Spain’s Balearic Islands: Menorca & Mallorca
10 days | 12 days with Valencia extension
Find out why island living is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets.
When it comes to island vacations in Europe, Greece gets a whole lot of attention—and for good reason. But for travelers who want to experience island life off the beaten path, Spain’s Balearic Islands are the answer. On this guided tour, get a taste of Spain’s own unique brand of island living, and find out why sleepy Menorca and bustling Mallorca perfectly complement each other. Along the way, take in the islands’ sunny beaches, coastal villages, succulent seafood, and laid-back way of life.
Your tour package includes
- 8 nights in handpicked hotels
- 8 breakfasts
- 4 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 food tasting
- 6 sightseeing tours
- Expert Tour Director & local guides
- Private deluxe motor coach
- 1 on-tour flight
- 1 train ride
- 1 ferry transfer
Included highlights
- Sagrada Família
- Talayot de Trepuco
- Mahon sandal workshop visit
- Ciutadella
- Cuevas del Drach boat ride
- Sóller tramway ride
- Carthusian Monastery of Valldemossa
- Palma de Mallorca
Itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Overnight flight
Board your overnight flight to Barcelona.
Barcelona2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Barcelona
Included meal: Dinner
Welcome to Spain! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner tonight.
Reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Hotel Catalonia La Pedrera
This contemporary hotel is located in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, restaurant, and WI-Fi. Nearby, you'll find La Pedrera, La Sagrada Família, and Casa Batllò.
Grupotel Aldea Cala’n Bosch
This village style hotel is located on the eastern side of Menorca. Guests enjoy private direct access to the beach, large gardens, and spacious accommodations. Nearby you’ll find Artrutx Lighthouse, many restaurants and cafes,...
Grupotel Aguait Resort & Spa
This adults only hotel is located on Mallorca’s northeastern coast. Guests enjoy direct access to Ratjada Beach, impressive views of the Mediterranean from the large sun terrace, and spa. Nearby you’ll find many beach...
Catalonia Majórica
This seaside hotel is located on Palma Bay on the island of Mallorca. Guests enjoy the sun terrace, indoor and outdoor pools, and fitness center. Nearby you'll find several beaches, San Carlos Castle, and the Royal Palace of La...
Silken Puerta Valencia
This modern hotel is located in Valencia’s Camins al Grau neighborhood. Guests enjoy bike rentals, a cafe, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find the Palau de la Música, L’Oceanogràfic aquarium, and the Ciudad de las Artes y las...
Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
FAQ
- In order to enter Spain, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SPI.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Barcelona and depart from Palma Mallorca (or Valencia on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in Barcelona, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a brisk-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by motor coach, some by train and flight
- About 3 hours of bus time daily
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day—this includes city streets, cobblestones, dirt paths, stairs, and hills.
- Stone and marble walkways may be slippery even when dry.
- Visit to Cuevas del Drach includes 250 stairs.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect heatwaves with temperatures consistently above 90F.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- This tour includes various modes of transportation, including planes, ferries and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- Flights from Barcelona to Menorca and a ferry between Menorca and Mallorca are included in the price of your tour. A flight from Palma de Mallorca to Valencia is included in the price of the tour extension.
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- The ferries you will be traveling in during your tour are large boats with airline-style seating. Boarding the ferry involves quickly walking up and down steep ramps, navigating crowds with other travelers and vehicles, while managing all of your luggage.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which include ferries and flights.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels, airports, and while boarding ferries.
- Travelers need to be prepared to manage their own luggage during ferry transfers; this includes carrying your luggage up/down the boarding ramp, and managing crowded spaces with other people and motor vehicles.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- Travelers who experience motion sickness should take the proper precautions for the ferry crosssings.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- You may also wish to pack a swimsuit, as there are opportunities to swim on tour.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
- Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
- Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Spain operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E or F plugs with two small, round pins.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- Take proper care with sun exposure, as the sun can be especially strong in some of the regions on this tour.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- Travelers prone to seasickness should note that this tour includes boat rides.
- There are inherent risks associated with snorkeling and other water sports, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions. Discuss your planned activities with your doctor or healthcare provider for the best advice on participation.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SPI.
- This tour includes 4 dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water, coffee, and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- In Spain, breakfast like a local with just a pastry and coffee. Then, tuck into a three-course lunch featuring locally sourced seafood. Dinner is less hearty than lunch and is served late, between 9pm and midnight.
- Catalonian cuisine, which can be found in Barcelona, is markedly different from food in other parts of Spain. Nearly every restaurant will offer pa amb tomàquet—toasted bread with tomato and olive oil. Fresh seafood, hearty meat dishes, cheeses and locally grown vegetables, such as wild mushrooms, are culinary mainstays.
- Seafood, such as spiny lobster, and pork products, such as the cured sausage known as sobrasada, are common in the Balearic Islands.
- Valencia is the birthplace of paella, traditional versions of which comprise rice, chicken, rabbit, tomato, saffron, green beans, paprika, and, sometimes, snails, duck, or artichoke, cooked together in a wide, shallow paella pan.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in USD.
- We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you don’t already have at least one card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
- Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.
- When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.