Andalucian Explorer

We meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris, continuing to Biarritz for the night.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

Beginning the final leg of our outward journey, we travel by rail to Madrid - home for the next two nights.

• Breakfast

Today includes a sightseeing tour by coach and on foot, during which we admire the many architectural styles and attractive green spaces of Madrid. Along the way we see the magnificent Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, built in 1764 to replace Alcázar castle which had been destroyed by a fire thirty years earlier. This opulent palace is still used for official state functions and is filled with impressive paintings, sculptures and antiques. After a morning of sightseeing, we sit down to an authentic tapas lunch in Plaza Mayor, the city's 17th-century public square, enjoying dish after little dish of local delicacies such as patatas bravas, fresh seafood and jamón ibérico. The rest of your afternoon is free. Among the top attractions in Madrid are its three leading museums, the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We travel by train into Andalucía, arriving in the fascinating city of Seville for a two-night stay. This afternoon we enjoy a tour, seeing the historic Santa Cruz area and the Gothic cathedral. The largest of its kind in Europe, it was built on the site of a mosque and is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Lavishly decorated in gold, the cathedral's bell tower, La Giralda, was the minaret of the original mosque and dominates Seville's skyline. We'll also visit the Plaza de España to admire the beautiful buildings, ornate fountains and tiled alcoves created for the 1929 'Fair of the Americas'.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Make the most of a free day to continuing sightseeing. The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla, the Royal Palace in the centre of town, was originally constructed as a Moorish fort and built in a marked Islamic style. Today it is a superb complex of patios and halls that combines several different architectural styles, from Mudéjar to Gothic. At its very centre is the Palace of King Pedro I, who constructed his royal residence on the site of a Moorish palace. The palace gardens are a lovely sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Seville's city centre, and are well laid out with fountains and pools interspersed with formal lawns and flowerbeds. Known as the birthplace of tapas, Seville is the perfect place to sample some more Spanish cuisine.

• Breakfast

We take the train to Granada, where we stay for two nights. An enchanting city scattered over seven small hills, Granada is dominated by the Alhambra, one of the most recognisable palaces in the world. We begin our explorations with a sightseeing tour, visiting the Albayzin area, which retains the narrow winding streets of its medieval past, before a truly Spanish experience. This evening, we dine at a nearby restaurant, enjoying views of the illuminated Alhambra before making our way into the surrounding mountainous landscapes to the Caves of Sacromonte for an atmospheric Zambra flamenco show.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We visit the UNESCO-listed Alhambra itself today. Once the residence of the Muslim Kings of Granada, this medieval palace complex sits on a plateau overlooking the city and dates back to the 9th century. With the high Sierra Nevada as its backdrop, the Alhambra now boasts UNESCO World Heritage status and is one of Spain's most iconic monuments. Originally a small fortress, the Sultan of Granada converted the building in the early 14th century. After a guided tour of the residential quarters and gardens, tiled in typical Granadian style with pebble mosaics and featuring pools framed by flowerbeds, fountains, colonnades and pavilions, we visit a traditional restaurant for an authentic Andalucían dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Travelling by coach to Cordoba, a beautiful, relaxed city with UNESCO World Heritage status, we check into our hotel for the night. Afterwards, a guided tour introduces us to the city's labyrinth of winding alleys and pretty squares. Entering the Old Town area, we cross the Roman Bridge, passing the 14th-century Calahorra Tower, before continuing to the famous Mezquita, considered to be one of the greatest remaining works of Islamic architecture in the world. Next we explore the narrow streets of the historic Jewish Quarter with our local guide.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Taking the train to Barcelona, we check into our hotel for two nights. You're then free to get acquainted with the city. Perhaps make your way to Casa Milà and Casa Batlló or wander through the beautiful garden complex, Park Güell. Many of Barcelona's other top attractions are conveniently clustered together in the Ciutat Vella or Old City. Unwind after a busy day at one of the local cafés, many of which serve food unique to Catalonia, followed by a stroll along the beach accompanied by the sight of a Mediterranean sunset.

• Breakfast

We set out on a guided tour of Barcelona, stopping in the heart of the beautiful Old Town to see Barri Gòtic and the tree-lined boulevard of Las Ramblas, home to countless street performers, cafés and shops. The rest of your day is free to enjoy the city. It's impossible to visit Barcelona and not fall under the spell of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. His unique style is intrinsically linked with Barcelona and many of his masterpieces can be found in the heart of the city. Perhaps start with the spectacular Sagrada Familia. Unfinished at the time of Gaudí's death, this incredible building is still under construction and when complete, will have a staggering 18 towers. We enjoy a final farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Boarding the train to Paris, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras and our Spanish adventure comes to an end.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal