Featured holiday Al Andalus luxury rail holiday Spain

8 nights/9 days

Seville • Jerez • Cadiz • Ronda • Granada • Ubeda • Baeza • Cordoba • Seville

This is an 8-night luxury holiday with six nights spent on board the luxurious Al Andalus train where accommodation is in lavish suites, a night before and after in Seville or Malaga and with a proogramme of excursions included during your train journey as you progress from Seville through Jerez, Ronda, Cordoba, Ubeda, Baeza and Granada before arriving in Malaga (or the other way round).
Included in your Expressions holiday
  • Flights London to Seville, Malaga to London or vice versa
  • Private transfers between Seville airport and the hotel in Seville
  • One night's bed and breakfast at Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville based on two people sharing a Dreamer Room
  • 6 nights’ full board on Al Andalus train based on two people sharing a Grand Class Cabin, including the excursions and meals mentioned in the itinerary
  • One night's bed and breakfast at the Parador Malaga Gibralfaro in a double room
  • Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

Luxury rail holiday on the Al Andalus train in Andalusia with six nights on the train and two nights in Seville

Highlights

• Spend six nights on the Al Andalus • Spend two nights in Seville • Excursions in Seville, Jerez, Ronda, Granada and Cordoba • All meals included on the luxury train

On-board Al Andalus train

The Al Andalus train is a spacious and luxurious hotel on wheels which offers comfortable accommodation and saloon cars which allow guests to relax in comfort and enjoy the stunning scenery as they travel through Spain, stopping off along the way for cultural excursions. The train’s coaches date back to the 1920s, with those that house the suites having been built for use by the British Monarchy. Original elements sit alongside modern technology, promising guests the ultimate in comfort and safety. The train retains an air of elegance and sophistication, thanks to the furnishings and decoration which hark back to the Belle Époque. Public areas on board the train consist of four saloon coaches – two restaurant cars where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served; a bar car where guests can enjoy a relaxing drink; and a piano bar car where musical performances are held each night. Guests can choose to stay in a Grand Class room or a Deluxe Suite, both of which boast an en-suite shower room, air conditioning, a minibar, safe, wardrobe and luggage rack. A Grand Class room features two single beds which can be turned into seats during the day, while a Superior Suite is a more spacious option with a slightly larger shower room, a double bed which can be turned into a sofa during the day and a separate seating area. Each trip on board the Al Andalus train includes a programme of excursions including entry to a number of museums and other places of interest. A luxury coach accompanies the train to transport passengers where necessary, and a multilingual guide is on hand throughout. All meals are included, either on board the train or in local restaurants in the towns and cities that are visited. Meals on board the train are created by a renowned chef, all of which are accompanied by wine, coffee and spirits. Guests staying in Deluxe Suites can choose to have two private lunches or dinners in their suite, and also enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages throughout the trip.

Special offers for this holiday>

A once in a lifetime experience with outstanding service
Mr T, June 2018

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a double Grand Class cabin on the train and a double or twin hotel room for two nights.

From about

£5,540 per person Grand Class cabin on Al Andalus

£6,440 per person Deluxe suite on Al Andalus

Holiday Code SNFH01

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Luxury rail holiday on the Al Andalus train in Andalusia with six nights on the train and two nights in Seville

Special offers for this holiday>

A once in a lifetime experience with outstanding service
Mr T, June 2018

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a double Grand Class cabin on the train and a double or twin hotel room for two nights.

From about

£5,540 per person Grand Class cabin on Al Andalus

£6,440 per person Deluxe suite on Al Andalus

Holiday Code SNFH01

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Our prices include ● Flights London to Seville, Malaga to London or vice versa
● Private transfers between Seville airport and Seville hotel
● One night's bed and breakfast at Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville based on two people sharing a Dreamer Room
● Six nights’ full board on Al Andalus train based on two people sharing a Grand Class Cabin, including the excursions and meals mentioned in the itinerary
● One night's bed and breakfast at the Parador Malaga Gibralfaro in a double room
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

Our prices do not include ● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers between hotel and station

Train departure dates

2024 Seville to Malaga

31 March | 14, 28 April | 12, 26 May | 16 Jun | 1, 15, 29 September | 13, 27 October

2024 Malaga to Seville

7, 21 April | 5, 19 May | 2, 23 June | 8, 22 September | 6, 20 October | 3 November

You begin your holiday one day earlier when you fly into Seville or Malaga for one night at the beginning of the holiday.

Special offers for this holiday>

A once in a lifetime experience with outstanding service
Mr T, June 2018

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a double Grand Class cabin on the train and a double or twin hotel room for two nights.

From about

£5,540 per person Grand Class cabin on Al Andalus

£6,440 per person Deluxe suite on Al Andalus

Holiday Code SNFH01

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Our prices include • Flights London to Seville, Malaga to London or vice versa
• Private transfers between Seville airport and Seville hotel
• One night's bed and breakfast at Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville based on two people sharing a Dreamer Room
• Six nights’ full board on Al Andalus train based on two people sharing a Grand Class Cabin, including the excursions and meals mentioned in the itinerary
• One night's bed and breakfast at the Parador Malaga Gibralfaro in a double room
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

The journey and how you get there You fly from London to Seville or Malaga with British Airways or Easyjet. The flying time is about 2hrs 45 mins. We include a private car transfer for you from the airport to the hotel and back again at the end of the holiday. For the journey between the hotels in Seville and Malaga and the meeting point for the train, we suggest you take a local taxi.

Luxury rail holiday on the Al Andalus train in Andalusia with six nights on the train and two nights in Seville

Expressions Holidays includes these hotels in this touring holiday as suggestions, but they can be substituted by others in the same region, if you have a preference to stay elsewhere.
Hotels included in this tour

Special offers

Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.

A once in a lifetime experience with outstanding service
Mr T, June 2018

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a double Grand Class cabin on the train and a double or twin hotel room for two nights.

From about

£5,540 per person Grand Class cabin on Al Andalus

£6,440 per person Deluxe suite on Al Andalus

Holiday Code SNFH01

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Our prices include • Flights London to Seville, Malaga to London or vice versa
• Private transfers between Seville airport and Seville hotel
• One night's bed and breakfast at Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville based on two people sharing a Dreamer Room
• Six nights’ full board on Al Andalus train based on two people sharing a Grand Class Cabin, including the excursions and meals mentioned in the itinerary
• One night's bed and breakfast at the Parador Malaga Gibralfaro in a double room
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

The journey and how you get there You fly from London to Seville or Malaga with British Airways or Easyjet. The flying time is about 2hrs 45 mins. We include a private car transfer for you from the airport to the hotel and back again at the end of the holiday. For the journey between the hotels in Seville and Malaga and the meeting point for the train, we suggest you take a local taxi.

Luxury rail holiday on the Al Andalus train in Andalusia with six nights on the train and two nights in Seville

Highlights of Andalusia

With 800km of coastline, there are plenty of beaches to choose from - facing the Atlantic are the long, sandy beaches of the Costa de la Luz, extending south from the Portuguese border to Tarifa; covering the area between Malaga and Gibraltar is the famous Costa del Sol, known for its numerous beach resorts which range from the cheap and cheerful to exclusive luxury; to the south of Granada is the Costa Tropical, a stretch of coast with sandy coves and a pleasant microclimate; and to the east is the more rugged Costa de Almeria. A number of luxury resorts and hotels are located along each of these coastlines. Surrounding Granada is the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range where the Spanish mainland's highest peak can be found and home to white-washed mountain villages. In the far east of Andalusia is the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, the largest protected area in Spain where you can find hiking trails, mountain villages and many wild animals. Further south is The Cabo de Gata Natural Park, a land and sea reserve near Almeria which is home to unspoilt scenery and an abundance of wildlife. In the west of the region is the Doñana National Park, an extensive area in the delta of the Guadalquivir River which includes marshland and sand dunes and is a breeding ground of the endangered Iberian Lynx. Thanks to the region's great variety in landscapes, culture and cuisine, a luxury holiday to Andalusia is sure to be a delightful experience.

Cultural highlights of Andalusia

Many of the Andalusia's cultural highlights can be found in the three Moorish cities of Cordoba, Granada and Seville, all of which are home to a number of excellent luxury hotels. Cordoba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former centre of Muslim control during Andalusia's colonisation by the Islamic Empire. At the city's heart is the astounding Mezquita de Cordoba, a mediaeval mosque turned Catholic cathedral with endless Moorish arches, columns and glinting tiles of vibrant hues. Other highlights include the fascinating Jewish quarter and Roman ruins galore. Nearer the coast is Granada, where Islamic rule endured the longest and the magical Alhambra remains as a monument to this legacy. A 9th century palace fortress, it guards over the city from an elevated crag amongst vast, aromatic gardens. To the west, on the peaceful plains of River Guadalquivir, Seville quietly awaits discovery along with its three World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar palace, the gothic Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. Other towns and cities of interest in Andalusia include Jerez de la Frontera, where you can visit the sherry bodegas which make the city famous and watch the dressage displays which are held at The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art; Cadiz, the oldest city in Europe which is surrounded almost entirely by water; Ronda, a spectacular city which is split in half by a narrow gorge; Malaga, birthplace of Picasso and home to a Museum which displays a collection of his work; the small town of Baeza, where you can find stunning examples of Renaissance architecture; and Almeria, a coastal city which is dominated by the Alcazaba, the largest Moorish fortress in Spain. During your stay in Andalusia make sure to witness the seductive art of flamenco. Alluring, passionate and cathartic, it's easy to understand how this gypsy tradition has become one of the most familiar emblems of Spanish culture.

Festivals in Andalusia

There are a huge number of local festivals held in villages, towns and cities throughout Andalusia, many of which have a religious significance. 5 January: Three Kings parades, February: Shrove Tuesday Carnivals, February: Seville Tapas Fair, February to March: Jerez Flamenco Festival, March/April: Holy week celebrations, April to October: Seville Bullfighting season, April/May: Seville Spring Fair, April/May: Úbeda Classical Music Festival, Mid May: Jerez Horse Fair, June to July: Granada Music & Dance Festival, June - July: Cordoba Guitar Festival, August: Malaga Summer Fair, September: Ronda bullfighting festival, November: Granada Jazz Festival.

Gastronomy in Andalusia

Cuisine in Andalusia is diverse, varying throughout the region and combining Arabic flavours with more common Mediterranean ingredients such as seafood, olive oil and an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. As the birthplace of tapas, Andalusia is an excellent place to try the snacks which are often served free with drinks in Granada. Other Andalusian specialities include Serrano ham from the Sierra Nevada and sherry from Jerez de la Frontera, as well as dishes such as ‘Ajo blanco’ (a white gazpacho), ‘Espetos de sardina’ (roasted sardines), ‘Huevos a la flamenca’ (baked eggs with vegetables) and ‘Fritura de pescado’ (mixed fried fish).

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