The Al-Andalus Journey
Al-Andalus as it is not usually visited: beginning in Toledo rather than Madrid, visiting Córdoba twice, and taking in Carmona and Niebla — the Andalusian towns every other programme skips.
Photos: Dimitry B (Unsplash License) · Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España (CC BY 2.0) · Acediscovery (CC BY 4.0) · Benjamin Smith (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Jose María Ligero Loarte (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Posible2006 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Kiko León (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Marwan Aboul-Zelof (Unsplash License) · FJavier GómezL (CC BY-SA 4.0) · EmDee (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Tuxyso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Berthold Werner (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie from London, UK (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Øyvind Holmstad (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Willian Justen de Vasconcellos (Unsplash License)
The trip at a glance
Base cities
- Toledo1 night
- Seville3 nights
- Granada3 nights
- Málaga2 nights
Dates
21 May 2027
15–24 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH
Dates shown in Riyadh time
Arrival and departure
Arrival: MAD
Departure: AGP
Meals
One daily meal is included for every traveller, in addition to breakfast at the hotel. Each table includes starters, a main course, dessert and coffee.
About this journey
Al-Andalus as it is not usually visited
Every programme starts in Madrid, visits Seville, Córdoba and Granada, and ends. This one begins in Toledo — capital of the Middle March — visits what lies between the great cities, and returns to Córdoba twice.
1 · We begin in Toledo, not Madrid
Straight from the airport to Toledo — no night lost to an airport hotel. In Toledo stands the Bab al-Mardum Mosque, a tenth-century Andalusian mosque still complete in its architecture today, among the oldest surviving Islamic buildings in Spain. From there to the Mirador del Valle at sunset — a full view of the city and the river that encircles it. So the journey begins at the Middle March and ends in Granada, the last stronghold of al-Andalus: a complete timeline from the beginning of al-Andalus to its end.
2 · Córdoba twice
We pass through it on the road from Toledo to Seville, then again on the road from Seville to Granada. The first visit is for the Great Mosque, the old city and the Roman bridge. The second is for Medina Azahara, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and the walls. Because a city of this size cannot be reduced to three hours — and most programmes do exactly that.
3 · The towns every programme skips
Carmona — on the road between Córdoba and Seville: Roman and Andalusian walls and gates, and a fortress on the ridge overlooking the Guadalquivir plain. Niebla — west of Seville: a small town ringed by a complete Almohad wall with its towers and gates, among the most intact Andalusian walls left in Spain, and once a taifa kingdom in its own right. Few Arab visitors know Niebla. It is one of the finest things on this journey.
4 · Only four base cities
Toledo one night · Seville three · Granada three · Málaga two. Four hotels in ten days. No packing every night. Córdoba, Carmona and Niebla are visited en route or as day trips — so you gain the towns without the burden of moving.
5 · Hotels chosen for where they stand
One hotel per base city, four in ten days — in the old centre in Toledo, Seville and Granada, and on the seafront in Málaga. Each group stays in its own category, and in Toledo both groups stay together, the difference being the room type. We choose for location first, not for the rating alone. Your confirmed hotel is named in your booking confirmation, and any change stays in the same category and the same part of the city.
6 · The Alhambra and the Alpujarras
The Alhambra and the Generalife across a full day — the Nasrid palaces, the Palace of the Lions, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Alcazaba. Then the Alpujarras — the valley the Muslims withdrew to after the fall of Granada, whose villages of Lanjarón, Pampaneira and Bubión still carry Andalusian architecture with their flat roofs and distinctive chimneys. The Andalusian journey closes where the story actually ended — not in the Alhambra, but in the mountains beyond it.
7 · Friday at the Granada Mosque
On the eighth day, before the transfer to Málaga, Friday prayer at the Great Mosque of Granada — in the heart of the Albaicín, within sight of the Alhambra.
8 · An easy rhythm that does not exhaust
Tours begin at 10:00 within the base city · lunch by 2:00 pm at the latest · open time every day for rest, shopping or cafés · the programme is built around prayer times, with dedicated stops for them.
Weather in May
Among the best months in Andalusia: after the spring rains and before the summer heat. Hot at midday in Seville and Córdoba, mild in Granada, maritime in Málaga. Bring light clothing, a layer for the evenings, a hat and sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes.
Level of effort
Day two is a long road with three stops, and days three and six involve long walking on uneven paths in Seville and the Alhambra. Tell us of any mobility difficulty when you register.
Prayer and food
The locations of mosques and prayer rooms are in the trip booklet, foremost the Great Mosque of Granada. Meals accommodate halal, seafood and vegetarian options — and we tell you plainly what is halal and what is not; we do not claim a certification we do not hold.
Prices
Per person
| Category | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 5-star group | SAR 10,750 | SAR 12,850 |
| 4-star group | SAR 9,000 | SAR 10,400 |
- Single rooms are limited and allocated in order of registration.
Highlights
- We begin in Toledo, not Madrid — with its tenth-century Bab al-Mardum Mosque
- Córdoba twice: the Great Mosque first, then Medina Azahara and the walls
- Niebla and its complete Almohad wall — few Arab visitors know it
- Carmona en route: Roman and Andalusian walls and gates
- The Alhambra and the Generalife across a full day
- The Alpujarras and its Andalusian villages: Lanjarón, Pampaneira and Bubión
- Friday prayer at the Great Mosque of Granada
- Only four base cities in ten days — no packing every night
What's Included
- 9 nights in the chosen hotel category
- Breakfast daily
- One daily meal at selected restaurants
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- All transfers by premium touring coach
- Reception at Madrid airport and direct transfer to Toledo
- Farewell at Málaga airport
- A tour manager with the group throughout
- A guest-services and information host
- Official local tour guides
- Tickets for the Alhambra, the Great Mosque of Córdoba, the Alcázar of Seville, Medina Azahara and the Bab al-Mardum Mosque
- Audio headsets for group commentary
- Water during tours
- The printed trip booklet with pages on the history of al-Andalus
- The welcome bag and travel gifts
- A hotline for contact and emergencies
- A private group chat and a daily digital programme
What's Not Included
- International flight tickets
- The Schengen visa and its fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses, minibar and room service
- Any services not listed
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- 1
Arrival · Toledo and the Bab al-Mardum Mosque
ToledoReception at Madrid airport and a direct transfer to Toledo — no night lost to an airport hotel. We visit the Bab al-Mardum Mosque, a tenth-century Andalusian mosque still standing with its architecture complete, among the oldest surviving Islamic buildings in Spain. Then the Mirador del Valle at sunset, a full view of the city and the river that encircles it. Welcome dinner.
Dinner - 2
Córdoba — first visit · Carmona · on to Seville
Córdoba · Carmona · SevilleThe first visit to Córdoba: the Great Mosque, the old city and the Roman bridge. Then Carmona, on the road between Córdoba and Seville — Roman and Andalusian walls and gates, and a fortress on the ridge overlooking the Guadalquivir plain. Overnight in Seville.
BreakfastLunch - 3
Seville — the Giralda and the Alcázar
SevilleThe Giralda — one of the three Almohad minarets — and the Alcázar of Seville, then the Santa Cruz quarter and the Plaza de España. A long day of walking on uneven ground.
BreakfastLunch - 4
Niebla and its complete Almohad wall
NieblaWest of Seville: a small town ringed by a complete Almohad wall with its towers and gates, among the most intact Andalusian walls left in Spain. It was once a taifa kingdom in its own right. Few Arab visitors know Niebla, and it is one of the finest things on this journey.
BreakfastLunch - 5
Córdoba — second visit and Medina Azahara · on to Granada
Córdoba · Medina Azahara · GranadaBack to Córdoba on the road from Seville to Granada: Medina Azahara, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and the walls — because a city of this size cannot be reduced to three hours. Overnight in Granada.
BreakfastLunch - 6
The Alhambra, the Generalife and the Alcazaba
GranadaA full day at the Alhambra: the Nasrid palaces, the Palace of the Lions, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Alcazaba, then the Generalife. Long walking on uneven paths. Entry is at a fixed time that does not permit lateness; carry your original passport.
BreakfastLunch - 7
The Alpujarras · the Albaicín · the Mirador de San Nicolás
Alpujarras · GranadaThe Alpujarras — the valley the Muslims withdrew to after the fall of Granada, whose villages of Lanjarón, Pampaneira and Bubión still carry Andalusian architecture with their flat roofs and distinctive chimneys. Then the Albaicín and the Mirador de San Nicolás. The Andalusian story closes where it actually ended — not in the Alhambra, but in the mountains beyond it.
BreakfastLunch - 8
Friday prayer at the Granada Mosque · on to Málaga
Granada · MálagaFriday prayer at the Great Mosque of Granada — in the heart of the Albaicín, within sight of the Alhambra. Then the transfer to Málaga.
BreakfastLunch - 9
The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro · the Picasso Museum
MálagaThe Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castle overlooking the harbour, then the Picasso Museum. Farewell dinner.
BreakfastDinner - 10
Departure from Málaga
MálagaFarewell at Málaga airport (AGP) and departure.
Breakfast
Travel Information
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Destination
Spain
Destinations
- Toledo, Spain(1 night)
- Seville, Spain(3 nights)
- Granada, Spain(3 nights)
- Málaga, Spain(2 nights)
Departure
Departs with a minimum of 25 travellers
If the minimum is not met the departure is postponed or cancelled.
Flights
Not included
Difficulty
Moderate
Available Dates
Requirements
Visa
Required
The journey enters the Schengen area and requires a valid visa for those who need one. Begin the process as soon as your booking is confirmed — appointments can take weeks in peak season. We provide the booking letter, the programme and the hotel confirmations required for your file. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers visa refusal.
Terms & Conditions
Alhambra tickets are booked months in advance under each traveller's name and passport number, and entry is at a fixed time that does not permit lateness. Please send a copy of your passport as soon as you register, and carry the original on the day of the visit.