Overview
Tour Spain and Portugal and take in all the sights (and smells and sounds and other delights) in Madrid and Salamanca, then work your way down the gorgeous Atlantic coastline of Portugal.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Spain (Madrid)
Day 2
Arrive in Madrid
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
Madrid guided sightseeing tour
Prado visit with Whisper headsets, Plaza Colon visit, Plaza de España, Royal Palace
Reina Sofia Museum visit
Officially Spain’s National Museum of 20th Century Art, the Reina Sofía houses masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Its most famous work is Picasso’s Guernica, a powerful anti-war statement. Beyond the galleries, the museum also offers a vast library, archive, bookstore, and restaurant, making it a hub of art and culture.
LEAP Cocina Española!
Cooking class and dinner
Day 4
LEAP Spanish Civil War
Nationalist? Republican? Argue ideology in a revolutionary role-play that delves into the causes of the Spanish Civil War!
Travel to Salamanca
El Escorial guided excursion with Whisper headset
Segovia Alcazar visit
A castle fit for a king! This stone fortification rises up imposingly from a rocky crag in the old city of Segovia. See its towering round turrets, spindly spires, luxurious throne room and fully stocked armory.
Day 5
Salamanca guided sightseeing tour
New Cathedral visit, Old Cathedral visit, University of Salamanca visit, Casa de las Conchas, Plaza Mayor
LEAP Spirit of Spain
Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.
Day 6
Travel to Porto
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal, renowned for its stately bridges and port wine production. In the medieval Ribeira district, narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants' houses and cafés. São Francisco Church is famous for its lavish Baroque interior adorned with ornate gilded carvings. The palatial 19th-century Palácio da Bolsa, formerly a stock exchange, was built to impress potential European investors.
Porto City Walk
Cathedral Santíssimo Sacramento visit
Palácio da Bolsa
Day 7
Travel to Lisbon
Lisbon guided sightseeing tour
Monument to the Discoveries, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos visit, Belém Tower, Mirador de Santa Justa
Day 8
Cascais & Sintra half-day excursion (optional)
Head out of Lisbon to the nearby coastal town of Cascais. Once a quaint fishing village, its beautiful beaches have made it a popular vacation spot. To the north of Cascais, discover Sintra, with its 19th century Roman architecture and the Sintra Mountain range.
Day 9
End tour
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.