“Birthplace of the Novel”: A Literary tour of Spain 2026

Itinerary

DRAFT Itinerary Currently in Preparation

The following itinerary lists a range of site visits which we plan to visit. Many are accessible to the public, but some require special permission. The daily activities described in this itinerary may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours and confirmation of private visits. Participants will receive a final itinerary together with their tour documents. The tour includes breakfast daily, lunches & evening meals indicated in the detailed itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner.

Seville – 3 nights

Ronda – 1 night

Malaga – 1 night

Granada – 3 nights

Almagro – 2 nights

Toledo – 3 nights

Salamanca – 2 nights

Segovia – 2 nights

Madrid – 3 nights

Accommodation

A special feature of this tour is our stay in several heritage hotels. ASA has selected 4-star (5-star hotel in Madrid), many of which are themselves historical buildings and/or are located in historical centres. All rooms have en suite bathroom.

• Seville (3 nights): 4-star Hotel Inglaterra – situated 250 metres from the Cathedral, overlooking the Plaza Nueva. As Seville’s most prestigious establishment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it received visits from illustrious people of the time, including King Alfonso XIII, Queen Elizabeth of Belgium and the Prince of Wales.
• Ronda (1 nights): 4-star Parador de Ronda – housed in the former 18th-century city hall, alongside the Tagus River next to the Puente Nuevo and the bullring. Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote here. His famous novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, tells of the atrocities committed here during the Spanish civil war.
• Málaga (1 night): 4-star Hotel Molina Lario – housed in two refurbished 19th century buildings and retaining their original façade, located opposite the Cathedral and just a short distance from the port, the Picasso Museum and the city’s pedestrian district.
• Granada (3 nights): 4-star Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria – charming hotel in a central historic building close to the Cathedral and Alhambra Palace.
• Almagro (2 nights): 4-star Parador de Almagro – located in the town centre,  housed in the former Convent of Santa Catalina which dates from the 17th century. The 400-year old monastery features magnificent Mudéjar tile work.
• Toledo (3 nights): 4-star San Juan de los Reyes Hotel – located in the famous Jewish quarter, within easy walking distance of the town’s historic monuments.
• Salamanca (2 nights): details to be confirmed.
• Segovia (2 nights): 4-star Hotel Real Segovia – newly renovated hotel located on a pedestrian street just a short walk from the Roman aqueduct and Segovia’s Cathedral.
• Madrid (3 nights): 5-star Hotel NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado – ideally situated just across the street from the Prado and a short walk from the Reina Sofia and Thyssen museums.

Note: Hotels are subject to change, in which case a hotel of similar standard will be provided.

Single Supplement

Payment of this supplement will ensure accommodation in a single-occupancy room throughout the tour. In all hotels on the tour, this will be a double/twin room for single occupancy. The number of rooms available for single occupancy is extremely limited. People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.

How to Book

ASA INTENTION TO TRAVEL APPLICATION FORM

Some ASA tours fill almost immediately. Don’t miss out! You can register your ‘Intention to Travel’ by completing this application and returning this to ASA with a AUD $200.00 per person deposit. Once the tour price has been published, the itinerary and ASA Reservation Application Form will be sent to you. From the time you receive the itinerary you will have two weeks to either:

• Send us a completed ASA Reservation Application Form together with an additional deposit of AUD $800.00 per person. On receipt of this Reservation Application and deposit, ASA will process your booking and if approved, send you a tour confirmation. At this time your deposit of AUD $1000.00 is subject to the tour’s Booking Conditions.

Or

• CANCEL your Intention to Travel in writing. ASA will refund your AUD $200.00 per person deposit, less a $66.00 service fee (including GST).

Participation Criteria

To participate in an ASA tour, you must be reasonably fit, in good health and able to participate in all activities without assistance from Tour Leaders or other tour members. If you require assistance, a fit and able travel companion must undertake to accompany and assist you with all tasks for the duration of the whole tour. ASA’s ability to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your specific needs, your health and safety and the health and safety of other tour members, is of paramount importance to us. For this reason the ASA Reservation Application includes a Medical Information section. As a general guideline, you must be able to accomplish each of these activities without assistance or support:-

• walk and stand unassisted for at least 2-3 hours a day in hot, humid conditions
• walk confidently on and over uneven surfaces
• climb at least 3 flights of stairs
• embark and disembark from ferries, buses and trains
• walk up and down steep slopes
• walk at a steady pace and no less than 1km every 15-20 minutes
• organise, manage and carry your own luggage
• follow and remember tour instructions
• meet punctually at designated times and places
• administer your own medication.

Practical Information

The number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, seven to the most. Flags are allocated, above all, according to the amount of walking and standing each tour involves. Nevertheless, all ASA tours require that participants have a good degree of fitness enabling 2-3 hours walking or 1-1.5 hours standing still on any given site visit or excursion. Many sites are accessed by climbing slopes or steps and have uneven terrain.

This 21-day Literary Tour of Spain involves:

• Moderate amount of walking/reasonable fitness level required. Most days involve a morning walking tour of 2-3 hours duration, followed by a late lunch and then recommencing with another afternoon walk also of 2-3 hours duration. Many of the walks involve steep inclines (eg. Granada and Ronda), navigating flights of stairs, and walking along cobbled streets or uneven terrain.
• The siesta (midday break) is still prevalent in many towns and cities of Spain.
  • Late Meal times: Time for lunch is therefore usually planned between 1pm and 2pm. Evening meals are generally not served until 8-8.30pm.
  • Length of days: Regional museums are often closed between 1pm and 4pm; many days therefore include mid-afternoon to early evening visits.
• Early Departures: The program involves many days with early-morning departures (between 8.00-8.30am), concluding in the late afternoon (between 5.30-6.30pm).
• Accommodation: 4-star and 5-star hotels with eight hotel changes.
• Porterage: You must be able to carry your own hand luggage. Hotel porterage includes 1 piece of luggage per person.

It is important to remember that ASA programs are group tours, and slow walkers affect everyone in the group. As the group must move at the speed of the slowest member, the amount of time spent at a site may be reduced if group members cannot maintain a moderate walking pace. ASA tours should not present any problem for active people who can manage day-to-day walking and stair-climbing. However, if you have any doubts about your ability to manage on a program, please ask your ASA travel consultant whether this is a suitable tour for you.

Please note: it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA’s directions in relation to their suitability to participate in activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the ASA Reservation Application Form.

Tour Price & Inclusions

AUD $TBA Land Content Only

AUD $TBA Single Supplement

Tour Price (Land Content Only) includes:

• Accommodation in twin-share rooms with private facilities in 4-star hotels (5-star in Madrid).
• Breakfast daily, lunches & evening meals indicated in the itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=Lunch & D=dinner.
• Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included.
• Transportation by air-conditioned coach.
• Porterage of one piece of luggage per person at hotels.
• Lecture and site visit program.
• Tour handbook.
• Entrance fees to museums & monuments.
• Use of audio headsets during site visits.
• Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals.

Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:

• Airfare: Australia-Seville, Madrid-Australia
• Personal spending money
• Airport-hotel transfers
• Luggage in excess of 20kg (44lbs)
• Travel insurance