8 Day Southern Spain Adventure Tour

Besides being the most populated city in Spain, Madrid is also the main seat of government. The city houses a current population of over 3 million people and is celebrated for its unique architecture, bustling markets, and brilliant nightlife.

We’ll meet our guide and fellow travellers today at an informal meeting in the hotel later in the evening, but if you arrive earlier we highly suggest you explore the city and its many coffee shops & tapas bars. It was said that the word “tapas” originated from when barkeepers would cover a glass of wine with a piece of bread to keep insects out of the glasses.

We head out early and make our way south to the iconic Andalusian destination, Granada, on the doorstep of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains. A simply stunning city habituated over thousands of years which has seen many ruling ethnicities stamp their architectural flare on the growing buildings. The city is often defined by the sprawling hilltop fortress, the mighty Alhambra which sits above the river Darro. It became the seat for the royal residency for the first king of the Muslim Nasrid dynasty, Mohammed ben Al-Hamar  Mohammed I) in the 13th century. It inspired and encouraged a renaissance of design and construction that has left a legacy of stunning fortification architecture. The Alhambra, in all of its red rock glory, is a ‘must do’ experience to fully understand the share scale of the building and the brilliance of its builders.

Our U.Guide will take you on a walking tour amongst its winding alleys and hidden gardens and relate the local history of this fascinating city. It is in fact one of only a few cities in Spain where free tapas are served with your beverages so we’ll suggest stopping and enjoying an aperitivo as the sun goes down! Alternatively, try the local delicacy – a flavoursome croc-pot type of meal called ‘Oil Down’ – which slow cooks meat with green bananas, vegetables, tubers and local seasoning!

We continue southwest today on a relatively short but very scenic train ride to the dramatic mountaintop city of Ronda, the city of dreams, set atop a deep gorge with an iconic brick bridge (il Puente Nuevo) which separates the old town from the new.

Your U.Guide will once again take to the streets to explain the incredible history of this Malaga stronghold where the history of banditry and bullfighting take centre stage. On that note, modern-day bullfighting is said to have been born and nurtured here and a trip to the oldest bullring in Spain is an absolute must. The Plaza de Toros, while not large and grand, dates back to 1785 and is home to one of Spain’s most accomplished bullfighting schools – specialising in ‘on foot’ fighting over the use of horses. The Arab Baths are worth a visit.

When the guided walk is all ‘said and done’, we strongly suggest visiting the Museo del Bandolero, which chronicles and pays respect to the culture of the Bandoleros (Andalusian bandits) who thrived between the 18th and 20th centuries, thieving from the wealthy and hiding in the valleys and caves of the inhospitable mountain terrain. A hike down to the Río Guadalevín which winds its way through the Tajo gorge is also a great way to experience Ronda from another perspective. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Ronda further and we can recommend the Arab Baths, dinner on the old town listening to local guitar players or maybe even a wee trip further afield to an Andalusian vineyard!

Our journey continues on by train, as we make our way down the lush coastline to the southernmost city of Tarifa, at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula on the Costa de Luz. Sun, sand and beach sports fight for dominancy over the chilled bohemian lifestyle complimented by great cuisine and a lively nightlife. It’s a destination town made for relaxing and absorbing local life.

Described by many as a charming beachside township, it really is so much more than that. From kite surfing to whale watching, Tarifa hosts many water-based activities and adventures. After settling into your accommodation, your U.Guide will take you on an introductory tour through the winding cobblestone streets amongst whitewashed homes. The evening is yours to explore and enjoy the soft sands and humming beachside bars.

It’s time to relax and simply enjoy being in a beautiful part of the world, with like-minded travellers and crazily kind locals. There is much to do, see and experience in Tarifa so be as active as you’d like, or take up an oceanside spot on a white sand beach and master the art of rest and inactivity!

If you want to explore, then there are plenty of attractions to keep you busy. Roman ruins, Andalusian museums, tapas bars and stunning beaches. Get active with kitesurfing or windsurfing lessons, hiking in the nearby national parks or trying your hand at horse riding!

Whatever you decide to do today, Tarifa comes with a warning… be careful of the Tarifa Virus; an addiction to the feeling of peace and tranquillity and a sense of community inclusion!

We leave the sparkling shores of Tarifa behind and head up the western coast, firstly to Jerez de la Frontera and then onwards to Sevilla. Jerez is a hugely fun cultural stop as we disembark our bus, leave our luggage in storage and set out to discover the world of Sherry – from growth to production to tasting! Sherry is a fortified wine made exclusively from grapes grown around Jerez. It’s an interesting tipple and well worth learning about. The process of sherry making is quite unique and we will visit a vineyard and production house for an in-depth tasting lesson. And this uniqueness lends sherry to a broad range of uses – from fine ‘wines’ to, for example, sherry cocktails – it blends nicely with tequila to create a new modern range of cocktails such as the Three Piece Suite, a Sherry Margarita or the Sherry Cask Cobbler!

We board our bus and continue on to Sevilla winding up through the countryside on a relatively quick bus ride. Our departure time is flexible, with an estimated late afternoon arrival time into Sevilla. The evening is yours to wander around the town and enjoy the vibrant café and tapas culture.

Today we soak in the amazing streets of metropolitan Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). After a restful night in our amazing hostel, we’ll head out on another city tour on foot, led by your knowledgeable and gregarious U.Guide. Located on the Guadalquivir River it grew as an important trading town and gateway to Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries before a steady economic decline over the pursuing years. Today, however, Seville is the 4th largest city in Spain, and has the largest historic centre in the whole of the EU, with not one, not two, but three World Heritage Sites within the Santa Cruz old town borders. This makes for a great day of meandering through the streets and visiting unique attractions such as the Moorish palace complex Real Alcázar de Saville, the enormous Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede to be precise) with the famous Giralda Tower, the 18th century ‘Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza’ – the largest bullfighting arena in Spain, and the 12th century Torre del Aro down by the river.

As tonight is your last night on this tour with U., we have a special show planned. Join us for an original Flamenco show in the city that is recognised as the birthplace of this amazing dance and music. It’s an opportunity to breathe the very heartbeat of southern spinach culture and experience the pride of the region.

Hasta luego….We depart Sevilla and head back to Madrid via a 3-hour train ride. Although today is your last day on this trip, we still experience the wonders of rural Spain as we pass through the centre of the Iberian Peninsular.

From Madrid, you can connect with our equally-as-awesome 9 day Northern Spain Adventure Tour which takes you up to the northern coast and into the Basque Country, along with one of the most famous single-day hikes in Spain – the Ruta del Cares, enjoy surf lessons in San Sebastian, and into the vibrant city of Barcelona.