Day One - Arrive Malaga or Granada airport, collect hire car and transfer to Granada for 2 nights

Your hotel in Granada is set within an olive grove just above the city where water constantly trickles through the Moorish irrigation systems from the Sierra Nevada mountains above. After you have settled into your hotel you can either finish off your day relaxing by the pool or take a short drive into Granada to visit the shady souk like streets of the Alcaiceria surrounding the cathedral, and here you can try the delicious array of tapas that Granada offers from broad beans cooked with ham, meat balls cooked with almond and saffron to crumbling slices of manchego cheese and the best jamon serrano from the Alpujarran village of Trevelez.

Day Two - Guided city walk of Granada 

After breakfast on the terrace, this morning you will be given a 2 hour guided tour of the historical centre of Granada by a professional city guide. You will learn of the battles between the Moors and the Christians plus of the legends that surround the medieval area of the Albaicin.

Pre-booked visit to The Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens

Short listed for one of the New Seven Wonders of The World, The Alhambra is an absolutely stunning complex of palaces, summer gardens, fountains and courtyards which once seen is never forgotten and often revisited time and time again. Built during the reign of the pleasure loving califas, every view inside the complex is a picture of harmony and balance with natural light and the sound of running water creating the perfect environment for meditation and relaxation; which was the essence of Moorish life at this time.

Early evening is the best time to enjoy a swim within the olive groves at your rural hotel and then relax with a candle lit dinner on the hotel's outside terrace.

Day Three - Transfer to Cordoba for 1 night

In medieval times Cordoba was the most advanced city in the whole of Europe, a centre of culture and learning where Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together in a thriving society. Today it is quite a sleepy Andalucían city with an unpretentious atmosphere, quite different from the passion and flamboyance of Seville. The streets surrounding the mezquita are filled with ancient bodegas and tapas bars and a visit to one of the cities truly authentic flamenco performances is an absolute must.

Your hotel in Cordoba is fresh and welcoming with a stunning internal patio from the Mudejar period. You can also take a dip in the pool, enjoy a relaxing massage or even exert yourself in the gym!

Day Four - Morning in Cordoba

The great mosque was built to rival Mecca and is a building of incredible mystic powers and the first glimpse inside is a jaw dropping experience. This jaw then drops further when you encounter a huge catholic cathedral almost hidden in the middle!

Surrounding the mezquita is the delightfully crumbling juderia; a fascinating place to get lost in as you wander around the narrow maze of streets, lined with geranium filled balconies and green shady plazas. There are many things to discover in the juderia from original Moorish bath houses, to one of the only three synagogues to have survived the expulsion of The Jews from Spain.

After lunch transfer to Seville for 1 night

The flamboyant Andalucían capital city of Sevilla combines its Moorish history with the legacy of the Spanish Golden Age when Columbus brought back immeasurable wealth from The Americas. The beautiful Arabic minaret "la Giralda" towers over one of the largest gothic cathedrals in the world and the colourful Plaza de España contrasts with the Mudejar palaces of the Royal Alcazar.

Day Five - Guided walking tour of Seville

Local guide Concepción will give you a 2 hour guided walk of the city showing you the most famous historical sites plus many hidden gems that only the locals know. Her enthusiasm for her home town really brings the city to life and gives you an insight that the guide books never can.

Seville is the place in Andalucía for a long leisurely summer lunch. A shady patio with trickling fountains will cool you as you enjoy some of the finest food especially prepared to combat the heat. Ice cold Gazpacho, refreshing salads and light fish dishes will leave you ready for siesta in the late afternoon.

After lunch transfer to Vejer de la Frontera for 2 nights

The hilltop white village of Vejer de la Frontera overlooks the white sand Atlantic coast of Cadiz and is one of the best preserved Arabic villages in Spain: over 500 years of Moorish rule has left an indelible mark. It is a classic white village where until a few years ago the woman of the village still wore the long, dark cloaks that veiled their faces; a tradition that is left now for fiestas. The village is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled alleyways lined with iron drilled windows and potted plants, topped by a Moorish castle left over from the frontier days. The hotel sits on the main village square which is lined with cafe bars and restaurants.

Your hotel in Vejer has the areas most acclaimed restaurant where dinner is served under the stars on the Moorish patio.

Day Six - Explore the province of Cadiz

There is so much to see and do in the area around Vejer or you can simply slip down the hill and relax on the white sand  beaches below. Tarifa, the southern most town in Spain is a short drive away and this is the wind and kite surfing capital of Europe. You can take a dolphin watching trip out into the strait of Gibraltar where the mountains of Morocco look almost close enough to touch and close by is also the ruined Roman city of Bolonia where there are some fantastic beach side restaurants serving fresh fish caught in the bay. If you head the other way up the coast you can spend some time in the Island city of Cadiz which juts out on a peninsular into the Atlantic Ocean.   

Day Seven Transfer to Malaga for 1 night

Malaga is a city often overlooked by visitors to Andalucía, who never get to experience the heart of this truly Spanish city and relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere. Tiny narrow streets lined with fresh fish restaurants and bodegas lead off from wide palm lined avenues with majestic buildings and designer stores. The Malageños say the best fresh fish of Andalucía is found in Malaga, the best wine of Andalucía is made in Malaga and the best fiesta of Andalucía is celebrated in Malaga; their pride for their city and priorities in life make a stay here very pleasant. There is not a better city to visit in Spain in the summer than Malaga!

Visit to The Picasso Museum

Picasso was born in Malaga and a visit to the new Picasso Museum is a must along with a walk around the Alcazabar, the cathedral and an evening stroll along the seaside "paseo maritimo"  where the air is filled with the aroma of skewered sardines cooking on the open fires of the beach side "chiringuitos".

Day Eight -

Transfer to Malaga airport, deposit hire car  and say farewell to Andalucía!       ¡Hasta pronto!