This tour covers the major highlights of Andalucia (Southern Spain): the ornate palace of Alhambra in Granada, Córdoba (an architectural mainstay of Islamic culture), and the Andalucian capital of Seville, home of flamenco dancing. Pair it all up with time in Madrid and Barcelona, and you’ll never run out of fun things to do, eat, or see. Visit Spain with us, all while earning professional development credit with other educators.
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Arrive in Madrid at any time. There are no planned activities until your Group Meeting this evening around 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm, so check into the hotel – check-in time is approximately 3:00 pm – and enjoy the city. Check the notice boards or ask at reception for the exact time and location of the group meeting. After the meeting, you might like to take the option of heading out for a meal in a nearby local restaurant to further get to know your tour leader and traveling companions. Please make every effort to arrive on time for this important welcome meeting. If you are delayed and will arrive late, please inform us. Your tour leader will then leave you a message at the front desk informing you of where and when to meet up.
Take a brief orientation walk with your tour leader, then enjoy a full day of free time to explore this bustling capital. Lively, passionate Madrid is a treasure trove of art and architecture, with its royal palaces and works by masters including Goya, Picasso, and Dalí. Be sure to take in some tapas. Madrid is one of the richest culinary capitals of Europe, and showcases food from all over Spain. See our optional activities list further down on this page for our suggestions on what to see in Madrid, although you will have to come in at least a day before our trip starts to see them all.
Depending on the time of our bus, you will most likely have a bit more free time this morning to explore Madrid. We then travel by local bus south to Granada. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation walk to get a feel for the city. We will wander through the historic quarter of the Albaicin and try to take in a sunset. With its narrow lanes and fantastic views back to the Alhambra, visitors are rewarded with a spectacular color-washed skyline when the sun goes down. Approximate travel time: 4-4.5 hrs by local bus
Enjoy a guided visit of the Alhambra, one of the greatest accomplishments of Islamic art and architecture. Learn about Granada’s reign as one of the region’s most regal cities during the Muslim rule of Spain, which is captured in time within the Alhambra. (Visits to the Alhambra may vary and take place on Day 3 or 4, depending on ticket availability, special events or holidays in Spain.) After visiting the Alhambra, opt to take a wander through the historic city. In the evening, opt for a night on the town. The city is filled with trendy tapas bars and has a lively music scene.
Today we travel to Seville via picturesque Cordoba. Upon arrival in Cordoba we visit the city's most famous monument, the extraordinary Mezquita. Built as a mosque in 785 by the Moors, the Mezquita was converted in the 16th century by the remarkable addition of a Christian cathedral inserted into the center of the building. We highly recommend booking a guided tour to get a fuller understanding. Afterward, we will wander among narrow winding lanes, traditional houses, and charming cafés in Cordoba's historic medieval Jewish quarter. Discover one of Spain’s three remaining synagogues. We will then travel to Seville by train. After checking into our hotel we will have free time to get to know the city. Approximate travel time: 4 hrs by private vehicle
Spend a day enjoying Seville and its Moorish influence. Opt to explore the interiors and gardens of the Alcázar, a magnificent palace dating from Moorish times, or the true heart of Seville, the Santa Cruz quarter— a charming area with winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, flowery patios, and small squares. Seville is home to the world’s largest gothic cathedral — climb the adjoining tower for great views of the city. Other attractions include the Museo Arqueológico, the Casa de Pilates and the Parque de María Luisa, which has a maze of paths, garden beds, pretty little patios, fountains, and shaded lawns. At the end of the day, enjoy a flamenco performance in the city known for the energetic dance. Be swept away by the flamenco's passion, fire, and grit! Please note that if you wish to visit popular sites and want to avoid waiting in line, it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance. We recommend pre-arranging your visit to the Alcázar of Seville.
Hop on the train and get comfortable on the journey north to Barcelona. Take an orientation walk, including visits to the Gothic Quarter, the Boqueria market and Las Ramblas. In the evening participate in a G Adventures-supported paella cooking class served and prepared by migrant students, followed by a group dinner to round out the day. Mescladis, Catalan for "Mixed Space," is a migrant training kitchen and cafe in the heart of Barcelona that features a unique feel that fuses old Catalan favorites and migrants' home recipes. With the help of migrant students, learn how to make paella with the resident chef, accompanied by a discussion that promotes social reflection - with the kitchen and food at the centre of it all. Then enjoy the fruits of your labour! Approximate travel time: 6 hrs by train
Today, you may depart Barcelona at any time. If you have time, try to stay an extra day to explore this amazing city! Want more adventure? Book two or more GEEO trips in the same year and receive a discount! GEEO will give you 10% off of the lesser value program(s) (up to 3 programs). If you don’t see a program that interests you that pairs with this trip, but still would like to extend your time abroad, let us know. We will work with you to find a non-teacher trip from our tour operator’s much larger catalog. Even better, if you are an educator, we can still offer you a discounted price on the trip you choose!