Insider's Paris and Madrid

  • 9 Days
  • Most Inclusive

We're always ready to personalize
a tour to your unique needs

Insider's Paris and Madrid Get Started

Map & Route

Depart

Overnight Flight

1 1 Night

Paris

3 3 Nights

Madrid

4 4 Nights
Return
map Insider's Paris and Madrid

What's Included

Our itineraries reflect 40 years of experience in crafting exceptional educational tours. That means we know exactly how to make the best of your time abroad—incredible destinations, immersive activities, centrally located hotels, and smart, well-traveled tour managers who ensure your educational goals are met. Here are some of the exceptional features of this tour.

ACIS Guarantees

We have high standards, which is why we take care to include these features in every tour.

Round-Trip Flights

Leave the airlines to us.

3- or 4-Star Hotels

After a busy day, comfort is key.

Centrally Located Hotels

Save the commuting time, beat the morning crowds and keep right on exploring after dark when your hotel is in the heart of the city.

Daily Breakfast and Dinner (unless otherwise noted)

Delicious, authentic, multi-course dinners at local restaurants with meal times tailored to maximize your experience.

24-Hour Tour Manager

Part guide, part educator, part engineer, part mind-reader, part magician—ACIS Tour Managers are your travel partner.

Start Exploring

Never wait hours at the airport to share a transfer with other later groups.

Service Guarantee

We're so sure you're going to love your tour, we guarantee it!

Global Network

24/7 on the ground support whenever and wherever you need it.

All Local Transportation

Urban transportation is on us, allowing you to explore each destination with ease.

Personal Headsets Included Throughout Tour

Participants will have unlimited access to personal headsets so that local guides and ACIS Tour Managers can more easily communicate with the group along the way.

Exceptional Experiences

Our tours are designed to help you and your students be in the moment and experience everything the world has to offer.

Pétanque Lesson in Paris

Pétanque Lesson in Paris

A traditional French pastime, the game of pétanque involves throwing one ball as close as possible to another ball. You'll enjoy a lesson on the rules and strategy for play with a member of the French National Federation of Pétanques. Then test out your new skills with some friendly competition.

Learn More

A traditional French pastime, the game of pétanque involves throwing one ball as close as possible to another ball. You'll enjoy a lesson on the rules and strategy for play with a member of the French National Federation of Pétanques. Then test out your new skills with some friendly competition.

Versailles by Bike

Versailles by Bike

The landscape of Versailles is exquisite—and extensive. Make the most of your time to explore by hopping on a bicycle and pedaling the expansive grounds, from the Petit and Grand Trianons to the end of the Grand Canal for a long scenic view back toward the palace.
Bicycle helmets are available and encouraged for use by all participants.

Learn More

The landscape of Versailles is exquisite—and extensive. Make the most of your time to explore by hopping on a bicycle and pedaling the expansive grounds, from the Petit and Grand Trianons to the end of the Grand Canal for a long scenic view back toward the palace.
Bicycle helmets are available and encouraged for use by all participants.

Flamenco Lesson and Show in Madrid

Flamenco Lesson and Show in Madrid

Strap on your dancing shoes and prepare for a night of flamenco. Consider the origins of this festive and colorful art form during a lesson in the traditional steps and rhythm of the dance. Then enjoy a break for dinner before arriving at the theater to watch your teacher perform in a professional flamenco show that will inspire you to keep moving with the music all night long. Olé!

Learn More

Strap on your dancing shoes and prepare for a night of flamenco. Consider the origins of this festive and colorful art form during a lesson in the traditional steps and rhythm of the dance. Then enjoy a break for dinner before arriving at the theater to watch your teacher perform in a professional flamenco show that will inspire you to keep moving with the music all night long. Olé!

Spanish Cooking Lesson in Toledo

Spanish Cooking Lesson in Toledo

Unlock the secrets of Spain's culinary arts with a cooking lesson held in a Toledo restaurant whose sweeping views over the city are sure to inspire. Begin with an introduction to the staples of Spanish food and an explanation of what local ingredients are used and why they are selected. Then work under the chefs' direction to try your hand at preparing ingredients and cooking the dishes on the day's menu. Play close attention on how to properly flip your tortilla española! Finish off the lesson by sampling the treats you created and imagine yourself a local Toledan preparing dinner for the family.

Learn More

Unlock the secrets of Spain's culinary arts with a cooking lesson held in a Toledo restaurant whose sweeping views over the city are sure to inspire. Begin with an introduction to the staples of Spanish food and an explanation of what local ingredients are used and why they are selected. Then work under the chefs' direction to try your hand at preparing ingredients and cooking the dishes on the day's menu. Play close attention on how to properly flip your tortilla española! Finish off the lesson by sampling the treats you created and imagine yourself a local Toledan preparing dinner for the family.

Bull Ranch Visit, Bullfighting Demonstration and Lunch

Bull Ranch Visit, Bullfighting Demonstration and Lunch

Visit an authentic working bull ranch in the countryside outside Madrid to learn about the art of bullfighting at its source. Tour the ranch, learn how the bulls are raised and then experience this legendary part of Spain's culture yourself with bullfighting lessons using fake horns. After you safely learn the techniques needed to stay alive, a trained professional Matador gives an exciting demonstration of the art form with a real baby bull (who returns happily unscathed to the pastures post demonstration). While you're at the ganadería, you'll also enjoy a rustic lunch.

Learn More

Visit an authentic working bull ranch in the countryside outside Madrid to learn about the art of bullfighting at its source. Tour the ranch, learn how the bulls are raised and then experience this legendary part of Spain's culture yourself with bullfighting lessons using fake horns. After you safely learn the techniques needed to stay alive, a trained professional Matador gives an exciting demonstration of the art form with a real baby bull (who returns happily unscathed to the pastures post demonstration). While you're at the ganadería, you'll also enjoy a rustic lunch.

Paris Tour with Guide

Paris Tour with Guide

Louvre with Guide and Reservation

Louvre with Guide and Reservation

Place du Tertre Dinner

Place du Tertre Dinner

Eiffel Tower Top Floor

Eiffel Tower Top Floor

Seine Boat Ride

Seine Boat Ride

Versailles Château and Gardens

Versailles Château and Gardens

Paris-Madrid Flight

Paris-Madrid Flight

Madrid Tour with Guide

Madrid Tour with Guide

Prado Museum with Guide and Reservation

Prado Museum with Guide and Reservation

Toledo Tour with Guide

Toledo Tour with Guide

Toledo Gothic Cathedral, Synagogue, Church of Santo Tomé

Toledo Gothic Cathedral, Synagogue, Church of Santo Tomé

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France
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Spain

France

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Itinerary

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Paris

Arrive in Paris and meet your ACIS Tour Manager before you begin to explore the graceful City of Light. As you start to discover its interesting museums and galleries, perhaps practice your French as you order a pastry and a refreshing citron pressé at a charming sidewalk café.

Day 3: Paris

A guided morning sightseeing tour shows you the city's most impressive monuments, from the magnificent Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées to Napoleon's final resting place at Les Invalides to the Gothic wonder of Notre Dame. Later, breeze by the crowds with your timed entrance to the Louvre and discover the many famous masterpieces that call it home. Insightful commentary from your local guide highlights the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo and more as you wander through the galleries. From its beginnings as a royal fortress to its current status as the world's most visited art museum, the Louvre has long been at the center of Parisian culture and home to a collection of 35,000 works of art from around the world. Visit eclectic Montmartre this evening where you will enjoy an authentic French dinner on the Place du Tertre. This square at the heart of Montmartre is known for its artists of all types and has been home to famous painters including Picasso.

Day 4: Paris

Start today with some light-hearted competition as a local expert teaches you the classic French game of pétanque. In Paris, there may be no better place to view the city than the Eiffel Tower, and you’ll ascend to its top floor for breathtaking views. In the evening, see the City of Light from a totally different perspective on an illuminated river cruise on the Seine. You may opt to upgrade your Seine experience with a dinner cruise, reveling in traditional French cuisine and music as you glide past some of the city’s most notable landmarks.

Day 5: Madrid

This morning, travel to Versailles to visit the intricate gardens and stunning palaces of the Sun King, Louis the XIV. Your visit includes the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and the breathtaking surroundings. Don't worry if you don't have time to cover every room of his vast palace. The best stuff is all in the gardens and grounds: all 1,976-acre gardens, 200,000 trees, 50 fountains and 620 jets of water worth. After wandering about the exquisite and intensely manicured gardens on two feet, hop on two wheels and experience Versailles by bike, exploring the palace's surroundings beyond the gardens. In the afternoon say au revoir to Paris as you board your flight to Madrid.

Day 6: Madrid

Bienvenidos a España! Madrid's rich heritage comes alive on your guided sightseeing tour of classic Spanish boulevards, grand plazas, and the diverse architecture of modern-day Madrid. Highlights include the Plaza de España with its statue of Don Quixote, the majestic Alcalá gate, and the famous bullring Las Ventas. Then breeze right past any crowds with your timed reservation to visit the magnificent Prado, one of the world's premier art museums. Here, an expert provides illuminating commentary on the artwork of Velázquez, Goya, Raphael, Rubens, and Bosch. Even the 18th-century Neo-Classical building that houses the collection is stunning. Your cultural immersion continues later today as a master teacher shows you how to channel your inner bailaor/bailaora with a lesson in the passionate art of flamenco dancing, an important tradition in Spanish culture. After the lesson, enjoy a dramatic and fiery professional flamenco show starring your own instructor.

Day 7: Madrid

Depart for a full-day excursion to culturally diverse Toledo, known for its unique blend of Christian, Jewish and Muslim influences. As you listen to your guide's commentary, visit Toledo landmarks such as the Gothic Cathedral, the Medieval Synagogue and the Church of Santo Tomé, home to one of El Greco's best-known paintings, The Burial of Count Orgaz. Then visit a local restaurant for a Spanish cooking lesson led by professional chefs. Work in teams to create traditional dishes before dining on the tasty results with spectacular views of the Toledo skyline. Lunch is included today instead of dinner. Return to Madrid for the evening.

Day 8: Madrid

Learn about another important facet of Spanish culture, bullfighting, as you visit a working bull ranch. Learn how bulls are raised, then unearth your inner matador with a bullfighting lesson. Afterward, a professional matador demonstrates this art form with a baby bull (no animals are harmed throughout our lesson). The visit includes a hearty, rustic lunch. Back in Madrid, enjoy time to explore more of the city at your own pace. Then we'll cap off our exceptional tour of these two European capitals with a stroll down to lively Plaza Mayor to see the artists and street performers.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.

Optional Extras

Ultimate-Plus Protection Plan

Most Enhanced health coverage, program interruption, baggage delay/loss and travel delay protection while on tour. Plus, enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy

Rate $450

Add to Tour

Ultimate Protection Plan

Enhanced health coverage, program interruption, baggage delay/loss and travel delay protection while on tour. Plus, enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy

Rate $315

Add to Tour

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