Welcome to Spain! We begin in the vibrant city of Seville, the birthplace of tapas, capital of Andalucia and Spain's fourth largest city. Once called ‘Hispalis’ by the Romans and ‘Ishbiliya’ by the Muslims, Seville's Roman and Muslim past is still evident today. Nowadays Seville is very much a modern city, yet it has retained much of its past. This is most prominent in the Old Town where it feels as though you have stepped back in time to an old Spanish village. We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 4.00pm. At 5.00pm, join your fellow travellers and tour leader in the hotel lobby for a welcome meeting, followed by an orientation tour of the area. After our short tour, we’ll enjoy a group welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

According to legend, Seville was founded by Hercules and has origins linked to the Tartessian civilisation. Famous for its joyous and passionate locals, it is the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. After breakfast we discover some of the highlights on a half-day city tour. We’ll start with a visit to the Royal Alcázar, a string of royal palaces built by the Catholic kings during the 14th century which is today home to the Spanish Royal Family. Next, we stop for a photo at the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Spain's largest cathedral and Columbus's burial site. Then, we finish the city tour with a stroll through the historical Jewish section of Santa Cruz. A labyrinth of charming, narrow streets, we’ll see bright, historic houses, quaint courtyards bursting with flowers and squares that have been the meeting point for locals for centuries. This afternoon is at leisure for you to discover more of this beautiful city at your own pace.

Optional Excursion

Flamenco Show, ‘Tablao El Arenal’ – Located in the beautiful city of Seville, a place where passionate Flamenco dancers (known as bailaores or bailaoras) perform group and solo dances. The Flamenco style of dance originated in the Andalusian region and is expressed by the performer with intricate hand, arm and body movements whilst clapping their hands and rhythmically stomping their feet. The dances are usually accompanied by guitars and as the song builds so does the tempo and volume. Enjoy a traditional Flamenco show accompanied with one drink (beer, wine or soft drink) on arrival. Approx. 1km-15min walking from the hotel. 1hr 30mins – from Euro 46pp (no minimum number required).

Today we will travel the ‘route of the white villages’. Villages in this mountainous area were part of the war-like border between the Christian and Muslim kingdoms for more than three centuries and are filled with brilliant white houses with narrow streets and small squares. Our first stop will be Arcos de la Frontera, perched impressively on a cliffside. Our guide will take us on a short tour of the town, before we continue on to the next village – Jerez de la Frontera.

Special Experience

Sherry is the most famous Spanish wine in the world and we’ll stop for a tasting at a rustic cellar in the village of Jerez de la Frontera.

A fortified white wine, the history of sherry dates back to around 1100 BC, when the Phoenicians introduced winemaking to this area of Spain. Apart from its sherry, Jerez, as it is also known, is famous for flamenco music and the 11th century Moorish fortress of Alcázar de Jerez. We enjoy a tour of this stunning, historic city before enjoying some free time to explore on our own.

In the afternoon we’ll make our way back to Seville and our hotel for an evening at leisure.

Leaving Seville this morning, we stop in Zahara de la Sierra. This quaint, mountaintop hamlet overlooks a stunning crystal blue reservoir, where we’ll visit an organic olive farm. Spain is renowned for its olives, contributing to over fifty percent of the world's olive oil production.

Special Experience

Discover Andalusia's essence at an olive oil mill. Tour the grounds, relish a degustation of local produce, and immerse in the flavours of the region.

After sampling a variety of different olive products, we continue on to our next destination – the small village of Ronda. Perched above the Tajo del Ronda, a deep, narrow gorge that plunges 150-metres into the valley, the town’s location is truly spectacular. Its old town has been declared a Property of Cultural Interest: Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs.

Arriving in Ronda, we’ll have an orientation tour with our Tour Director, seeing the bullring and gorge, as well as the old town full of shopping and restaurants.

Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to continue exploring this stunning town.

Enjoy picturesque scenery as we make our way to Granada today. First, we'll revel in the enchanting town of Setenil de las Bodegas, where we'll savour a leisurely coffee break. Next, we'll bask in the captivating history of Antequera where we will have some free time for lunch, before arriving at our destination in the late afternoon. Located in the eastern part of the Andalucia region with a spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada has long inspired the spirit of romance among its inhabitants and visitors alike. With its rich history and Moorish influences, the city boasts some breathtaking landscapes and steep, narrow streets where one could easily lose themselves within the numerous hidden nooks. After checking into our hotel here, the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy at leisure before a group dinner.

Special Experience

Taste traditional Spanish tapas, enjoying a range of delicious bite-sized savoury dishes, richly seasoned with local spices.

There are many different theories around the origins of tapas – some of which involve a variety of Spanish kings, some of which suggest they were invented to simply keep flies out of people’s drinks. Whatever the history, it has certainly transformed into a quintessential part of Spanish life today.

Our sightseeing today includes entry into the famous Alhambra Palace complex, a Moorish citadel dating back to 13th century Nasrid dynasty and named because of its reddish coloured walls (it translates to Red Castle in Arabic). Comprising the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, and the Bath of the Mosque to name a few, it is one of Spain's most famous attractions. Throughout its long history, the palace has served multiple purposes. It was used as a fortress during the 9th century and then became a Royal residence during the 13th century. During its time as a Royal residence, many buildings were added to the complex such as a Mosque (later the site was turned into the current Church of St Mary), public baths and patios. When the Catholic Monarch Charles V took over, he ordered the demolition of part of the complex to rebuild the palace with an Emperor's chamber, and a Queen's dressing room added. The palace was abandoned during the 18th century and sadly part of the fortress was destroyed. Restoration of the palace began in the 19th century and is still maintained today. Just a short stroll from the main Alhambra buildings, you will wander through its stunning Generalife Gardens, the tranquil summer gardens of the Kings of Granada. We’ll also walk through the old part of the city and see the outside of the Royal Chapel, where King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth are buried. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Nestled on the scenic banks of the Guadalquivir River, Córdoba is our destination today. Córdoba is a city of immense historical and cultural significance in the region of Andalucia. It has a rich heritage that reflects its diverse past and the influence of various civilisations that have left their mark on the city. On a guided city tour we’ll visit the incredible Mezquita Mosque, otherwise known as the Cathedral of Córdoba. As one of the most important monuments in the Western Islamic world, it evokes the ‘Omeya’ style, as well as elements of gothic, renaissance and baroque architecture. We’ll take a short walking tour through Barrio de la Judería, the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba. Known for its interesting interior patios, we’ll also see a number of historic sites including the Municipal Souk. After our tour we have some time to explore independently before the enjoying rest of the afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast this morning we make our way back to Seville. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at leisure, before we come back together for a memorable farewell dinner. We’ll share stories and reminisce on the amazing memories we’ve made across Andalucia.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the wonders of southern Spain.