Granada to Sevilla

Southern Spain holds two impossibly romantic cities: Granada, with its extraordinary Alhambra Palace, and vibrant Sevilla, home of flamenco. In between these cultural icons, we hike through glorious landscapes to tranquil pueblos blancos, the dazzling whitewashed villages of Andalucia, with their Iberian, Roman, and Moorish heritage. We begin in Las Alpujarras, below Spain’s dramatic Sierra Nevada, hiking back in time amid tiny hamlets festooned with roses. Our westward arc brings us into the Sierra de Grazalema, where atmospheric villages include Grazalema, with its balconies overflowing with flowers, and Ronda, one of the most spectacular towns in the world, its architecture a striking reminder of the multilayered history of southern Spain.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Granada / Las Alpujarras / Bubion

In Granada, we walk amid the massive walls, arched gateways, and ornamental fountains of the Alhambra, the sprawling palace-citadel of the Nasrid kings, wonderfully atmospheric with its romantic courtyards and expansive views over Granada. Heading to lovely Bubion, a village high up in the wooded valleys of Las Alpujarras, we hike ancient footpaths between flat-roofed Moorish-style villages reminiscent of their counterparts across the Strait of Gibraltar. Water works its magic everywhere here—the sound of the fountains, streams, and waterfalls graces the atmosphere.

Days 3-4
Ronda

After a hike in the Taha de Pitres, seven Moorish villages connected by footpaths used since Roman times, we head to Ronda, one of the most dramatic town sites imaginable, perched atop a towering plateau. We visit its Moorish palace and 18th century plaza de toros, Spain’s first bullring, then hike to a stunning viewpoint of Ronda’s arched stone bridge spanning a dramatic gorge. Our accommodation, the Parador de Ronda, has a breathtaking location overlooking the gorge.

Days 5-6
Sierra de Grazalema

Sierra de Grazalema National Park, a spectacular nature reserve of majestic cork oak and ancient fir trees, shelters some of Spain’s rarest flora and fauna as well as about a dozen of Spain’s spectacular traditional villages. From the tranquil “white village” of Benaojan, isolated among stony pastures and high peaks, we hike through the canyon of the R?o Guadiaro to the hamlet of Jimera de Libar. Overnights are in Grazalema, one of the most striking of Spain’s pueblos blancos, with its red-tile roofs, whitewashed walls, and old town square.

Days 7-8
Sevilla

The elegant Andalucian capital is a riverside city of artists and poets, jasmine-scented gardens, and Moorish monuments. We explore its lovely small plazas and narrow streets and enjoy a festive flamenco performance in the labyrinthine Barrio de Santa Cruz. There’s no better place in the world to experience flamenco! Depart on Day 8.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 3+. We hike from 2 to 5 hours each day over rolling hills, with some steep sections. Distances are not long , but you should be in good shape and wear good hiking boots. Hiking poles are recomended. You need to carry only a daypack for your camera, water bottle, rain jacket, etc. A vehicle transfers our luggage between overnight accommodations. On some days, we enjoy picnic lunches prepared by the Trip Leaders with local produce, wine, breads, vegetables, and cheeses. On “town” days, we have lunch at local cafes. Accommodations are in charming small inns, with two nights in a spectacular and historic parador in Ronda. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 9:00 PM.

Explanation of Trip Levels