Program Overview
Use trip code GMASP27 to register
Madrid, Granada, Seville & Lisbon: The Wonders of Iberia
Join us for an unforgettable ten-day adventure through the heart of Spain and Portugal, organized by Gwynedd Mercy Academy and Travel For Teens! This trip is designed to immerse you in the region’s unique culture, vibrant art, and deep history, offering a blend of iconic sights, authentic experiences, and memorable moments. This trip will have a focus on Faith, Architecture, & Tradition in addition to the cultural and food wonders of the Iberian Peninsula!
Your adventure begins in Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain. Here, you’ll encounter world-renowned art masterworks, wander through historic squares, and witness centuries-old traditions like the Semana Santa processions. Your exploration extends beyond the city limits with a day trip to the medieval walled city of Ávila, offering a glimpse into Spain’s profound spiritual and historic heritage.
Your journey then takes you south into Andalusia, where you will explore the magical cities of Granada and Seville. This segment of your trip is dedicated to exploring grand UNESCO World Heritage palaces, marveling at the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, and engaging in hands-on activities like leather crafting and a local tapas cooking class.
Finally, you will cross into Portugal to experience the coastal charm of Lisbon. From the sacred sanctuary of Fátima to the historic shores of the Tagus River, you’ll discover architectural masterpieces and a thriving art scene that bridges the ancient and the contemporary. Throughout your trip, you’ll have ample opportunities to savor authentic Iberian cuisine, embrace local customs, and create lasting memories with your peers, culminating in a truly unforgettable experience!
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Departure time
- Depart from the USA on an overnight transatlantic flight to Madrid, Spain
- In-flight meal and breakfast service
Day 2: ¡Hola Madrid!
- Arrive at Madrid Barajas Airport — meet your full-time TFT Tour Director
- Transfer to hotel and check in: freshen up and rest after the overnight flight
- Orientation walk through the heart of Madrid: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and the historic center
- Evening stroll through the La Latina neighborhood and enjoy tapas!
- Welcome dinner in Madrid
Day 3: The Art, History & Holy Week of Madrid
- Morning visit to the Prado Museum — home to Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, and Bosch; one of the world’s great art collections
- Afternoon at Almudena Cathedral — Madrid’s stunning neoclassical cathedral, completed in 1993 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II
- Walk through the Royal Palace grounds and the Plaza de Oriente
- Evening Semana Santa experience — witness candlelit Holy Week processions moving through Madrid’s streets as brotherhoods carry ornate floats of sacred figures
- Group dinner with a discussion of the history and meaning of Semana Santa
DAY4: Day Trip to Avila
- Full-day excursion to Ávila! A UNESCO World Heritage city perched on a rocky plateau at 3,700 feet, only 90 minutes from Madrid
- Walk the Medieval City Walls: among the best-preserved in the world, stretching nearly 1.5 miles with 88 towers and 9 gatehouses (11th–14th century)
- Visit the Convento de Santa Teresa — built on the birthplace of the 16th-century mystic and Doctor of the Church who reformed Carmelite spirituality across Europe
- Visit the Monasterio de la Encarnación, where Santa Teresa spent 27 years of her life as a novice and prioress
- Visit Ávila Cathedral, a remarkable hybrid of Romanesque fortress and Gothic cathedral, integrated directly into the city walls
- Lunch and free time to explore Ávila’s cobblestone streets before returning to Madrid
Day 5: Retiro & City Exploration
- Enjoy hotel breakfast and some free time in Madrid
- Morning at Retiro Park, a 350-acre royal garden and the green heart of Madrid, perfect for students to explore, rest, and reflect
- Afternoon free time: the Gran Vía shopping boulevard, Mercado San Miguel, or independent exploration with director supervision
- This is Palm Sunday in Madrid — the city’s Semana Santa celebrations are in full swing, with major processions throughout the day and evening
- Group farewell dinner in Madrid before tomorrow’s departure south
Day 6: Madrid to Granada
- Morning hotel checkout and transfer to Atocha Station
- High-speed AVE train south to Granada — watch Spain’s landscape transform from the Castilian plateau to Andalusia’s ochre-colored hills
- Arrive Granada and transfer to hotel
- Evening walk through the Albaicín quarter! Granada’s ancient Moorish hillside neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage site of whitewashed alleyways, fountains, and jasmine-covered walls
- Sunset views over the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás, one of the iconic vistas in all of Spain
- Dinner in the Albaicín
Day 7: Granada Culture
- Full morning at The Alhambra and Generalife: the crown jewel of Moorish Spain; a 14th-century palace city of breathtaking geometric tilework, carved stucco, reflecting pools, and manicured gardens, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada
- Expert guided tour of the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Generalife summer gardens
- Afternoon visit to Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, the final resting place of Ferdinand and Isabella, the monarchs who united Spain and commissioned Columbus’s voyage
- Traditional leather crafting workshop with a local artisan! A hands-on connection to Granada’s centuries-old artisan craft tradition
- Browse the Alcaicería market, Granada’s reconstructed Moorish silk bazaar, filled with ceramics, textiles, and spices
- Group dinner featuring traditional Andalusian cuisine
Day 8: Granada to Seville
- Morning coach departure from Granada to Seville (approximately 3 hours west)
- Check into hotel and transfer to the historic center
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; climb the Giralda for panoramic views across Seville’s rooftops and the Guadalquivir River
- Visit the Royal Alcázar of Seville, a living masterpiece of Mudéjar architecture still actively used as a royal residence; the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use; walled gardens, tiled courtyards, and ornate royal chambers
- Evening free time in Seville, the city is deep in Semana Santa and the streets are alive with processions, music, and light
- Group dinner in Seville
DAY 9: Tapas Class & Journey to Portugal
- Morning tapas cooking class with a local Sevillan culinary instructor and learn to prepare classic Andalusian dishes: salmorejo, espinacas con garbanzos, and more
- Free afternoon in Seville: the city of flamenco, orange blossoms, and Semana Santa atmosphere
- Farewell dinner in Seville
- Evening coach departure west from Seville toward Portugal, stopping at the Fátima
- Sanctuary for a late visit or overnight reflection stop en route
Day 10: Fatima & Lisbon
- Fátima Sanctuary — one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world; visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions, and the monumental Basilica of the Holy Trinity; a profound and moving experience on Good Friday
- Continue to Lisbon (approximately 90 minutes from Fátima)
- Visit Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Manueline masterpiece built in 1501 to celebrate Vasco da Gama’s return from India; a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discovery
- Gulbenkian Museum, one of Europe’s finest private collections, spanning ancient Egyptian artifacts to Lalique glass and Impressionist paintings
- Banksy Museum Lisboa, a curated permanent exhibition of the anonymous street artist’s most iconic works, offering students a contemporary counterpoint to the day’s classical sites
- Time Out Market Lisbon, a modern food hall showcasing the best of Portuguese cuisine; perfect for a final lunch
- Transfer to Humberto Delgado Airport for evening international flight home
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Frequently Asked Question
Who is Travel For Teens?
Travel For Teens started in 2003 as a small, family-run business providing teens with an authentic experience in Paris.
Today, the TFT family has flourished and operates over 100 different programs in over 40 countries! Our values and mission remain the same no matter our growth – inspiring youth to ignite a passion for travel and discovering new cultures beyond the traditional tourist path.
How much is tuition & what does tuition include?
Tuition for the trip is $5,295, which INCLUDES round-trip airfare to Spain and Portugal, all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, trip insurance, beverages other than filtered water at meals, end of trip gratuity for the TFT leaers, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $5,295, which INCLUDES round-trip airfare to Spain and Portugal, all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, trip insurance, beverages other than filtered water at meals, end of trip gratuity for the TFT leaers, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
What is the payment timeline?
Deadline to register: October 1, 2026
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
The balance will be due in four installments.
Deadline to register: October 1, 2026
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
The balance will be due in four installments.
If I cannot afford the payment schedule listed above, does Travel For Teens provide flexible payment plans?
Yes, Travel For Teens is willing to customize a payment plan for any participant who needs a little flexibility in the payment schedule. Please email help@travelforteens.com for details on payment plans.
How much is trip cancellation insurance?
A standard trip protection plan is $380, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $569.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
A standard trip protection plan is $380, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $569.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to 12th grade GMA students. Space is limited and is awarded based on school approval.
To be clear: GMA Students must receive approval from the school trip before registering and paying your deposit.
The trip is open to 12th grade GMA students. Space is limited and is awarded based on school approval.
To be clear: GMA Students must receive approval from the school trip before registering and paying your deposit.
After I register, what happens next?
Once you have completed your registration and paid your deposit, you will receive an email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant.
How much is airfare? How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants. The exact flight path will be determined closer to the trip departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
Participants will not be permitted to deviate from the group flights i.e. all participants must take the chaperoned group flight to and from the trip.
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants. The exact flight path will be determined closer to the trip departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
Participants will not be permitted to deviate from the group flights i.e. all participants must take the chaperoned group flight to and from the trip.
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost an additional fee per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost an additional fee per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Trip Emails & Photographs
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos each day. The best photos will be posted as regularly as possible (ideally every day) to a private photo-sharing platform (Waldo Photos) where you can follow along with the trip. We will send you an email to alert you when we post new photos. Low-resolution photos can be viewed for free during and after the trip. All of your High-Resolution matched photos can be purchased and downloaded in real-time during the trip or after the trip for $50.
EMAILS
The Trip Director will be in regular email contact every 24-48 hours, internet willing, with our families. Emails will include fun detailed updates about the day’s activities and are a great way for families to follow along with the journey. Email will be the best way to communicate messages to the Trip Director.
Safety, Sickness & Communication
SAFETY AND SICKNESS
The safety of our participants is our #1 concern, which is why we have only experienced trip leaders running the show. We offer 24/7 communication throughout our programs and have detailed risk management and safety policies in place. Please review our policies here.
For information regarding our specific policies with Covid-19 please review our Covid-19 protocols page here.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
What is the food like on a TFT program? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
We also love to have picnics al fresco and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food while sitting out in the fresh air taking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings.
As always, we are willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!
Are participants allowed to have their cell phones on the program?
We do allow participants to bring their phones, but we ask that they use it solely as a camera when we are out and about during the day. We want everyone to focus on living in the moment and fully experience each new destination we are visiting without being absorbed in their phones. We ask that participants look at their journey with us as a way to disconnect. When we have downtime at our hotels in the evenings it is okay for participants to use their devices to connect with friends and family back home.

