Client quote
I went on the Andalusia and the Coasting to the Algarve trips. The Andalusia was one of the best trips of my life. I was happy the whole time. The cities, the country and the towns each held something special. Maggie was very attentive and generous to everyone, and provided sites and restaurants well beyond what the trip description called for. She never stopped working for us! Biking to the Algarve was fun. The country and the towns are beautiful, the grilled fish is wonderful, and Maggie arranged hotels and meals so wonderful that only her personal friendship with the providers could have accomplished it.
Bob Hausman, Washington, DC
Andalucian Affair
Sevilla - Cordoba - Granada
Spend nine nights under the spell of the ancient Moors in this timeless countryside of wildflowers, olive trees and ancient whitewashed villages. Seductive Flamenco, flowered patios, twisting 'old town' alleyways and magnificent cathedrals and palaces highlight our stays along the way. We'll visit the timeless monuments to the Moors magnificent culture including the breathtaking medieval mosque in Córdoba and the ethereal Alhambra Palace in Granada.
Our accommodations include comfortable 4-star hotels, a monastery, a palace and a charming family run hotel in a tiny whitewashed Andalusian village. Note: The tour in April takes in Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrated like no where else in the world. A dramatic combination of the sacred and profane - Andalucía at its most colorful. May is the traditional Fiesta month in Andalucía so that tour takes in the Fiesta dos Patios in Córdoba where all of the houses in Córdoba's old center vie for the most beautiful patio!
Trip Highlights
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Ride Washington Irving’s trail through the old Moorish towns of Al-Andalus.
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Taste the scrumptious tapas that have made the nation famous.
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Wander the medieval streets of Cordoba and stroll through its ancient Mosque with its endless maze of marble and jasper pillars.
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Feel the vibrancy and see color of a genuine peña Flamenco.
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Visit one of the worlds most famous olive oil mills – every bottle is numbered!
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Visit the breathtakingly exquisite Alhambra palace - home of Spain’s last Moorish caliphate.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Sevilla to Carmona
Midmorning coach transfer from Sevilla to the lovely walled town of Carmona. Once a stronghold of the Moors, the town is a remarkable example of Spanish Baroque. The afternoon is free to enjoy an al fresco tapas lunch in the town square before exploring the cool maze of Arabesque streets or having a dip in the pool at our 16th century Palace. Later in the afternoon we'll fit the bikes. In the evening we'll get acquainted over a glass of champagne and a festive welcome dinner.
Day 2
Carmona to Palma del Río ride of 51km / 31.5m
Beautiful, typically Andalusian countryside unfolds as we ride quiet country roads graced with olive trees, fields of wheat, sunlight and wildflowers. Afternoon finds us in the little town of Palma del Río and our lodgings for the night - the charming converted 14th century monastery of San Francisco famous for its cuisine. Fray Junípero Serra stayed here in the 14th century before he left to found his missions in California. Dinner together in the lavishly refrubished refectory.
Day 3
Palma del Río to Córdoba ride of 70km / 43.5m
Today we'll have a fairly long but mostly flat ride following the Guadalquivír River, to the magnificent town of Córdoba. We'll stop to visit a stunning castle that rises up from the fields of grain and wildflowers. On into Córdoba, we head for the old Jewish Quarter where we'll spend 2 nights next to the historic 8th century Mosque. Consider one of our favorite restaurants, or why not discover a new one - and then afterwards, perhaps some Flamenco?
Day 4
Córdoba
Today we swap pedals for walking shoes on a guided tour of the Mosque. The day is then free to explore all of the other sights, soak up the ambiance or do a little shopping. Under the Moors, Córdoba was the world's center of culture and learning. Now it is famous for its lively fiestas, flower-bedecked patios, famous restaurants and sophisticated, hand-crafted jewelery shops. This evening we enjoy a tapa feast at Córdoba's most famous tapa bar and restaurant!
Day 5
Córdoba to Baena ride of 65.7km / 40.8m
After leaving Córdoba, we ride on quiet country roads surrounded by vast vineyards of the Montilla-Moriles region and a neverending sea of olive groves. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the renowned Nunez de Prada Oil Mill in the town of Baena, where olive oil is still made in the old traditional way. Our hotel is just across the pretty park from the oil mill. This lovely hotel was once an elegant private mansion and only recently been converted. Free evening.
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Day 6
Baena to Priego ride of 55.5km / 34.4m
This morning we hop on our bikes and cycle south into the National Park of the Sierra Subbética - a remote and unspoiled region of the southern Córdoba Province. We will take advantage of Spain's Vias Verdes - rails for trails - as we ride in rural bliss. We'll be staying outside of town, in the countryside, at a superbly located hotel built in the style of an Andalusian village. Enjoy a cool "Fino" as you bask by a wonderful pool! Group dinner at our hotel.
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Day 7
Priego to Montefrio ride of 54.9k /34.3m
Today we head south for the pueblo blanco of Montefrio through the very wild and sparsely inhabited area of the northern Granada Province. Many riders consider this the most beautiful ride of the tour. With almost no traffic, the scenery is glorious. Montefrio sits between 2 rocky outcrops each topped with a church. This stunning area has been in continual use since the stone-age, as the many tombs and caves in the vicinity will attest. Group dinner.
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Day 8
Montefrio to Granada ride of 51/65km / 31/40m
A glorious and much flatter ride today takes us through fields of asparagus dotted with wildflowers and butterflies. We ride through numerous sleepy little Andalucian villages with grand views of the Sierra Nevada that beckon us on to romantic Granada. From the home town of the acclaimed poet Garcia Lorca we offer a shuttle into Granada and to check into our uptown Palace, located near the Alhambra and within easy walking of downtown.
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Day 9
Granada
We have all day today to explore this legendary city and the last bastion of the Moors beginning with a tour of the breathtaking Alhambra - the fortress palace of the last Moorish caliph, Boabadil. You'll have plenty of time to visit Granada's other important sights, shop or to just spend time at an outdoor café in one of the many pretty squares. Evening finds us toasting to our adventures with fine wine and Andalucian cuisine at one of Granada's most famous restaurants.
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Day 10
Final Day
Breakfast and a.m. transfer to the airport for those needing it. Or why not consider staying a few more days in this delightful city? If you didn't get the chance to experience the lushious Hamam - the arab baths - now is the time to unwind away from the crowd...
Trip Details
Andalucian Affair
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| Dates: |
9-10-2010 to 17-10-2010 |
| Price: |
€2695 |
| Single Supplement: |
€400 |
| Duration: |
9 NIGHTS/ 10 DAYS |
| Included: |
all breakfasts, a tapa Feast & 6 dinners & w/ wine + more |
| Accommodation: |
Restored monastery & palaces, whitewashed village, boutique hotels |
| Daily Mileage: |
50 km / 31 miles daily average |
| Activity Level: |
Easy to Moderate |
| Tour Interests: |
Tapas culture, Flamenco, Olive oil, Moorish history |