Andalusia is perhaps what most romanticise as the popular image of Spain – a sizzling and sun-dappled climate, the scent of orange blossoms and monastic incense, the rhythm of a flamenco guitar and the steamy gaze of white hilltop villages combining to create impressions that are as sensual as they are striking, and with eight centuries of cross-cultural marination, as well as tension between Christianity and Islam by which created some of the most sensational architecture you can find anywhere in Europe. Encounter all these dreamy depictions and more with a customised Andalusia tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and get ready to experience the essence of Spain just like the one that you have always dreamed of.

Set inland away from the coast into the interior of Andalusia lie the spectacular settings of the “Pueblos Blancos” or White Towns of Andalusia. Start with Arcos de la Frontera, gateway to the rest of the white villages, and stroll semicircle up through the white buildings to the cliff top for an introductory panorama. Hold your breath as you approach Ronda, the most dramatic town in the trail, as you come face-to-face with the dizzying white houses that cling perilously to sheer cliffs. Finally, make your way to Setenil de las Bodegas and cave in to the unique cave dwellings that seem to be burrowing cosily under mammoth rock overhangs.

There are Spanish cities and then there is Granada. Possessing the world’s best example of Moorish and Christian architecture in its star of the show, Alhambra, which also happens to be the nation’s most visited tourist site, this stunning city located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains is an unmissable highlight. History and architecture fans looking to pay homage to the stunning monument may wish to skip the line with a VIP guided day tour or wait till nightfall for a two-hour illumination experience. In the meantime, explore the UNESCO-listed Albaycin quarter by foot and acquaint yourself with charming Moorish architecture and culture. Then treat yourself and your tired feet to a traditional hammam and relax with a soothing Arabic bath before getting ready to tackle the generous dining scene of Granada, where you will still get free tapas with every drink as per long-gone traditions.

While not nearly as grand as Granada nor as sophisticated as Seville, Cordoba nevertheless presents a neat and navigable summary of ancient Spain. The city’s monumental delight is obviously the Mezquita or the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain, with its refined decoration that takes us back to an enlightened age in time when Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in harmony and vibrant exchanges with one another. Apart, Cordoba offers a different proposition from the rest of Spain’s wide-open plazas and squares in which extravagant patios and internal courtyards vividly decorated with colourful flowers and plants quietly seduce those who take the chance to peer deeper.

Looking for more holiday destinations in Spain? Try:

• Barcelona tour package
• Basque Country tour package
• Catalonia tour package
• Galicia and Asturias tour package
• Madrid tour package
• Seville tour package
• Valencia tour package

Discover southern Spain’s Moorish charms with a customised Andalusia tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.