Highlights
- Kick off the trip with Seville's best tapas and flamenco bars
- Get up close to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Visit a boutique winery near Ronda for a private tour and tasting
- Tour a Spanish bull farm for an inside look into the bullfighting industry
- Have dinner overlooking the Alhambra, set against the Sierra Nevada peaks
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Seville - Evening Tapas Tour | Seville |
| Day 2 | Private Walking Tour of Seville | Seville |
| Day 3 | Meet Seville's Local Artistans | Seville |
| Day 4 | Transfer from Seville to Ronda, via the White Villages | Ronda |
| Day 5 | Private Tour of Ronda - Winery Visit | Ronda |
| Day 6 | Day-Trip to a Bull Estate - Transfer to Granada | Granada |
| Day 7 | Private Tour of the Alhambra - Dinner with a View | Granada |
| Day 8 | Depart Granada |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seville - Evening Tapas Tour
Welcome to Seville—the capital of Spain's Andalusia region! Upon arrival, you'll be met by a private transfer who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city's old town. Take a little time to settle in and rest before your evening excursion.
At the designated time, you'll meet your private guide in the lobby and then jump in a taxi for a tapas tour. Your guide will show you his/her favorite tapas places as you sample excellent food and drink options while rubbing shoulders with locals. This is an exciting (and tasty) way to see another side of Seville not usually experienced by tourists.
Day 2: Private Walking Tour of Seville
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by a private guide to experience Seville's most emblematic landmarks. Enjoy a long, leisurely stroll through the city to visit a number of sites including the Seville Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in the world), Christopher Columbus' tomb, and the magnificent Alcázar with its many Mudéjar (Neo-Moorish) palaces and beautiful, oasis-like gardens.
At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at a recommended tapas bar for lunch. You'll then have the afternoon to continue exploring Seville at your own pace.
Day 3: Meet Seville's Local Artisans
Today you'll have a special opportunity to meet some of Seville's most notable local artisans.
Along with your private guide, you'll head to the city's old town and walk down a small side street where a simple, nondescript door welcomes you into a 19th-century abode filled with artistic treasures. This is where renowned art restorers invite you into their home to share their passion for their profession and reveal the techniques they use to save age-old pieces and bring them back to life. This is a truly magical experience for art lovers! At the end of the visit, you'll be free to continue exploring the streets near the studio or return to your hotel.
Later in the day, you'll reconvene with your guide for a flamenco-themed evening. First, you'll pay a visit to a flamenco guitar maker's studio, where you'll be able to see the beautiful masterpieces being lovingly created and designed. Then your guide will take you to a live flamenco show where you'll learn to appreciate the passion and dedication that is put into this revered art form.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Transfer from Seville to Ronda, via the White Villages
After breakfast in Seville, prepare for breathtaking scenery as you explore some of Andalusia's most enchanting places with a private guide. Take in the views as you drive through olive groves, rolling meadows, cork forests, and mountainous terrain while visiting several of the region's famous 'white villages', perched on hillsides with their iconic whitewashed houses visible for miles around.
Your first stop will be Zahara de la Sierra where you'll visit a nearby olive mill to learn about production and join a tasting before driving up and over to Grazalema. Here, you will sample the renowned payoyo cheese and explore the streets of Spain's most charming white village.
After lunch, continue your road-trip journey as you head inland, up and over the mountains, to your hotel in Ronda, the largest of the white villages. Upon arrival, drop off your luggage and settle into your room before venturing out to explore this small city overlooking spectacular views atop El Tajo gorge.
Day 5: Private Tour of Ronda - Winery Visit
After a hearty Andalusian breakfast, you'll have the day to explore Ronda—the capital of the white villages—with a private local guide. The excursion will include a visit to the spectacular Bullring of the Royal Cavalry of Ronda, largely considered one of the most important in Spain, as well as numerous buildings, churches, convents, and palaces that belong to a long and illustrious Roman and Moorish history.
Following the tour, you'll visit a winery just outside of town in Serranía de Ronda to gain insight into this wine producing area, which has taken off in the last 20 years, and of course, taste some outstanding wines with guidance from a host.
In the afternoon, you'll make the short journey back to your hotel for some free time to relax before dinner.
Day 6: Day-Trip to a Bull Estate - Transfer to Granada
This morning, you'll depart Ronda by way of private transfer and make your way to Granada stopping at a famous Spanish bull farm along the way. This is a privileged way to learn about the bullfighting industry, its history and traditions, the importance of family names, and the trials and tribulations of this controversial custom.
Upon arrival, you'll be met by a guide who will show you around the farm and private bullring. You will travel by 4x4 with a chance to get close to fighting bulls in order to see their size and strength. Listen as your guide describes the life of a fighting bull from birth to a glorious death in the ring. This tour is the best way to understand the art of bullfighting without actually watching a bullfight.
Following the excursion, which includes tapas and refreshments for lunch, you'll continue the drive to Granada where you'll check in and have the night to explore the city on your own.
Day 7: Private Tour of the Alhambra - Dinner with a View
This morning will be one of the highlights of your holiday in Spain! At the designated time, you'll be picked up by a driver and delivered to the entrance of the Alhambra, where you'll meet your private guide for a tour of this truly magnificent place. With as many myths and legends as there are arches and fountains, the Alhambra's fortress and palace complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is enthralling, so expect your visit to fly by.
After the visit, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and explore Granada's city center where you can wander through the labyrinth-like streets and lively city center stopping, perhaps stopping at the Granada Cathedral, Royal Church, Alcaicería (old silk market), and Madraza (medieval koranic school).
A visit to Granada would not be complete without experiencing a dinner of traditional Granadino food on the balcony of a Carmen (Moorish palace house). Overlooking the Alhambra, with the silhouette of the Sierra Nevadas in the distance, this restaurant is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.
As you stroll back to your hotel after dinner, you’ll find yourself on tiny cobblestone streets lined with Moroccan tea houses and stalls selling everything from clothes and shoes to traditional tajines—feel free to stop and browse for souvenirs.
Day 8: Depart Granada
It's time to say farewell! Depending on the time of your flight or train reservation, squeeze in one more walk through the streets of Granada, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs like spices and/or brightly colored rugs and blankets. At the designated time you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport or rail station for your departure onwards. Safe travels!
Map
