PORTUGAL & SPAIN
DOURO VALLEY, ALGARVE AND ANDALUSIA

A dreamy sense of a life, long since disappeared elsewhere in Europe, envelops one in Portugal. Famous port wines add to the sweet taste of Portugal and we explore the scenic northern region on hikes through vineyards perched above the beautiful Douro River.

Situated on the north banks of the River Tagus, the charm of Lisbon exists in its strong links to the past. It has many renovated palaces, magnificent churches and an impressive castle. Its eclectic blend of neighbourhoods, culture and architecture distinguish Lisbon uniquely from other European capitals. The Algarve conjures up images of golden sand lapped by azure waves. We discover hidden landscapes and a fascinating history. During our coastal walk we explore deserted beaches, fossilised cliffs, blowholes and the majestic Cabo de Sao Vicente, the south western most point in Europe.

Andalusia is one of the most diverse regions in southern Spain. It has a mild climate with wonderful unspoilt beaches and hidden coves. The land of flamenco songs and dances, dazzling whitewashed villages set against an intense blue sky. Olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see. The tiny villages are linked by old pathways and still used today.

The beautiful local architecture and narrow winding streets remind us of a long Moorish heritage. Even 500 years after the departure of the Moors, we can still admire their advanced civil engineering skills when we walk along their elaborate system of aqueducts. This tour offers a wonderful insight to this charming part of Spain. It takes you to beautiful mountain country, gorgeous green river valleys with abundant and varied wildlife and a huge range of Andalusian flora.

We continue to magical Seville, one of the jewels in the crown of Europe. The elegant Andalusian capital is Spain's passionate city of flamenco and bullfighting, of artists and poets, of jasmine-scented gardens and Moorish monuments.

Ronda is one of Andalusia’s loveliest towns, towering over a plateau and famous for its plunging river gorge. It is a spectacular base for walks to some of Spain’s most beautiful pueblos blancos (whitewashed villages). We walk "fragrant" trails and follow an old smuggler's path in the Sierra de Grazalema Mountains.

In Granada we visit the legendary and incomparable Alhambra Palace, one of Europe’s most romantic monuments.

The spectacular Sierra Nevada is home to the highest peaks in Spain and UNESCO has declared it a Biosphere Reserve. The typical whitewashed ancient villages, known as Las Alpujarras, are famous for their characteristic flat rooftops. Our walking track takes us through these intriguing, old-fashioned villages and constantly changing scenery. The views are truly unbelievable - from the often snow-capped mountains to the glistening Mediterranean!

From Orgiva we take you to San José on the Almerian coast. It has a distinctly Moorish flavour and is known for the greatest number of hours of sunshine in Spain. In the Cabo de Gata Nature Reserve we experience a combination of a dry, desert climate with cliffs plunging towards the azure and turquoise Mediterranean waters.

Our last day takes us to Valencia, where our journey ends.

Our Hotels & Cuisine

The exquisite Vintage House Hotel belongs to the Relais and Chateaux group and is situated in the Porto Region. It is surrounded by vineyards and all rooms overlook the Douro River and the steeply terraced vineyards beyond. A very memorable hotel!

Our Pousada in Lisbon is located in a building that was formerly used by the Royal Guard of the Court in the Palace of Queluz, which is also known as the "Portuguese Versailles". The hotel's attractive interior design and the restoration of its little private "theatre", can only be matched by the exquisite cuisine of the Cozinha Velha Restaurant where we will dine!!

In the Algarve we stay in a Pousada with 5 star views of the ocean and towering cliffs of Sao Vicente.Our hotel in Seville is located in a quiet position in the famous neighbourhood of "Triana", next to the Guadalquivir River and the ancient part of the city.

The fabulous Parador in Ronda provides a panoramic view of the “Tajo”, a gorge of more than 100 metres. Partridges, Andalusian soups and rabbit are some of the specialties of its restaurant.

The enchantment of spending a night in the Alhambra gardens is the exclusive opportunity in the Convento de San Francisco. Built by Fernando and Isobel in the late 15th century on the site of a Moorish palace, it is now a Parador and listed under one of the best 500 hotels in the world. The views of the Generalife, gardens of Secano and the Albaicin are a real luxury. This splendour is preserved in the restaurant fare.

Our charming hotel in the Sierra Nevada is on a large property amidst orange and olive plantations. From the garden, with its very large pool, we have marvellous views of the majestic mountains. Our candlelit dinners highlight the interesting and flavoursome Alpajurrian cuisine.

Our charming hotel in San José is next to the Mediterranean, bordering the Cabo da Gata National Park. The setting and friendly atmosphere make this the perfect place for our last two nights in San Jose. The Spanish love of seafood is legendary. Our restaurant is well known for its delicious rice, seafood and fish concoctions.

Tour combination

Departure dates have been arranged to allow "A Journey Back in Time" and "Pagnol’s Provence" walks to be combined.