Highlights of Andalucia

What a fantastic week, despite the unusually high temperatures. I have learned so much thanks to Craig's amazing knowledge of the area. History, natural history, geology, local cuisine, and much more. The itinerary was full-on, but still left plenty of time to wander and explore for ourselves. The break in the countryside was very welcome and a perfect contrast with the cities. The hotels were all comfortable and clean, and very convenient for visiting the main sites of the old city centres. Make sure you buy tickets for the optional visits as they get very busy, especially the Alcazar and Cathedral in Seville. The cave visit midweek is also highly recommended, especially if it's baking outside.

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.