MODULE ONE – Roman & Moorish Highlights – Madrid to Granada – 3 nights/4 days

This module starts from modern Madrid and takes you to the in-tact Roman amphitheatre in Merida  and Arab capitals, before ending in Granada. Travel by bus and train with delightful walks to historical monuments such as the Alcazar Palace.  Stay one night in Merida, two nights in Seville  then travel to Granada, the start point for Module 2.

Day 1 Madrid to Merida. A four-hour train journey takes you from Madrid to Merida through a varying countryside of the Meseta and scattered oak woods. You arrive in the early afternoon in time to discover the precious Roman remains with the aid of the walking routes , maps and information supplied to you.  Merida preserves to this day some fine examples of Roman colonial architecture and in summer, theatrical productions can be enjoyed al-fresco in the amphitheatre.

Day 2  Merida to Seville. Morning free to explore, then in the afternoon take a bus to Seville. The journey takes about 3 hours. Your hotel is in the heart of the old Jewish Quarter. Take an easy self-guided walking tour of central Seville and Barrio Santa Cruz before dinner.

Day 3  Day free in Seville. With its spacious plazas and river-side promenades, Seville has opportunities for simply taking in the scene or to visit notable monuments like  the Cathedral and the Alcazar Palace.

Day 4  Seville to Granada. Take a three-hour train journey to Granada passing through rolling countryside of olive groves, craggy peaks and the often snowy Sierra Nevada.  You will arrive in Granada around midday where your tour concludes. 

MODULE TWO – Granada & Walking in the Alpujarra – 7 nights/8 days

This module combines the culture of Granada with the rural charm of the Alpujarra villages. Stretch your legs on well planned walks in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada and visit the most interesting of the Andalucian cities.
This module can be combined with module 1 or module 2 with the arrival in Granada.

Day 1  Arrive Granada. You will be met in Granada and a car will  transfer you to the highest village in Spain, Trevelez. You will spend two nights here to acclimatize to Spanish village life, with the help of our representative who lives in this village. The hotel is a great favourite with walkers and has a famous restaurant where you can enjoy dining whilst contemplating splendid views of the hills.

Day 2  Trevelez. Take a walk in the valley above the village.

Day 3  Trevelez to Taha. Walk to the next village via a mixture of stony paths and forest roads. A lift part way is available if you feel the 5 hour distance is too much. Arrive in the Taha, an area dotted with mediaeval villages, perched on the side of the Rio Trevelez Gorge. There are wonderful views, and for half of the distance oak-woods give valuable shade.  You stay in a beautiful, traditional, village house now restored as a guest house. Dinner is  included as there are no restaurants in the village. 

Day 4  Taha to Capiliera (12km, 4 hrs). Walk 12km on to the next village in a different valley, and a dramatic change in the landscape. There is quite a lot of uphill. Help is on hand if  you need to shorten the distance but the information gives options to make the walk longer if required. Stay in a 3-star hotel in the village tonight and tomorrow. English is spoken.

Day 5  Capiliera. The village has a fantastic setting and a big variety of bars, restaurants, shops and a museum of local culture. Circular walk information is provided for half or all-day walks.

Day 6  Capiliera to Granada. Car transfer to your Granada hotel, a trip of about 90 minutes. The hotel is situated  in  a quiet but central position within 15 minutes walk of the Alhambra, with the stunning gardens of the Generalife, the Cathedral and to explore the twisting lanes and alleyways of the old Moslem quarter – the Albaicin.
English is spoken. Details of 3 city walks enable you to explore all the nooks and crannies of this fascinating city.

Day 7  Granada. This is the best day to plan a visit to famous the Alhambra place. It is essential to book a ticket for entry before arrival.

Day 8  Tour concludes after breakfast.

OPTION: Guided walk - add €120 per day.

MODULE THREE –  The Heart of Andalucía. Ronda – Cordoba – Madrid. – 6 nights/7days.

Journey from Granada to Ronda through the heart of Andalucia.  Walk in the Parque Natural de Grazalema and the famous gorge of Ronda.  Visit Cordoba with its legacy of science and culture from the early Middle Ages.  The fascinating Mezquita is the  largest mosque in Europe dating back to Moorish times and the annual ‘Patio Fiesta’  celebrates an age-old tradition since the 14thC. End in Madrid, the capital,  notable for many reasons especially its great art collections.

Day 1  Ronda. Train from Granada and arrive about noon.  Time to explore the incredible gorge the town is sited on. You will have details of a circular Ronda  Valley walk.( 2.5 hours). Best time is the afternoon as you get good photos of the famous bridge (the light is only right  in the PM.) You drop down into the valley below the famous Ronda cliffs then back up again before returning  into town.  We suggest stopping at the Reina Victoria Hotel for tea and cakes  on their terrace. This hotel has a history - when the British built the Ronda - Algeciras railway, they built a British 19th century style hotel at each end.

Day 2  Ronda. Day to explore the Grazelema Park. Walk to caves on the outskirts of Ronda then to   Benaoján and along the river to Jimera del Líbar.

Day 3  Ronda. Explore Ronda or go walking. We suggest taking the train out to Benaoján (25minutes) & walking over the hills, back to Ronda via MonteJaque. Full information provided.

Day 4  Cordoba. Take the train, it leaves at 10.00 and arrives before 12.00. The hotel is in the heart of the historic part of the city  next door to the famous Mezquita and a few minutes walk from the Roman bridge, Alcazaba, and the tortuous Jewish quarter.

Day 5  Cordoba. Continue to explore. Our information will give ideas about what you might like to visit and where you can relax

Day 6  Madrid. You take a morning AVE train to Madrid which take less than 2 hours leaving half the day free in Madrid. We provide walking routes around Madrid to enable a general appreciation or to tick off the galleries.

Day 7  Tour concludes after breakfast.