Discover Andalucia

You will stay at the 4-star Hotel Hacienda Puerta del Sol in Mijas, and typical of the hotels we will be using in Seville and Granada are the 3-star Don Paco Hotel and the 3-star Hotel Guadalupe. There is a restaurant and bar in each hotel and all rooms have private facilities, TV and telephone. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Day 1: UK/Malaga

Depart on your chosen flight to Malaga. On arrival transfer to your hotel in Mijas for an overnight stay.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Ronda/Seville

Leaving Mijas behind this morning, we journey to the picturesque cliff-top town of Ronda, travelling through the spectacular scenery of the Andalucian Mountains. Ronda, stood on a towering plateau and divided by a precipitous gorge over 600 feet deep, is a town steeped in history. El Tajo, as the gorge is known, is spanned by an 18th-century stone bridge, the Puente Nuevo, from where you can peer down into the gorge to the waters of the River Guadalevin far below. El Mercadillo, the newer 18th-century part of town, is home to one of the most beautiful bull rings in Spain; while the older southern side is a typical pueblo blanco – enjoy a stroll through cobbled alleys lined with traditional whitewashed houses.

Our journey continues through more sweeping scenery and the heart of Spain’s citrus growing region to Seville, where we stay for the next three nights.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Seville

Don’t miss our pre-bookable half day walking tour of Seville today. The regional capital of Andalucia, Seville is the atmospheric city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro, and our tour this morning will introduce you to the highlights. You’ll spend time admiring the Plaza de España with its fascinating blend of Art Deco and Moorish architecture built for the 1929 Ibero-Spanish Exposition. This semi-circular complex boasts monumental staircases, fountains and a beautifully tiled alcove for each of Spain’s provinces – it’s quite a spectacular sight. Another sight well worth seeing is the Alcazar, the royal palace built on the site of a Moorish fort. We have also included a visit to the impressive cathedral in Seville (entrance included). Your afternoon will be free for you to make your own discoveries of this enchanting city. Perhaps take a stroll around the Barrio Santa Cruz, with its white houses and flower-bedecked balconies, or why not take a leisurely cruise on the river. One thing you can’t leave Seville without trying is the tapas – this is the city credited with its invention. With hundreds of tapas bars, you’ll be able to sample a few of them as you wander around.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Jerez

Today you are at leisure in Seville, or why not join us on our pre-bookable full-day excursion to the city of Jerez – the home of sherry. After a panoramic city tour, we visit a traditional bodega, where you will have ample opportunity to sample a selection of Jerez’s superb sherries.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Cordoba/Granada

We leave Seville behind today and begin our journey to the beautiful Moorish city of Granada, where we stay for the next two nights. En route, we will visit Cordoba, one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Enjoying a beautiful position on a bend of the Guadalquivir River, Cordoba boasts a whole host of breathtaking sightseeing possibilities. A highlight of your day is sure to be a visit to the Great Mosque, or Mezquita, which was built in the 8th century when Cordoba was the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El Andalus. The Mezquita’s dazzling interior includes over 850 columns of jasper, marble and granite, and was considered so beautiful that when it was taken over as a Christian church in the 13th century, it was left standing and a Renaissance cathedral built at its heart. We’ll also visit the picturesque Jewish quarter to explore the labyrinth of winding narrow streets, shaded flower-filled courtyards and attractive squares.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Granada

Today we include a half-day excursion to the outstanding Alhambra Palace – a sight that truly can’t be missed. The aweinspiring Alhambra Palace was built by the Moors in the 13th and 14th centuries on a hill overlooking Granada and has been added to over the centuries to become a magnificent complex of pink stone courtyards, pools, fountains, grand halls and cool patios, alongside the beautiful Generalife gardens. This was the ruling caliphs’ idea of paradise on earth and no photographs can do it justice – you really need to visit the Alhambra Palace to understand its power. The afternoon is then free for you to explore the delightful city with its stunning mix of Moorish and Spanish Gothic architecture, perhaps sampling some tapas or wandering around the narrow whitewashed streets of the Albaicin.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Malaga/UK

Transfer to Malaga airport for your return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast