Enchanting Andalucian Adventure Highlights

Welcome to Seville. We’ll transfer you to your hotel – you’ll then have some free time. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details about the start of your tour.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

In the morning, we set out on a guided tour of Seville, taking in the cathedral with its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir, and the characterful neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana. After the tour, we relax on an included boat cruise along the Guadalquivir – an easy way to enjoy panoramic views from the water. In the evening, you can choose to attend a popular flamenco tablao.

After breakfast, we leave Seville for Carmona, a town with over 3,000 years of history, recognised for its Mudéjar and Renaissance architecture. After a stroll, we continue to Almodóvar del Río to visit its imposing Arab castle – admission and taxi ride included – with spectacular views over the Guadalquivir Valley. We then travel on to Córdoba, former capital of the Caliphate. After time for lunch, we join a guided tour of the Mosque–Cathedral – admission included – and walk through the Jewish Quarter, known for its narrow lanes and flower-filled patios. You’ll have free time to explore before we go to the hotel.

After breakfast, we drive from Córdoba through vast olive groves to Baena – a town with Roman roots famed for its olive oil. We visit the Núñez de Prado olive oil mill, housed in an 18th century building and among the oldest in the Mediterranean, to learn about production and taste pan con aceite – bread with olive oil. We then continue to Granada for a guided visit of the Alhambra, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – admission included. Lunch is included. The afternoon is free for you to visit the cathedral or wander the Albaicín for superb views of the Alhambra.

We cross the Sierra Nevada for sweeping mountain views, then follow the Mediterranean along the Costa Tropical, where a mild microclimate supports tropical crops such as guava, mango and avocado – and, historically, sugar cane. We stop in Nerja, a coastal village edged by dramatic cliffs, before continuing to Frigiliana, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, with steep lanes of whitewashed houses. We then travel on to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol – known for its museums, as the birthplace of Picasso, and for the unfinished cathedral La Manquita, the One Armed Lady. You’ll have time for lunch and to explore the city centre, or, if the weather allows, you can head to the beach for a swim.

We leave Málaga for one of the most scenic stages of the journey – through the White Villages and the Andalusian mountains. Our first stop is Puerto Banús in Marbella, a glamorous marina known for its yachts and designer boutiques, where we take a relaxed waterfront stroll. We continue to Setenil de las Bodegas to see its remarkable streets with houses built into the rock, then head to Ronda, dramatically set above the Tajo Gorge. A typical lunch is included on arrival, after which you have free time to explore the historic centre and viewpoints. We then visit Ronda’s monumental bullring – among the oldest in Spain – with entrance included. We end the day in Jerez de la Frontera, where you can wander the historic centre and, if you wish, try tapas in the traditional tabancos.

After breakfast in Jerez de la Frontera, we visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art – tickets included – to explore the Carriage Museum and watch the training of the famed Andalusian horses. Before leaving Jerez, we make a brief stop to photograph the exterior of the Moorish Alcázar. We then continue to El Puerto de Santa María, a coastal town known for its fine wines and seafood, where we visit the Osborne Wineries – tickets and tasting included. You’ll have some free time to enjoy the surroundings before we board a boat to Cádiz for a scenic crossing of around half an hour.In Cádiz – one of the oldest cities in Europe – you’ll have free time to explore the cathedral and wander the atmospheric old town. Later in the afternoon, we cross the impressive bridge and arrive in Seville by day’s end.

After breakfast in Seville, we travel to Italica – entrance and guided visit with a local guide included – an ancient Roman city where emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born. We explore its vast amphitheatre, once seating 25,000 spectators, along with its baths and mosaics. We then continue to Palos de la Frontera to visit the Monastery of La Rábida and the Wharf of the Caravels – entrance included – where we see replicas of Columbus’s ships. You’ll have free time for lunch in Huelva. In the afternoon, we follow the Atlantic coast near Doñana National Park, renowned for its biodiversity, and stop in El Rocío to visit its sanctuary and enjoy views over Doñana. We return to Seville in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, we conclude the tour in Seville – you’re free to depart at your convenience, taking with you the memories of your journey.