This private VIP tour of Andalucia is a fabulous way for couples or small groups to discover this land of flamenco, bullfighting, taverns, sherry wines and tapas. Our suggested itinerary includes Granada which is home to the stunning Alhambra Palace, the charming city of Cordoba with its beautiful flower covered patios and magnificent Mezquita and the magical Andalucian capital of Seville. Where possible the tour takes roads off the beaten track where you’ll come across quaint villages and see the unspoilt countryside of the real Spain.
For the purpose of this sample itinerary the VIP tour begins and ends in Malaga but can be adapted to begin in Seville if preferred. Whilst the duration of this tour is six nights it could easily be extended to cover additional attractions such as the Cadiz region or reduced by a night if necessary. We’ll work with you to make the itinerary perfect for you.
Sample Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Malaga to Granada
We’ll collect you at Malaga airport, train station or at a hotel in the city and drive you east along the coast road as far as Motril on the Costa Tropical. We then head north, skirting the foothills of the Alpujarras mountains, until we spot the Alhambra Palace high above the beautiful city of Granada. At your hotel we’ll provide you with useful tourist information including some recommended tapas bars and restaurants then leave you to begin exploring this charming city. The better local restaurants are known for combining fresh produce from the region to create local Granadino dishes such as aubergine stuffed with wild mushrooms and monkfish.
Overnight: Granada
Day 2: Visit Alhambra Palace
This morning you will be transported to the Alhambra Palace where you’ll be introduced to your tour guide who will proceed to give you a private tour of the Alhambra Palace. Once in the Palaces you can expect to spend around three hours discovering what has been hailed “the Jewel of Moorish Spain”. Following your visit we’ll head across to the Mirador de San Nicolas in the Albaicín district of the city. This is the best viewing point from which to see the Alhambra nestling beneath the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains as shown in the following photo.
Then wander along the cobbled street to one of the terrace bars in Plaza San Miguel Bajo for lunch outdoors. After lunch you’re free to continue sightseeing. Highly recommended is the cathedral where Ferdinand and Isabella – the Catholic Monarchs – are buried. Granada has a reputation for producing some of the finest tapas and offering them free with a drink. Take a wander around some of the traditional tapas bars near Plaza Nueva in the evening then maybe attend a flamenco show at one of the gipsy caves in the Barrio Sacramonte.
Overnight: Granada
Day 3: Granada to Cordoba
This morning you should head into one of the city’s squares to buy churros and eat them in a café with a cup of delicious, thick hot chocolate. Then we’ll meet up and get on the road to Cordoba. Rather than following the main highway we’ll travel cross country along what’s known as ‘La Ruta del Aceite’ (Olive Oil Route) which passes through the province of Jaén where the landscape is dominated by millions of olive groves in every direction. On arrival in Cordoba we’ll again provide you with tourist information and leave you to wander around the Jewish quarter where you’ll discover the main sights of this charming city, all of which are within walking distance of your hotel.
In the evening you’ll be spoilt for choice between some superb tapas bars and more traditional a la carte restaurants. El Caballo Rojo is a fine restaurant located next to the Mezquita which serves typical Cordobes cuisine such as ‘Rabo de Toro’ (bull’s tail) and dishes with a Moorish twist such as ‘Cordero a la Miel’ (lamb cooked in honey). Nowhere in Spain have I tasted a finer red house wine than in this restaurant. As for tapas bars, there’s a place called Casa Salinas which is probably my favourite tapas bar/restaurant in Spain. Here you can try local favourites: salmorejo (Cordoba’s thick gazpacho with ham and egg), deep fried hake and chickpeas with spinach. Another local delicacy is the white (sherry like) wine called Montilla which the locals claim gives less hangovers than the wines of Jerez because it is natural and not fortified with alcohol.
Overnight: Cordoba
Day 4: Cordoba to Seville
If you have time this morning head to Plaza del Potro for a coffee under the orange trees before meeting your official guide for a walking tour and visit to the Mezquita, the grandest mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain.
After the visit we’ll load up the vehicle at your hotel and head out to the archaeological ruins of Medina Azahara then visit the medieval castle at Almodovar del Rio. We’ll then visit the Parador at Carmona which is a 14th century Arabic fortress and one of the most impressive of Spain’s many historic hotels. When creating your personalised itinerary we can build in an overnight stay here if you wish.
Continuing on we arrive in Seville in the late afternoon where we’ll provide you with information on the main city sights as well as recommended places to eat and drink around the Barrio Santa Cruz and across the river in the Barrio Triana. You should also attend a flamenco show either tonight or tomorrow night at one of the city’s excellent ‘tablaos’.
Overnight: Seville
Day 5: Seville Sightseeing
This morning we’ll meet up with a very special local tour guide who will take us (I love this tour) on a walking tour of some of the main sights of old Seville. This takes about two hours but the time flies by, then you’ll get a guided tour of the Cathedral which is one of the world’s great religious buildings. If you have the energy after all this sightseeing you could pay a visit to the Alcazár in what remains of the afternoon or simply climb aboard a horse drawn carriage which will whisk you off to the Plaza de España which is possibly Spain’s most beautiful square. A visit to some of Seville’s wonderful tapas bars followed by a flamenco show will round off a wonderful day.
Overnight: Seville
Day 6: Seville to Ronda
This morning we’ll leave Seville after breakfast and head down to Jerez de la Frontera which is world famous for its horses and its sherry. At the Royal School of Equestrian Art (Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre) there are only perfomances by the dancing horses on certain days so we’ll need to allow for this when planning your itinerary. There are daily visits to the Gonzalez Byass sherry factory (producers of Tio Pepe) whose tour provides a fascinating insight into the process of sherry and brandy production.
From Jerez de la Frontera we head east through the ‘Pueblos Blancos’ via Arcos de la Frontera and Grazalema to the stunningly located town of Ronda where we will spend the last night of our VIP tour. Take a stroll around the ancient, white washed buildings and the historic bullring before dining in one of the town’s fine restaurants where typical Rondeño dishes based on the fresh produce of the Serranía de Ronda are popular.
Overnight: Ronda
Day 7: Ronda to Malaga
This morning we head down the mountain to the Costa del Sol dropping you off at Malaga Airport or at an alternative destination of your choice. Indeed you might like to stay the night in Malaga and spend the afternoon visiting the city’s highlights including the Picasso museum. END OF TOUR
Sample Andalucia Tour Prices
The final price of this tour will vary according to:
- the route you agree with our travel planner
- the size of your group
- the season of your visit
- any services you wish to add or remove from this proposed itinerary.
The prices above are provisional just to give you a general idea as to what to expect. The final price will be worked out once you’ve finalised your itinerary with our tour planner.
- Custom Tour Preparation by Our Professional Tour Planner
- All Transfers by Luxury Sedan or Minivan
- Knowledgeable English Speaking Driver
- Double Room Accommodation in 4-star Hotels
- Private Walking Tour & Entrance Tickets to the Alhambra Palace
- Private Walking Tour of Cordoba & Entrance Tickets to the Mezquita
- Entrance Tickets to Cordoba’s Synagogue, Medina Azahara and the Medieval castle at Almodovar del Rio
- Private Walking Tour of Seville & Entrance Tickets to the Cathedral
- Seville Flamenco Show
- Entrance Tickets to the Horse Show at the Royal School of Equestrian Art in Jerez
- Tickets for a Visit to the Gonzalez Byass Wine Cellar in Jerez
Sample Tour Prices Do Not Include:
- Flights to Spain
- Breakfast or Meals
Tour Enquiries
Please fill in the Custom Tours Enquiry Form with details about your proposed travel dates and group size and our tour planner will get back in touch with you.
Let Us Prepare Your Customised Itinerary:
Finally, let me once again emphasise that the above tour is a sample itinerary. The route can be changed and we can arrange for you to stay in alternative accommodation should you wish to do so. We can also book tour guides and shows on request. All this will be finalised with your travel planner once we receive your enquiry.
