Compare Exploring the Hidden White Villages of Spain’s Andalusia by Road Scholar vs Country Roads of Andalucia - Small Group, 2022 Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive Carmona, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Carmona D Alcázar de la Reina
Activity note: Hotel check-in available by 12:00 Noon. Walking approx. 1 mile; about 1/2 hour; cobblestones and hilly roads.

Morning: Upon arrival, check-into your room and enjoy a little time to rest before orientation

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like

Afternoon: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Extensive walking, often up to 3 miles per day, approx. 1-3 hours at a steady pace. During many of our visits we will encounter winding or hilly roads, as well as cobblestone streets and sidewalks. Comfortable and sturdy footwear is highly recommended. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll then set out with our Group Leader for a walking exploration of the area around the hotel, which is located in the heart of Carmona. We’ll follow the Roman walled enclosure of the city on our stroll enjoying informative commentary provided along the way.

Dinner: At the Parador de Carmona restaurant, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner with delicious plated meals. Wine and water are included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 3
Andalusia Geography, Carmona Intro, Bullfighting Lecture
Carmona B,L Alcázar de la Reina
Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles; about 3 hours; steady pace, with stops; some inclines, cobblestones, and steps. Sturdy comfortable footwear is highly recommended.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold items including an egg dish, breakfast breads and meats, cereals, fresh fruit, milk juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll set out on foot for an expert-led field trip of Carmona where we will visit the Gothic Santa María la Mayor church, which boasts a liturgical calendar from the Visigothic age engraved in a column in its Patio de las Naranjos. Afterwards, we’ll then have some time to explore Carmona independently before lunch.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverage included; wine, beer, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll settle in for a lecture with a local expert at the hotel to learn about bullfighting. A national cultural tradition in Spain, bullfighting is and has long been steeped in enthusiastic debate. Historians offer contesting timelines speculating where and when this tradition, widely regarded as an art form, originated. Some suspect it may have carried over from gladiator traditions of Ancient Rome, while others contest that it grew from a culmination of cultures and influences throughout the ages. Much modern debate between enthusiasts and activists stems from the ethical dilemma the spectacle poses because, traditionally, the bulls – bred specifically to be more aggressive – are killed at the end of the fight. After a short break an expert will join us to give a group lecture on the geography and history of Andalusia.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions for tapas bars in Carmona where you can eat like a local.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 4
Cordoba Mosque, Jewish Quarter, Grazalema
Grazalema B,L,D Hotel Puerta de la Villa
Activity note: Driving about 70 miles to Cordoba and 117 miles from Cordoba to Grazalema. Walking up to 3-4 miles throughout the day; steady pace, with stops; some inclines, cobblestones, and steps. Sturdy comfortable footwear is highly recommended.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Once checked out of the hotel, we’ll begin our transfer to Grazalema, but not before stopping in Córdoba, the crossroads of civilizations, and mainstay of Islamic and Jewish heritage in Spain. While here, we’ll enjoy expert-led explorations of the Great Mosque and Cathedral, and pass by one of the last-standing ancient synagogues in Spain. We’ll stroll through the geranium-filled Juderia, once Cordoba's Jewish Quarter, and site of a monument to the famous philosopher Maimonides.

Lunch: At a typical restaurant in Cordoba, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverage included; wine, beer, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll then take our bus to our first stop in the White Villages of Andalusia: Grazalema. Known for their uniformly whitewashed constructions, the White Villages still seem part of medieval Spain and appear to be inserted like bird nests into the mountains, sitting on dramatic gorges, often crowned by castles. Upon arrival at the hotel, we’ll check in and then go on an orientation walk around the village with our Group Leader to visit a typical butcher’s shop and see how they make cold meats.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverage included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
The Ronda of Hemingway & Welles in El Tajo Canyon,Community
Grazalema B,L,D Hotel Puerta de la Villa
Activity note: Driving approx. 20 miles (33 km) one way to Ronda; less than 1 hour. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day; steady pace, with stops; some inclines, cobblestones, and steps. Sturdy comfortable footwear is highly recommended.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the buffet features a variety of choices including breakfast breads and pastries, cereal, butter, jam, coffee, tea, juice, water.

Morning: We’ll start out the day by transferring via private bus to Ronda where we will experience this magnificent city nestled into the Malaga side of the Sierras under the guidance of a local expert. While here, we’ll stop for visits at the oldest bullring in Spain and the three main bridges that cross the gorge. Through commentary provided as we go, we will also learn about Ronda's unique role played during Spain's Civil War.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Ronda, we’ll have plated meals with two included beverage choices: wine, beer, soft drinks, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After returning to Grazalema, we’ll join a local expert for a lecture at the hotel on the people of the Sierra, during which we will examine rural architecture, economic systems, and the sociological character of the mountain people who subsist by cultivating the land, shepherding, and even smuggling in times of economic difficulty. Then we’ll meet with locals at a nearby restaurant to learn first-hand what life is like in the village through group conversation.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a fun tapas outing with our new friends with two beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Grazalema Natural Park, Olive Mill, Cheese Making
Grazalema B,D Hotel Puerta de la Villa
Activity note: Driving approx. 41 miles total throughout the day, short increments with stops for field trips. Walking up to 3 miles; steady pace in the hilly countryside; hiking shoes or sports sneakers are strongly encouraged.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll start out the morning with a light morning hike in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (2,500 feet altitude) which was declared a biosphere reserve in 1977. Along our expert-led hike, we will keep an eye out for colonies of endangered vultures and explore limestone caves. After returning to the hotel, the remainder of the morning will be at leisure.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. On-site staff will be happy to make suggestions.

Afternoon: On our way to the Olive Mill we will stop for a hands-on cheese making workshop led by the cheese factory owner. Afterwards, we will visit an 18th century functioning olive mill where the hacienda owner, an expert, will lead a lecture about the production of Spain's golden liquid during a lecture and oil tasting session.

Dinner: At the Olive Mill Hacienda, we’ll have delicious plated meals including wine made right at the hacienda, and water. Other included beverages available upon request.

Evening: After returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 7
Sherry Winery, Equestrian Show, Vejer de la Frontera
Vejer de la Frontera B,L,D La Casa del Califa
Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; steady pace, with stops; some inclines, cobblestones, and steps. Driving approx. 97 miles total; about 2.5 hours with stops.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel in Grazalema, we’ll transfer by private bus to Vejer de la Frontera. En route, we’ll stop at Jerez de la Frontera - the home of sherry. Before the winery visit, we will enjoy an Equestrian show at The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art where you may see the unique show "How the Andalusian Horses Dance", an equestrian ballet accompanied by quintessential Spanish music and 18th century style costumes, all put together and choreographed using movements based upon Classical Dressage, Doma Vaquera (country-style riding) and traditional equestrian chores. Each show consists of between six and eight different choreographies

Lunch: At a restaurant, we’ll enjoy plated meals with a choice of one beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After lunch we will visit a bodega, or winery, where we’ll be given the opportunity to taste the different types of sherry and learn from the bodega staff about these unique wines. We’ll then complete our transfer to Vejer de la Frontera and, upon arrival, we’ll check into the hotel, which was once a convent. We’ll get oriented to the area on a stroll through the village, which towers over the surrounding countryside at 600 feet above sea level while only a couple of miles from the coast. The city is dominated by its Moorish castle and Gothic church. Clean, narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes are the characteristic trait of the Andalusian towns. Vejer is steeped in history; the famous battle of Trafalgar took place just off the coast near the town in 1805.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one included beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Baelo Claudia Roman Ruins, Free Time
Vejer de la Frontera B,L La Casa del Califa
Activity note: Driving approx. 57 miles total; about 1:30 hours total. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; steady pace; some hills, cobblestones, city sidewalks.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet meal with coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll set out for a day trip to the coast for an expert-led field trip at the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia in Bolonia. Near Tarifa, it was abandoned in the 6th century and today reflects the preservation of some of the most representative elements of a typical Roman city.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a delicious set menu featuring typical coastal fare, plus a choice of one included beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After returning to Vejer, we’ll have some time for independent exploration or relaxation.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 9
Bull Ranch, Seville’s Gothic Cathedral, Cooking Class
Seville B,L,D Hotel Inglaterra
Activity note: Driving approx. 100 miles throughout the day; about 2 hours. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day; steady pace; some hills, cobblestones, city sidewalks.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet

Morning: After check-out, we’ll make our way to Seville but not before making a stop to visit a functioning bull ranch where we will learn from an employee of the ranch about raising toros. Upon arrival, we’ll walk along a trail through the beautiful pastures while noting the flora and fauna and passing by some of the bull and cow enclosures. After a short walk, we’ll reach a viewing platform. From here we will become more familiar with a day in the life of these magnificent animals in one of the best theaters imaginable, the open Andalusian countryside.In addition to seeing fighting bulls and herds of cows with their studs and calves, we will also get to see working oxen, mares and their foals.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Seville, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverages included.

Afternoon: Setting out on foot with a local historian, we will take a field trip to Santa María de la Sede Cathedral, the third largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The Catedral of Seville stands where there was once a great mosque that was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1401. After Seville was recaptured from the Moors in the Reconquista, and the victorious Christians decided to replace the mosque with a cathedral so grand, they said, “those who see it built will think we were mad.” The gigantic altarpiece was the lifelong work of a single man. It is, in fact, the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe, made possible by riches coming in to Spain from the New World. Completed in just 104 years, embellishments and further enhancements continued into the 20th century. Afterwards, we will walk to have a hands-on cooking class led by a local chef. We will learn about and cook the most popular traditional Spanish dish: Paella

Dinner: At the cooking class. Water and sangria are included

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Alcazar, Jewish Quarter, Meeting Locals, Flamenco Show
Seville B,D Hotel Inglaterra
Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day; steady pace; some hills, cobblestones, city sidewalks.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet breakfast with coffee, tea, water.

Morning: With an official expert from this royal palace, we will explore the Alcázar and its amazing heritage of Muslim and Christian architecture. Continuing, we’ll also visit the Jewish Quarter with our expert.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. On-site staff will be happy to make suggestions.

Afternoon: Meet with local families, learn all about the realities of family life in Spain, as you enjoy lunch and an afternoon in their homes. Afterwards we will walk to the local “tablao” and see flamenco come alive at an intimate show.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. We’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverage included; wine, beer, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Day 11
Program Concludes
In Flight B
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Welcome to Andalucia

Transfers to your hotel depart from Málaga airport at 11:30, 13:00 and 15:00. Malaga is the cultural gateway to Andalucia with its sleek port and the street-art-cloaked streets of its edgy Soho district. At 17:30, join your Travel Director for an orientation of Málaga. See the Alcazaba, a hallmark of the city’s Moorish past. This citadel dates back to the 11th century, and the Roman Theatre sits by the entrance. Your Welcome Dinner is served at a local restaurant, with the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers over a pleasant evening with wine.

Day 2: The Soul of Andalucia Relaxed Start

Journey through Málaga province. Relax as you travel the scenic route along the Costa del Sol through high end resorts where the rich and famous holiday. Your journey continues through the green hills to the white-washed village of Mijas. Stroll through the old streets and gardens and take in the views of the coast. Stop in LA Organic, a sustainable and gastronomic olive farm offering a unique experience. Enjoy tasting the refined and delicate flavours of this award-winning olive oil, before an alfresco terrace lunch, overlooking the picturesque seascape. Feast on the freshest farm-to-table flavours as you tuck into local produce, harvested that day from the hillside gardens. Arrive in Ronda, often referred to as 'the soul of Andalucia'. Once an important cultural centre filled with mosques and palaces, it has inspired many poets and writers, including Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. Walk just a few steps from your perfectly located hotel through Puente Nuevo, the New Bridge, which spans a gorge over 300 feet deep, and see Alameda del Tajo park.

Day 3: Through National Parks to Jerez

Cross the Grazalema National Park, an area of natural beauty scattered with mountains and oak forests. Stop in clifftop Arcos de la Frontera, Andalucia’s hidden gem. The mystery that resides within the high city walls and huge churches scattered around the city often intrigues the visitor. Spend time wandering through the serene alleyways and alongside elegant palaces, and appreciate the sheer cliff-plunging views from the parador. Continue on to Jerez-de-la-Frontera, your home for the next three nights. Learn more about Jerez in an orientation and see this city that is a bit of an underdog compared to its more famous neighbours. See the impressive 12th century Moorish Alcázar, the stately Plaza del Arenal and the romantic Plaza de la Yebra.

Day 4: Sherry in Jerez Relaxed Start

Celebrate Jerez, a city famous for its Sherry. Explore the Sherry making heritage of Jerez, the city’s most famous and sought-after export, on a tasting tour in the Old Town. The rest of the day is free to further explore. Perhaps visit the gypsy-flamenco neighbourhood of Santiago, a labyrinth of beautifully scruffy townhouses and attractive squares?

Day 5: Exploring Cádiz Relaxed Start

Today is dedicated to exploring the province of Cádiz. Stop in quiet Medina Sidonia, often overlooked by visitors. It was once the seat of the Duques de Medina Sidonia, one of Spain's most powerful families. Make sure to try Alfajores, the area’s famous honey and almond cakes made in the Arab tradition. Continue to seaside Cádiz. Founded as Gadir by the Phoenicians circa 1100 BC, it is generally considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. See the cathedral, Teatro Romano and the monumental Puerta de Tierra. Watch the Atlantic waves crash against eroded sea walls, as you walk along Paseo Maritimo.  During free time, find out what makes Cádiz a leading gastronomic capital and be sure to try fresh fried fish and seafood. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Day 6: Seville, The City of Carmen

A short drive north takes you to Seville. Explore Seville with Insight Choice. Choose to visit Seville's Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, with a Local Expert. Alternatively, join a scenic drive around the city and a short walk through the narrow lanes of the Santa Cruz Quarter to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Visit the Cristina Heeren Foundation, a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant, for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This private dance school is dedicated to promoting the conservation of flamenco and supports young enthusiasts from all over the world with a special focus on new talent from the Andalusian region. Feel the passion behind the choreography as you put your rhythm to the test during a dance lesson before witnessing emotions come to life in a flamenco performance. Head to the nearby market for an enthralling tapas tour for dinner.

Day 7: Doñana National Park

Doñana National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to a unique ecosystem that is considered one of most important natural protected areas in Europe. A key crossroads for migratory bird routes between Africa and Europe, it is also the last refuge for many endangered species, such as the Spanish imperial eagle. A vast spectacle awaits, as sand dunes meet marshes, lagoons, pine and oak forests. Embark on a fascinating bird-watching tour with a naturalist guide for a chance to see rare species and unique landscapes. Return to Seville, where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 8: The Costa Del Sol Relaxed Start

Bid farewell to Seville. Continue along sunny Costa del Sol to your resort hotel for a final day to enjoy the beautiful views across the Mediterranean. Spend the day relaxing at the beach or by the hotel pool. This evening, celebrate the end of your Andalucian adventures and newfound friends, at a Celebration Dinner served in a local restaurant. Buen provecho!

Day 9: Farewell Málaga

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Malaga airport at 07:00 and 10:00.