Spend nine nights under the spell of the ancient Moors in this timeless countryside of wildflowers, olive trees and ancient whitewashed villages. Seductive Flamenco, flowered patios, twisting 'old town' alleyways and magnificent cathedrals and palaces highlight our stays along the way. We'll visit the timeless monuments to the Moors magnificent culture including the breathtaking medieval mosque in Córdoba and the ethereal Alhambra Palace in Granada.

Additional Highlights:
*Feel the vibrancy and see color of a genuine peña Flamenco.
*Visit one of the worlds most famous olive oil mills – every bottle is numbered!
*Visit the breathtakingly exquisite Alhambra palace - home of Spain’s last Moorish caliphate.

Our accommodations include comfortable 4-star hotels, a monastery, a palace and a charming family run hotel in a tiny whitewashed Andalusian village. Note: The tour in April takes in Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrated like no where else in the world. A dramatic combination of the sacred and profane - Andalucía at its most colorful. May is the traditional Fiesta month in Andalucía so that tour takes in the Fiesta dos Patios in Córdoba where all of the houses in Córdoba's old center vie for the most beautiful patio!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Sevilla to Carmona

Midmorning 25 mile coach transfer from the pick-up hotel in Sevilla to the lovely walled town of Carmona. Stronghold of the Moors and later the favored town of Pedro the Cruel. On the way, we'll visit the famous Roman Necropolis just outside of the town walls before heading on to our hotel -- a charming 16th century palace! The afternoon is free to enjoy an al fresco lunch of tapas in the town square before exploring the cool maze of Arab-like streets and/or having a dip in the hotel's charming pool. Later in the afternoon we'll fit the bikes. In the evening we'll get acquainted over a glass of champagne and a festive welcome dinner.

Day 2 - Carmona to Palma del Río

Beautiful, typically Andalusian countryside unfolds as we ride quiet country roads graced with olive trees, fields of wheat, sunlight and wildflowers. Afternoon finds us in the little town of Palma del Río and our lodgings for the night -- the charming converted 14th century monastery of San Francisco famous for its cuisine. Fray Junípero Serra stayed here in the 14th century before he left to found his missions in California. Dinner together. (51km/31.5miles)

Day 3 - Palma del Río to Córdoba

Today we'll have a fairly long but mostly flat ride following the Guadalquivír River, lifeblood of the Andalusian plains, to the magnificent town of Córdoba. Along the way, we'll stop to visit the stunning castle in Almódovar del Río rising up from the fields of grain and wildflowers. On into Córdoba, we head for the old Juderia (Jewish Quarter) where we'll spend 2 nights next to the historic 8th century Mosque -- the only medieval mosque in existence. At one time, under the Moors, this lovely town was the world's center of culture and learning. Now it is famous not only for its Moorish memories, but also for its lively fiestas, flower-bedecked patios, famous restaurants and sophisticated shops. We'll give you a list of our favorite restaurants. You can try one on your own or discover a new one -- and then afterwards, perhaps some Flamenco? (70km/43.5miles)

Day 4 - Córdoba

Today we walk instead of roll for a guided tour of the Mosque. The day is then free to explore all of the other sights, soak up the ambiance or do a little shopping. This evening we enjoy a tapa feast at Córdoba's most famous tapa bar and restaurant!

Day 5 - Córdoba to Baena

After a morning transfer to the little town of Espejo, we ride on quiet country roads surrounded by vast vineyards of the Montilla-Moriles wine (a sherry-like wine famous throughout Spain and hardly known anywhere else) and a neverending sea of olive groves. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the renowned Nunez de Prada Oil Mill in the town of Beana, where olive oil is still made in the old traditional way. Our night's destination, La Casa Grande, is just across the pretty park from the oil mill. This small hotel was once an elegant private mansion and only recently has been converted into a charming hotel. Free evening.

Day 6 - Baena to Priego

This morning we hop on our bikes and cycle south into the National Park of the Sierra Subbética -a remote unspoiled region of the southern Córdoba Province. For half of the day's ride, we will take advantage of Spain's 'Rails for Trails' system, which converts old train tracks into bike trails. We'll be staying outside of town, in the countryside, in a lovely hotel complex, VILLA TURISTICA DE PRIEGO, built to resemble a small Andalusian village. The complex is situated in the hills around Priego and has magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Amenities include a wonderful refreshing pool! Group dinner at our hotel. (55.5k / 34.4m)

Day 7 - Priego to Montefrio

Today we head south for the pueblo blanco (white village) of Montefrio through the very wild and sparsely inhabited area of the northern Granada Province. Many of our participants consider this the most beautiful ride of the tour. There'll be almost no traffic and the scenery is glorious, however, it may also be the toughest ride of the tour, so don't hesitate to catch a ride with the van if you begin to feel your energies flagging. It will wait along the way at various spots for the group to catch up. The countryside, still part of the Sierras Subbéticas, will have all of the characteristics of yesterday's ride for a while, until it gradually gives way to olive groves - lots of them. We'll be staying at the HOTEL LA ENREA in sparkling little Montefrio. A spectacularly situated town, it sits between 2 rocky outcrops each topped with a church. This area is ancient and has been in continual use since the stone-age, as attested to by the many tombs and caves with paintings and carvings found in the vicinity. Group dinner. (54.9k /34.3m)

Day 8 - Montefrio to Granada

A glorious much flatter ride today takes us through fields of asparagus dotted with wildflowers and butterflies. We ride through numerous sleepy little Andalucian villages with grand views of the Sierra Nevada that beckon us on to romantic Granada. In Granada we check into our charming downtown hotel located near the Cathedral and within easy walking to the Alhambra. (51km/31miles or 65km/40miles)

Day 9 - Granada

We have all day today to explore this legendary city and the last bastion of the Moors beginning with a tour of the breathtaking Alhambra - the fortress palace of the last Moorish caliph, Boabadil. The rest of the day you have plenty of time to visit Granada's other important sights, shop or to just spend time at an outdoor café in one of the many pretty squares people-watching. Evening finds us toasting to our adventures with good wine and Andalucian cuisine at one of Granada's most famous restaurants and the former haunt of such great literary figures as Federico García Lorca.

Day 10 - Final Day

Breakfast and a.m. transfer to the airport for those needing it. Or why not consider staying a few more days in this delightful city?

Included: all breakfasts, a tapa Feast & 6 dinners & w/ wine + more
Accommodation: Restored monastery & palaces, whitewashed village, 4&5star hotels
Daily Mileage: 50 km / 31 miles daily average
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate
Tour Interests: Tapas culture, Flamenco, Olive oil, Moorish history