Busabout Adventures

Day 1: Madrid toToledo to Granada

Our first stop of the trip is only a short drive away at the Imperial City of Toledo (World Heritage city). You have a couple of hours to lose yourself in the cobblestone streets and poke your head in the numerous stores filled with hand crafted steel swords & marzipan, and to check out Toledo’s famous Cathedral featuring significant art works by El Greco.  We will arrive into Granada in the early evening and after check-in we will have an orientation walk through the city. Your guide will take you to some great local tapas bars, before heading to the Sacromonte Caves later at night to see a live Flamenco show (optional). Granada is a student town, so those with the stamina you’ll find plenty of opportunities for partying late into the night!

Day 2: Granada

You have the entire day to explore Granada at your leisure. Be sure not to miss the most famous Moorish relic and most visited sight in Spain – The Alhambra. Built towards the end of Moorish rule, The Alhambra (Moorish Palace) has about as much in common with Buckingham Palace as an apple does with a banana. Marvel at the intricate sculptures and relics carved into the walls (under Islam the artists were not allowed to depict the human form), while not forgetting to look up every so often at the intricately detailed ceiling work. Our optional tour includes entrance fees and a local guide; you also get to skip right past the massive queues that form here every day. This will certainly be one of the highlights of your trip!

If you’re a bit hot and bothered after the Alhambra, there’s always the chance of plunging into some Moroccan-style baths. Jump in the cold, warm or hot pools, try the flavoured tea, or if you’re in real need of some relaxation, have an aromatherapy massage.

In the evening join your guide and driver at one of Granada’s best Moroccan restaurants; then either head out again or just rest up: the choice is yours…

Day 3: Granada to Tarifa

It’s an early start alas, but for very good reason! We’re heading down to the very southernmost tip of Europe and making our way along the Costa del Sol to Tarifa, a small Spanish town on the southernmost coast of the country. Tarifa is located on the Costa de la Luz, or 'coast of light'. They say it’s here that the word “tariff” first came into use after the local leader started charging ships to use the local port, and it’s also here where an abundance of activities await.

For those who would like to add another country visited to their list, there are a couple of options.
Option 1: Jump on a local bus out to Gibraltar, a British colony that has resisted efforts by the Spanish to regain control, and nowadays a great place to do some duty-free shopping.
Option 2: Hop on a fast boat to Morocco for a guided tour around Tangier – not just a new country, but a new continent – welcome to Africa!

For those who can’t bear to leave Spain just yet (on a clear day you can still see over the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco), there’s always the chance to go whale-watching in the straits themselves. Tarifa’s old town is filled with restaurants, shops and bars to visit, meaning you won’t be short of things to do that evening either…

Day 4: Tarifa to Lagos

This morning we continue our trip and make our way to Lagos via Jerez. Jerez de la Frontera became famous throughout the world for its sweet wines named after the town, which the British pronounced "sherry". Named "de la Frontera" because it once stood on the frontier between the Moorish and the Christian realms, Jerez is also famous throughout the world for its magnificent dancing horses and brilliant singers and flamenco dancers. We will stop to take a tour of the Tio Pepe – Gonzalez Byass factory, walk around the centre of town, visit the fresh food markets and grab some brunch or delicious churos.

After the tour we jump back on the bus and cross the border into Portugal – destination Lagos! Lagos is a heavyweight among the fun-loving enthusiasts. It is the hub of nightlife in the Algarve region and its beaches rate among the best on the Iberian Peninsula. After check-in we'll be heading straight into the hustle and bustle of the old town.  Many proclaim Lagos to be the party capital of the Algarve. We’ll go to a local restaurant for a great feed before taking you around the various clubs that make up this hedonistic part of Europe!

Day 5: Lagos

Once all the stories from the night before have been told you have the day to explore Lagos at your own pace. For those of you who can’t bear to miss out on all that Lagos has to offer, choose from exploring the Algarve grottos by sea-kayak, try your hand at rockclimbing, mountainbiking or spend your afternoon surfing the waves. If you’d prefer to chill out and relax, head down to the fine sand of Praia de Batata or meander through the streets of the old town (in a somewhat more sober state than the night before). Tonight is a free night, so either head back to some of the bars, grab some dinner or relax. Whatever you choose, Lagos will leave a lasting impression and is sure to leave you smiling.

Day 6: Lagos to Seville

From here, it’s back to Spain and onto Seville. After check-in we will take you on a short orientation walk to the famous Alcazar palace. Afterwards you will have free time to explore Seville on your own, or join our optional tour to fully appreciate this magnificent city. Make sure you check out the 3rd largest Cathedral in the world, where Columbus’ remains are allegedly held, the Santa Cruz (Jewish) Quarter, and the Plaza España in the Maria Luisa Park. If you’ve never been inside a bullring, you can join one of the local guided tours.

Seville has its own style of flamenco, ‘sevillanas’, with the dancing kicking off in local flamenco bars from around midnight. Party until the sun rises on the banks of the Gualdaquivir river, where revellers take advantage of the outdoor bars lining the river banks.

Day 7: Seville to Consuegra to Madrid

It’s time to say farewell to Sevilla and head back to Madrid, although not without an amazing scenic stop along the route of Don Quixote – The Man from La Mancha! We will make a stop at Consuegra – where Don Quixote famously tilted at the windmills (he thought they were giants!) for a great photo opportunity, illustrating the eleven windmills and ruined castle overlooking the plains of La Mancha.

After Consuegra we should be arriving back in Madrid by around 5pm.