic Spain & Camino de Santiago .................................7
Luxury train............................................................................9
City Breaks ................................................................................9
Hotels ........................................................................................9
Active—Bike, Hike, San Fermín .........................................9
Culinary & Wine .................................................................. 12
Tour Prices ............................................................................ 13
Terms & Conditions ............................................................ 14
ABOUT OUR CUSTOM TOURSAll the tours in this catalog are offered as private custom tours. There are no scheduled group departures. This allows you and your group—from 2-30+—to travel on your optimal dates. Tour length and prices appear on the price lists, typically based on 2-4-6 in your private group. For larger numbers, contact us. Most of these tours are based on first class or deluxe accommodation, with
meals to match. In the event you prefer to travel more simply, we can modify the hotel and meal plan.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for in these pages, call or email to discuss the tour you would like. Or ask your travel agent to call us. We value our agency colleagues and pay 10% commission on published tours in this catalog.
ROMANTIC SPAIN & PORTUGALDon Juan & El Greco -- Andalucia to CastileFrom the Mediterranean to the fairy tale castles of the Alhambra, soak up the sun and romance of the South in jasmine perfumed patios; sip a cool fino in a Jerez winery; explore the medieval streets of Don Juan’s Sevilla and ascend the Cathedral’s Giralda for a commanding view over the white city on the Guadalquivir. Meet musicians, chefs, and artists as you travel north to Spain’s heartland and the cities of Toledo and Madrid. After a day of El Greco and a night of Flamenco, savor tapas and copas and sleep in paradors and palacios .
Trams & Caravels—Lisbon to the AlgarveBegin your journey in Sintra, Lord Byron’s glorious Eden. Explore subtropical gardens, Moorish palaces, British style tea rooms and its famous market.
From Lisbon’s St. George Castle atop the Alfama, enjoy a view across the Tagus river, reminiscent of San Francisco. Ride the city’s colorful trams to discover newly gentrified districts, famous for shop-ping, dining, and Fado clubs. Explore the lively restored Docas district. Depart Lisbon eastwards into the Alentejo, where rolling wheat fields and olive groves provide a perfect picnic spot beside hidden Roman ruins. Wind south into the Al-garve, celebrated for its golden beaches. Retrace the route of the Portuguese caravels on their voyages of Discovery, where they called into port at Lagos, its white-washed walls covered in bougainvillea, world-class yachts moored in the harbor and its streets steeped in history.
antiques restorers, museums of popular art, potters and carpet-makers, as you explore the backroads of Portugal—from Lisbon to the Alentejo and on to the Atlantic coast. Stay in manor house hotels, dine in tascas and on the beach, and sample the vinhos of Portugal
JEWISH HERITAGEThe Route of the Sephardim—SpainFrom Besalú’s mikvah to the old synagogues of Toledo and Jewish villages in the Sierra de Córdoba, trace the history of the Jews in Spain, through Cata-lunya and Andalucia.
The Route of the Sephardim—PortugalOn a loop from Lisbon, travel north to Tomar and the Serra da Estrela, and south into the Alentejo—discover on-going excavations of Jewish quarters, surviving synagogues, records and artifacts related to the communities of the Middle Ages.
BASQUE COUNTRY & BARCELONAArchitecture on the Edge—Bilbao to BarcelonaWhat could be better for lovers of art and architecture than a journey from Bilbao to Barcelona—Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, the Eduardo Chillida Leku Collection in San Sebsastián, Romanesque and Gothic monuments in the Pyrenean foothills, Moorish palaces in the deserts of Aragon, Dalí’s Museum on the Costa Brava, and finally the extraordinary legacy of Gaudí, Montaner and the other Catalan Modernists in Barcelona, plus the dazzling new buildings that have transformed the city in recent years. All of this and travelers also enjoy superb regional cuisine, glorious scenery and distinctive hotels.
MARKETS & SPASoak & shop—deluxe Costa Brava and Barcelona Omm…you deserve the best. Settle in for a five night stay on the Costa Brava at our full service Wine Spa—soak in merlot and dine on the best Mediterranean seafood. For the energetic, options for riding, golf, coastal walks and swimming…or simply relax and indulge yourself. Local excursions include the Salvador Dalí Museum, Mediterranean gardens, markets and medieval villages selling arts and crafts. In Barcelona, see the city’s renowned art and architecture, a perfect backdrop for some of Spain’s most distinctive boutiques.
Market Days—the best of Portuguese marketsShopping for antiques, ceramics, lace, cowboy boots? You’ll find them in markets from Sintra to Évora. Visit 6
OLD & NEW PORTUGAL Monks, Boutiques & Port—Lisbon & the NorthAncient hermitages hidden in deep oak forests, Baroque santos, Knights Templar, secluded medieval villages—this is old Portugal. In Porto, discover vibrant commercial new Portugal, in cutting edge architecture, chic shops, and high fashion. Lunch in port wine vineyards in the steep-terraced Douro Valley. Count drying sardines on the beach at Nazaré. Discover the arts and crafts of Portugal in Sintra, and explore Lisbon’s signature monuments and galleries on this Taste of Portugal tour.
Quinta RetreatPack and unpack only once. Bring your own group of like-minded travelers to our manor house hotel outside Sintra, for a week of touring, walking and contemplation. After a day’s excursion to nearby beaches and villages, art museums and markets, relax by the pool or in the garden. In the evenings, sit down with your local hosts to fine regional cooking and sip the wines of Portugal as you learn about the architecture and cuisine, art and politics of
Portugal.
CELTIC SPAIN & CAMINO DE SANTIAGOA King’s Way—luxury CaminoFor 1100 years, pilgrims have taken up staff, gourd and cockleshell for the journey to Santiago de Compostela. Our tour is listed in Patricia Schultz’s 1000 Places To See Before You Die. For 12 years, our Deluxe Camino has been a signature tour—a Wines & Shrines journey that begins in Madrid and continues to the Pyrenees, across the plains of old Castile and into the green riverlands of Celtic Galicia. Sleep like a king in paradors and dine like a queen in historic tabernas. Or, choose to gain your Certificate of Pilgrimage/the Compostela and travel by bike or on foot, the last 200/100km to Santiago
ACTIVE TOURSCamino de Santiago, Spain—1 week & 2 week bike Cycle the 1000 year old pilgrimage route, with sag wagon-support, along stretches of the route from Roncesvalles to Santiago, and including the last 200km to gain your Compostela/Certificate of Pilgrimage. See the monasteries, wineries, historic towns and villages of the Way. Sleep in comfortable hotels and inns, and enjoy hearty local cuisine.
Camino de Santiago, Spain—11 days/10 nights on footWalk the last 100km in Galicia to the Cathedral in Santiago to gain your Certificate of Pilgrimage/Compostela. The tour is sag wagon supported and averages 15km per day. Stay in rural guest houses and enjoy
CRUISE ON RAILSTranscantábrico train journeyExperience the magic of northern Spain—from the summits of the Picos de Europa mountains to the shores of the Cantabrian sea. Traverse green Spain, from León to Santiago, with stops in Bilbao, Santillana del Mar, Oviedo, Llanes and other enchanting cities and villages of the north. This gourmet tour offers comfortable cabin-suites, and an all-inclusive program of touring.
CITY BREAKSLet us take the stress out of your city-hopping tour plans and arrange hotels, local tours, museum visits, cooking classes, cultural evenings, extended out-of-city touring, and point-to-point transfers. Minimum service1week hotels and local tours.
HOTELSOur itineraries include Spanish paradors and Portuguese pousadas, the national hotels located in former palaces and convents, and Relais & Châteaux properties. In the countryside, we work with distinctive manor houses and small family inns. Coastal resorts offer both super deluxe and small scale, charming hotels. A building boom in urban areas has provided a new stock of impressive hotels, from 3 star to deluxe.
some of Spain’s most dramatic scenery as you walk along.
Backroads on Wine Roads, Spain—bike 1 week Explore the rolling vineyard country of Rioja in northern Spain, along quiet country roads and rail-to-roadways/via verdes. Wind through fortified hill towns, past historic wineries and monasteries, and stay in medieval villages in quiet inns serving superb riojano cuisine and of course the famous vinos of the region.
Route of the White Villages, Spain—bike 1 week Cycle Andalucia’s pueblos blancos. Meet in Sevilla, for transfer to Car-mona, where you begin your ride on a gently winding route along the Guadalquivir river, into Córdoba, and on through the Sierra of Córdo-ba. Nature reserves, Moorish castles, Mosques, olive oil mills and winer-ies—all await around the next bend. Sleep in monasteries, boutique hotels, mountain retreats and a city hotel. End your journey with two days in
Granada, time to see the famed pal-aces of the Alhambra in this most beautiful of Andalucian cities.
Walking the Silk Route, Spain—1 weekHike above the Mediterranean, only 8 miles from the African coast. Explore UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the hidden white towns of Andalucia, the dramatic Moorish town of Ronda, and beautiful Sevilla, Andalucia’s most romantic city. Spend a day in exotic Tangiers, with its markets and casbah. Enjoy country inns, beaches and the superb cuisine and wines of the South along the way.
San Fermín Olé—Pamplona, the running of the bulls In Spain, where fiestas are a way of life, San Fermín is known as the Fiesta. Pamplona explodes—the first fireworks are followed by a barrage of music, dancing, games, artistic performances, eating, drinking…and the encierro/running of the bulls through the streets at dawn. A one week 24 hour Fiesta. 10
CULINARY & WINECopa por copa—northern Wine Roads of SpainMeet the winemakers, taste from the barrel and walk the vineyards on a five ap-pellation tour—Navarra, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Toro. Along the way, see castles in Spain and art and architecture—from Renaissance sculpture to 21st century art at Bilbao’s Guggenheim. Stay in manor house hotels and palaces and enjoy vertical tastings complemented by superb re-gional cuisine. (Tour begins and ends in Madrid.)
Cava y copas—Mediterra-nean & Andalucian Wine Roads of SpainCombine Barcelona city-touring and a beach stay, with three Catalan appel-lations—CAVA, Penedès, Priorat. Meet winemakers, taste from the barrel, me-ander the rugged terroir
in these Mediterranean wine regions. Fly to Sevilla and stay in a nearby white town in an 18th c palace. Explore the emerging wine region around Ronda and the appellations Jerez and Sanlúcar de la Barremeda. Finish with a flourish—a day and night in Sevilla with Flamenco. (Tour begins in Barcelona and ends in Sevilla.)
Into the kitchen--Gourmet Basque Country & Catalunya, SpainRoll up your sleeves by the beach—cook and dine with Michelin chefs. Explore chic, modern city centers and authentic old quar-ters in Bilbao and San Sebastián. Travel the rug-ged Costa Brava, through Catalan vineyards, to Mediterranean gardens and kitchens. See Salvador Dalí’s whimsical art work. From your base in Barce-
lona, test your skill with Spanish Chocolate, shop in the famous Boquería Market, taste wines on the Robert Parker list…and experience the city that never sleeps. (Tour begins in Bilbao and ends in Barcelona.)
Cooking at the Vila—eastern PortugalImagine yourself in a patio kitchen, framed by bou-gainvillea, overlooked by a Moorish castle, with fresh local produce arrayed on a table before you like a still life painting. On a one week residential course, explore the history of fish and olive oil in Portuguese cuisine, along with a wide variety of other local dishes. Enjoy local visits to farms, medi-eval villages, markets, and historic towns. Explore the village’s by-ways on foot and bicycles, or lounge by the pool before dinner. (Tour begins and ends in Lisbon.) 12
Tour PricesFully escorted private tours. Prices are generally based on first class accom-modation and meals. Single supplement available on request. Prices per person, double occupancy.
ROMANTIC SPAIN & PORTUGALDon Juan & El Greco—11 days/10 nights 2 pax: € 56004 pax: € 40006 pax: € 3600
Trams & Caravels—10 days/9 nights2 pax: € 45904 pax: € 31506 pax: € 2790
OLD & NEW PORTUGALMonks, Boutiques & Port—10 days/9 nights2 pax: € 45904 pax: € 31506 pax: € 2790
Quinta Retreat—8 days/7 nights6-10 pax: € 2100CELTIC SPAIN & CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
A King’s Way, luxury Camino—14 days/13 nights2 pax: € 72004 pax: € 52006 pax: € 4680
JEWISH ROOTSThe Route of the Sephardim, Portugal—8 days/7 nights2 pax: € 34704 pax: € 23506 pax: € 2070
The Route of the Sephardim, Spain—8 days/7 nights2 pax: € 39004 pax: € 28006 pax: € 2500
BASQUE COUNTRY & BARCE-LONAArchitecture on the Edge—9 days/8 nights2 pax: € 49504 pax: € 37006 pax: € 3400
CULINARY & WINECopa por copa—10 days/9 nights2 pax: € 55604 pax: € 41006 pax: € 3800
Cava y copas—10 days/9 nights2 pax: € 55604 pax: € 41006 pax: € 3800
Into the Kitchen—9 days/8 nights2 pax: € 48004 pax: € 32006 pax: € 2890
Cooking at the Vila—8 days/7 nights€ 1999
MARKETS & SPASoak & Shop—8 days/7 nights2 pax: € 43004 pax: € 32006 pax: € 2990
Market Days—8 days/7 nights2 pax: € 34504 pax: € 23506 pax: € 2090
ACTIVE—BIKE, HIKE, SAN FERMÍNCamino de Santiago by bike—8 days/7 nights4 pax: € 3150Other group sizes on re-quest
Camino de Santiago by bike—14 days/13 nights4 pax: € 4780Other group sizes on request
Backroads on Wine Roads by bike—8 days/7 nights4 pax: € 3750
Route of the White Vil-lages by bike—8 days/7 nights4 pax: € 3650
Walking the Silk Route—8 days/7 nights4 pax: € 26006 pax: € 2300
San Fermín—5 days/4 nightsPrice on request
LUXURY TRAINFrom € 2040
Contact us for detailed Trip Itineraries: Saranjan Tours, Box 22615Seattle, WA 98122-0615 Tel: (800) 858 9594 Fax: (206) 720 0492 email: [email protected] www.saranjan.com
TERMS & CONDITIONSPayment Schedule:Deposit is due to hold services. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. We accept VISA and Master-Card and offer a 2% discount for cash payments. All prices are subject to currency fluctuation adjustments
Cancellation and Refund Policy:90 days or more: $250 handling fee plus the non-refundable portion of any cancelled reservation/service89-60 days: 20% is non-refundable59-30 days: 50% is non-refundable29 days or less: 100% is non-refundable
Liability Statement:Saranjan, Inc. acts only as agents in land transportation, accommodation, sightseeing, transfers, and meals, and assumes no liability for injury, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, loss or damage to person or property, or additional costs resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following causes: acts of God, fire, acts of government or other authorities, wars, civil disturbances, acts of terrorism, strikes, riots, thefts, defaults, delays, cancellations, or changes in transport or hotel service, over which it has no control. Travelers assume total responsibility for their own actions and personal safety. We strive to deliver the services described. If unforeseen conditions arise beyond our control, we reserve the right to vary the itinerary and substitute best available accommodation. No refunds will be made for unused services. Final price subject to currency fluc-tuation adjustment. We recommend and sell trip cancellation insurance.
Pretrip Information:No less than 30 days prior to departure complete pretrip information will be sent including vouchers, contact lists, destination information, and travel tips.
Saranjan Tours in Print:Saranjan Tours appears in a number of publications, including: The Rough Guide, Frommer’s Spain, Fodor’s Spain, Spain for Dummies, The Lonely Planet, Patricia Schultz’s 1000 Places to See Before You Die, New York Times and Trip Advisor.
For More Information or to Book:Call to speak with one of our destination experts: 800 858 9594. Or email us at: [email protected]
Saranjan Tours was founded in 1994. Washington State Seller of Travel No. 601 529 927. Member of the Bet-ter Business Bureau, Adventure Travel Tours Association, Northwest Travel Professionals.
www. Saranjan.com (800) 858-9594 14
Saranjan ToursSaranjan Tours
PO Box 22615
Seattle WA
98122-0615 USA
Toll free (800) 858-9594
Tel. (206) 720-0623
Fax (206) 720-0492
