Trip Details
Andalucía is a land of soaring peaks and massive cathedrals, flamenco and guitar, ancient mountain villages and cities that have seen three major empires reach their height. The region is steeped in the legacy of the Moors, from dazzling architecture like the Alhambra and Córdoba’s grand mosque to the casbah-like hamlets that dot the southern Sierra Nevadas. Settle into Las Alpujarras and head out on day hikes into deep valleys blanketed with orchards of olives, citrus, and almonds and dotted with sparkling whitewashed villages. Then explore Spain’s largest national park from our base at Cazorla, trekking along gushing rivers and into thick forests and dramatic gorges. Along the way, stay in beautiful paradors and immerse yourself in Andalucía’s most magnificent cities: Seville, Granada, and Córdoba.Trip Highlights
Itinerary - 10 Days
Day 1 — Seville, Spain
Arrive in Seville and meet up at the hotel in the late afternoon for an orientation with our trip leader followed by a welcome dinner.
Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza (D)
Day 2 — Seville
Spend a full day exploring Andalucía’s pulsating capital city on foot. Step into the extraordinary cathedral—the largest Gothic building in the world—and climb the soaring Giralda bell tower to take in stunning views. Explore the palace of Alcázar, wander through the narrow lanes of Barrio Santa Cruz, the medieval Jewish quarter, and stop in at the Museo de Bellas Artes. Later, catch a glimpse of Andalucía’s famous dance, the flamenco.
Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza (B,L,D)
Day 3 — Granada
Travel to Granada, a beautiful Moorish city set against a backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. Delve into the meandering alleyways of the Albayzín neighborhood, where traces of the Moors’ long presence can be found. Then walk up to the 13th-century Alhambra fortress palace, the crowning achievement of Moorish architecture in Spain, and explore its lacy arcades, courtyards, and gardens.
Parador Granada (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Las Alpujarras
Drive south into the picturesque region of Las Alpujarras at the southern foot of the Sierra Nevadas. Here, meltwater from snowcovered peaks has carved deep valleys and dramatic gorges more verdant than the arid plains below. After checking into our hotel, hike up into valleys dotted with whitewashed villages built in tight, cubic clusters—the last stronghold of the Moors. (7-8 miles hiking, 5-6 hours)
Hotel de Mecina Fondales (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Las Alpujarras /Mulhacén
With more than one fifth of its peaks surpassing 10,000 feet, the Sierra Nevada is Europe’s second tallest massif after the Alps. Today you may choose to go on a moderate hike to the Poqueira mountain refuge, or climb to the summit of Mulhacén (11,420’), the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula. The hike is a continuous ascent, but well worth the effort for the sweeping views of the surrounding peaks, Granada, the Mediterranean, and on a clear day, the coast of Africa in the distance. Our route to the summit will depend on weather and road conditions. (Poqueira hike: 10 miles hiking, 6-8 hours; Mulhacén hike: 13-16 miles, 7-10 hours)
Hotel de Mecina Fondales (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Poqueira Gorge/Trevélez
Today’s hike will take us up the rushing Poqueira River into the beautiful Poqueira Gorge. Here, the slopes are stacked with age-old agricultural terraces still watered by acequias, irrigation channels that date back to the Moorish period. In the evening, we head to Trevélez, the highest village in Spain, known for its jamón Serrano. Pay a visit to a secadero, or meat-curing house, and then enjoy dinner in one of the village’s cozy restaurants. (10 miles hiking, 6-7 hours)
Hotel de Mecina Fondales (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Cazorla
After breakfast, drive north into the region of Jaén to the Parque Natural Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas. The park is the largest protected area in Spain and was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1983. Spend the afternoon exploring the less-visited eastern part of the park where abundant wildlife including ibex, fallow and red deer, wild boar, and mouflon (wild sheep) thrive amid thick pine forests. The birdlife here is also rich—hawks, eagles, and vultures are often seen soaring over the 6,000-foot high peaks. (10 miles hiking, 4-5 hours)
Parador Cazorla (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Río Borosa Valley
Follow the Río Borosa, also known as the Aguas Negras, upstream to its source, passing pristine valleys, jagged limestone pinnacles, and marvelous karst formations along the way. Hike through a narrow gorge and skirt two deep-blue mountain lakes before reaching the Nacimiento de Aguas Negras, where the river wells up from under a rock. (14 miles hiking, 6-7 hours)
Parador Cazorla (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Córdoba
Journey west towards Córdoba, once the largest city in Roman Spain and for three centuries the capital of the Western Islamic Empire. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site on foot, visiting historic buildings, churches, and monuments. The highlight of our walk is La Mezquita, an eighth-century mosque so vast that an entire Christian cathedral is nestled within it. Venture into its dazzling maze of striped archways and examine the Byzantine mosaics added in the 10th century. This evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner.
Hotel Amistad (B,L,D)
Day 10 — Seville/U.S.
After breakfast, drive two hours to Seville and connect with your return flight home.
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National Geographic Adventures are unique, active itineraries for intrepid travelers that combine spectacular places, cultural interaction, and physical challenge. You'll explore fascinating, off-the-beaten-path places with top guides, and wherever possible, meet National Geographic experts in the field.
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GROUP SIZE: 10–16
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Activity Level
We will be hiking 4 to 8 hours per day (7 to 16 miles), on good trails and cobblestone. Most days will have options for more, or less, hiking. We will stay 3 nights in paradors (hotels located in historic buildings such as castles or monasteries) and 6 nights in lovely boutique hotels that reflect the local architecture.
Click here for a description of all activity levels.
