The Grand Andalusia Journey

Private transfer to Málaga airport. The Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre and the Muelle Uno waterfront. First tapas in a city that combines genuine Andalusian character with Mediterranean flair.

• Málaga Alcazaba & Roman Theatre
• Muelle Uno waterfront
• Historic centre walk

Overnight: Málaga

East along the coast to Nerja — a white village above the sea with one of Europe’s most remarkable prehistoric cave systems. The Cueva de Nerja contains paintings estimated at 40,000 years old. We continue to the Moorish hilltop village of Mojácar in the province of Almería.

• Cueva de Nerja — prehistoric paintings
• Nerja Balcón de Europa
• Mojácar hilltop village

Overnight: Mojácar

The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park — a volcanic coastline of black cliffs and turquoise water with almost no development. Then inland to Tabernas — the only true desert in continental Europe, where Sergio Leone filmed his spaghetti westerns.

• Cabo de Gata coastal drive & hidden coves
• Tabernas Desert — Europe’s only desert
• Western film sets (optional)

Overnight: Almería or Granada

The Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba fortress with perfectly timed entry. The Albaicín and the Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset.

• Nasrid Palaces — timed private entry
• Generalife gardens
• Albaicín & Sacromonte
• Mirador de San Nicolás sunset

Overnight: Granada

The Alpujarras villages were the last redoubt of Moorish culture in Spain after 1492. Their flat-roofed architecture is closer to Berber North Africa than anything else in Europe.

• Pampaneira, Bubión & Capileira
• Traditional Alpujarra crafts
• Sierra Nevada mountain scenery

Overnight: Granada or Alpujarras

Through Guadix — where thousands live in volcanic cave houses — to Úbeda, whose 16th-century Renaissance square is one of the most architecturally coherent public spaces in Spain.

• Guadix cave houses district
• Úbeda Plaza Vázquez de Molina
• Sacra Capilla del Salvador

Overnight: Úbeda

Baeza shares Úbeda’s UNESCO designation — the finest Renaissance pairing in Spain. Through the province of Jaén, the world’s largest olive oil producer, for a mill visit.

• Baeza UNESCO Renaissance centre
• Jaén Cathedral
• Olive oil mill visit & tasting

Overnight: en route to Córdoba

Mezquita-Catedral with private guide, the medieval Jewish quarter and the ruins of Medina Azahara — the lavish palace city of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III, now UNESCO.

• Mezquita-Catedral — private guide
• Medieval Jewish quarter
• Medina Azahara UNESCO ruins

Overnight: Córdoba

West along the Roman Via Augusta through Carmona — one of the oldest cities in Europe — arriving in Seville for three nights.

• Carmona — Roman necropolis & hilltop
• Écija Baroque towers
• Arrival in Seville

Overnight: Seville

Cathedral, Giralda, Real Alcázar with private guide and Itálica. Evening flamenco show.

• Seville Cathedral & Giralda
• Real Alcázar — private guide
• Itálica Roman city
• Flamenco show

Overnight: Seville

Triana market, Plaza de España, Barrio Santa Cruz and a private tapas tour through the old city.

• Triana market & ceramics
• Plaza de España
• Private tapas tour

Overnight: Seville

4×4 safari in Doñana — one of the most important wetland ecosystems in Europe. Spanish lynx, flamingos, imperial eagles, 300,000 migratory birds.

• Doñana 4×4 guided safari
• Atlantic dunes & marshlands
• El Rocío village

Overnight: Matalascañas or Mazagón

Palos de la Frontera — the port from which Columbus set sail in 1492 — and the La Rábida monastery where he waited for royal approval. South to Cádiz.

• La Rábida monastery — Columbus
• Palos de la Frontera
• Cádiz sea walls & old town

Overnight: Cádiz

Royal Equestrian School in Jerez, a sherry bodega, Cape Trafalgar and the clifftop white village of Vejer de la Frontera.

• Royal Equestrian School — Jerez
• Sherry bodega & tasting
• Cape Trafalgar
• Vejer de la Frontera

Overnight: Vejer or Tarifa

Tarifa — Europe’s southernmost point — then Gibraltar where Africa is visible 14 kilometres away. North into the Grazalema Natural Park.

• Tarifa — Europe’s southernmost point
• Gibraltar — Rock & monkeys
• Strait of Gibraltar views
• Grazalema Natural Park

Overnight: Grazalema or Ronda

Cueva de la Pileta — 25,000-year-old paintings visited by torchlight. Then Ronda and the extraordinary El Tajo gorge.

• Cueva de la Pileta — prehistoric art
• Ronda Puente Nuevo
• Arab baths & old town

Overnight: Ronda

The cliffside Alameda gardens, the Arab baths, the old bullring — one of the oldest in Spain — and the dramatic views into the gorge.

• Ronda Puente Nuevo & El Tajo gorge
• Arab baths
• Plaza de Toros
• Alameda del Tajo gardens

Overnight: Ronda

El Torcal de Antequera — ancient limestone sculpted into towers and labyrinths — and the Antequera Dolmens before arriving back in Málaga.

• El Torcal de Antequera
• Antequera Dolmens (UNESCO)
• Arrival in Málaga

Overnight: Málaga

The Caminito del Rey gorge walk — the perfect ending to 19 days in Andalusia. Transfer to Málaga airport.

• Caminito del Rey gorge walkway
• El Chorro reservoir
• Transfer to Málaga airport

Overnight: End of tour