Toledo, Granada, Cordoba - World Heritage cities; Madrid: City tour & Prado; Granada & the Alhambra; Arab, Jewish, Christian, Roman, Visigothic legacies; Andalucia: Orange groves, flower-filled patios
If you have trouble determining a destination based on deciding between the culinary delights, architectural feats, or cultural marvels, then our Southern Spain Tours are the answer.
Spain is the land of many wonders, where intricate history weaves its way into everyday life.
Where charismatic cities are like the tapas, bursting with flavours found around every corner. Where the serene countrysides are full of run down barns, rolling cattle ranches, and olive groves.
For travellers on our tours of Southern Spain, there is the chance to explore a little bit of everything.
It seems fitting that the homeland of one of the world's strongest empires is a grand showcase of art and culture.
Discover palaces such as that in Sevilla, where King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella once resided as Spain entered the golden age of discovery.
The grandeur of galleries such as the Prado found in Madrid which houses all the finest works that were collected by the Spanish Royalty, epitomize the vast wealth collected by the Iberian nation.
For those who follow history, perhaps one of the most interesting influences to cross this Iberian peninsula was not the Armada that was sent abroad, but the Moors who invaded and conquered the land.
From 711 AD, the Moors conquered Spain and left in their wake of a 700 year rule, some of the most elegant and refined cities of Europe.
Tours of Southern Spain visit Granada, a city with rich history set against the backdrop of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, Spain's highest mountain range.
Wander the cobblestone alleyways of this ancient city, with tapas bars serenading visitors with flamenco music, tempting with spicy aromas, and begging for a leisurely visit with sangria on special.
Known as the city of castles, it is the allure of the Moorish palace of Alhambra that brings people to this region.
The Islamic decor and landscaped gardens found within this 13th century fortress are sure to impress, as will the ornate and precise 'lace in stone' architectural details found within the embellished palace. There is no doubt, in Europe, this monument is without rival.
There are many more impressive Moorish sites beyond the Alhambra. The Alcazar Palace, a 14th century palace, is set in the picture-perfect city of Andalucia, complete with restored Andalusian architecture, orange groves, castanet-rattling Gypsies and flower-filled patios.
In Cordoba, our tours of Southern Spain visit the Mezquita-Catedral, or Great Mosque of Cordoba, one of the oldest structures still standing which was built by the descendants of the exiled Umayyads.
Away from the city we partake in visits to 25,000 year old Neolithic and Paleolithic drawings found in the Pileta Caves, and step into a bullring after a visit to a bull breeding farm to understand a controversial part of current culture without having to witness the act of bullfighting.
We will peer into the dramatic escarpments and views that are found on the southern end of this dynamic country.
With vast treasures spanning thousands of years, tours of Southern Spain are sure to leave visitors speechless, and always eager for more.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Optional Single Supplement: $650 USD (number of singles limited).
Day 1 Arrive in Madrid
Today we arrive in Madrid and transfer to our hotel.
The capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain, is a cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family.
Overnight in Madrid.
Included Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2 Madrid & The Prado
This morning we have a panoramic tour of broader Madrid, terminating at the Prado Museum for a guided tour. Our route to the museum likely takes us past Plaza Espana point and the Cervantes Monument.
Originally opened to the public in 1819, the Prado houses all of the finest works collected by Spanish Royalty as well as Spanish paintings gathered from other sources over the past two centuries. The Prado is one of the most important repositories of art in the world, including a vast collection of Italian paintings. For the purposes of our visit, however, we will concentrate on works by Spanish masters -- Velasquez, Goya, Ribera, El Greco, Zurbaran, to name a few.
After our tour, we'll head off on foot for an informal stroll up Gran Via and into the old quarter of Madrid. You'll then have free time for lunch and an afternoon of independent exploration. Your Tour Leader can help you plan your free time, with recommended shopping, other historical sites and galleries. You may want to visit the nearby Reina Sofia for the important modern art collection, including Picasso's masterpiece, "Guernica." Or visit the Museo Naval, one of the world's most important Navy Museums, to learn about the history of the Spanish Armada.
Overnight in Madrid.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3 Madrid: Toledo Day Trip
This morning we travel to Toledo, a city with a unique blend of Arab, Jewish, Christian, Roman, and Visigothic elements. Toledo sits on a rocky promontory isolated on three sides by a looping gorge of the Tagus River. The history of several different cultures is contained within this region, represented by the houses, synagogues, churches, and mosques.
Our excursion includes a visit to the Cathedral, as well as the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, which shows the influence of the Granada Moors.
We also see one of Toledo's most outstanding attractions, El Greco's masterpiece "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" located inside the Church of Santo Tome.
After lunch and some free time in Toledo, we return to Madrid.
Overnight in Madrid.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 Madrid - Cordoba: City Tour
Today we travel by fast train to Cordoba (+/- 2 hours), crossing the Despenaperros Mountains and the border pass between Castile and Andalucia.
During our time in Cordoba (a World Heritage City), we will gain a sense of the city's long and varied past and multicultural nature. Our tour starts at the Roman Bridge and the Calahorra Tower, an Arab defensive tower. Next we arrive at the Mezquita-Catedral, or Great Mosque of Cordoba, one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus. The buildings on this site are as complex as the extraordinarily rich history they illustrate. Historians believe that there had first been a temple to the Roman god, Janus, on this site. The temple was converted into a church by invading Visigoths who seized Cordoba in 572. Next, the church was converted into a mosque and then completely rebuilt by the descendants of the exiled Umayyads -- the first Islamic dynasty who had originally ruled from their capital Damascus (in present-day Syria) from 661 until 750.
We visit the Alcazar fortress, built by King Alfonso XI, and containing mosaics and sarcophagi.
Finally we will have a stroll in the Jewish Quarter where the synagogue is located.
Please note: Our official meal plan for today is "breakfast & dinner"; however, due to other variables, however (such as hotel location), your Tour Leader may choose to include lunch instead of dinner today. You will, of course, be advised in advance.
Overnight in Cordoba.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5 Cordoba - Granada
Our tour continues to Granada, set in the heart of Andalucia with the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop. Conquered by the Moors in AD 711, Granada blossomed into one of Europe's wealthiest and most refined cities. The legacy of Granada's rich history and heritage remain visible throughout the city centre with its cobblestone streets and lovely plazas. In 1992 Granada celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Christian re-conquest by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand, and Isabella.
On arrival we visit the Royal Chapel, featuring tombs carved out of marble by the Tuscan sculptor Domenico Fancelli. As both Queen Isabel and King Fernando died before the Royal Chapel was finished, they were first buried in the Friary of San Francisco in the Alhambra. They were then later moved to the chapel once it had been completed, and buried alongside King Felipe and Queen Juana. Although their original idea was for all future Spanish Kings and Queens to be buried here, this did not happen as the monastery in El Escorial was used instead.
Overnight in Granada.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 Granada: The Alhambra
The focus of our sightseeing today is Granada's main attraction, the Alhambra, a mighty fortress that houses an extraordinarily delicate and beautiful Moorish palace begun in the 13th century. This was the palace of the Nasrid Sultans, rulers of the last Spanish Moorish Kingdom. A fantasy of "lace in stone" surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by gypsy cave dwellers. In many ways, the Alhambra represents the Moorish concept of life itself -- something glorious to be ennobled by learning and enlivened by every kind of pleasure.
We also visit the nearby Generalife Gardens; in your free time, you may choose to explore the old Moorish quarter of the Albaicin.
Overnight in Granada.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 Granada - Reserva Tauro - Ronda: Town Tour
We continue our tour (by road) to Ronda, a historic town located on a towering plateau in the mountains of Malaga Province. En route we visit Reserva Tauro, a 500 acre bull and horse breeding farm. Here we have the opportunity to get close to bulls and gain an understanding of the culture without attending a bull fight. Of course this cultural/historical practice is controversial, but the farm does a good job in presenting bull fighting in an even, objective way without in any way promoting or excusing it.
In Ronda, we will walk around the old town where you will learn the origins of this ancient town where Romans, Arabs, and Christians left their traces. We visit the Mondragon Palace, built in a Mudejar style. Ronda is famous for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevin through its centre. We suggest a walk to the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m/328 ft chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serrania de Ronda mountains.
Overnight in Ronda.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8 Ronda - Pileta Caves - Sevilla
Today we travel to Seville via a stop at the well-preserved rock paintings at the Pileta Caves (walking required on wet stone with no hand rails - speak to your leader for further guidance). The 25,000 year old Neolithic and Paleolithic drawings of black, ochre, and red are mostly just lines or patterns, but there are also horses, goats, cattle, and a rare giant fish, made from a mixture of clay and fat. This is not a well-developed tourist attraction; you must be steady on your feet and prepared for some slow walking.
We then follow (by road) the route known as "the route of the white villages" for the singularity of the scenery. Lunch and time to explore Grazalema, a white hill down nestled in Grazalema National Park. Prior to arrival in Sevilla (Seville), we stop at a viewpoint for a panoramic photo opportunity.
Overnight in Sevilla.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9 Sevilla: City Tour
Sevilla, the fourth largest city in Spain, is the picture-perfect image of Andalucia, complete with restored Andalusian architecture, orange groves, flower-filled patios, and castanet-rattling Gypsies.
While in Sevilla we visit the largest cathedral in Spain, built in a Gothic style with lovely stained glass windows, choir, and chapels. We visit the Giralda Tower, with its spectacular views of the city. We will also see the Moorish Alcazar Palace, a 14th century palace, the oldest royal residence in Europe and still in use.
Later we will walk along the Guadalquivir riverbank and view historic monuments like the Maestranza Bullring, the Torre del Oro, and the Monument to the Tolerance by Eduardo Chillida.
Overnight in Sevilla.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 Depart
Departure from Sevilla.
BUEN VIAJE!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Inclusions
Breakfast and dinner (hotels & local restaurants) daily. All transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters. Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour. Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international air taxes (if applicable), excursions referenced as 'optional'. Airport transfers for Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance. Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs and shopping.
Seasonality and Weather
This tour is offered in spring, summer, and fall the most popular of which are spring and fall when temperatures are milder and crowds thinner. Spring is also popular for green landscapes. Showers are possible in spring, unlikely in summer, and possible in fall.
Transport and Travel Conditions
Land transport throughout by private air-conditioned motor coach, 24-36 seats depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). Though we will have some full bus days, road travel is not particularly arduous as there are plenty of stops of interest.
Train journeys are comfortable (2nd class). YOU MUST BE ABLE TO MANAGE YOUR OWN BAGS ON/OFF TRAINS AND IN TRAIN STATIONS. Please also note that, due to the narrow and winding nature of the streets and the size of our vehicle, we may need to park some distance away from our hotels in Granada, Córdoba, and Rhonda and walk our luggage a short distance.
This trip is typical of most of our European tours, which are ambitious and involve full days of travel and sightseeing. While we don't have any actual strenuous activity (ie hiking) built into the program, you will do a lot of walking on this trip. These walks will mostly be in the form of walking tours of towns and cities and short walks to dinner. Being Europe, and a hilly/mountainous area, cobbles, uneven surfaces, and slopes/stairs are common. If you are accustomed to typical "bus tours," which rely heavily on vehicular transport for all sightseeing activities, you should be aware that this tour is considerably more active.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Accommodation
Well-located, air-conditioned, mid-range hotels (3 star) throughout. All hotels have en suite bath, though some may have shower only. Porter service is sometimes available though you should be independent with your luggage. Single rooms are limited and likely smaller than twins.
Staff and Support
Tour Leader throughout, driver, local step-on guides in various locales.
Group Size
Maximum 18 (plus Tour Leader)
Tour Extensions
This tour is part of a series that can be upgraded to make for a longer trip. For more options, please refer to tour code/s:
Regions visited: Western Europe
Countries visited: Spain
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
We encourage you to get trip cancellation and interruption insurance to protect against unforeseen events.