Spain 2027
Vibrant tapas, historic palaces & rhythm-filled plazas
An immersive journey through Spain’s architectural marvels, rich regional flavours, and captivating cultural heritage.
From AUD$6595
29 March 2027
13 nights
Women only
Inclusions
Trip Highlights and Activities
Join Ladies Who Travel on this private, tailor-made Intrepid tour for an unforgettable women-only journey through Spain, where historic palaces, vibrant regional flavours, dramatic landscapes, and rich cultural traditions combine to create an experience unlike any other.
This incredible adventure begins in Madrid, then travels through the sun-drenched streets of Seville, the stunning cliffside vistas of Ronda, the historic heart of Córdoba, the breathtaking Moorish heritage of Granada, and the vibrant coastal charm of Valencia, before finishing with two unforgettable nights in Barcelona.
💃 Experience the magic of a traditional live flamenco show in Seville.
🏰 Explore majestic architectural wonders like the Alcázar, Córdoba Mezquita, and a special night tour of the Alhambra.
👩🎨 Discover Madrid’s rich history on a guided walking tour focused on influential women.
🍷 Connect with local culture through a countryside winery visit and an Andalucian olive oil mill tasting.
⛪ Stand in awe inside Antoni Gaudí’s incredible, ongoing masterpiece, La Sagrada Família.
🥘 Enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine, including a traditional paella lunch and a farewell Catalan feast.
💕 A journey of connection, discovery, and adventure—where vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and shared experiences create memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
Bienvenido! Welcome to Spain.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a delicious welcome dinner where you’ll meet your local guide and fellow travellers over Madrid’s famous tapas.
If you arrive early, take the opportunity to explore Madrid at your own pace. Visit the renowned Prado Museum or the Reina Sofía to admire works by Picasso and Dalí, stroll along the bustling Gran Vía, or relax in the beautiful El Retiro Park before the adventure begins.
- Note airport transfers are not included
- Included Meals: Tapas Welcome dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel Gran Legazpi or similar
This morning, get an in-depth look at Madrid as you join a local guide for a tour of the city centre. With a special focus on the women who helped shape the city’s history, this guided walk brings to life the stories of queens, writers, artists, educators and other influential female figures whose contributions have left a lasting mark on Madrid.
Along the way, visit iconic landmarks including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, while discovering a different perspective on the city’s rich past. After stopping to refuel at a local café, enjoy a free afternoon to relax or continue your explorations.
You could wander along the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk) for an expansive journey through Western art. Start with the Museo del Prado, then discover modern Spanish masters such as Picasso and Dalí at the Museo Reina Sofía, before finishing at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, home to an outstanding collection spanning eight centuries of European painting.
- Included Activities: Walking tour with local guide
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel Gran Legazpi or similar
Travel from Madrid to Seville by train this morning. The largest city in southern Spain, Seville, is famous for its cultural vitality and architecture. The travel time is about four hours.
Tonight, join your group for a live Flamenco show – a traditional Spanish style of dance with roots in Seville.
- Included Activities: Evening Flamenco Show
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro or similar
This morning, meet with a local expert on all things Seville and get to know the city during a walking tour. Explore narrow streets, hidden squares filled with orange trees, and flower-adorned patios as your guide provides local insight into the city’s history.
Visit the Alcazar of Seville – a grand royal palace. Known as one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Spanish royal family still use the Alcazar as their residence! The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace.
Maybe take an optional visit to the Giralda Tower and the famous Seville Cathedral – one of Europe’s largest cathedrals and home to Christopher Columbus’ elevated tomb.
- Included Activities: Alcazar visit & Walking Tour with local guide
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro or similar
Leave Seville behind and travel by private transport to the Andalucian hills and the whitewashed town of Ronda. A landscape of green forests and white limestone mountains, Ronda is the birthplace of bullfighting in Spain and was a favourite of Hemingway and Orson Welles.
The highlight of the town is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) – one of the most photographed structures in the country. Built in 1751, it bridges the 100-m-deep gorge that splits the town in two. You can walk across it, stopping to peer over a drop from one of its balconies.
Check out the old Moorish town on one side, home to many historic buildings, including the House of the Moorish King, and the newer El Mercadillo on the other side. East of the town are well-preserved Arab Baths and, of course, the famous Plaza de Toros. Tonight, maybe watch the sunset over the city.
- Included Activities: Orientation Walk
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hostal S. Cayetano or similar
Walk through Los Molinos – Ronda’s surrounding valley. You can head down into El Tajo, the gorge that separates the old and new town, and get a view of the bridge and town from below. The rest of the day is free to explore the town.
The Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest bullfighting rings in the country, and adjoining the bullring is the Bullfighting Museum. The gardens behind offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, which have a long history of sheltering bandits and smugglers.
Visit the Museum of Bandits for an entertaining insight into their history, or check out the prize-winning wineries and beautiful national parks that surround the town.
While it is worthwhile to check out the Bullfight Museum and see the architecture of the actual bullfighting ring in Ronda, we discourage our travellers from attending a bullfight due to the pain, fear and discomfort the animals experience during these public shows.
- Included Activities: Los Molinos (Windmill Valley) Hike
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hostal S. Cayetano or similar
Today, journey to the city of Córdoba, where Muslim, Jewish and Christian influences are evident in its architecture, culture and cuisine.
Cordoba is also home to the Mezquita – a rare site that has served as both a mosque and a cathedral throughout the centuries. Today, a cathedral stands within the centre of the mosque – an interesting example of the interplay of Christian and Muslim cultures in Spain.
Discover this supreme example of Islamic architecture on a comprehensive guided tour with your leader, which continues outside the Mezquita and explores the charming quarters and hidden corners of Cordoba.
- Included Activities: Walking Tour of the Mezquita & Cordoba City with Local Guide
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel Serrano or similar
Depart Cordoba and travel to Granada. Along the way, you’ll learn more about the importance of olive oil production in the Andalucia region by visiting an oil mill.
Let the passionate owner of the family-run business walk you through the process of olive oil production and taste some different variations of the final result yourself, along with a lunch including olives, olive marmalade, olive pate and wine.
This evening, maybe head out to explore Granada’s drinking and dining scene with your group.
Your travel time today will be about 2.5 hours.
- Included Activities: Olive Oil Mill Visit & Tasting
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel Monasterio de los Basilios or similar
This morning, take an orientation walk of Granada with your leader. Learn the city’s history and discover Islamic architecture and Arab influences at every turn.
Then, you’ll have some time for your own explorations – maybe head to a local teahouse to sample some Moorish pastries. In the afternoon, join an expert local guide for a tour of Alhambra and its perfectly manicured gardens. Dating back to the 11th century, the Alhambra represents Muslim art at its final stage in Europe.
Tonight, join your group for an included dinner at a nearby restaurant. Then, you’ll return to the Alhambra after dark and explore the famed Nasrid Palaces with your local guide. By now, the crowds have dispersed, and you’re free to explore the site in all its glory. Your guide will bring history to life and provide expert insight as you explore the towering red fortress towers, opulent palace decor, and a multitude of architectural styles throughout the intricate Nasrid Palaces.
The Alhambra is an incredibly popular site and tickets sell out quickly. Depending on availability, we might need to move our visit time to later in the day. To book the Alhambra tickets, we require full passport details for all passengers no later than 90 days before the start of your trip. If we have not received your passport details by this time, we cannot guarantee access to the Alhambra for the rest of your group. Admission will be subject to availability at the time your passport details are received.
- Included Activities: Alhambra Alcazaba and Generalife Gardens Tour, Guided Orientation Walk
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel Monasterio de los Basilios or similar
Depart Granada and travel to Valencia today. Along the way, you’ll travel through the countryside and visit a winery for wine tasting.
Then it’s on to Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city.
When you arrive, you’re free to explore the Old Town centre that dates back 2000 years. Discover the harmonious mix of Roman, Muslim and Christian influences in its buildings, monuments and gardens.
Your travel time today is approximately 6 hours.
- Included Activities: Winery visit with tasting
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel Sweet Continental or similar
This morning, join a local guide for a tour of Valencia. Hear the stories behind historical sites like the Puertas de Serrano, town hall and cathedral, and visit the central market and the Silk Exchange building.
Along the way you’ll stop to try horchata, an iconic drink from Valencia, and finish off with a lunch of the most famous Valencian dish – paella.
The rest of the day is yours to explore Valencia at your own pace. You might like to visit the City of Arts and Science – a large and futuristic museum complex designed by Calatrava. Or, head out to a local cafe to enjoy the treats that Valencia has to offer.
- Included Activities: Paella Lunch, Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel Sweet Continental or similar
Take the train up the coast to Barcelona today – a city full of character, renowned for its art scene, Gothic architecture and vibrant atmosphere.
Upon arrival, join your tour leader for an orientation walk through the city, providing a great introduction to Barcelona’s most iconic neighbourhoods and landmarks. Wander through the atmospheric streets of the Gothic Quarter, stroll along La Rambla and get your bearings in the heart of Catalonia.
After the orientation walk, enjoy a free evening to explore at your own pace. Perhaps browse the colourful stalls of La Boqueria Market, visit one of the city’s renowned museums, or simply relax with a drink at a local café. Barcelona is also famous for its food scene, so you may like to head out for dinner and sample traditional tapas and rustic Catalan specialities in the lively neighbourhood of El Born.
- Included Activities: Orientation walk
- Included Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel Viladomat or similar
Today, make a visit to Antonio Gaudí’s incredible La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. The architect worked on this hugely ambitious project for decades until his death, and it remains in constant construction.
Later, have dinner with your group at a local restaurant. Celebrate the final night of your trip as you dine on some of the region’s most delicious foods like olives, pickled garlic, lomo Iberico de Bellotta (pork loin), Catalan cheeses, olive oil and sweet desserts.
- Included Activities: Sagrada Familia
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel Viladomat or similar
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time today, cherishing fond memories of your trip through Spain.
- Airport transfers are not included
- Included Meals: Breakfast
Understanding Travel in Spain
Spain is a deeply captivating and rewarding destination, blending rich history, vibrant cultures, and stunning landscapes. While it offers the modern comforts of Western Europe, part of the charm lies in its distinct regional traditions, slower pace of life, and historic architecture.
While we carefully select accommodations and experiences that provide comfort, character, and excellent value, travellers should understand that this is an immersive cultural journey rather than a generic resort holiday.
During our travels, you may encounter:
- Historic paradores and pousadas: Locally owned boutique hotels, rather than large, predictable international hotel chains.
- Cobblestones and historic steps: Beautiful, centuries-old streets and historic properties that have plenty of stairs.
- Different daily rhythms: A distinct approach to timing, including later dining hours (especially in Spain) and afternoon shop closures for the traditional rest or siesta.
- Regional culinary traditions: Menus that celebrate fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients, which may vary greatly from region to region and offer a different variety than your local European, American, or Australian fare.
- Varying Wi-Fi and amenities: While connectivity is generally excellent, older historic buildings can occasionally have thicker walls that make Wi-Fi or cellular service a bit patchy.
- Itinerary adjustments: Changing weather, seasonal events, or local transport schedules may occasionally require minor adjustments to our daily plans.
Spain rewards travellers who embrace a relaxed pace, travel with an open mind, and appreciate vibrant living over rigid perfection.
The most memorable moments are often the unplanned ones—a warm conversation with a local artisan, a sunset over the Atlantic or Mediterranean, discovering a hidden plaza filled with music, or sharing a laugh over tapas and wine with new friends when things don’t quite go according to plan.
If you enjoy rich history, world-class food and wine, flexibility, and discovering a destination’s authentic soul, the Iberian Peninsula is likely to become one of your favourite travel experiences.