Classical Spain for solo travellers

You will be met at the airport by a member of the team for our flight to Malaga. On arrival, a coach will transfer us to the hilltop town of Mijas, where we stay at the four-star Ilunion Hacienda del Sol hotel on the outskirts of town.

Tonight, we enjoy an informal welcome dinner at the hotel, where we will get a chance to meet and mingle with your dedicated tour manager, as well as other people also travelling on their own.

We enjoy breakfast in our hotel this morning before heading to the countryside of Andalucía and reaching spectacular Ronda. Built on a ridge high above an impressive gorge, there are few towns that impress at first sight. Our Tour Manager will give you all the information you need to make the most of your visit, and perhaps also get your first taste of authentic tapas.

We continue this afternoon through more dramatic countryside before arriving in beautiful Seville where another treat awaits, as this evening we enjoy delicious tapas. Over the centuries, with the introduction of olives, tomatoes, peppers and potatoes, tapas dishes gradually evolved into a most delightful tradition.

Flamboyant, seductive, fascinating … Seville is all these and more. It is simply one of the most beautiful and charismatic cities in the world, with the serene River Guadalquivir flowing through its centre, a history spanning the centuries, a wealth of historic buildings, colourful back streets and peaceful parks.

It has its origins in Roman times – the Emperor Hadrian, builder of the famous wall, came from here. During the 8th century the Moors arrived, stayed for five centuries and left a unique legacy still in evidence today. However, if one event changed Seville, it was the discovery of the New World and, fittingly, Columbus is buried in the imposing cathedral. Immense wealth poured in from Spain’s new empire and catapulted Seville into one of the largest and richest cities in Europe.

Much of Seville was built during this time and it seems to have changed little in the last 500 years, with tiny twisting streets and hidden squares where the locals hide from the midday sun in high summer. Today, though, it possesses a vibrant, cultural spirit that is very special.

After breakfast we have a tour of this beguiling city, during which we’ll see the awe-inspiring semi-circular Plaza de España, a fine example of Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival styles of Spanish architecture. You’ll also see the Tower of Gold, so named as it was used to store plunder from the Americas, and much more

During the afternoon you’re free to explore Seville at your leisure, during this time you could visit the fortified palace of the Alcázar or the world’s largest Gothic cathedral which is the final resting place of the great navigator, Christopher Columbus. Alternatively, if you wish, you could take a cruise on one of the many river boats.

Seville offers such a diverse array of sights that today, you have a free day to do as much or as little as you wish. Explore the Alcázar in more detail, wander around the shops of the old Jewish quarter, take a picnic to Maria Luisa Park, or maybe enjoy a glass of fino sherry alfresco with some members of the group.

We leave Seville after breakfast this morning and we travel east to another icon of the area, Cordoba. The Moors used Cordoba as their capital city and it was here that they built Europe’s most beautiful mosque, the Mezquita. We will be joined once again by a local guide who will share the story of this magnificent structure and its intriguing history.

Afterwards we will have ample time to explore the twisting streets of Cordoba and step out onto its iconic bridge, before we continue our journey to Granada, where we will stay at either the four-star Hotel Alixares just a few moments’ walk from the mighty Alhambra palace, or the four-star Hotel Porcel Sabica located in the heart of the town itself.

Granada enjoys a stunning location below the peaks of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. High above the city sits the Alhambra, regularly listed as one of the must-visit places in the world.

During our visit we take in the vast gardens and the perfect courtyards, admiring the repeating arches and intricate tilework of the palace itself. The palace has become an icon for Moorish architecture, and it is easy to see why it is one of Spain’s most photographed locations.