Summary
Short description
Discover the rural charm of the Spanish south
Highlights
- Enjoy guided walks through Andalucia’s rural beauty, taking in cliff paths, mountain peaks and off-the-beaten track villages
- Discover the competing heritage of Seville, from its Renaissance cathedral to its Roman ruins and Moorish places
- Immerse yourself in country life with a stay in a charming farmhouse and a series of traditional, wine-accompanied dinners
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Eco-tourism | Escorted tour | History & culture | Mountains | Off the beaten track | Small group | Villa
In the breaths between Andalucia’s cultural heavyweights there’s a spectacular rural landscape best discovered on foot. Led by an expert guide, small-group walks will bring you through rugged hills, olive groves and fields of sunflowers to discover everything from abandoned convents to pretty whitewashed villages. You’ll even hike through the great granite peaks of the Grazalema Mountains and walk the El Chorro Gorge on a precipitous path carved into its cliff-side. In between, you’ll also have some time to explore the rich heritage of Seville as you escape from the excesses of modern life, with a stay in a homely cortijo farmhouse.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
UK/Algamitas
Flying into Málaga, you’ll be transferred to your base for the next seven nights – Cortijo Rosario. A traditional, whitewashed farmhouse whose pool is wrapped in rolling hills and framed by jutting peaks, this is rural Spain at its most charming. It’s set just outside of Algamitas, a quiet, traditional village that enjoys excellent access to the region’s finest trails. You’ll also be introduced to the superb regional cuisine, with meals prepared from locally grown seasonal produce, matched with Spanish wine. Expect indulgent paella and bold reds.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: D
Day
2
Villanueva
Today you’ll acquaint yourself with your immediate surrounds with a guided walk along the trails and paths that branch off from Algamitas. They’ll bring you through a postcard-perfect countryside of olive trees, pretty farmland and rolling hills. As you walk, your leader will bring it all to life with an overview of the region’s rural lifestyle and traditions that are based around the historic production of olive oil. You’ll also pause in the village to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a tapas lunch.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B L D
Day
3
Sierra de Grazalema
After breakfast, a private bus will bring you, over the dramatic Pass of the Doves, high into the Grazalema Mountains. It’s the site of Andalucia’s first natural park and is one of Spain’s most impressive regions. Here, a network of cragged gullies, caves and gorges bring you between great limestone cliffs. It’s no surprise that, in 1977, it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. You’ll end in the charming village of Benaocaz whose traditional houses are painted as white as the winter’s snow-capped peaks.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B L D
Day
4
Setenil de las Bodegas
Heading out from the Cortijo Rosario, you’ll walk through the Algamitas farmland to reach the abandoned monastery of Caños Santos – the perfect place for your picnic lunch. Dating back to the 17th century, its elaborate façade and stern stone walls are remarkably well preserved. You’ll then follow a riverside track to arrive at the picturesque Setenil de las Bodegas. This delightful village is famous for its white houses; built under a dramatic gorge ledge, they appear to emerge from the very face of the rock. You’ll have some free time to explore before returning home in a private minibus.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B L D
Day
5
Seville
Taking a break from walking, you’ll be transferred to Seville for a day of urban exploration. The Andalucian capital wears its rich history with pride; as one of the first cities to fall to the Moors, its Islamic past lives on in royal residences and the Giralda – a great minaret repurposed as a Renaissance bell tower for the city’s imposingly Gothic, 16th-century cathedral. However, it’s perhaps the Alcázar that best sums up the city’s history. This great complex of palaces and gardens dates back to the Romans, was glorified by the Moorish kings and settled in by Christian rulers. It still houses the royal family to this day. Seville’s sculpted gardens and the colonial riches of its riverside Arenal district also vie for your attention.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B
Day
6
El Chorro Gorge & Caminito del Rey
A short drive will bring you to the El Chorro Gorge where you’ll follow its reservoir, from the Guadalhorce Dam, to the start of the Caminito del Ray. This precipitous path is cut right into the sides of the cliffs, hanging some 100 metres from the river below. First opened by King Alfonso XIII in 1921, it was once known as ‘the most dangerous path in the world’. Thankfully, modern safety standards have opened it up once more, making this a truly exhilarating highlight. After, you’ll have some time to relax in the sun by the reservoir.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B L D
Day
7
El Peñon
Over your stay at the Coritjo Rosario you won’t have failed to notice El Peñon – a great rocky crag that looms over the farmhouse. At 1,130 metres above sea level, it’s the highest point in the province, offering spectacular views of the region’s villages, hills and farmlands. It also makes for a delightful 11-kilometre loop, with your descent celebrated with drinks at a panoramic terrace.
Stay: Cortijo Rosario (Standard)
Meals: B L D
Day
8
Depart for UK
On your last day, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: B
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Prices
Accommodation rating:
8-day escorted small-group walking tour from £970 pp incl. flights
Guide price from:
£970 to £1,200 per person
Valid for travel: Selected departure dates from Apr 17 to Oct 17
Package includes:
- Incl. return flights from UK,
- Enjoy five day walks through Andalucia's varied landscape
- Stay in a converted farmhouse with swimming pool
- Explore the fascinating Moorish history of forgotten villages
- Visit the charming city of Seville
- Walk the stunning Caminito del Rey
- 7 nights in a comfortable converted farmhouse with pool
- 5 days centre-based walking
- Moderate / challenging walking available on selected departures
- Altitude maximum 1256m, average 612m
- Group normally 4 to 15, plus leader.
- All breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches and 6 dinners included
- transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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