Hooked on Walking offers a fabulous self guided walking holiday in Andalusia in Spain. The walking tour in Spain explores the human and natural landscapes that mark out the famous Route of the Caliphate; between Cordoba and Granada. Once in Cordoba, immerse yourself in its splendid past. You will come across splendid towns and villages of Andalusia, such as Priego de Córdoba, Carcabuey, Cabra, Zuheros and Luque.
You will also visit the area surrounding a major fortress (Alcalá la Real) and the brief, yet rugged mountains that protect the plain and the Nazrid capital of Granada, heritage of a small, legendary village called Moclín. Once in Granada you can discover the secret of Moorish wells and waterways, search out the origins of famous poems in the walls of the Alhambra, take a stroll through the old Moorish neighbourhood, the Albayzín, packed with sounds and aromas, and try some tapas enjoying views out to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you will already be thinking of coming back soon!
Let us organise you a fantastic walking holiday in Andalusia with lovely handpicked accommodation and luggage transfers (where required).
Cordoba
This is a level 2 tour with walks up to 5 hours.
Hotel in Córdoba, example (hhposadadevallina.es)
Rural hotel in Zuheros (www.zercahoteles.com)
3 star hotel in Zagrilla (www.villadepriego.com)
Casa de los Banos in Priego (www.casabanosdelavilla.com)
B&B in Alcalá , example Mirador Tierra de Fronteras
Small hostal with roof terrace in Tózar (www.rincondemarcelo.com)
3 star hotel in historical centre of Granada, example www.hotelmonjasdelcarmen.com
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Walking that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
If you arrive in time, explore the city of Cordoba. Be sure not to miss a visit to the beautiful and stunning Great Cordoba Mosque/Cathedral. The mosque of Cordoba is a treasure of Hispano Muslim architecture and art. Take a gentle stroll through the streets of the old town Cordoba, visit some of its typical colourful, sweet-smelling patios and sample local tapas in any of the bars and inns. Finally, we would suggest attending a traditional flamenco show with singing and dancing.
Today you have enough time to visit Córdoba, before you take the bus to Zuheros (last bus is at 19:00 weekends, 19:30 weekdays). After about 1.5 hours you will arrive to the picturesque, romantic village of Zuheros.
Today you will go on a short walk close to Zuheros; through the beautiful Bailón River Canyon. You can just walk along the river and turn around when you feel like it, or continue to the Cerro de Bramadero and enjoy the silence of this part of the Subbetica Nature Park. At the end you will meet the Bailón river again to return to Zuheros.
Today you now enter the Sierras Subbéticas Nature Reserve to Fuente del Espino; an excellent spot for a short but well-deserved rest. You then head down towards La Osa farm and the La Lastra area to continue past Manchón de la Niña and the Zagrilla canyon. This stage finishes at the village of Zagrilla.
You have two options today, you can either walk to Priego on a short route following the Colada del Camino del Hoyo or take a longer route, via the village of Carcabuey, through fields with streams flanked by dense quince trees, then crossing the Pollos or Jaula Mountains, where you will find an abundance of holm-oak and olive trees. Finally, you get to Priego along the old path to Rute.
Transfer to Alcalá la Real by bus (30 minutes, around 3 euro). The route starts from the bus station itself. where you then head into mountains with ancient holm-oak forests, towards the castle of “La Mota”, which looks majestically out over Alcalá la Real. After visiting the castle, you continue to your hotel in Alcalá or to the rural lodge in Fuente del Rey (30 min walking more)
After breakfast a transfer by taxi to the medieval village/fortress of Moclín. This fortress, that once guarded the pass against Alcalá to Granada, offers unbeatable views of the region. Here today’s route gets underway and you can either head straight down through a forest to Tózar or make first for Olivares and continue on the natural pass through the mountains to Tózar. You pass some anthropomorphic tombs dug out of the rock and the remains of a defensive system set up during the Spanish Civil War before reaching the quiet village where you can enjoy the sunset at the roof terrace of the hotel.
After breakfast at 9am a taxi will pick you up and take you to your hotel in Granada (arrival 10am) to spend the last day visiting the palaces and gardens of the Alhambra (tickets NOT included in tour price). Later, take a stroll through the old Moorish neighbourhood, the Albayzín, packed with sounds and aromas, and have dinner in one of the ten most romantic restaurants of the world (not included), with a view of the Alhambra.
Depart after breakfast.
By plane to Malaga, Seville, Madrid or Granada and then by train or bus to Cordoba.
