Granada Cultural, religious and historic sites Trips

Andalusia has long been on my list of places to go, and I was not disappointed. Our guide Craig was the best, so knowledgeable, engaging, he had a keen insight to the history, respect of the culture, and told fun stories. While I loved all of the cites, and did want to miss anything, it was great to have 2 days at Craig's home in rural Andalusia, with two great hikes to see the lovely countryside. We were lucky we had a small and very accommodating group that were eager to soak in the culture!

Tremendous holiday. Explore were efficient and helpful during the booking process and in answering our queries regarding the trip. The holiday itself was a great way to get a sense of the beauty, culture and history of Andalucia. It’s a fast paced and busy tour, but huge fun, and we really enjoyed the mixture of city and rural locations. Craig, our tour leader, worked incredibly hard throughout to organise the content and travel logistics, and gave us a fascinating overview of the region - covering the history, the political, economic, cultural and geological context (and in a way that was funny, accessible and effortlessly erudite). Cities and countryside were all stunningly beautiful, the food and wine delicious. I’d heartily recommend the trip.

This is a full-on trip. You need energy and stamina with days starting early and ending late. Craig, our tour leader, was very knowledgeable and resourceful. He led from the front and coped calmly and compassionately in the event of an unfortunate accident to one of the party. Everything was as described and the optional activities very worthwhile. The main sights are breathtaking. Having the contrast of city and countryside worked well. Breakfasts are basic except at Craig’s own house, which was excellent, and all the accommodation clean albeit simple and occasionally noisy - ask for a quiet room away from street noise in the cities if you can. Craig offered an additional experience at the end of each day such as a walk in Granada to see the Alhambra floodlit or a visit to the oldest bar in Sevilla to sample sherry. Overall a fantastic and memorable experience which made me want to see more of Spain.

What a great trip! Full on. Some long days. But what a way to tick off things on your bucket list. The accommodation was as expected, mixed: querky, comfortable and, at worst, indifferent. Eating out was excellent and not too expensive. We chose the trip because of the itinerary, which was brought to life at every stage by our guide who was one of the best we have had on any trip. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Spain and its fascinating history.

We had a great time in Andalucía! The area had been on my list for ages so I was thrilled to finally go and visit the Alhambra and the royal palaces. The Mezquita in Cordoba was wonderful. Another night there would have been great. We enjoyed the 2 nights spent in our Craig's property: it was very comfortable and the walking excellent. The breakfast was the best we had all week. The group gelled well; everyone was like-minded and friendly. Craig, our guide, was very knowledgeable and helpful. We were less keen on the Seville hotel, though it was well located. The breakfast was poor. Attractions in Seville were busy but we read the information provided in the trip notes, and booked the Alcazar and cathedral in advance. Travelling by public transport seemed efficient, though more time consuming than a private bus.

Everything about this trip was excellent - all 3 of the cities were really impressive, it was nice breaking up touring the cities with a visit to the countryside and our fellow travellers were all great. Perhaps the best aspect was the tour leader Craig who was brilliant at bringing the history to life and would always have suggestions for extra things that we could do.