The Andalucía tour
‘Primavera’ (Spring)
La alegría de la primavera en Andalucía
Granada, Montefrio, Las Alpujarras, Guadix, Ubeda, Cordoba, Ronda & Grazalema
MAY - 2025 / 12 Days
ITINERARY - a Brief Overview
This wonderful small-group 12-day tour of Andalucia is your opportunity to unwind and be pampered. From the moment you arrive, we take care of everything for you ensuring your time with us is relaxing and refreshing. During the ‘Primavera’ Andalucia tour, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Alhambra in Granada, the Mesquita in Cordoba and see the colourful “Fiesta de los Patios”. This luxury small group tour in Andalucia visits some of Andalucia’s most beautiful white villages ( Pueblos Blancos ). Enjoy exceptional Andalucian cuisine and stay in comfortable quiet accommodations, in beautiful apartments and luxurious hotels. The flamboyance of flamenco will give you a glimpse into the vibrancy of Andalucian culture. The places we visit are intriguing, from the quirky troglodyte town of Guadix to the remarkable Renaissance architecture of Ubeda. Make new friends through these wonderful shared experiences and return home richer with wonderful stories of the warmth and passion of Spain.
Granada
Beginning in Granada, enjoy an unforgettable visit to the Alhambra Palaces and Generalife (gardens). Discover wonderful Arabic tea houses in the Albaycin and experience an authentic flamenco performance in the caves of Sacramonte. Take in the stunning pink and violet hues as the sun sets over the Alhambra palaces from the lookout of San Nicholas.
Las Alpujarras
From Granada, we visit beautiful Montefrio and the alpine villages of the Alpujarras. Relax in Pampaneira, discover local artisans’ handcrafts and pottery then enjoy lunch on the balcony of a fabulous cafe that serves delicious local and organic produce using traditional family recipes. Jamon Serrano comes from the village of Trevelez, (set 1800 m above sea level), in the Alpujarras. Discover the artisanal process of curing Jamon Serrano that has been applied for over 130 years and of course, sample this most prized delicacy and understand why it is so special in Spain.
Guadix
Guadix is a fascinating troglodyte town with colourful lime-washed houses and cute chimneys that pop up like meerkats everywhere. It is one of Spain’s oldest historic towns, similar to Cappadocia. Here we visit a fascinating cave house museum providing a glimpse into the cave-dwelling life of Accitanos. ( Guadix as a town was around in the times of Hannibal )
In September Guadix and Baza hold the festival of the Cascamorras. This festival is unique in Spain and a riot or colour as locals cover their bodies in pigment and are chased by a club welding man ( all in fun ) through the streets from Baza to Guadix.
Ubeda, Baeza & Cazorla
Step back into the Renaissance in Ubeda then enjoy a revitalising walk following the stream in the National Park of Cazorla. Most of Spain’s olive oil comes from the region of Jaen. Ubeda and Baeza have many artisan olive oil producers and we visit one of the best to learn about their unique process while enjoying a tasting of some premium olive oils.
CorDOBA
Cordoba was listed in 2021 as the most beautiful historic centre in Spain by Lonely Planet and since 2018 it is the first city in the world to have four UNESCO World Heritage sites, surpassing Rome and Paris. Be mesmerised by the magnificent Mesquita in Cordoba with its vast sea of Venetian red-striped columns and enjoy strolling through the stone paved streets while you glimpse into colourful courtyards full of flowers and potted plants.
An evening here is made all the more special when you experience the passion and colour of equestrian art accompanied by flamenco. The Arabic flavours of Cordoba are reflected in the incredible selection of premium dining establishments. Arabs upgraded gastronomy to a philosophical and human level, believing in the power of gastronomy to restore and preserve health. Some of the best traditional dishes are from Cordoba. We highly recommend the Rabo de Toro ( oxtail) and the world-famous salmorejo. Savour some of the historical recipes renowned the world over, paired with some of the best local wines and Montilla. (A sherry particular to Cordoba)
RONDA
Ronda’s magnificent Puente Nuevo bridge is a sight to behold. Ronda is a town famously loved by Ernest Hemmingway and Orson Welles. At sunset walk across the bridge to see breathtaking views of the valley below. Enjoy tapas at one of the best tapas bars in Andalucia. ( A little secret we share on tour! )
Grazalema & Zahara
We take a day excursion to Grazalema, renowned for its stunning woven cashmere and wool blankets, enjoy light refreshments then on to the perched village of Zahara. Tonight, back in Ronda; a farewell dinner at one of our favourite restaurants to leave Spain richer and more refreshed than when you arrived.
Malaga train station is the departure point and although our tour ends here, this city is well worth spending an extra day in. We are happy to help you with travel arrangements if you choose to stay a little longer. Should you wish to continue on to Sevilla, please mention this when you join the waitlist and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.
After all, we want you to fall in love with Andalucia the same way we have! ❤️
The Andalucía tour
During your tour in Andalucia, you can choose to either share meals together as a group or discover delightful tapas bars and restaurants on your own. We provide you with an insider's guide to the best places to eat during your Andalucia tour, including maps and directions for the best tapas bars, wonderful attractions to see, interesting people to say hello to, fabulous crafts, shopping haunts and many other little surprises which make our tours so special.
Meet some of our favourite locals who have become close friends and discover the warmth and hospitality of the Spanish people. Our stunning hotels and luxurious accommodations provide a relaxed environment with space and comfort ensuring you always have privacy and a fabulous level of service. We endeavour to keep the travelling distances between day trips to a minimum so that when we arrive at each destination you will have time to unwind and relax.
Andalucia- is charmingly different
The beautiful places we stay gallery
The Andalucía tour ‘Primavera’ (Spring)
Is Inclusive of the following
Entrance Tickets
• The Alhambra and Generalife
• Olive oil tasting in Jaen
• "Fiesta de los Patios" *
• The Mesquita in Cordoba
• The Andalucían Horses and Flamenco performance in Cordoba
• The Arab Baths in Ronda
Your luxury tour in Andalucía is all-inclusive of the following:
• Accommodation in luxury hotels and apartments
• Introductory drinks and tapas.
• All Breakfasts, ( continental or buffet depending on the hotel ).
• All land and travel costs in an air-conditioned comfortable vehicle during the tour.
• A fabulous farewell dinner to leave Spain richer and more refreshed than when you arrived.
Accommodation in beautiful apartments and luxurious hotels. All rooms are double or twin, with ensuite bathrooms and have been personally selected for their ambience, comfort and quality. All breakfasts, welcome drinks and tapas on arrival. Comfortable air-conditioned transport. Entrance tickets to museums, galleries, and activities as specified are included in the tour. * In May the Andalucia tour includes the "Fiesta de los Patios"
We advise you to have a reasonable level of fitness. We will take all care possible to ensure your trip is safe and comfortable, however, we do require you to have comprehensive travel insurance.
Registration: Andalucia Tours Reservation
Please note: We meet our guests either at Málaga Train station on the first day at 13.00 pm or if you choose to arrive in Granada by the evening of the first day we will send directions to your accommodation.
The Andalucía tour ‘Primavera’ (Spring)
MAY 2025 / 12 Days / Dates TBC
Join the waitlist early to register for the next Andalucia tour in 2025!
EUR 3900 pp (sharing with a partner or friend)
EUR 4500 pp (includes single supplement/non-sharing)
We find that meeting via a Zoom call is a wonderful way for you to meet us, learn more about the tour in Andalucia and ask us any questions.
Reserve your spot early as participation is limited to a small group with a maximum of eight persons, on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those on the waitlist.
🌟 Reserve your place for an unforgettable experience! 🌟
Click the link below and let the anticipation begin! 👇
“Sol y Sombra tours”
My wife and I experienced a 12 day Andalucia tour with Sol y Sombra Tours. We both agree that this was one of the best holidays we have had. Grant and Alex cared for us well, and we enjoyed their company. Because they were looking after everything, we could relax and enjoy the sights, history, culture, food and wine of this wonderful region. The small size of our tour group meant we were able to visit many places that would not be included with more traditional tours, and their experience and knowledge took us to places we would not have known about if we had tried to guide ourselves. They were also flexible, giving us time to ourselves when we needed it, and consulting us about options for activities and meals. We stayed in quality accommodation and had great meals with plenty of variety. We covered a lot in 12 days, but it did not feel rushed as the tour allowed plenty of time in each place. Some highlights for us were:
• Staying in a cave house in Granada
• The Flamenco show in another cave in Granada
• Being shown around an old Renaissance Palazzo in Ubeda by the owner.
• The beautiful white-washed villages of the Alpujarras, and a great meal at a rooftop restaurant.
• Mountain walk in Cazorla
• Wandering the streets of the old town in Cordoba.
This was a truly memorable experience and one that I would highly recommend.
”
“Alex and Grant are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about Spanish Culture, Art, Food, and History. A tour with Sol y Sombra tours will be one you never forget - a veritable feast of rich memories incorporating delicious and authentic food and wine, great company, stunning vistas, amazing architecture and incredible art. Staying in luxurious hotels and seeing the ‘Real Spain’ up close and personal, I would highly recommend travel with Alexandra and Grant if you are looking for a holiday to remember.”