Best of Southern Spain Hiking Tour

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Admire the monumental beauty of Granada's Alhambra palace and Cordoba's stunning Mezquita
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Blend cultural touring with active hikes in the Sierra Nevada, including a summit bid of mighty Mulhacen at 11,420 feet! 
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Experience a warm Andalusian welcome at charming hotels and enjoy a thrilling flamenco show
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            [Description] => alhambra view
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            [Description] => sunset over bridge
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            [Description] => ruins
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            [Description] => itinerary gallery 1
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Leo S.

Leo was born in the mountains of Spain’s Basque Country and made his home in Jaca, in the heart of the Pyrenees, where he spends his winters on backcountry skis. He has been guiding in the Pyrenees for many years, as well as in Nepal, Morocco, Tanzania, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Pakistan, India, and the French Alps. He has also taught skiing in Colorado. He is an International Certified Mountain Guide (UIAGM) and a professional ski instructor (ISIA). Leo is fluent in English, French, and Basque.

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                    [Headline] => Arrive in Granada
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Welcome to Spain! Arrive in Granada and meet your guides at the train station or airport. Transfer to your hotel, and enjoy some down time before meeting the group for an orientation and welcome dinner.
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                    [Headline] => Visit the Enchanting Alhambra
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Rise for an unforgettable half-day tour of the magnificent UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace complex, towering over Granada. Originally constructed as a fortress in 889 AD and converted into a palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada, the Alhambra (\"red or crimson castle\") exhibits Spain\'s most remarkable Islamic architecture. Explore the beautiful Generalife gardens and take in the stunning panoramic views before a sumptuous lunch at a traditional restaurant nearby.   

Later, take an early evening stroll around the splendid medieval streets of Granada\'s Albayzin to the Sacromonte, where we enjoy dinner and end the day with a vibrant flamenco performance.
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                    [Headline] => Head to Las Alpujarras & Hike in the Sierra Mecina
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Depart from Granada this morning and transfer to the picturesque region of Las Alpujarras, located in the Sierra Nevada - Spain\'s highest mountain chain and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Check into your hotel in the charming white stone mountain town of Capileira and then set out for an afternoon hike. Follow scenic trails in the area\'s lush valleys, passing delightful villages along the way, and warm up those legs for tomorrow\'s summit challenge.
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                    [Headline] => Hike the Sierra Nevada & Summit Mulhacen 
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It\'s summit bid day and your chance to hike to the top of Mulhacen (11,420\') — the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula! Follow rugged trails on a steady uphill hike that is well worth the effort. The reward? Epic views of the Sierra Nevada massif, Granada to the north, and the Mediterranean and Africa\'s coast to the south. 

For those not wanting to hike to Mulhacen there will be an option of a somewhat less strenuous hike to the Poqueira mountain refuge (6-7 hours/9.5 miles hiking with 1,150\'-5,250\' elevation gain and loss.)
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                    [Headline] => Drive to Cazorla & Stay in a Parador 
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After breakfast, travel north to the region of Jaen and Parque Natural de las Sierras de Segura y Cazorla, the largest protected area in Spain and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Enjoy a picnic lunch before setting off on an afternoon hike in the little-visited eastern part of the park where wildlife abounds. Keep an eye out for ibex, fallow and red deer, wild boar, mouflon (wild sheep), and raptors soaring overhead in the 6,000-foot peaks.
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                    [Headline] => Spectacular Rio Borosa Hike
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Today you\'ll enjoy a classic hike in the Sierra de Cazorla\'s hauntingly beautiful karst mountain landscape. The trail follows the Rio Borosa upstream through exquisite valley and mountain scenery, via a narrow gorge, and past two deep-blue mountain lakes. Eventually you\'ll reach the source of the Borosa River, welling out from under a rock! Be awed by Cazorla\'s dramatic scenery and limestone pinnacles.
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Leave Cazorla in the morning and travel west towards Cordoba, once the largest city in Roman Spain and the heart of the Western Islamic Empire for three centuries. Cordoba offers a wealth of fine buildings, churches and monuments, but the highlight of your walk through the city is La Mezquita. Founded in 785, this Great Mosque is the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain. After a walk through the Old Quarter and the Jewish Quarter, have some free time before a festive farewell dinner tonight. After dinner, perhaps take a stroll along the Cordoba Roman Bridge.
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 Bid farewell to Spain. After breakfast, transfer to Cordoba\'s train station for your onward journey.
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    [ActivityHighlight] => Moderate to challenging hikes through spectacular landscapes with an opportunity to summit a mountain at 11,420 feet. Cultural touring includes walking on narrow cobblestone streets-some steep uphills. 
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Accommodations

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A luxurious historic hotel in Granada, rustic and romantic mountain retreats, and a modern hotel in Cordoba.

Hotel Alhambra Palace

Comfortable Hotel

Inspired by the beautiful Alhambra itself, the five-star Hotel Alhambra Palace exudes century-old historic charm and elegance. Its rooms are comfortable and stylish, and come with an array of modern amenities. Unwind with a refreshing drink on the terrace and enjoy the hotel's spectacular location and warm ambience.

Hotel Rural Finca Los Llanos

Comfortable Hotel

This pretty whitewashed hotel in the heart of Capileira offers a tranquil mountain escape with plenty of warm Andalusian hospitality. Its comfortable rooms have a rustic charm, in keeping with the hotel's rural setting, and come with modern amenities. After a day of hiking, unwind on the patio or take a dip in the pool.

Parador de Cazorla

Comfortable Hotel

The romantic Parador de Cazorla is a classic Andalusian country house set in an oasis of natural beauty. Its comfortable rooms have a classic feel and are equipped with modern amenities. Chat by the fireplace, relax by the hotel pool, and take in the panoramic views from this beautiful mountain retreat.

NH Collection Amistad Cordoba

Comfortable Hotel

This elegant hotel built in an18th-century Moorish mansion is a 5-minute walk from the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, and 2 miles from the Cordoba train station. Modern rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and pull-out sofas, as well as minibars and coffeemakers. Amenities include a bar, a Mediterranean restaurant, and a cafe with a covered terrace and courtyards, along with a plunge pool and a fitness center.

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