The South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía 2024

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1-888-597-3519

905-639-9954

dhtour@dhtour.ca

6 Days / 5 Nights
Availability : April to November
Start: Madrid, Spain
End: Lisbon, Portugal

The South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía: 1 nt Córdoba, 2 nts Granada, 2 nts Seville

The Iberian Peninsula possesses one of the most flamboyant combinations of cultures on the planet.

It straddles both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. There are Roman monuments sheltering Moorish artefacts, fragrant wines accompanying cumin-spiced dishes, and Arabian melodies paired with Latin dances.

On this tour, we take you to Lisbon through the beautiful contrasts of Andalucía, Southern Spain and Southern Portugal.

You experience the architectural wonders of the Alhambra Palace, a location that transports you into a story from 1,001 Arabian NightsYou explore national parks and plains that take you back to the times of knights and kings. And you finish your trip on the Portuguese coast.

Join this tour and experience the wonders created by the collision of cultures.

6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS / MAX 16 GUESTS

Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book this small group tour The South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía.

Tour Details
Places you explore

Toledo – The former capital of Spain, this charming ‘City of Three Cultures’ boasts 2,000 years of history and beautiful architecture

Castilla-La Mancha – Vineyards, castles and windmills: travel through the region immortalised in the novel about Don Quixote

Córdoba – This ancient Andalucían city will take your breath away with the marvels of La Mezquita and the Palace of the Christian Kings

Granada with Alhambra and Sierra Nevada Mountains – Get mesmerised by the lavish palace built by the Moors and explore the rugged mountains of the Sierra Nevada National Park

Ronda – Discover a spectacular white town dramatically perched on top of the El Tajo gorge

Pueblos Blancos – Fall in love with beautiful white villages built on hilltops overlooking Spain’s wild landscapes

Seville – Get dazzled by the history, spectacular architecture and magic of Flamenco in the city influenced by a number of civilisations

Tavira – One of the most charming towns in the Portuguese Algarve set on the Rio Gilão

Pick Up Location & TIme

Madrid  (Google Map)
8:30am – Hotel Porcel Ganivet, C. de Toledo, 111, 113, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Drop off Location & Time

Lisbon (Google Map)
7:00pm –  Hotel Zenit, Avenida 5 de Outubro 11, 1050-047 Lisboa, Portugal

Price Includes

  • 5 nights 3/4 star hotel accommodation
  • Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • Daily breakfasts
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Entrance to La Mezquita with audioguide included
  • Entrance to an olive oil production site
  • Entrance to the Alhambra with audio guide included
  • Visiting Muelle de las Carabelas in Huelva
  • Fortaleza de la Mota entrance with audioguide included

Meals

  • 5 breakfasts
  • 0 lunches
  • 0 dinners
  • 0 teas

Price Excludes

  • Entry fees to visitor attractions/Optional Activities
  • Airfare
  • Transfers
  • Pre / Post hotel nights
  • Driver / Tour Leader gratuity is at your discretion
  • Travel Insurance
What to Expect

Explore in 16 seat mini-coaches, always taking the scenic route, you have great views through large windows, and you’re free to sample the local tipple without worrying about driving. Our driver-guides are famous for their knowledge, facts, quirky stories, history, and fairy-tales. They truly take you beyond the guidebooks and into your adventure. You make your trip your own. We provide the timetable; and you can choose where you want to eat and which attractions you pay to see. So, if you want to skip a castle and read your book by a mountain view, you can.

A good night’s sleep is often needed for a good day of travel. So we’ve hand-picked three-star to four-star hotels in remote coastal villages, bustling towns, and mountain valleys. Your accommodation is included in the tour price.

Most people can comfortably enjoy our tours, but it’s worth bearing in mind that we often include optional short walks in scenic locations. Please also be aware that many of the old European towns are built on steep hills with cobbled lanes, and you may have to carry your own luggage at times.

We’ve arranged experiences for you on your tour. The ‘included activities’ are already booked and paid for as part of your trip, whereas you can purchase ‘optional activities’ while on your tour. You also have free time in many destinations to pick and choose which attractions you visit.

Pack comfortable shoes for walks up to beautiful views. Carry swimwear and a towel for swimming spots. Your holiday’s more fun when you protect yourself from the sun.

Itinerary
The South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía

Day 1Madrid - Toledo - Despeñaperros Natural Park - Córdoba

  • Uncover the fusion of cultures that shaped Toledo, the former capital of Spain
  • Travel through Castilla-La Mancha, the backdrop for Don Quixote’s adventures

You leave the heart of Spain and head south to the former capital of the country, Toledo.

Sitting atop a hill and overlooking the Tajo River, this city used to be known as the ‘City of Three Cultures’. To get the real feel of the place, wander through the cobbled streets and try to spot the Muslim mosques, Jewish synagogues and Christian cathedrals.

You travel through Castilla-La Mancha, the setting for the adventures of the literary hero Don Quixote. Next, you stop on the way through the Despeñaperros Natural Park, the gateway to Andalucía.

Córdoba, your home for the night, welcomes you with its bustling squares and delightful architecture.

Accommodation: NH Cordoba Califa or similar, Córdoba

Day 2Córdoba - La Mezquita - olive oil production site - Granada

  • Explore La Mezquita, an immense mosque-cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Learn about olive-making and take in views of endless olive groves

In the morning, you visit La Mezquita, one of the most spectacular mosques constructed by the Moors in Spain. This world-famous construction boasts countless rows of decorated arches and a serene interior and is large enough to have a cathedral built inside it!

Next, we travel through rolling hills blanketed with the silvery-grey-green leaves of olive trees. It’s a sign you’ve entered the oil-producing province of Jaén. Savour the chance to learn how Spain’s ‘liquid gold’ is made at an olive oil production site.

We continue our journey south to the ruined hilltop fortress of Fortaleza de la Mota and arrive in Granada early evening, our base for two nights. (B)

Included Activities: Entrance to La Mezquita, and Entrance to an olive oil production site

Optional Activities: Entrance to Fortaleza de la Mota

Accommodation: Hotel Porcel Alixares or similar, Granada

Day 3Granada - the Alhambra - Huerta de San Vincente - Granada

  • Set your sights on the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the inspiration for a great Spanish poet
  • Become entranced by the ornamentation of the Alhambra Palace

You wake up in a city adorned with the most sensual palace of Europe, the Alhambra.

Follow in the footsteps of Federico Garcia Lorca, a poet and a theatre director who drew his inspiration from Spanish folklore, during our half day excursion.

To awaken your own literary creativity, we first head to the 20th-century villa in Huerta de San Vincente where he wrote many of his best works.

Then, you delve into the rugged landscapes of the Cumbres Verdes mountains on the forefront of the Sierra Nevada.

After a morning filled with poetry and vistas, you return to Granada at lunchtime.

Alternatively, you can spend the morning discovering the fusion of Arabic and Christian cultures in Granada.

Your afternoon is blessed with a visit to the Alhambra*. When you look at it, you’re transported to the tales of 1,001 Nights. Originally a fortress and then a palace, this UNESCO World Heritage site will seize your imagination.

You spend tonight in Granada. Use this time to discover tapas restaurants and more of the culinary delights. (B)

*Sometimes this day will be reversed, and you will visit the Alhambra in the morning.

Included Activities: Entrance to the Alhambra with audio guide included

Optional Activities: Lorca’s House Museum at Huerta de San Vicente

Accommodation: Hotel Porcel Alixares or similar, Granada

Day 4Granada - Ronda - Arcos de la Frontera - Seville

  • Discover the charm of Ronda, the most stunning of the pueblos blancos
  • Delve into a maze of cobbled streets in Arcos de la Frontera

Today is all about exploring the other faces of Andalucía; the beautiful wilderness and iconic pueblos blancos.

Your adventure takes you west through the landscapes of Malaga’s ‘Lake District’ before you reach Ronda. Precariously clinging to a steep cliff of the El Tajo Gorge, this commune captures your imagination with its literary connections and history full of outlaws. Stroll along the city walls, explore picturesque plazas, and enjoy your lunch.

You leave the rural part of the region and travel past Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park to Arcos de la Frontera. This stunning white town has it all: dramatic clifftop location, spectacular vistas, and an abundance of beautiful buildings and cobbled streets.

Cast a last glance over the Andalusian countryside and start your journey to Seville, your home for two nights. (B)

Accommodation: Hotel Exe Sevilla Macarena or similar, Sevilla

Day 5Seville - Jerez de la Frontera - Seville

  • Marvel at the allure of La Giralda and the Seville Cathedral
  • Soak up the grandeur as you stroll through the Plaza de España
  • Try the finest sherry in Jerez de la Frontera

Seville signifies the essence of Spain. This city will seduce you with its rich Moorish heritage, the orange trees, tapas and passionate flamenco.

Today it’s up to you to decide how to spend the day.

You can dedicate your time to discover the best gems of the city’s 80 chapels at the Seville Cathedral and marvel at La Giralda. Or go for a stroll along the bank of the Guadalquivir to admire the iconic Torre del Oro, a military tower dating back to the 13th century.

Alternatively, you can join our half day tour and travel to Jerez de la Frontera. This elegant town is the heartland of sherry and Spanish brandy. It’s also home to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, famous for its specially-trained horses that star in incredible performances.

Whichever option you choose, spend the late afternoon and evening strolling through the shaded arches of the grand Plaza de España. Warning: with the hypnotic Flamenco performances, delicious tapas and buzzing bars, this city can keep you entertained till the small hours. (B)

Optional Activities: Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, and Seville combination ticket (Cathedral and La Giralda)

Accommodation: Hotel Exe Sevilla Macarena or similar, Sevilla

Day 6Seville - Huelva - Tavira - Lisbon

  • Soak up the sun in Huelva on the Costa de la Luz
  • Wander through Tavira, one of the most charming towns of the Algarve

Say farewell to Seville and enjoy the last glimpses of the Andalusian countryside as you travel west towards the Costa de la Luz, a land of bright sunlight and golden sandy beaches.

You stop in the seaside city of Huelva, where Christopher Columbus planned his trip to find a western sea route to China and India.

Next, you cross the Portuguese border and stop at Tavira in the Algarve. Set on the River Gilão, this town exudes an irresistible charm and makes you want to discover its hidden corners. Wander through the cobblestone streets, cross an old Roman bridge and try Portuguese cuisine for the first time.

Take in the last views of the Algarve and journey north where laid-back Lisbon awaits you in the evening. (B)

Dates and Prices - Hotel accommodation
Departure Dates and Days Double/Twin (pp) Single Rate
2024: April 8, 22 $2,690 $3,150
2024: May 6, 20 $2,760 $3,260
2024: June 13, 17 $2,760 $3,160
2024: July 1, 15, 29 $2,690 $3,030
2024: August 12, 26 $2,690 $3,030
2024: September 9, 23 $2,760 $3,220
2024: October 7, 21 $2,690 $3,080
2024: November 4 $2,610 $3,00

All guaranteed departures.

Pricing

Pricing is per person (pp) based on twin/ double occupancy.
Rates are in $ CAD.

 

*Early Booking Bonus – Book by March 31st, 2024 and save 5%.

Applies to new Small Coach – Continental Europe Tours bookings. Discount applies to the tour only price. 


Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca  to book.

Ask us for the best available pricing for your dates & choice of airline.

 

Notes
Mobility: All of our tours involve walking and require our guests to board and disembark our vehicles several times a day making this tour unsuitable for those with reduced mobility.

Luggage: You’re restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.

Want to extend your stay in Lisbon and/or Madrid?  Ask us for a hotel package. 

Map

Photos

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