The Essence of Southern Spain
Guided By Jorge
Ten Days in Southern Spain
$5795 per person
+$800 single supplement. A $500 deposit reserves each spot.
May 31—June 9, 2024
(Bookings closed)
March 21—30, 2025
(Fri — Sun)
“This tour has been a lifetime in the making as it threads together everything I love about my beloved Southern Spain. The tiny mountain villages of Alpujarras, sea breezes from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, Andalusian horses, Flamenco, and of course the big highlights of the Granada, Cordoba, and Sevilla.”
—Jorge
Granada
Four Nights
“Granada’s Alhambra palace is one of the great wonders of Europe, dating back to Moorish times in Spain. Its Islamic design is breathtaking.
—Jorge
Sevilla
Five Nights
“There is so much amazing energy coursing through Sevilla. It’s a beautiful mix of cultures, people, and amazing food.”
—Jorge
Itinerary
Alpujarras scenic drive, Day 3
This tour begins 5pm at the hotel in Granada.
Day 1—We will get together in the early evening for a welcome chitchat and toast our tour with a good glass of local wine. Then we’ll stroll around our wonderful neighborhood, our home for the next four days, and enjoy an Andalucian group dinner with a gorgeous view.
Day 2—After breakfast we head to Granada’s must see palace complex—the Alhambra. Our local guide will bring its history and incredible architecture to life. After our visit, and to recover from this marvel, we will stop for a well deserved drink and tapas at a popular local bar.
Day 3—With private transport and a local guide, we’ll take a scenic day trip through the mountains and small villages to Alpujarras, one of the best hidden travel gems of Spain. Here, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, close to the Mediterranean Sea, artisan families continue centuries old traditions. We’ll visit makers of fabrics, carpets, and delicious foods. This is the land of Serrano hams and the “Plato Alpujarreño,” which we’ll enjoy at a group lunch.
Day 4—Back in Granada, we’ll focus today on the Royal Chapel and Catholic Monarchs that made Queen Isabel, King Fernando, and 1492 the “before and after” of Spanish history. After visiting the chapel with a local guide, we will take a stroll in souk-like alleys and enjoy a tapas group lunch experience. The afternoon and dinner is free on your own.
Day 5. Today we move to Sevilla by way of the Costa del Sol and Málaga. Arriving in Málaga, we’ll take a panoramic drive together with our local guide, followed by a walk in the heart of the city and tour of the Picasso Museum. We will continue on a walking stroll to a group lunch of local family style dishes. After lunch and some time on your own we will continue on to Sevilla, check into our hotel, take an orientation walk and set free for dinner on your own.
Day 6—After breakfast we’ll stroll through Sevilla on a guided walking tour. We’ll take in the patios, small open plazas, and orange groves in one of the prettiest part of town, the Jewish Quarter, and tour the Cathedral, built on the grounds of the former Great Mosque. After seeing the tomb of Christopher Columbus, you’ll be free to continue the visit on your own and opting to climb the church tower for one of the best views in town. Join me back in the early evening for a flamenco performance on a restored patio belonging to a former palace. Dinner on your own tonight.
Cádiz Day Trip
Day 7—Today we day trip to Cádiz. On the way we will stop at a horse farm to discover the beauty of the Andalusian horses and the history behind their breeding. Then in Cádiz—the oldest city in Continental Europe founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BCE—we’ll join a guide on a panoramic drive and walking tour, then enjoy a gastronomic group lunch. And, yes, there will be sherry, famous in the area. Dinner on your own once back in Sevilla.
Day 8—This morning we journey to the Unesco World Heritage site of Córdoba, the largest city in Western Europe in the 11th Century. A local guide will walk us through highlights of the three cultures that made Córdoba: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The highlight here is the Great Mosque converted into a Cathedral, with its gorgeous gardens and serene courtyard spaces. After a busy morning we’ll settle into a group lunch, have free time to explore Cordoba, and return to Sevilla. Dinner on your own.
Day 9—Today we explore Sevilla’s Plaza de España, former Spanish Pavillion of the 1929 Ibero-American Expo and featured in movies such as Star Wars, and Lawrence of Arabia, among others. We continue to the famous Alcazar, still a working Royal Palace since the city was reconquered by Ferdinand III to the Muslims in 1248. Our visit ends inside the complex giving you the chance to discover on your own the gardens.
A trip to Sevilla is not complete without a horse carriage ride, which we’ll take to our celebratory last dinner together, a proper Andalusian experience.
Day 10—After breakfast, our tour will sadly come to it’s end. I will assist with post tour travel plans and airport transfers (not included) and wish you safe travels!
What’s Included
The Alhambra—Day 2
Included:
A small group experience of no more than 10 people
Nine nights accommodation, including breakfasts
Two dinners and six lunches, drinks included
Wine tasting??
All group sightseeing activity entrance fees and local guides
All local group travel by private vehicle
All tips
Pre-tour travel consultation with Jorge
Flexible reservation and cancellation policy
Not Included:
Airfare & airport transportation
Conditions:
Tour itinerary details subject to change. This is an active tour with walking routes accessible to most people, but may not be the right fit for everyone.
FAQ
Córdoba—Day 8
Where will this tour stay?
This tour spends the first four nights in Granada, then transitions to Sevilla for five nights. This allows for a relaxed pace, enjoying two great hotels, and doing day trips from there.
How much walking will there be on this tour?
There will be a moderate amount of walking. This is not a particularly strenuous tour but we do several walking tours around towns, sometimes over uneven paving stones, with plenty of steps and stairs. Be prepared to do 1-3 miles of walking per day, and more during your free time if you are so inclined.
What’s the balance between group time and free time?
This tour aims to split group time and free time roughly equal. However, on days with trips out of town we are typically together from morning until late afternoon or early evening. Most evenings are free to wander, relax, or party like Spainard as you wish.
When should I plan to arrive in Granada for this tour?
Many people arrive the day before the tour starts and book that night at the tour hotel. However, with easy high speed train connections from elsewhere in Spain, you can arrive the day the tour starts as well.
What’s the best way to get from Granada’s airport and train station to the hotel?
Airport and train station transfers are very easy by shuttle bus or taxi. I will send you all the details!
What will we eat?
Great local food and by all means, many tapas!! The food in Southern Spain is not just amazing, it’s fun. It’s how people come together and enjoy life. We’ll definitely experience eating Andalusian style!
I'm a solo traveler, can I join the tour?
Yes, absolutely. We price our tours based on two people sharing a room, but we offer a single supplement for solo travelers to have their own private.
Ask Jorge
Málaga, my home town—Day 5
