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This news page will hopefully be enjoyed by all visitors to the Lilac Bus Tours site.
Lilac Bus Tours is now organizing tailor made trips whether they be for couples or groups of any size to all destinations in Andalucia. This type of trip could appeal to clubs and groups of friends, families and business people who wish to make a particular tour together. The concept will also appeal to travellers who come over to Europe from farther afield and want a special accompanied tour in Andalucia for a particular number of days. Indpendent tours with car hire can also be arranged to include scenic journeys and special places to stay.
Independent tours for small groups will always be more expensive than large group tours but they have the advantage of being designd to suit the individual traveller and will include what he or she specifically wishes to see or do. Transport will be in comfortable vehicles, from small minibuses up to luxury motocoaches - all depending on the number of people wanting to travel.
Reading-up a little about a trip beforehand is very worthwhile and I have included a book list, not huge, but just including books I have in my own library that I have found useful.
I have listed them below and will add any others I come across.
We have had some successful visits to Granada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Most of the groups have been small and have enjoyed a relaxed and wonderful visit to the Generalife Gardens, the Palace and then some time in Granada city itself. If the day is planned properly there is time to visit the Alhambra complex the morning and then visit the old Albaicin area of Granada and have lunch in a typical tree lined plaza before leaving Granada at around 17.00.
Granada is a city not to be rushed and with a small group a lot can be seen and enjoyed.
If you havent seen much of inland Malaga then this trip is just for you!
Malaga province has a lot to offer and we will visit the inland area known locally as the lake district! These are the reservoirs that supply most of the water for the city of Malaga and surrounding areas. We will drive north and visit the spa town of Caratracca, then continue up to Ardales which is close to the main lake.
Nearby are the ruins at Bobastro and then the fabulous Chorro Gorge and dams. It will be a nice leisurely day, with plenty of stops including one with a couple of restaurants to choose from - for those who don't take a picnic!
Bus price is 18€ pp. Please book early!
Pick ups from Calahonda to Fuengirola,
depart around 9am and return around 6pm
We have a 2 day trip planned to the lovely Doñana National Park in Huelva on the 12/13 June 2008
Overnight will be spent in a 4* hotel in Matalascañas, a seaside resort on the Atlantic coast and all meals are included.
The first day will be spent driving west in the direction of Huelva. On arrival at the hotel we will settle in and have lunch. In the afternoon we will drive to the traditional pilgrimage town of El Rocio which is close by and also visit the Palacio de Acebron, again, on the edge of the park. A free evening to enjoy in Matalascañas with dinner, bed and breakfast in hotel. It's an early start the following day for the 3.5 hour trip through the park, along the beach and across the sand dunes in a 4x4 bus. It's a great experience with a chance to see plenty of wildlife.
After the trip we will head back via the pretty town of Bollulos where we will all have lunch together before driving back to the Costa del Sol.
Price is 185€ pp in twin, 35€ single supplement.
Pick ups from Fuengirola along the coast to Marbella.
Please make your reservation before 20th May to ensure hotel accommodation
In early October a group of ladies (and one husband!) from Holland, the United States, the UK, Israel, Trinidad and Czech Republic all enjoyed a day out along the Costa del Sol while their husbands were working hard at the annual Efclin Congress held in Malaga. The sun shone down as the group visited Puerto Banus, the Old Quarter in Marbella and finally the white village of Mijas where they all had a delicious lunch in a local restaurant. Everybody enjoyed their visit, including our driver Antonio! This is the group photo taken in Mijas, after lunch!
OUR NIGHT TRIP TO THE WOLF PARK IN EARLY JUNE was a resounding success. We were lucky to have a lovely warm night, the wolves howled to order and we all enjoyed a good barbecued supper under the stars with plenty of wine to wash it all down. Those wolves certainly looked cuddly and it was difficult to believe that they are wild animals! Everybody was very touched by the story of the blind Alaskan Tundra wolf who had to be in an enclosure on his own for the time being until a 'friend' was found for him. The other wolves would consider him weak and would have preyed on him. The owner of the park had such a wonderful relationship with him it was a joy to see.
We all enjoyed the petting zoo as well. This housed all the waifs and strays that had been found abandoned or donated as unwanted pets (like the fox who couldn't live in an apartment any more!! There were dingoes, foxes, a ferret, a selection of goats, pigs and chickens plus a wonderful young deer who had been brought in injured and then hand reared. None of us had ever stroked a deer before and she certainly seemed to enjoy it - it was magical. If there is enough interest I will run the trip again in August. Below are some photos of Alaskan and Timber wolves and a resident goat!
There is so much to read about Andalucia, books on it's Moorish roots to its part in the Civil War, it's varied and beautiful landscape and its booming tourist business. Guide books galore covering the stunning Andalucian cities of Granada, Seville and Cordoba and some covering the lesser yet no less beautiful...
Such as Cadiz, Jerez, Malaga and more...
I have included a selection of my favourites that cover most angles from its varied history to delightful tales of being at the mercy of the locals when buying property in country areas!
Seville and Andalusia, Everyman Guides a great guide with a slant on history, with 2000 colour illustrations, almost a miniature art book. Lots of listings, information and maps.
ISBN 1 85715 848 2
Seville Everyman City Map Guide, an excellent guide book that covers the city's districts with fold out maps and information on each. Street directory and plenty of useful listings.
ISBN 1 84159 068 1
Costa de la Luz by Footprint, this is a neat little book that cobres everything you will need to know on the Costa de la Luz, easy to use and well laid out.
ISBN 1 904777 317
Time Out, Andalucia, is a well presented guide covering the whole region with easy to find sections, illustrations, maps and listings.
ISBN 0 14 100970 5
Lorca's Granada, Ian Gibson. This book takes the reader from Lorca's birth to his execution and incorporates 10 routes covering the poets favourite haunts around the city of Granada.
ISBN 0 571 16489 7
Granada,City of my Dreams, Lorenzo Bohme, a long time resident of Montefrio, just outside Granada, the author has written a delightful book that visits every hidden corner of the great city of Granada, not just a guide but a story book, for as he says, the curious traveller. Well worth a read.
ISBN 84 921744 3 9
Andalucia and the Costa del Sol, Oldfield. One of the Sunflower Landscapes collection that covers walks and car tours around the region,
Giving step by step directions and maps, it is also nicely illustrated.
ISBN 1 85691 208 6
Back Roads of Southern Spain, David Baird. This is a very useful and informative guide covering 25 great car trips around Andalusia. It's packed with tips, maps and illustrations, places to stay on route and a vocabulary section at the back.
ISBN 84 89954 23 2
Andalucia published by Susaeta and includes a fold up map.
I recommend this little guide and you don't need to know much Spanish to enjoy it. 128 illustrated pages, each numbered and showing an unmissable site in Andalucia. Little bit of text below and details of where to stay. The map shows the corresponding numbers to point you in the right direction. Recommended
ISBN 84 305 5604 4
Rutas por el Interior de Andalucia en Coche, published by El Pais, Aguilar. This is a great guide book containing 12 routes over the region with clear maps and full of coloured photographs. A bit more Spanish required to understand everything but opening hours, phone numbers etc can easily be understood. Recommended
ISBN 84 03 50425 X
Rutas por la Costa de Andalucia, published by El Pais, Aguilar
The same series as above that gives 7 routes through coastal provinces
Again with good clear maps and lovely coloured photographs. Plenty of details, phone numbers, opening hours and where to stay. Recommended
ISBN 84 03 50229 X
Guerra, Jason Webster fascinating true stories from the Civil War collected by the author as he travelled around Spain. A passionate insight into this cruel period in history that ripped the country apart.
ISBN 0 385 60858 6
Spain, an amazingly short history, Bob Fowke, you won't get bogged down with this great little book, suitable for both kids and adults, easy to read, informative and sometimes humorous. It includes black and white drawings and lots of maps.
ISBN 0 9548351 0 7
The Rough Guide History of Spain, another great little book, with each year and its happenings clearly defined from the beginning to the present day. Pleasing to read with many b/w illustrations, quotations and sidebars on various topics. Recommended
ISBN 1 85282 936 X
The Sierras of the South, Alastair Boyd. This is a classic and recounts the authors travels in the mountains of Andalusia, particularly the Serrania de Ronda, Sierra de Grazalema and the highlands of the province of Cadiz.
ISBN 84 89954 35 6
Spanish Vignettes, Norman Berdichevsky. This is a useful book for foreigners who feel the need to relate to what they see and hear around them every day in Spain. It gives insights into history, politics, cuisine, and traditions. Easy to read.
ISBN 84 89954 40 2
In Search of Andalucia, Wawn & Wood, an informative and often humorous book that covers the Malaga sea-board including the Costa del Sol. It covers history, archaeology, architecture and life in the towns and villages in an easy to read way.
ISBN 1 85821 690 7
Small Hotels and Inns of Andalusia, Guy Hunter Watts, a great guide that will lead you to over 100 of the most charming places to stay in Andalucia. Included are remote farms, monasteries, palaces and simple village b&b's. Well illustrated with straightforward descriptions and contact details.
ISBN 8489954 50 X
Getting to Mañana, Miranda Innes,a delightful story of a house search and then a move from London to Andalucia in the late 1990's. The mention of eccentric neighbours, unhelpful builders and the permanent drone of the cement mixer might make this an all too familiar tale for some residents! very readable.
ISBN 0 593 05116 5
Duende, Jason Webster, this evocative book tells of the author's search of flamenco where he finds out that there is much more to it than meets the eye. A fabulous read.
ISBN 0 552 15160 2
Andalus, Jason Webster, again the author goes in search of the secrets of Moorish Spain and gives a fresh perspective on the relationship between Spain and Islamic culture.
ISBN 0 552 15306 0
Flamenco, Claus Schreiner, this informative book traces the history and development of the art of flamenco. It is made up of essays by dedicated flamenco enthusiasts .. perfect for the serious reader.
ISBN 1 57467 013 1
Gypsies and Flamenco, Bernard Leblon, this is an easy to read and understand book divided into three sections, the origins of flamenco, Spanish Gypsy history and privileged Gypsy families. Light to read and easy to dip into.
ISBN 0 900 45 859 3
A Literary Companion Spain, Jimmy Burns, essential reading for anybody passionate about Spain, it’s history, culture, people and politics. It covers highlights such as flamenco, bullfighting, tourist invasion and the Civil War
ISBN 84 89954 52 6
Art & Architecture Andalusia, Brigitte Hintzen-Bohlen, this is a very good practical guide that covers just what it says on the cover. Very well illustrated in colour, with maps, diagrams and architectural drawings. Very useful if this is your interest and will help you identify the styles of architecture seen during your journey in Andalucia.
ISBN 3 8290 2657 9
The Alhambra of Granada, lluis Casals and Felix Bayon. This is a big little book! Full of evocative colour photographs and text about the great Moorish Palace the Alhambra in Granada.
ISBN 84 898 15 81 X