Highlights of Portugal & Spain (15 Days)
Barcelona, Porto, Douro Valley, Lisbon, Sintra, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid
Best of Andalusia
(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis) Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Marbella
This tour focuses on Andalusia's most atmospheric places, from charming whitewashed villages and beautiful beach towns to magnificent Moorish monuments. Accommodation is at some of Spain’s most luxurious hotels.
Begin in Seville, the capital of Andalusia and a city flavored as much by the sounds of flamenco and the smell of orange blossoms as by its 500-year domination by the Moors. Take an insider’s tour of this beautiful city, visiting the charming neighborhoods of Santa Cruz, the gardens and mosaic tile-covered rooms of the Reales Alcazares—a spectacular Moorish palace, specialty boutiques and markets, and other cultural highlights.
On a day trip, visit Jerez de la Frontera, the sherry capital of the world, where a wine expert will lead you on a tasting tour through local vineyards and sherry bodegas (wineries). Also stop in nearby Sanlucar de Barrameda, a beautiful whitewashed beach town, to sample some of its renowned manzanilla.
Next, spend a night in Cordoba, a capital under the Romans and the Moors. Cordoba has a fascinating history, which you will learn about as you explore the town’s whitewashed backstreets and visit sites in the UNESCO-listed ancient city center such as the Mezquita, a vast mosque with a forest of horseshoe-shaped pillars, stunning stucco decoration and a Gothic cathedral built right in the middle.
Continue to Granada, one of the richest and most populated cities in Europe during Moorish rule and still one of Spain's most breathtaking cities. During private touring, explore the extraordinary Alhambra—one of the highlights of Spain—a stunning Moorish castle, palace and garden complex on a hillside overlooking the town. Visit the Generalife, the country retreat of Moorish royalty just behind the Alhambra. With a local resident, wander the labyrinthine streets of the Albaicin—the old Arab Quarter—and discover a world full of winding, hilly streets and alleys; Moorish ramparts, fountains and cármenes (traditional villas); and restaurants, shops and teterías (Arabic tearooms).
Spend several days in Marbella, the jewel of the sun-drenched Costa del Sol. Stay at the luxurious Marbella Club Hotel, once the private residence of a prince and now one of Europe's premier beach resorts. During leisure time, enjoy the beach club, swimming pool, thalasso spa, private golf course, riding stables and gourmet restaurant headed by a Michelin-starred chef. Alternatively, stay at Finca Cortesin, a beautiful golf resort known for its Moorish design and excellent cuisine. One day, take a private excursion to Ronda, the most dramatic of Andalusia's famed whitewashed villages and a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. En route, visit a modern olive oil mill in the Andalusian mountains and taste a selection of oils from what is considered to be the best producer in the area.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1
Arrive Seville
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights
Day 2
Seville
Half-day private city tour. Evening "tapas tour"
Day 3
Seville
Full-day private excursion to Jerez de la Frontera
Day 4
Seville - Cordoba
Private transfer to Cordoba for overnight. Afternoon private walking tour
Day 5
Cordoba - Granada
Private transfer to hotel in Granada for 2 nights
Day 6
Granada
Full-day private tour of Alhambra and Albaicin
Day 7
Granada - Marbella & Costa del Sol
Private transfer to Marbella for 3 nights
Day 8
Marbella & Costa del Sol
At leisure at resort
Day 9
Marbella& Costa del Sol
Private excursion to Ronda
Day 10
Depart Spain
Private transfer to Malaga's airport
Hotels
Seville:
Hotel Alfonso XIII
or Alma Palacio de Villapanes
Cordoba:
Hospes Palacio del Bailio
Granada:
Parador Nacional de San Francisco, La Bobadilla, or Hospes Palacio de los Patos
