Jewels of Spain

Day 1 UK-Alicante-Albir

Fly to Alicante and travel to the locally rated 4-star Sun Palace Albir (4Q) for a four-night stay in Albir on Spain’s sunny Costa Blanca. A comfortable hillside retreat with scenic views over Playas del Albir and a great indoor pool and spa, the hotel offers fantastic walking opportunities with the start of the Camino del Faro coastal walking trail just 450 metres away. D

Day 2 - 4 Alicante

During your stay on the Costa Blanca, join an included half-day tour of the region of Marina Alta. Steeped in history, this headland on the northernmost tip of the Costa Blanca offers white sandy beaches, traditional fishing villages, stunning mountains, and picturesque countryside. You can also enjoy an included tour of Guadalest, a tiny historic village that sits on a peak between the mountain ranges. A natural strongpoint, it was used by the Moors as a fortress centuries ago. Guadalest is famous for its lacemaking and crochet work, and shops selling artisan work lie in the heart of the village. B, L, D

Day 5 Albir-Murcia-Águilas

Head off the beaten track on a visit to Murcia which was founded by the Moors in AD 825. Enjoy a walking tour around its delightful old quarter and take a peek inside its beautiful cathedral. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Águilas for a six-night stay at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Puerto Juan Montiel (4Q) which is set right on the waterfront and boasts views across to the marina. B, L, D

Day 6 - 10 Águlias

Águilas is tucked away in the southern corner of the Costa Calida, close to the border of Andalucia. An 18th-century castle guards the town which is scattered with Roman ruins and has an intriguing British legacy that will be highlighted during an orientation tour. Look forward to an included excursion to Lorca. This historic town once lay on the frontier between Christian and Muslim Spain, giving it a diverse range of architecture: there's an impressive hilltop castle, a Spanish Renaissance-style church and ancient Roman ruins. The archaeological museum here has exhibits dating from prehistoric times.

Another included full-day excursion visits the historic town of Caravaca de la Cruz, which is filled to bursting with convents and Catholic churches. Pay a visit to the town’s baroque and Basilica de la Vera Cruz, which houses a holy cross with many miracles associated with it, and the Calasparra Sanctuary, a church built into a cave. During a day at lesiure you’ll also have the chance to join a fascinating optional excursion visits the ancient military port of Cartagena, where the Spanish Navy is based and a magnificent Roman amphitheatre was unearthed in 1988. B, L, D

Day 11 Águilas-Salobreña

Discover two beautiful whitewashed Andalusian towns en route to Almeria – coastal Mojacar and hilltop Sorbas – where you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, continue to Salobreña for a four-night stay at the locally rated 3-star Best Western Hotel Salobreña (3Q), which is set on a hilltop overlooking the sea. B, L, D

Day 12 - 14 Salobreña

Enjoy some time at leisure as well as included excursions. Join an orientation walk around Salobreña, approximately three kilometres away, is dominated by an impressive Moorish castle, and its whitewashed houses give it a typically Andalusian appearance. The area around the town abounds in fields of green sugar cane, and there is a local sugar factory and museum.

Visit Lecrin Valley on an included excursion to this area of outstanding natural beauty in Andalusia. The valley has a number of delightful small towns and villages, including Acequias, Beznar, Tablate and Talara, which is also sometimes known as Lecrin. It’s also home to over 300 species of wild flowers, 66 of which are endemic to this area. It's especially beautiful in the spring, when the almond trees are in blossom and the distant peaks of the Sierra Nevada are still capped with snow. Perhaps explore the attractions of the Costa Tropical and charming towns like Nerja or Frigiliana, or the elegant provincial capital of Malaga on a choice of optional excursions. B, L, D

Day 15 Salobrena-Malaga-UK

Travel to Malaga airport for your return flight to the UK. B