Payment of bespoke trip to Andalusia | 6th – 12th of November 2022 | 2 adults and 1 baby
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Description and schedule of services
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6th of November: arrival of your flight to Seville and introductory evening tapas tour of the city.
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8:40am: upon arrival of your flight to Seville airport, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Stephen, Sarah and Esther”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a baby chair for Esther, to your accommodation in Seville.
10am (estimated): arrival to your accommodation in Seville and rest of the morning and afternoon at leisure to recover from your flight. We will give you recommendations of places to eat and of things to do and see in your free time.
7:30pm: meet your personal local host at your accommodation to go on an introductory tapas and wines tour of Seville old town.
Understanding how Southern Spain works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the region. People in Andalusia love their excellent food and wine and they like to make a celebration out of every meal, together with family and friends. Food, conversation, wine, laughter and a magical common feeling of thankfulness combine in perfect harmony in Seville bars to make tapas evenings memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the city has to offer gastronomy-wise. They are small portions of food that people usually have as an appetizer before a meal. However, especially when eating out, a meal can consist of several different tapas and this is exactly what this tour is about.
Your local Spanish foodie host will meet you at your accommodation to take you on a tapas journey through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of the city, during which you’ll be able to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding wines. Along the tour, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that Sevillanos have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
The Andalusian capital can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a place to eat so this tour will allow you to relax and to enjoy the magnificent culinary and wine scene of the city, while you also learn about its particular character and identity, together with your local host.
10:30pm: end of your tapas and wines tour back at your accommodation.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements
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7th of November: Late morning walking tour of Seville’s most important World Heritage Sites and of the old Jewish Quarter. Rest of the day at leisure
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10am: be met by your personal local guide at your accommodation in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the Archive of the Indies.
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 splendor 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, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. 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 the tour you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cozy 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements
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8th of November: day trip from Seville to Cordoba
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a baby seat for Esther, to Córdoba.
10:30am: upon arrival to Córdoba, meet your personal local host to go on a 3h discovery journey of the historical center 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 splendor 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour at free time for lunch at leisure and to maybe do some further (self-guided) exploration of the city. We will give you recommendations of places to eat and of things to do and see in your free time in the city.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your accommodation in Seville.
5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Seville and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements
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9th of November: private transfer from Seville to Ronda via the natural park of Grazalema for a hike in the park and a visit to the picturesque mountain villages of Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema
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8:45am: private transfer from your accommodation in Seville in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a baby seat for Esther, with your own personal local host and a dedicated driver to the whitewashed hilltop town of Zahara de la Sierra. Explanations along the way about the agriculture, farming, rural landscape and geography of the mountainous areas of the province of Cádiz.
10:15am: arrival to Zahara de la Sierra and private walking tour of the old town aimed at enjoying its traditional Southern Spanish charm and to learn about its history and evolution from a fortified settlement on top of a rock to a more spread-out rural village. During the tour you may also want to walk to the top of its Moorish castle, which offers not only very representative evidence of the Hispanic-Muslim medieval configuration of the town, but also beautiful views of the nearby lake of Zahara – El Gastor.
11:25am: private transfer from Zahara de la Sierra to the Summit of Las Palomas, in the heart of the natural park of Grazalema.
11:45am: upon arrival to the summit of las palomas, start a circular 3,4km hike around Mount Coros (Cerro Coros in Spanish).
Cerro Coros is a small mountain in the middle of the natural park that offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes of Spanish Firs, pine trees and of the lake of Zahara – El Gastor. Hiking around its perimeter will allow you to enjoy the views of the surrounding nature from every possible angle.
Halfway along the hike, you will take a trail that will take you to the very top of the mount. Once at the top, you will have the very best views of the natural park and you will celebrate it with a light snack that will keep you going until lunch time.
1:45pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the village of Grazalema for lunch.
2:05pm: arrival to Grazalema and lunch in a selected local restaurant. Lunch will be followed by a small private walking tour of the village, aimed at enjoying the beauty of its charming location in the middle of a natural park and its picturesque architecture and urban planning.
4:30pm: private transfer from Grazalema to your accommodation in Ronda.
5:15pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most of your free time in Ronda.
Overnight in Ronda: own arrangements
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10th of November: day trip from Ronda to the Genal Valley nature reserve for a hike there and an immersion into the life of one of its rural villages with lunch in a private winery
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9am: meet your personal nature guide at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minivan with a baby seat for Esther, with a dedicated driver to the village of Benadalid, in the heart of the valley of the Genal river, a magical unspoilt reserve south of Ronda.
9:30am: arrival to the village of Benadalid to start an easy 5km guided hike towards the village of Benalauría. You will first be explained about the Berber origins of Benadalid, which still keeps its Moorish castle. Later you will take the old paths that the cork workers used to use in the past to transport the cork that they would harvest every 9 years and that are actually still in use today. You will cross a vast extension of Mediterranean forest filled with old olive trees, chestnut trees, holm oaks and cork oaks while you are explained about the many species of flora that you will see and how they have been used by the people of the area throughout the centuries.
11:30am: upon arrival to Benalauría, you will have an immersion into its present culture and lifestyle through visits to some selected local spots and meeting the local community along the way.
Your first stop will take you to the old local mill (not in use anymore), where you will understand how the local chestnut wood and stone allowed for the construction of very robust houses and local infrastructures until the late 20th century. The old mill is in an excellent state of conservation and the local population has donated several old artifacts to create a little exhibition space representing its roots and ancient industries.
Your second stop will be the local bakery, founded in the 19th century by the same family who owns it today and where bread and cakes are still made following traditional recipes. At the bakery, you will meet the owners, learn about their business and about the important proximity service they operate for the local population as well as for the surrounding towns.
Your third stop will take you to the winery of a small local winemaker. There you will learn how the Genal Valley had a thriving wine industry until a devastating pest arrived in the late 19th century. Slowly, more than 100 years later, this wine scene is having a comeback and this winemaker is one of the pioneers in the recovery. At the winery you will enjoy a tasting of his red and white wines as well as a local pairing lunch cooked by his wife. This will be the icing on the cake for your immersion into the life of a remote mountain village in South West Spain.
3pm: end of lunch and private transfer from Benalauría back to Ronda.
3:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda: own arrangements
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11th of November: from Ronda to Seville via the city of Jerez de la Frontera for an immersion into the world of Sherry wines and a homemade Southern Spanish country lunch in a private vineyard.
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9am: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a baby seat for Esther, with your own personal driver from accommodation in Ronda to Jerez old town.
10:30am: upon arrival to Jerez, meet your personal local host and start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Hispanic-Muslim origins and on the transformations that it experienced (architecture, urban-planning, social composition and overall character) with the Christian conquest in the 13th century and later in the 18th and 19th centuries when the local wines (sherries) became probably the most fashionable drinks in the world. Your tour will also include a private visit to the local market (one of the most vibrant in Southern Spain) in order to understand not only the essential proximity service it is for the local community but also the important role it plays in the social fabric of the city.
11:50am: after your introductory walking tour of Jerez, reconnect with your driver and be transferred with your local host to a private vineyard in the countryside outside Jerez.
12:10pm: upon arrival to the vineyard be introduced to the owner and take a walking tour of his Sherry vineyard. This tour is aimed at understanding the particularities of the soil, of the climate, of the vines and of the grapes that make Sherry so unique. This will be followed by a tasting of the sherries that the owner makes and ages only for him and his family in his own private sherry bodega. The tasting will be accompanied by a selection of tapas.
2:15pm: then, you will be called for a homemade country lunch in the vineyard house of the owner, cooked on site by his wife and including starters, mains, desserts and of course sherry. This will make an excellent opportunity not only to enjoy the Southern Spanish country gastronomy but also to interact with the owners in their private house accompanied also by your local host.
3:45pm: after lunch, enjoy a farewell sherry cocktail and discover how versatile sherries can be for the preparation of long drinks and how they are now used by mixologists from different parts of the world.
4:15pm: after bidding farewell to the owners of the vineyard, be transferred from the vineyard to your accommodation near Seville airport.
5:40pm: arrival to your accommodation near Seville airport and end of services for the day.
Overnight near Seville airport: own arrangements
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12th of November: departure from Seville
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7am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a baby seat for Esther to Seville airport.
7:20am: arrival to Seville airport and end of services for the day.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke tour program for a private group of 2 adults and 1 baby is 4560 Euros
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This price includes
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated professional driver and including a baby seat for Esther.
– All private tours and experiences mentioned above with knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions during the tours.
– A tapas dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per adult (beer, wine, refreshments or water) and finishing with a sweet local treat.
– Light snack during your hike in cerro Coros.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the village of Grazalema including a selection of 2 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 2 drinks per adult (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– A private visit to a selected local winery in the Genal Valley with the corresponding tastings and a homemade country lunch there including one starter per person, one main per person, one dessert per person and wines from the winery.
– A private visit to a selected Sherry vineyard in the heart of the Sherry Triangle including tastings of the sherries that the owner makes and ages only for him and his family and a homemade country lunch cooked on site by his wife.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit.
Petrol and parkings.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights.
– Your accommodation.
– Any meals not mentioned right above
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this tour program at this price we require full payment via credit/debit card no later than the 27th of October at 11:59pm (Madrid time).
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Grand total of this trip: 4560 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your tour program more than 7 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 30% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 70%.
– If you cancel your tour program between 7 and 5 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 50%.
– If you cancel your tour program between 4 and 3 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 70% of the full cost of the program and we will refund the remaining 30%.
– If you cancel your tour program 2 days or less prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance with Medjet.
(**) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency not allowing you to enter the country to take this trip, we will give you a full refund.
