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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
8 DAYS
COMFORT
STYLE
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Explore the courtyards and fountains of the Alhambra, attend a flamenco performance in Sevilla 
  • Sierra de Grazalema National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 
  • Hike from two of Spain’s most renowned pueblos blancos, Ronda and Grazalema 
  • Mountain villages of Las Alpujarras 
  • Savor the best of Andalucia’s cuisine
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Hiking
Other: Local Culture & Cuisine
$4795USD
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Granada to Sevilla

This celebration of the magnificent cultural treasures of southern Spain begins and ends in two romantic cities: Granada, with its extraordinary Alhambra Palace, and vibrant, passionate Sevilla, home of flamenco and bullfighting.
Southern Spain holds two impossibly romantic cities: Granada, with its extraordinary Alhambra Palace, and vibrant Sevilla, home of flamenco. In between these cultural icons, we hike through glorious landscapes to tranquil pueblos blancos, the dazzling whitewashed villages of Andalucia, with their Iberian, Roman, and Moorish heritage. We begin in Las Alpujarras, below Spain’s dramatic Sierra Nevada, hiking back in time amid tiny hamlets festooned with roses. Our westward arc brings us into the Sierra de Grazalema, where atmospheric villages include Grazalema, with its balconies overflowing with flowers, and Ronda, one of the most spectacular towns in the world, its architecture a striking reminder of the multilayered history of southern Spain. 

What the Trip is Like: The trip is rated Level 3+. We hike from 2 to 5 hours each day over rolling hills, with some steep sections. Distances are not long , but you should be in good shape and wear good hiking boots. Hiking poles are recomended. You need to carry only a daypack for your camera, water bottle, rain jacket, etc. A vehicle transfers our luggage between overnight accommodations. On some days, we enjoy picnic lunches prepared by the Trip Leaders with local produce, wine, breads, vegetables, and cheeses. On “town” days, we have lunch at local cafes. Accommodations are in charming small inns, with two nights in a spectacular and historic parador in Ronda. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 9:00 PM.

Note: Because of the early meeting time on Day 1, we recommend that trip members arrive in Granada the night before. We will be happy to book a room in our recommended hotel in Granada. Please note that this is an “on your own” expense.
Day 1: Granada, Spain / Las Alpujarras
We meet in Granada this morning at 9 a.m. to explore Granada’s legendary Alhambra Palace, one of Europe’s most romantic monuments. This fortified palace of the Nasrid kings is wonderfully atmospheric, with its orange-tinted walls, massive gates, and expansive views over Granada. We walk through the palaces, official audience halls, gardens, and courtyards for a fantastic glimpse into Moorish Spain’s royal world. After lunch, we drive up to Las Alpujarras, a region of mountain villages clinging to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada. Dinner and overnight in the lovely village of Bubión (4,400') high in the Poqueira Gorge...LD 

Alhambra Palace: The Alhambra dates back to the Nasrid Dynasty (1238-1492), the last Islamic sultanate in the Iberian Peninsula. Within its thick walls is the magnificent Casa Real, a 14th century palace, and the Alcazaba, an 11th century military fort that watches over the city. The complex features exquisite carvings, archways, and myriad fountains—water is an art form here and the mesmerizing sound of the fountains echoes throughout the halls. Above the Alhambra is the Generalife, the summer palace and gardens, a haven of peace, beauty, and sensuality.
Lodging Villa Turistica de Bubion
Description The Villa Turistica, located above the village of Bubiòn, is a lovely assemblage of picturesque little white houses set among a profusion of flowers and designed in the style of typical Alpujarra villages. The guest rooms are large suites with balconies and fireplaces and the views are outstanding, stretching to the snowy summits of the Sierra Nevada and to the Mediterranean. There’s a nice pool and plenty of outdoor spaces for relaxing. This is the best hotel in the Alpujarras!
Day 2: Las Alpujarras / Poqueira Gorge
The wooded valleys of Las Alpujarras are dotted with lovely villages of flat-roofed Moorish-style homes bedecked with roses and reminiscent of their counterparts in Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. Melting snows from the Sierra Nevada irrigate the many small villages in Las Alpujarras, and almond, orange, and olive groves terrace the hillsides. Water works its magic everywhere in these villages—the sound of the springs, fountains, streams, and waterfalls pervades the atmosphere. This morning in these mountains, we head to the dramatic Poqueira Gorge, where we meet set off for a gorgeous hike. Ancient chestnut trees, isolated cortijos (farmhouses) with their herds of sheep and goats, and marvelous views of snowy Mount Mulhacen enchant us along this unforgettable trail. Parts of our route are on steep trails along cultivated terraces amid an intricate network of waterways that deliver their precious supply to each plot of land. We cross a bridge over the Rio Poqueira to reach the first village of the gorge, with its flowers, fountains, narrow streets, and lovely central square. We may visit one of its numerous ateliers full of wonderful regional ceramics, crafts, and textiles. Return to our hotel in Bubión for overnight...BLD Hiking Time: About 5 hours, with some steep trails.
Lodging Villa Turistica de Bubion
Description The Villa Turistica, located above the village of Bubiòn, is a lovely assemblage of picturesque little white houses set among a profusion of flowers and designed in the style of typical Alpujarra villages. The guest rooms are large suites with balconies and fireplaces and the views are outstanding, stretching to the snowy summits of the Sierra Nevada and to the Mediterranean. There’s a nice pool and plenty of outdoor spaces for relaxing. This is the best hotel in the Alpujarras!
Day 3: Taha de Pitres / Busquitar / Ronda
On a glorious morning hike, we explore the Taha de Pitres, an ancient district of seven villages. Taha is an Arabic term for a district that shares the same irrigation system. This group of villages features wonderful Arab buildings and the caminos (used since Roman times) are so narrow that only donkey and foot traffic is possible. We begin in Busquitar, one of the Taha de Pitres villages, and head toward the picturesque village of Ferreirola, where we can taste the ferrous soda water of the community fountain. We continue along this bucolic trail to Fondales and head down toward the Rio de Trevelez to see an ancient Roman bridge. We enjoy lunch at a quaint restaurant in Mecinilla, then drive to Ronda, one of the most dramatic town sites imaginable.Ronda is set on a towering plateau and is famous through Spain for the plunging river gorge that divides the medieval part of town from the 18th century part of the town. The gorge, known as El Tajo, is spanned by an arched stone bridge. Our accommodation for tonight and tomorrow is the luxurious El Parador de Ronda, with a spectacular location overlooking the river gorge by the bridge linking the Old Town to the New Town. This top-notch parador is a wonderful combination of old and new, built as an extension to Ronda’s historic Town Hall. The views are exceptional!..BLD Hiking Time: About 3 hours.
Lodging Parador de Ronda
Description This is the place to stay in Ronda, right at the bridge that separates the ancient Moorish part of town from the new town. The hotel is a perfect mix of old and new, built as an extension to Ronda’s historic Town Hall, founded in 1761. All the rooms have wonderful views, and the service is old school, wonderful, and consistent—a real treat! There is a great restaurant and a swimming pool.
Day 4: Ronda
We enjoy the atmosphere of Ronda this morning as we explore its cobbled streets and Moorish palace. The town’s architecture is a striking reminder of the multilayered history of southern Spain. Ronda’s 18th century plaza de toros was Spain’s very first bullring. The surrounding landscape of Ronda is harmonious, bucolic, and extremely inviting for walking, and we enjoy hike out of town on a trail that leads through an exquisite landscape and offers stunning views of Ronda’s ancient bridge. After lunch, we visit Ronda’s famous bullring and the Mondragon palace, with the afternoon free to explore the town. Overnight in Ronda...BLD.
Lodging Parador de Ronda
Description This is the place to stay in Ronda, right at the bridge that separates the ancient Moorish part of town from the new town. The hotel is a perfect mix of old and new, built as an extension to Ronda’s historic Town Hall, founded in 1761. All the rooms have wonderful views, and the service is old school, wonderful, and consistent—a real treat! There is a great restaurant and a swimming pool.
Day 5: Benaojan / Jimera / Grazalema
The day begins with a visit to the privately owned Cueva de la Pileta, a prehistoric cave with remarkable 20,000-year-old paintings. The cave was discovered in 1905 and is full of huge stalactites and stalagmites. Afterwards, we hike from Benaojan, a tranquil “white village” isolated among stony pastures and high peaks, through the canyon of the Guadiaro River to the little hamlet of Jimera de Libar, where we have lunch. (On our May departure, our trail will be brightened by carpets of wildflowers.) After visiting Jimera’s lovely, flower-adorned train station, we head to the beautiful white village of Grazalema...BLD Hiking Time: About 2.5 hours.
Lodging Hotel Puerta de la Villa
Description Nestled in the old quarter of the pueblo blanco (“white town”) of Grazalema, this hotel is in a modern building that reflects the charms of old Andalucia and gives us very easy access to the hiking trails. It's also a great place to soak up the atmosphere of village life after a day’s hike. The staff is friendly and there are great views over the rolling hills of Sierra de Grazalema National Park.
Day 6: Sierra de Grazalema
Grazalema, with its red-tile roofs, whitewashed walls, and old town square, is one of the most striking and renowned of Spain’s pueblos blancos. It is also headquarters for Sierra de Grazalema National Park, a spectacular nature reserve of majestic cork oak and ancient fir trees that shelters some of Spain’s rarest flora and fauna. The park includes about a dozen of Spain’s spectacular traditional villages. Today’s hike begins at El Puerto de Boyar, the 3,000-foot pass above Grazalema town, and brings us to Benaocaz. Our route follows the Sendero del Salto del Cabrero, with fantastic views of the surrounding sierra. We enjoy a picnic lunch en route. Overnight in Grazalema...BLD Hiking Time: About 5 hours, some along rocky trails 

The Sierra de Grazalema: This mountain region is actually several small sierra graced with a variety of beautiful landscapes, from pastoral valleys to dense Mediterranean woodlands and perpendicular limestone cliffs. Craggy 5,000-foot summits top the park, cloaked with dense holm oak, pine, and chestnut woodlands interspersed with olive and fig groves. This is one of the greenest parts of Andalucia, with its warm Mediterranean sun, and the Sierra de Grazalema is known for its magnificent and rare forests of Spanish fir and endemic flora, including two native species of poppy and an exceptional species of thyme. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977, the reserve shelters wildlife including ibex, foxes, genets, and mongoose. Europe’s largest colony of griffon vultures resides here, as well as imperial and royal eagle and osprey.
Lodging Hotel Puerta de la Villa
Description Nestled in the old quarter of the pueblo blanco (“white town”) of Grazalema, this hotel is in a modern building that reflects the charms of old Andalucia and gives us very easy access to the hiking trails. It's also a great place to soak up the atmosphere of village life after a day’s hike. The staff is friendly and there are great views over the rolling hills of Sierra de Grazalema National Park.
Day 7: Sevilla
We depart this morning for magical Sevilla, one of the jewels in the crown of Europe, and enjoy a guided city tour. Lunch is on your own, with the afternoon free to discover the cobbled streets and incredible charm of this city. This evening, we gather for our farewell dinner and a wonderful flamenco show in the labyrinthine Barrio Santa Cruz. Flamenco was born in Andalucia and there’s no better place in the world than Sevilla to experience it. Hotel overnight in Sevilla...BD Note: For anyone who is interested in exploring this magnificent city in more depth, we encourage you to add extra nights and we are happy to assist with hotel reservations.

 Sevilla: The elegant Andalucian capital is Spain’s passionate city of flamenco and bullfighting, of artists and poets, of jasmine-scented gardens and Moorish monuments. The 300-foot-tall La Giralda, Spain’s highest tower, is the symbol of Sevilla, peeking over the rooftops and visible from everywhere. At the Alcazar, a palace built for King Pedro the Cruel in the 1300s, the mudejar decorative work of Pedro’s artisans is found in domed chambers, courtyards, and facades. Sevilla’s 15th century cathedral, featuring a great rose window and double buttresses, is said to be the largest Gothic building in the world. In the Barrio Santa Cruz district, a maze of narrow streets, whitewashed mansions, and flower-bedecked windows are in perfect keeping with Sevilla’s romantic atmosphere. Parque de Maria Luisa, one of Europe’s loveliest city parks, is also a good place to relax and stroll among a half–mile of palms, orange trees, ponds, and pavilions.

Flamenco: The roots of this uniquely Andalucian art go back to the gypsies of southern Spain, and to the consequences of the 15th century decree by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that everyone living under their domain convert to Catholicism. Various ethnic groups—gypsies, Muslims, and Jews—came together to help each other during this period of persecution, and with the melding of these cultures, flamenco was born. Flamenco has three artistic elements: song (cante), dance (baile) and guitar (guitarra). In addition, there are often members of a flamenco troop playing "palmas" or hand-clapping. Flamenco follows a basic structure but at its heart it is an improvised form like jazz. The singing is at the center, with the dancer interpreting the words and emotion of the singer through his or her movements. The dancer’s movements include percussive footwork and intricate hand, arm, and body movements. The guitarist provides the accompaniment, accentuating the vocal lines or melodies.
Lodging Hotel Dona Maria
Description In the heart of old Sevilla, the Dona Maria strikes a good balance between tradition and modern comforts. It sits directly across from La Giralda and Sevilla’s ancient cathedral, so we can walk right out the door into the cobbled alleys of Old Town amid the clatter of horse carts and the ringing of cathedral bells. The hotel itself is a former 17th century mansion that retains much of its Old World charm, with both new and old wings. The small rooftop terrace bar is a prime spot for enjoying city views—when we’re on the rooftop terrace, we can almost reach out and touch the cathedral towers!
Day 8: Depart
Transfer to the airport for morning departures to the US...B only.
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Stan M.
A well designed trip in a part of Spain known for its unique characteristics. It was a nice mix of hiking in beautiful country and cultural experiences.
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Susan G.
Well run and exactly what we wanted—a personal, up-close look at southern Spain.
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Marion D.
Great hikes, great food, and great accommodations, super-great guides. What more can I say?
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Suzanne W.
One of the most enjoyable trips I’ve been on.
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Mary Lee B.
I’d highly recommend this trip to most anyone.
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Jane S.
We got to see places we would never have been able to visit on our own, and we learned a great deal while also having fun.
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Joel and Elizabeth P.
An outstanding cultural experience.
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Lynne G.
My first European trip with Wilderness Travel. I’m spoiled forever!
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Michael E.
The trip was brilliantly led and superbly organized. I've got to assume that this is typical of WT and therefore you'll be seeing us again.
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TRIP INCLUDES
  • Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides 
  • Accommodations as noted 
  • All meals included 
  • Entrance fees for museums and sites 
  • All land transportation, transfers as noted in the Full Trip Brochure
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • International airfare 
  • Transfers for independent arrival or departure 
  • Any meals not specified in the Full Trip Brochure 
  • Wine at dinner (except at welcome and farewell dinners) 
  • Airport departure taxes 
  • Optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff 
  • Additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors 
  • Pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any) 
  • Travel insurance, or passports and visas 
  • And other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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