Alhambra guided visit; 3-4 hours, easy. Transfer to La Joya-Antequera

This morning you enter the extraordinary world of the Alhambra—a magnificent ensemble of palaces and fortresses that once housed the Moorish rulers of Granada. The tour of the Alhambra is led by a local expert guide and provides a detailed overview of this overwhelmingly beautiful site. The visit comprises all of the most fascinating monuments, including the Alcazaba (the oldest part of the fortress), as well as the exquisite Palacio de Generalife gardens. The sultans’ summer palace known as the Generalife, or “the architect’s gardens” if literally translated from Arabic, is the oldest example of Moorish gardens in Spain. Even if you explored the site on your own prior to the tour, you discover intriguing new facets of each of the ancient buildings and gardens, all the while relishing spectacular views over the rest of the city.

Lunch at a local restaurant may include a refreshing starter of shrimp gazpacho paired with the region’s white wine. By mid-afternoon, you depart Granada for the two-hour transfer to the small village of La Joya and your home for two nights―a charming boutique hotel peacefully located on the outskirts of the village. From its rural hillside setting, there are splendid views over the Guadalhorce Valley and the Málaga countryside with the Mediterranean coast in the distance. There is time to unpack and settle in before gathering again for a welcome aperitif of jerez (sherry) or vino dulce de Málaga (sweet wine from Málaga) on the hotel’s outdoor terrace. An exquisite dinner of Mediterranean specialties follows in your hotel’s warm wood-beamed restaurant.

Hotel Fuente del Sol to Antequera; 8.5 miles, moderate, 1,200-ft elevation gain, 2,000-ft elevation loss. Torcal de Antequera; 1.5 miles, easy, 150-ft elevation gain and loss

Following a hearty buffet breakfast, you depart the hotel on foot for the historic town of Antequera, home to numerous churches, chapels, and Neolithic and Bronze Age dolmens (burial chambers built with huge slabs of rock), as well as a profusion of Roman, Islamic, and Spanish architectural gems. Your route passes isolated cortijos (traditional Andalucian farmhouses) as it skirts the Cerro del Águila (Eagle Hill). At the Cortijo del Robledillo (Oak Tree Farm), you continue along a cordel, a drover’s road used by shepherds travelling with their flocks of sheep and goats since time immemorial. A steady, yet gradual ascent ensues, leading to the pass at Escaruela. Rewarded with spectacular views over the distinctive limestone massif landscape of the Torcal, you begin a steep descent towards the foot of the pass. Reaching Antequera, your guides unpack a well-deserved picnic lunch―an assortment of local delicacies such as chorizo, Iberico ham, and pâté may be served alongside regional cheeses and fresh-baked bread.

After lunch, a short bus ride takes you into the heart of the Torcal de Antequera, a maze of surreal karstic rock outcrops dating to the Jurassic period. The area supports a variety of orchids, wild roses, mountain goats, and griffon vultures. After an easy walk around the Torcal (keep an eye out for fossils!), a 30-minute transfer returns you to your hotel to perhaps enjoy the swimming pool or spa facilities. Dinner, once again on site, may feature a traditional dish of grilled wild boar or roasted sea bass with vegetables freshly picked from the hotel’s garden.

Montecorto to Grazalema; 9 miles, moderate, 2,500-ft elevation gain, 850-ft elevation loss

Following breakfast and check-out, you depart on a two-hour transfer to the village of Montecorto, from where you set off on the day’s walk to the mountain village of Grazalema. Initially climbing steadily away from Montecorto, the trail descends, and then rises again to crest a ridge boasting spectacular views. You walk through undulating countryside of mixed farmland, hillside pastures, and open woodland, through the Guadalete valley, catching the occasional glimpse of Grazalema well before arrival. After another splendid al fresco lunch, you walk the remaining distance to your home for the next two nights in Grazalema, nestled on a hillside below the Gaidovar Mountains. Grazalema is one of the typical pueblos blancos (white towns) of Andalucia, characterized by their whitewashed walls and either red- or brown-tiled roofs. The town reached an economic height in the 17th century from a strong handweaving and, eventually, drapery industry, producing the famous shawls of Grazalema.

Your hotel, the Puerta de la Villa, is located in the heart of this whitewashed village and surrounded by the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

Grazalema to Benamahoma; 8.5 miles, moderate to challenging, 1,700-ft elevation gain, 3,600-ft elevation loss or Grazalema to Benaocaz; 6.5 miles, moderate, 800-ft elevation gain and loss

Two equally spectacular walks are available today depending on the time of year and recent weather. Following a short morning transfer to the trailhead in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, the first option leading to the village of Benamahoma begins with an hour’s steep and steady climb to a dramatic ridge at 4,000 feet in the Sierra de las Cumbres. Skirting the north face of the Sierra del Pinar (clad with the dark green Spanish fir, a rare relic from the last ice age surviving in significant numbers only in pockets of southwest Andalucia and Morocco), you pick a spot to spread out a picnic lunch including an assortment of cheeses, sausages, and dried meats from Grazalema. Reenergized, you set off on the long descent to Benamahoma―an enchanting village whose streets are lined with orange trees exuding the scent of their blossoms for much of the year.

The alternative route follows a trail from Grazalema to Benaocaz, a charming village situated in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this park is one of Spain’s most ecologically important areas and home to the griffon vulture, deer, roebuck, Egyptian mongoose, and even the imperial and royal eagles. The walk takes you through countryside with dramatic views and past the spectacular cleft known as the Salto del Cabrero (Goatherd’s Leap), 330 feet deep and 1640 feet long.

Following either option, a short ride returns you to Grazalema, where there is time to relax at your hotel, explore the town’s cobbled streets, or browse the many shops for local products such as pure wool blankets and rugs. This evening you walk to dinner at a lively restaurant in the village square.

Grazalema to Montejaque; 7 to 10.5 miles, easy to moderate, 500-ft elevation gain, 675-ft elevation loss. Transfer to Ronda

After breakfast, you set off on foot for a full-day’s walk to the village of Montejaque. Following an initial descent, the trail then rises to the Puerto de los Alamillos (Poplar Pass). Once through the pass, you find yourself walking briefly through picture-perfect farmland unchanged over the centuries, before dropping again to follow the gentle meanders of the Campobuche or Gaduares stream through open cork oak forest. En route, your guides lay out yet another delicious picnic lunch.

This afternoon, a 30-minute transfer brings you to the day’s final destination, Ronda―another of Andalucia’s pueblos blancos and its most dramatically situated. Meaning “surrounded by mountains,” Ronda is ringed by the Serrania de Ronda mountain range and perched on cliffs overlooking the spectacular 350-feet-deep Guadalevin River Gorge, known as El Tajo. Your parador hotel, housed in the former Town Hall, boasts a unique location at the edge of this gorge and next to Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo, or “new bridge,” a breathtaking setting that you will relish for the next two nights. There is time to settle in before strolling to dinner at a nearby restaurant for another Andalucian feast featuring magnificent views over the gorge.

Walking tour of Ronda; 3 hours, easy. Free afternoon in Ronda

Following the previous days’ invigorating full-day hikes in the open countryside, the next part of the tour offers a more relaxed pace, highlighting the region’s historical and cultural gems. This morning, a guided walking tour takes you across the arched Puente Nuevo, built in the 18th century, which connects the old Moorish quarters of the city, La Ciudad, with the newer section, El Mercadillo. Entering the central Casco Antiguo (old quarter), packed with churches, palaces, and the remains of mosques and other reminders of Spain’s glorious Moorish past, you proceed to the main square and the city’s original mosque, now the ornate parish church of Santa Maria La Mayor. Following a visit to the Palacio Mondragon, a 14th-century palace with internal courtyards, fountains, a cliff-top garden, and the city museum, you proceed past two of the old town’s bridges―the Puente Viejo (Old Bridge) of 1616 and the Moorish Puente de San Miguel―before reaching the 13th- and 14th-century Arab baths just outside the old city walls. Looping back across the Puente Nuevo, you conclude your tour at Ronda’s elegant Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest and most revered bullrings in Spain.

The afternoon, including lunch and dinner, is yours to design. A walk through the winding streets of this picturesque town reveals a plethora of galleries, shops, and museums. Alternatively, you may choose to relax poolside at your hotel, embracing Andalucia’s pleasant climate.

Seville city tour; 3-5 miles, easy

Following breakfast, you depart Ronda for the two-hour transfer to Seville. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville is one of the most important historical and cultural cities in Europe. Your exploration of this fascinating city begins with a stroll through the narrow streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz. This historic quarter with its beautiful houses, flowered balconies, richly decorated façades, and hidden patios is a treat to explore.

Next you visit the Alcazar (royal palace)—founded in the 10th century by Abd Al Rahman III and converted most notably by Peter the Cruel for use as his palace. The fortress displays varied architectural styles from Islamic to Neoclassical and features multiple delightful gardens, fountains, and pavilions.

Home to thousands of tapas bars, Seville is said to be the birthplace of these delectable small dishes and appetizers. Sitting down to lunch in the early afternoon, you sample an array of this iconic food, ranging from pescado (fish) or mariscos (shellfish) to chacina (cured meats such as jamón, caña de lomo, and chorizo) and a number of specialties.

Your sojourn in Andalucia culminates with a final evening in this seductive city where the legendary Don Juan began conquering hearts of women across Europe. A final celebratory meal―perhaps a colorful Spanish seafood paella―is served at a lively restaurant. Afterward, you are welcomed to the inner patios (courtyard) of an old Seville home for an intimate flamenco performance. You retire to your elegant accommodations in a converted 18th-century palace in the heart of old Seville.

Farewell

The tour concludes after breakfast. You are free to depart at your leisure for your next destination, or continue your exploration of this fascinating city.