Flavours of Valencia

Your Mediterranean holiday begins this morning at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. On board, we have a light meal served in our spacious Plus class seats. Upon arrival in Paris, we transfer to a First Class service to the Catalan city of Girona.

Arriving in Girona late-evening, we take a short walk to our hotel to check in for the night. Located in the heart of the city, our hotel is modern and well-appointed, nestled among cobbled streets and medieval architecture, with plenty of nearby restaurants for you to dine independently tonight.

Please note: if travelling by air, your holiday starts on Day 2 of the itinerary.

• Eurostar Light Meal

After a buffet breakfast, we walk to the train station to take a First Class service to Valencia to start our exploration of this fascinating region. From Valencia train station, we get our first experience of the city as we head to our hotel, located in a charming, classical building overlooking Valencia's main plaza, Plaza de l'Ajuntament.

Once we've checked in, enjoy some free time to relax or explore the Plaza de l'Ajuntament. Elegant, classical buildings, including the grand town hall, surround a central plaza complete with an impressive fountain and manicured gardens.

This evening, we will reconvene at our hotel for a welcome drink and canapes, featuring local treats like Valencian vermouth and Iberian ham. Indulge in the flavours of Valencia as you look forward to the days ahead in this beautiful region.

Please note: if travelling by air, your holiday starts today at London Heathrow where you meet the Tour Manager and group before flying to Valencia. In Valencia, we transfer directly to our hotel.

• Breakfast, Light Dinner

Our city centre hotel is the perfect base for exploring Valencia on your free day today. Many of the city's notable sights are in easy walking distance, including the beautiful town hall on our doorstep. This majestic neoclassical building dates to the 18th century and features a picturesque clock tower, watching over the plaza below.

You could also stroll to the Central Market, a striking showcase of Valencian Art Nouveau architecture, with its prominent stained-glass windows surrounded by vivid azulejo tiles. As the largest market selling fresh produce in Europe, you will find more than 200 stalls selling a variety of local fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, spices and more.

At the edge of the Old Town are the Serranos Towers, two imposing 14th-century gate towers standing guard over the city. If you'd like a challenge, you can climb the 132 steps to the top for a great view, or head to the park just past the towers to take in the peaceful scenery. However you choose to spend your day, the sights of this city are sure to delight.

• Breakfast

This morning, we set out on a tour of the Old Town, led by a knowledgeable guide. We visit the impressive Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 15th-century Gothic-style civil building was originally used for mercantile business, showcasing the prosperity of the city during that time. Inside, twisting columns stretch 57-feet up, connecting to a domed ceiling adorned with a web of wooden beams.

Next, we head to the uniquely beautiful Valencia Cathedral, located on a site that was previously both a mosque and a Roman temple, highlighting the diversity of Valencia's long history. The cathedral is also home to a chalice of polished agate believed to be the Holy Grail, which can be viewed in its lavish golden setting.

To round off our tour, we stop by a local vendor for a traditional Valencian delicacy: horchata and fartons. Horchata is a creamy drink made from tiger nuts, with a sweet refreshing taste, and pairs perfectly with fartons, a spongy pastry treat. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore and dine independently.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before a morning at leisure. You could take some time to unwind at the hotel's sauna or roof terrace or grab some lunch at a nearby restaurant.

In the afternoon, we travel by coach to Albufera Natural Park, a protected area of biodiversity and natural beauty. Embarking on a tour of the area, we learn about the lagoon and surrounding wetlands, visiting a traditional barraca (fisherman's hut). Cruising around the rice fields, there's plenty of opportunity to spot the local birdlife, with more than 300 species recorded in this reserve.

The rice fields here provide for Spain's national dish, paella, which was invented in this area in the mid-19th century. As the sun begins to set over the mirrored surface of the lagoon, we enjoy a cooking class, learning the local secrets to the perfect paella, which will be our dinner tonight. Closing out our day in this serene landscape, we coach back to the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we coach to Vall d'Uixo, a charming town just north of Valencia. Here, we set out on a unique excursion to the incredible San Josep caves for a boat ride along an ancient underground river. Cruising along this tranquil and mesmerising waterway, lights illuminate the unique rock formations and palaeolithic cave paintings. After disembarking, there is free time for lunching independently in Vall d'Uixo.

Next, we transfer to Sagunto to visit its historic castle. Dating back to the Iron Age, this imposing fortress began as an Iberian settlement and was then constructed over centuries by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. The result of the castle's mosaic history is a trove of fascinating architectural variety, perfect for wandering to discover its secrets. The castle's hilltop location offers breathtaking views out over Sagunto and the landscape of this beautiful region.

Once we're finished exploring, we board a train back to Valencia for dinner at a local restaurant.

Please note: the San Josep caves excursion is weather dependent.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A free day today gives you the chance to visit the fantastic museums in Valencia.

Juxtaposed with the history and quaint streets of the Old Town, Valencia boasts the ultramodern City of Arts and Sciences. Twenty minutes on public transport will take you to this futuristic complex of attractions, including a planetarium, interactive science museum and Europe's largest aquarium. The modern architecture of this complex is worth a visit in itself, with organic shapes constructed of glass and metal set in turquoise pools.

For art lovers, Valencia is home to Spain's second-largest art gallery, the Museo de Bellas Artes, offering an extensive collection of Renaissance art in the heart of the city. Alternatively, check out the IVAM, the first modern-art museum in Spain, with a collection ranging from early 20th-century avant-garde to contemporary works.

• Breakfast

Our last full day in Valencia starts with breakfast at the hotel before we take a coach to Carcaixent, the 'cradle of the orange' where the orange cultivation trade began in Valencia, to tour a renowned orange farm.

Huerto Ribera was built in 1870, and the Ribera family still own and run this beautiful estate, offering expert insight into traditional orange cultivation. The palatial modernist farmhouse is surrounded by sprawling citrus orchards, growing a wide variety of citruses, filling the air with bright aromas. After our informative tour, we enjoy a citrus-themed tasting menu for lunch, featuring Valencia's celebrated produce.

Another delicacy of the region is vermouth, known as vermut in Valencia. This afternoon, we are treated to a workshop, where we can sample local vermouths and create our own artisanal variety, blending aromatic ingredients to produce unique flavours. Transferring back to Valencia, the rest of the day is at leisure.

• Breakfast, Lunch

With its picturesque plazas, grand monuments and engrossing history, Valencia has provided a perfect base for exploring the wonders of this region. On our tour, we have experienced breathtaking natural landscapes in Albufera and Vall d'Uixo and explored historic monuments in Sagunto and Valencia's Old Town, soaking up the rich culture and cuisine along the way.

After breakfast, we are transferred by coach to Valencia Airport, where we board our flight to London Heathrow. Landing back in the UK, your Spanish holiday draws to a close.

• Breakfast