Payment of bespoke tour program of Andalusia. 3rd – 15th of November 2021. 2pax
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Description and schedule of services
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3rd of November. Arrival to Granada and day at leisure to recover from your trip.
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12pm: upon arrival of your flight to Granada airport, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. Your driver will be holding a sign saying “Eric and Evelyn – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in the city.
12:30pm: upon arrival to your hotel in Granada, check-in and spend the rest of the day at leisure to recover from your trip.
(*) You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Granada and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Granada. Dreamers double room with breakfast included at Hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*).
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4th of November. Discovery of Granada: the Alhambra and el Generalife, Granada old town and the quarter of el Albayzín
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9:30am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred by taxi to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and el Generalife are located.
9:45am: upon arrival to the Alhambra, be taken on a private walking tour of this palatial city which is the most exquisite example of the Hispanic-Muslim architecture. The Alhambra was the city where the Hispanic-Muslim sultans used to live with their army, their court and some selected artisans. Because of this, it has several parts, all of which you will get to visit during your tour while you understand the role that each of them had. Later you will visit the summer palace or Generalife. This is the place where the sultans would go to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Alhambra. It was a place designed for relax and contemplation and because of this, it has the most beautiful gardens and some of the nicest views that the city of Granada has to offer.
1pm: after your tour of the Alhambra you may want to take a taxi back to your hotel or to a restaurant suited to your taste (this can be booked in advance if you wish). Alternatively, enjoy a pleasant walk from the Alhambra to Granada old town (downhill).
4pm: reconnect with your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3h walking tour of Granada old town that will allow you to discover, learn about and experience the beauty of two different quarters of the city. These are two key areas in the history of the city that also stand out for their beauty and authenticity.
You will start visiting the first quarters that developed in Granada after the Christian conquest of the city in 1492. It is in these areas where the Cathedral of Granada was erected and in one of its chapels, the so-called Royal Chapel, you will visit the tombs of the monarchs that were responsible for the conquest of the city (Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón). Their tombs are an exquisite sample of Spanish renaissance sculpture.
Near this chapel, you will also visit the palace of la Madraza: a unique building that originally was a medieval Quran School and that later was used as a residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
Later, you will be taken to the iconic quarter of el Albayzín, located on top of a hill and overlooking the Alhambra. El Albayzín was the part of Granada where regular people would live: people whose social scheme inside the walls of the palatial areas of the Alhambra was rather unclear.
The quarter of Albayzín is a UNESCO site and it treasures some of the most beautiful corners and views of the Alhambra that the city of Granada has to offer. Your local host will share the most special ones with you, while you are explained about the architecture and infrastructures that the quarter had in the medieval times and of which you will see beautifully preserved evidence.
7pm: end of your tour and rest of the evening at leisure in Granada.
Overnight in Granada. Dreamers double room with breakfast included in hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*).
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5th of November. From Granada to Córdoba via the UNESCO Renaissance towns of Úbeda and Baeza.
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9am: be met by your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the UNESCO city of Úbeda.
10:40am: upon arrival to Úbeda, meet your personal local guide and take a private walking tour aimed at discovering its splendid monumental legacy made up of churches, palaces and noble houses. Its Renaissance Monumental Ensemble has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and your tour will take you to visit the interiors of its most exquisite temple: the Chapel of El Salvador.
1pm: end of your private walking tour of Úbeda and free time for lunch at leisure. Your guide will point you in the right direction for lunch and will ask your driver to pick you up at the restaurant after lunch (recommendations will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish).
2:30pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred to Baeza.
2:50pm: upon arrival to Baeza, meet your personal local guide to start a private walking tour of Baeza old town. Declared a historic-artistic site, Baeza has also an incredible Renaissance legacy, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where the carved stone contrasts with the whitewashed farmhouses. Your tour will take you to stroll through the streets while admiring the Plaza del Pópulo, the Puerta de Jaén, the Arco de Villalar, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, the Plaza de Santa María and the Palacio de Jabalquinto. Visit the old University, the Cathedral and the Iglesia de Santa Cruz.
4:50pm: end of your tour of Baeza and private transfer to your hotel in Córdoba.
6:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Córdoba and rest of the day at leisure.
(*) You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Cordoba and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Córdoba. Superior double room with breakfast included at hotel NH Amistad (4*)
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6th of November. Discovery of Córdoba (Great Mosque, Synagogue and Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs) and of the UNESCO site of Medina – Azahara.
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9:30am: be met by your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3,5h discovery journey of the historical centre of the city. A UNESCO site since 1994, Córdoba is an inspirational city, which during the Middle Ages, saw a peaceful interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures. Jews, Muslims and Christians coexisted then in the city turning it into a unique intellectual hub that gave birth to very renowned philosophers, poets, scientists and doctors. This also resulted in the construction of unique buildings of remarkable historical significance.
During your private walking tour, you’ll learn about the period of maximum intellectual splendour of the city and you will see beautiful examples of architecture and urban planning that will allow you to recreate all the grandeur of this era, which has the Great Mosque – Cathedral, the synagogue and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs as its most representative constructions.
The Great Mosque-Cathedral is probably the most thought-provoking building in Spain and your personal local host will uncover all its beauty and complexity for you. You will understand its origins, its different enlargements and the role that the building has played in the culture and social fabric of the city throughout the centuries.
The synagogue will allow you to understand the very important Jewish – Sephardic community that Córdoba once had and how much it embraced Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts in its places of devotion.
The Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs will be your last stop. This is a fortification treasuring Roman and Visigothic remains that became an important royal residence in the Hispanic-Muslim and Christian times. Your tour of this landmark will be a journey through the history of the city and also through probably the most beautiful gardens that one can find in Córdoba.
1pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and free time for lunch at leisure before your afternoon tour of the UNESCO site of Medina Azahara.
2:30pm: reconnect with your local host and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the archaeological site of Medina Azahara.
2:55am: upon arrival to Medina-Azahara, start a private walking tour of the site to understand the massive palatial complex that it once was, the different parts it featured, their functions, the relationships between the people who inhabited it, its defensive system, the political role it played during the caliphate of Córdoba and the reasons that led to its decay and abandonment.
5:35pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle back to Córdoba.
6pm: arrival to your hotel in Córdoba and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Córdoba. Superior double room with breakfast included at hotel NH Amistad (4*)
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7th of November. From Cordoba to Seville and tour of Seville´s most impressive World Heritage sites and the quarter of Santa Cruz followed by an evening flamenco and tapas tour
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10am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Cordoba and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Seville.
11:40am: upon arrival to your hotel in Seville, enjoy some free time for lunch and to check-in (subject to your room being ready) before your tour of the city.
(*) You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Seville and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
2pm: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites (the Alcazar, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower) and to the quarter of Santa Cruz.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendour in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the new world was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, which is a delightful part of town with countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cosy squares, houses of traditional Southern Spanish architecture and Moorish urban planning. It is in this quarter where an important part of the Jewish Sephardic community of Seville lived in the medieval times and you will learn about what life in the quarter was like then and how it has evolved until becoming what it is today.
During your tour of the quarter of Santa Cruz, you will also be given some explanations about the origins of flamenco music in South West Spain and also about its evolution throughout the centuries. This will set the context for (and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of) the flamenco performance in a small and intimate venue that will follow, with 4 people on stage (one singer, one guitarist and two dancers).
7pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through Seville old town. Along the journey, you will learn about and enjoy this genuinely Spanish approach to enjoying a meal. Your tour will take you to 2 – 3 selected tapas bars where locals like to gather with family and friends and where you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person.
10pm: after your tapas and wines adventure, be escorted back to your hotel stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
10:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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8th of November. Jamón jamón, a day trip from Seville to the land of the most famous Spanish delicacy: the natural park of Aracena
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the natural park of Aracena, home of the best Iberian Ham in the world. Along the way, you will be given some explanations about the geography, landscape, economy, culture, agriculture and farming of South West Spain.
10:30am: upon arrival to the natural park of Aracena, visit a private extension of dehesa forest with an expert, to learn about the habitat where free range, acorn-fed, Iberian pigs live and about the animals themselves. Dehesa is a unique type of ecosystem ideal to raise Iberian pigs for the production of top-quality Iberian ham. During your visit you will discover the particularities of this ecosystem and about its connection to the breeding of Iberian pigs.
11:30am: after your visit to the dehesa and with all the knowledge acquired there, be transferred to the facilities where the Iberian ham of this farm is cured.
11:45am: upon arrival to the curing cellars, you will be taken on a private tour aimed at learning about the very specific artisanal treatments and particular humidity and temperature conditions to cure Iberian pig meats. This will be followed by a guided tasting of iberian ham, which will make a great end to your discovery journey of the most iconic food from SouthWest Spain.
1pm: after your visit to the iberian ham farm, be transferred to the whitewashed village of Linares de la Sierra for lunch.
1:30pm: arrival to Linares de la Sierra and lunch in a selected local restaurant specialised in traditional recipes cooked with fresh local produce from the natural park of Aracena (cost of lunch not included).
3pm: after lunch, you may want to take a stroll around Linares de la Sierra to enjoy its picturesque streets and traditional architecture.
4pm: end of your visit to Linares de la Sierra and private transfer back to Seville with you private driver in his modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle.
5:30pm: arrival to Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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9th of November. Day trip from Seville to Jerez and Cadiz, the undiscovered cities of Southernmost continental Spain.
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9am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the city of Jerez, famous for its Spanish purebred horses. Along the way you will be explained about the geography, culture, customs, gastronomy and lifestyle of Southernmost continental Spain.
10:15am: upon arrival to Jerez, you will start a private walking tour of the old town aimed at discovering its Hispanic-Muslim origins as well as the transformations that it experienced (architecture, urban planning, social composition and overall character) in the 13th century with the Christian conquest and later in the 18th and 19th centuries when its local wines (sherries) became probably the most fashionable drinks in the world.
Along the journey you will also visit the local market in order to enjoy not only its colourful and vibrant atmosphere but also to learn about the important proximity service it is for the local community and the key role it plays in the social fabric of the city.
11:45am: your introductory walking tour of Jerez will finish in the royal School of Equestrian art. Upon arrival, you will be shown around the premises before attending the popular horse show curated by the School and called “how the Andalusian horses dance”. This is a dressage exhibition with Olympic riders that is unique to Jerez and that will allow you to enjoy the beauty and nobility of Andalusian horses as well as the performance of the extremely skilled riders and their 18th century outfits.
1:30pm: after the performance, reconnect with your private driver and be taken for a tapas lunch in the heart of the city including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
3pm: after lunch, be transferred by your private driver to the city of Cadiz together with your local host. Along the way you will enjoy the curious landscape of marshes and estuaries of the bay of Cadiz.
3:25pm: upon arrival to Cadiz, you will be taken on a panoramic tour of the perimeter of the old town that will allow you to see and understand its particular geography.
3:45pm: after your panoramic tour, start a private walking tour of the inner part of town. Along the tour you will learn about the foundation of the city by the Phoenicians 3000 years ago and about the period (18th century) when it held the monopoly of all trade with the new world, formerly established in Seville. Your tour will allow you to see beautiful evidences of the splendour of both periods.
5:15pm: end of your tour and private transfer back to Seville.
6:45pm: arrival to Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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10th of November. From Seville to the National Park of Doñana and private 4 x 4 tour of the National Park.
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11am: meet your personal driver at the reception desk of your hotel and be transferred in modern and comfortable vehicle to the hamlet of El Rocío.
(*) You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Granada and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
12:15pm: upon arrival to El Rocío, check into your hotel (subject to your room being ready) and enjoy some free time to explore the hamlet and to have lunch there.
2:30pm: be met by your personal local host at your hotel and go on a 5 hour birdwatching tour through the national park in a 4×4 vehicle. You will be given professional binoculars and together with your nature expert you will explore different ecosystems of the park. From pine forests to marshes, meadows and cork-oak forests. The marshes tend to get the first rain after the summer and this puts an end to their summer lethargy. The light will be ideal especially towards sunset when the fauna will become the most active. Regarding birds, those species that spend the summer in Northern Europe arrive to Doñana and the ones that went North in the winter from Africa, fly back to the South. November is a month of migrations and you will be expected to witness both departures and arrivals of different species.
7:30pm: end of your tour back at your hotel in El Rocío and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in El Rocío. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel La Malvasía (4*)
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11th of November. From the National Park of Doñana to Ronda and private tour of Ronda upon arrival
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10:30am: be met by your private driver by the reception desk of your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the town of Ronda.
11pm: upon arrival to Ronda, enjoy some free time to check in and to have lunch before your private afternoon tour of the town.
(*) You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Ronda and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
3pm: meet your personal local guide by the reception desk of your hotel in Ronda to take a walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its most picturesque locations and viewpoints.
This private walking tour of Ronda old town will also give you an excellent overview of the Hispanic-Muslim origins of the city and of the transformations that it started to experience in 1485 when it was conquered by Christians. It was then when many wealthy military orders settled down in Ronda in order to defend its strategic location near the straits of Gibraltar and very well connected to the main Southern Spanish cities.
These new inhabitants erected many noble residences and funded the construction of impressive religious constructions too. In the 18th century Ronda experienced a time of maximum splendour and its main landmarks were built: the bullring (the oldest in Spain) and the majestic New Bridge both of which you will also visit during your tour.
Ronda has also stunning nature in its surroundings and your tour will take you to the best viewpoints so that you understand why this whitewashed gem attracted so many romantic travellers in the 19th century.
6pm: end of your tour back at your hotel and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Ronda. Superior double room with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*).
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12th of November. Day trip from Ronda to hike el Caminito del Rey and to visit the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera
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9:10am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the start of El Caminito del rey hike.
10:15am: upon arrival to el Caminito del Rey, meet your personal nature guide and start your guided hike. You will learn about the geology, flora and fauna of the area and also about the history behind el caminito del rey and about the greater engineering project it is related to.
1:15pm: after the hike, bid farewell to your personal nature guide and be driven to a selected local restaurant in the area for lunch at leisure.
2:30pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera.
3:30pm: upon arrival to the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera, meet your personal local expert to start a tour of the site. This prehistoric site treasures some of the best preserved and most important megalithic monuments of Europe. With more than 6000 years of age, this site was declared a UNESCO site in 2016 due to its very surprising state of conversation and uniqueness.
5pm: end of your private tour of the UNESCO sites of the dolmens and private transfer back to Ronda.
6:15pm: arrival to Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda. Superior double room with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*).
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13th of November. From Ronda to Málaga and discovery of Málaga´s history, architecture, art and food scenes.
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9:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Málaga.
11am: upon arrival to your hotel in Málaga, drop-off our luggage and be met by your personal local host to start a private walking tour of the city with a special focus on its history, architecture, art and food and wine scenes.
Your tour will start with an introduction to the origins and evolution of the city of Málaga while you are taken by your guide to visit first its oldest landmarks: its Roman theatre and its moorish fortress: the so-called Alcazaba. This will allow you to travel back in time in order to understand the important settlement the city was both in the Roman and in the Hispanic-Muslim periods and its evolution until the present times.
1pm: after your introduction to the city, enjoy a tapas and wines lunch through 2 selected local bars of Málaga old town with your guide. During your journey you will taste a selection of 5 tapas and 3 wines per person and you will understand the vibrant foodie hub that Málaga is becoming.
3pm: after lunch, finish your Málaga private tour at the Picasso Museum. There and led by your local host, you will learn about the life and work of this iconic local artist through some of the most representative paintings that the museum collection has.
4pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure. You will be given recommendations of things to do and see in your free time in Málaga and of places to eat suited to your preferences and expectations. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Málaga. Suite Deluxe with breakfast included at Gran hotel Miramar (5*).
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14th of November. Day trip from Málaga to Nerja, Frigiliana and the unspoilt Mediterranean beaches of the cliffs of Maro
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9am: private transfer from Málaga to Nerja with your own personal local host and a dedicated driver in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle.
10am: arrival to Nerja and private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Mediterranean sea, and on its traditional Mediterranean architecture.
11am: private transfer from Nerja to the car park of the unspoilt beach of El Cañuelo.
11:15am: upon arrival to the car park of the beach of El Cañuelo, you will be taken on a short hike towards this unspoilt Mediterranean beach. After your short hike, you may want to enjoy a swim in the sea and / or some free time to take in the beautiful landscape and views that the beach offers.
1:15pm: back at the car after your stay at the beach of El Cañuelo, you will be transferred to the inland hillside village of Frigiliana for lunch and for a relaxed walk of its old town.
1:45pm: arrival to Frigiliana and lunch in a selected local restaurant representative of the gastronomy of the area.
3pm: after lunch, enjoy a private walking tour of Frigiliana old town with a special focus on its countless quaint corners, whitewashed streets and unbeatable Mediterranean charm.
4:15pm: end of your tour of Frigiliana and private transfer back to Málaga.
5pm: arrival to Málaga and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Málaga. Suite Deluxe with breakfast included at Gran hotel Miramar (5*).
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15th of November. Return to Barcelona by train
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5:45am: private transfer from your hotel in Málaga to Málaga train station or Málaga airport in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with your own personal driver.
6:30am: departure of your high-speed train from Málaga to Barcelona (one change in Madrid).
12:37pm: arrival of your train to Barcelona train station.
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Pricing
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The price of this bespoke trip for a private group of 2 people is 13150 Euros.
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This price includes
– 12 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated uniformed driver.
– All private tours and experiences mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind and flexible fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all the sites that the tours include.
– Tickets for a selected flamenco show in a small and intimate venue in Seville.
– Tickets to hike el Caminito del rey with your personal nature guide.
– A tapas and wines dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– A private visit to a selected Iberico pigs farm with the corresponding tastings of top quality Iberico ham there.
– A tapas and wines lunch in Jerez including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– A tapas and wines lunch in Málaga including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– High speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Málaga to Barcelona on the 15th of November.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat suited to your taste in each of the cities where you will stay.
– Management of the reservations you may want to have in any of these restaurants.
– All taxes.
– All expenses of your drivers and of your guides.
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This price excludes
– Your flight/s from Singapore to Granada.
– Any meals not mentioned in the above section.
– Your accommodation in Barcelona.
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this tour program we require full payment via credit/debit card before the 23rd of October 2021.
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Grand total of this tour program: 13150 Euros.
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancelled your trip 7 days or more prior to its start, we’d refund 60% of the grand total of the trip and we’d charge the other 40%
– If you cancelled your trip between 6 and 3 days prior to its start, we’d refund 30% of the full cost of the trip and we’d charge the other 70%.
– If you cancelled your trip 2 days or less prior to its start, we’d charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) If the travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic didn’t allow for this tour program to happen, we’d give you a full refund deducting only the bank charges involved in the refund and the non-refundable payments we may have made for your trip up to that point.
(**) Please note that the travel restrictions we would take as official would be the ones imposed by the corresponding government/s for the general vaccinated traveler flying into Spain from your country of origin and not your personal circumstances.
