Seville, Granada & Classic Spain for Solo Travellers

EXCLUSIVELY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS

Enjoy this exciting exploration of Andalucia – birthplace of Picasso, home of flamenco and cradle of the gypsy life. Join a group of friendly solo travellers to discover the Spain beyond the beach resorts of the sun-kissed Costa. From your base in the traditionally Andalusian town of Antequera, you'll enjoy full-day visits to Granada and the stunning Alhambra gardens, to glorious, historic Seville, the City of Flamenco and setting for Bizet’s Carmen, and to the enchanting, whitewashed, hill-top town of Ronda, above its famous Gorge. On this great-value Spanish holiday you'll also have the chance to visit the magnificent Moorish stronghold of Cordoba and its extraordinary Mezquita, on a fascinating optional excursion.

Highlights

Stay in the heart of traditional Andalucia
Enjoy a full-day visit to Seville, the city of flamenco
Journey towards the Sierra Nevada, beneath which the great Moorish city of Granada stands
Visit Granada, the world-renowned Alhambra and its exquisite gardens
Take in the sweeping views from the Puente Nuevo, which joins the old and new towns of the mountain-top
Explore the Andalusian city of Ronda
The chance to join an optional excursion to Cordoba

Inclusions

Five nights' half-board accommodation at the three-star Hotel Las Villas de Antikaria, Antequera
A full-day tour of Seville
A full-day tour of Granada
A full-day tour of Ronda
Welcome and Farewell dinners
A Welcome Drink on your first evening
Return flights to Malaga
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
The services of a friendly, experienced tour manager

1

Fly into Malaga, and board the coach and transfer into the sun-baked Andalusian hills and to your hotel base in Antequera. Rest and relax in the hotel and, later, enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with your fellow travellers.

2

The first of your included excursions takes you to historic Seville, the great City of Flamenco, and the setting for Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, both of which draw heavily on the city’s heady atmosphere. Seville, where every street is lined with orange trees, has a rich and colourful history, which is reflected in great buildings, beautiful parks, grand boulevards and atmospheric old quarters of narrow streets that open on to tree-lined squares. Wander towards sweeping Plaza de Espana, the city’s ornate, fountain-fronted centrepiece; don’t miss the magnificent Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic churches in Christendom, with its 300ft-high Giralda Tower and much-debated tomb of Christopher Columbus; and perhaps pay a visit to the immense Plaza de Toros, Spain’s oldest bullring, where the traditions of the corrida are still revered despite the controversy that surrounds them. Close by, the cool courtyards of the Moorish Alcazar lead through to the Juderia (Jewish Quarter). The River Guadalquivir, still tidal some 50 miles inland, and up which Columbus once sailed in triumph following his discovery of the New World, still brings great ships to the city’s port, and divides Seville from Triana, the pleasant district on the opposite shore.

3

Spend today relaxing and perhaps exploring Antequera. A settlement since prehistoric times, and boasting a great Moorish fortress known as "the heart of Andalucia", the town is overlooked by La Peña de Los Enamorados (Lovers' Leap) a limestone crag shrouded in local legend. Many, however, will want join today’s optional excursion across the plain to the great city of Cordoba. The elegant former Moorish and Roman capital of Spain is full of fascination. At its heart is the breath-taking Mezquita, the huge former mosque now owned and occupied by the city's Catholic cathedral. This immense building retains much of the austere grandeur reflecting Cordoba’s historic position as the greatest Moorish city in Europe. Surrounding the Mezquita, the narrow lanes and corridors of the ancient Juderia evoke a sense that nothing has changed for a thousand years. After your guided tour of the Mezquita, you’ll have the chance to explore the city under your own steam before returning to Antequera in the evening.

4

Today’s included excursion is a scenic wonder. Travel across the Andalusian Plain, through a countryside dotted with villages of whitewashed houses, to the stunning town of Ronda, in the heart of the Andalusian hills. Set above the dramatic El Tajo gorge, which cuts a swathe through the Sierra, this once Moorish citadel is a delight, with a maze of narrow streets, some fine Renaissance houses, its historic bullring and – across the Puente Nuevo bridge which spans the gorge – a fascinating Roman-style baths.

5

Board the coach, this morning, for the day’s unforgettable included excursion, journeying north through the foothills of the Alpujarras to the great city of Granada. Set majestically atop three hills, which rise steeply from the Andalusian Plain, this former Moorish capital, with its views to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, is one of Spain’s greatest treasures. Begin your time here with a sightseeing tour of the city, culminating with a visit to the gardens of the awe-inspiring Alhambra, the beautiful park and walled settlement crowned by one of the world’s finest Moorish palaces. Discover the ancient Alcazaba citadel and the Generalife, a royal retreat in the heart of the complex, as well as some of Europe's most beautiful formal gardens, each new treasure reflecting the glories of a great empire. This evening, you’ll return to Antequera after a thoroughly absorbing day, and enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your hotel with your newfound friends.

6

Bid "Adios" to Andalucia, today, returning to Malaga to catch your flight home, after a memorable few days in a wonderful part of the world.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour.

Alhambra Palace excursion

The Board of Trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife has changed its policy regarding entry tickets to the Alhambra and Gardens. This new policy has come into effect for all visits to the Alhambra as of 1st March 2020. Passengers will need to supply their passport details 10 weeks prior to their departure date in order to secure their ticket. Valid Photo ID must also be taken with you on the day. Please note that, due to the uneven ground and steps at the Alhambra Palace in Granada, this included excursion may not be suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or for wheelchair users.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.