Palacio Nazaries, Alhambra, Granada A journey to show some of Spain s most emblematic places, culture and essence Itinerary Madrid Andalusia 8-9-day Tour Autumn 2016 Draft, version 160422 Segovia Madrid Toledo Consuegra Cordoba Seville Granada Ronda Map of Spain Malaga Sierra Nevada (Alpujarras) Overview map of tour Experience Spain, one of the most interesting countries in Europe! Join our 8-day trip to Madrid and Andalusia, two very exciting parts of Spain. This tour will show you some of the best highlights of Spain: Large cities, good shopping, remarkable historical and religious places (for both Christians and Moslems), as well as fantastic architecture from 2.000 years ago and until today! Map of the Andalusia region Page 1 (6)
Day 1 Arrival at the airport, welcoming and tour presentation by your designated guide. Transfer to your hotel, check in and city tour. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. Gran Via, Madrid Day 2 Optional: Half-day tour to Segovia (see also p.3). Recommended! Breakfast and transfer to Granada (4½ hours). Making a stop on the way to visit Toledo, one of the greatest legacies of the Islamic heritage. Arrival in Granada, check in and walk through the city centre until dinner. The Roman Bridge, Cordoba Day 3 Breakfast and visit to the Alhambra Palace, considered by many visitors as the top highlight of the tour. Lunch and visit of the great mosque of Granada and walk through the Albaicin, the legendary old neighbourhood. Dinner and overnight in Granada. Alhambra Palace, Granada Day 4 Breakfast and transfer to Seville (2½ hours). Check-in and lunch. Visit Torre del Oro, Jewish Quarters, The Old Medina and city walls. Dinner and overnight in Seville. Plaza de España, Seville Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Seville s historical center including the Reales Alcazares & its gardens and the Cathedral of Seville. Lunch and free time for shopping until dinner. Overnight in Seville. La Giralda, Seville Gran Mesquita (Mosque), Cordoba Day 6 Breakfast and transfer to Cordoba (ca 1 hour), the city of the Umayyad Caliphate, stop on the way at the archaeological site of Madinat Az Zahra. Lunch and check in, visit The Jewish Quarters of Cordoba and the popular sights. Cordoba is also famous for its bridge from Roman times over the Rio Guadalquivir. Dinner and overnight in Cordoba. Page 2 (6)
Day 7 Breakfast and visit The Mosque of Cordoba as one of the largest and most important mosques of its time. Guided tour included. Lunch and free time for shopping until dinner. Overnight in Cordoba. The Mosque (Mesquita) of Cordoba Day 8 Breakfast and transfer to Madrid (ca 4 hours), with lunch on the way. Check in and visit the famous outlet Las Rozas Village for shopping, just North of Madrid. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. Day 9 Breakfast and transfer to the airport for farewell and departure. (Option: Return flight already in the evening of day 8). Las Rozas, Madrid shopping outlet The aqueduct at Nerja Day 8/9 (option) An alternative option (A) for the end of the tour: Transfer from Granada or Cordoba to Malaga, with a stopover in Ronda. You will also pass the Andalusian coastline. Farewell to your travel agency staff, departure flight from Malaga to Madrid. (This option can be used if your departure flight from Madrid to your country is at 6 p.m. or later). An even smoother option is to use for example Turkish Airlines who have direct flights from Malaga to Istanbul. From Istanbul good connections to Jakarta. Aqueduct, Segovia Alcazar, Segovia Additional half-day Option (B): A visit to the pretty city of Segovia, ca 1 hour North-West of Madrid. Segovia is famous for its well-preserved aqueduct from Roman times and its fortress, the Alcazar. A half-day visit to Segovia can also be planned for the beginning of the week, during your stay in Madrid. Things to manage before your trip Valid passport (valid at least 6 months into the future from the time of travel) Insurance (travel, accident & health) Visa applications for Spain You need to allow enough time for this! Please note This itinerary is a draft and the details may change when we get closer to your tour. The order of sights and the timing can change, depending on opening hours, schedules of flights etc. Hotels are subject to availability. However, this shouldn t be a problem if we book the hotel rooms within a few weeks time. Some Google images have been used for this itinerary. Page 3 (6)
Spain-Andalucia Tour: 8-9 days & 8 nights All-inclusive package, including most things you will need during the week This tour is organised in cooperation with a high-quality Spanish tour agency based in Granada Included in the package Accommodation in 3 or 4-star hotels in good locations and with air condition Hotel breakfast is included Full transportation services during the days in Spain, from your arrival at the airport to your departure airport Escort by English-speaking guide(s) from a travel agency during all transfers and tours, expert(s) of Spain and the Islamic history of Spain Use of professional guides where it makes sense. We include official guides at every UNESCO Heritage Monument, like the Alhambra, the Mosque of Cordoba etc. Tickets and entrance feels to most main attractions, like the Alhambra palace & Generalife, Giralda, Old Mosque of Cordoba and the Madinat Az Zahra site Local taxes HC HC Confirmations of arrangements to be sent to you in advance, to support your visa applications A more detailed itinerary and general travel information will be given later, well in time for your tour Can be included if you wish: Flights Jakarta - Europe (return tickets) Islamic focus 1: The tour can be completely halaal, with respect to both food, drink and prayer times Islamic focus 2: A more specific Islamic focus of the tour, for example including more information about Islamic history in Spain, the Islamic community in Spain, special reception at the Mosque of Granada etc. General information NOT included Additional food & beverages, on top of breakfast, lunch and dinner Additional personal expenses (hotel telephone, laundry, mini bar etc.) Insurance Tips to drivers, hotel staff etc. Visa application (however, we will support your application by sending you confirmation of the arrangements) Alhambra Palace, Granada Vivelo, a Pueblo Blanco ( white village ) in Andalusia Page 4 (6)
Ronda White village, Andalusia Andalusian coastline Old City, Granada Roman Bridge, Cordoba Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid Alhambra, Granada Avenida-de-la-Constitución, Seville Page 5 (6)
Cathedral & Capilla Real, Granada Alcazar, Segovia Mosque, Cordoba Arabic Baths, Ronda Short history of Andalusia The region name, Andalusia (in Spanish Andalucía), actually comes from the Arabic Al-Andalus which means, "to become green at the end of the summer". Arabic forces crossed the strait of Gibraltar in the 8th century and took control over Southern Spain. This Arabic control lasted until end of the 15th century, more than 600 years. During this time, Christians, Moslems, Jews and Roma (gipsies) lived and worked quite peacefully side by side in this part of Spain. Nowhere else has there been a so long and so close relationship between the 3 Great faiths. This long and prosperous era in Spanish history also made all areas of science to nourish and grow in importance: medicine, astronomy, psychology, zoology, biology, botany, chemistry, physics and mathematics. During the same period, the rest of Southern and Central Europe was part of a rather violent and not so productive development. Therefore, it s not surprising that there are many influences from this time still visible today. This heritage can be seen in city layouts, mosques, castles, Arabic style palaces, Arabic baths (hammam) and fortresses, as well as in place names and the language. The Arabic /Moslem rulers were defeated by the Christian forces in 1492 - which didn t lead to a more peaceful living-together in Southern Spain. Torbjorn Halvarsson Djupdalsvagen 67 SE-16771 BROMMA Phone: +46 768 593 995 VAT Nbr.: SE559052695901 Web: www.halvarssonconsulting.com /TH April 2016 Page 6 (6)