Spain Andalusia Walk |
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Granada's magnificent Alhambra
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We stay in a "pueblo blanco"
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Sierra Nevada hike
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Flamenco in Granada
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Fantastic walks
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Cordoba
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Señorita in Cordoba
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Spring wildflowers
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Spring-time!
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Zuheros village
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Spain Andalusia Walk Itinerary
TOUR AT A GLANCE -
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departures 2010: May 15, as well as private departures.
Departing from: Málaga at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Day 1
Tour finishes: Córdoba train station, Saturday morning, Day 8
Price: €2,100 Euro per person in double occupancy and minimum of 6 people. Single supplement €250.
Click on the Currency Converter to see the price in your local currency.
When the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD, they referred to their conquests as al-Andalus. Today, "Andalusía" refers to the southernmost region of Spain, known for its hospitable people, passion for life, great food, near-continuous sunshine, and stunning landscapes. Add to these some 4,000 years of history and the result is vibrant cities like Málaga, the intricate, ancient water channels in the villages of the Alpujarra, the dream-like Alhambra palaces of Granada, and the unique Cathedral-Mosque of Córdoba. Our trip offers you the best of Andalusía's diverse scenery and rich cultural heritage, plus a variety of beautiful walks to discover the region’s natural beauty. Our evening meals are designed to introduce you to local specialties, and the hotels have been chosen for their comfort and style, making perfect bases for our journey through Moorish Spain.
(Luggage transferred by van. 1 night Malaga, 2 nights Capileira, 1 night Granada, 2 nights Zuheros, 1 night Cordoba. Trips ends in Cordoba.)
Day 1 - Saturday -- Málaga: Independent arrival in Málaga. There is an international airport and it is also connected to Madrid by high-speed rail service. Meet the guide and the rest of the group at 6:30 p.m. in our hotel in Málaga. After a brief orientation meeting, we’ll set off to drinks and dinner in the old heart of this lively, cosmopolitan city that boasts the birthplace of both Pablo Picasso and Antonio Banderas. The walk is sure to give us an appetite for a dinner featuring a selection of tapas in one of Málaga’s most famous local bodegas. Our hotel is the cozy and colorful Hotel California, just 30 meters from the beach. Hotel and dinner included.
Day 2 - Sunday -- The Alpujarra, Bubión & Capileira: Today we head to the beautiful town of Capileira in the Alpujarra mountain range. When the Moors were defeated by the Christian monarchs in Granada in 1492, many decided to leave the city and settle in this remote and beautiful area. Known currently for cured ham, chestnut trees, wild flowers, welcoming residents, and stunning views it is a mecca for walkers. After settling into our hotel, the beautiful Finca los Llanos, we will take a short lunchtime walk to the neighboring village of Bubión. In the afternoon there is a longer walk (two to three hours) where we will explore the lower parts of Capileira (one of the best of the white-washed villages that are typical of the region) before crossing the Río Poqueira and ascending steeply into Bubión once more, where we will visit a ham curing factory and there sample the wonderful jamón serrano that is another claim to fame of the area. Dinner is in one of the many excellent local restaurants. Hotel, breakfast, evening drinks & tapas and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday -- The Alpujarra, Río Toril hike: Today's hike is a loop walk (five hours) taking us towards the Río Toril valley where we'll get some fabulous views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range (the second highest in Europe after the Alps). The area is part of a National Park, so if we are lucky we'll see mountain goats, deer, and eagles. After a picnic lunch on the banks of the river we begin the beautiful walk back to Capileira where we can have a swim in the hotel pool, explore the winding, twisted, white-washed streets of the town, or just unwind with a book. Dinner is on your own tonight but to whet your appetite there is an early evening visit one of the local bodegas to try the local wine and a selection of light tapas. Hotel, breakfast, picnic lunch, evening tapas and dinner included.
Day 4 - Tuesday --Granada: A spectacular, twisting mountain road takes us down to Granada. Here we'll discover the Alhambra palaces and gardens, the Albaicín (the best preserved Arab quarter in Europe), and the unique cave-dwellings of the Sacromonte. On arrival we'll visit the stunning Alhambra, an entire medieval city complex of fortress, palaces, and gardens that is the emblem of Granada and Spain’s most visited monument. Around lunch join us on an optional walk through the Albaicín, a picturesque cat’s cradle of streets and alleyways, churches and high-walled gardens from where there are many wonderful views of the Alhambra, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. To complete our brief but intense sample of Granada, tonight we’ll walk to the Sacromonte district, renowned for its gypsy caves and flamenco, where we will visit a fascinating cave museum and then, after dinner in a local restaurant, see a flamenco "espectáculo" in one of the cave houses themselves. We stay tonight in the Hotel Zaguán del Darro, originally built in 1563 but restored to modern perfection. Overnight Granada. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.
Day 5 - Wednesday -- Sierra Subbética: This morning’s journey from Granada to Córdoba takes us through undulating country of olive groves and hills dotted with impressive medieval Moorish castles. Our base for the next two nights is the pretty white village of Zuheros in the Natural Park of the Sierra Subbética. The area is a limestone massif, weathered over millennia into a series of valleys and soaring peaks, offering all manner of walking possibilities. Once settled in to the delightful rural Hotel Zuhayra, we will embark on a walk (four hours) around the Cerro de Bramadero hill and which offers some superb views back to Zuheros as we return through the valley of the Río Bailón. A picnic lunch, to enjoy in a shady spot on the walk, is included. This evening we dine in a restaurant which occupies the main square of the village, underneath the floodlit Moorish-Renaissance castle, and which serves excellent local dishes. Hotel, breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
Day 6 - Thursday -- Sierra Subbética, Zagrilla hike: Today’s is a longer walk, a linear route that takes us to the hamlet of Zagrilla Alta (five to six hours). On the way you pass by some remote cortijos (farms) in beech and oak covered valleys and we’ll have some great views east towards the Sierra de la Pandera – the next range of hills – and possibly a sighting of some griffon vultures soaring high above us. Before long the olive orchards of Zagrilla Alta appear in view and we wind our way down into the pretty hamlet, and enjoy a cold drink and lunch at a bar by a natural spring before our vehicle takes us back to Zuheros, a scenic drive of 30-40 minutes. This afternoon there is an optional walk along the Via Verde, a former railway track used for transporting olives, as well as a visit to a local cheese maker. This evening we dine in the hotel’s excellent restaurant. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.
Day 7 - Friday -- Córdoba: On our way to Córdoba we will stop in Baena, where we'll be shown round the Nunez de Prado factory, producing what many consider to be some of the finest olive oil in the world. We arrive mid-morning in Córdoba, a city of incomparable history which between 711 and 1236, under Moorish rule, developed into one of the most advanced and enlightened cities of the Middle Ages. A walking tour this lunchtime will reveal the city’s riches: a mosque-cathedral unlike any other, a small, simple synagogue in the old Jewish quarter, and the floral patios of a 16th century nobleman’s house in the traditional Realejo quarter. There will be further time for some independent sightseeing before tonight's farewell dinner, which features typical local dishes such as spinach and pine nut croquettes, orange and codfish salad, salmorejo (a thicker version of gazpacho), and the honeyed pastries based on recipes from the times of al-Andalus. We stay at the Hotel Hacienda Posada de Vallina, a lovingly restored medieval coaching inn, whose centuries of guests include Christopher Columbus. Overnight Cordoba. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.
Day 8 - Saturday -- Córdoba & Departure: Today we bid farewell to our travel companions and have a morning transfer to the train station. Córdoba is well connected to Madrid, Seville and Málaga by high-speed and regular trains. Breakfast included.
See all of our tours by DESTINATION & ACTIVITY
See all of our tours by date: TOUR CALENDAR 2010
The walks in the Alpujarras contain moderate hills over some uneven terrain. We usually walk between 3-5 hours a day, divided between morning and afternoon. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.
General Information
Qualifications: This trip is rated easy to moderate with some challenging hills. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walks. We walk between 10-16 km a day (6-10 miles), more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon.
Trip Cost Includes: At least 1 accompanying bilingual Tour Leader/driver throughout, transportation by private vehicle – exact model depends on the size of the group, taxis used on certain sections, parking, road tolls, gas, insurance, etc associated with the vehicle, 7 nights accommodation, with en suite facilities, and 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners, 2 picnic lunches (filled rolls, water/juice/ fruit, sweets), Tasting of local wines and cold cuts in local bar in Capileira, Flamenco performance in cave house (Granada), Entrances into the following monuments: Alhambra (Granada) and Mosque-Cathedral, Synagogue and Palacio de los Viana (patio gardens - Córdoba), Private guided tour of Alhambra, Granada; Private guided tour of Mosque-Cathedral and old quarter of Córdoba, City walking tours in Granada and Córdoba with accompanying Tour Leader, all taxes..
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)
Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the "Reservation" page).
Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend "Travel Guard" to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
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