Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 16th of March – 2nd of April 2024 | 3 and 4 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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16th of March: flight from the US to Barcelona and introductory culture and gastronomy tour of Barcelona old town
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9am: upon arrival of your flight (UA120 from Newark) to Barcelona airport, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Pollack family – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Barcelona city.
10:30am (estimated): upon arrival to your hotel in Barcelona, enjoy some free time to check-in (subject to your rooms being ready. We will be on top of things for your rooms to be ready as soon as possible), freshen up, have something to eat and maybe a rest before your introductory tour of Barcelona. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Barcelona during your free time.
5pm: meet your personal local host at the door of your hotel and be transferred by taxi to the medieval areas of Barcelona to start a private tour of the Gothic quarter and of the quarter of El Born, aimed at learning about the Roman origins of Barcelona and about its evolution towards a modern 21st-century metropolis.
At the Gothic quarter, your walk will take you through a maze of narrow streets that open onto charming squares with impressive temples and noble houses. During this part of the tour, your guide will allow you to understand the first stages of the growth of the city from a Roman town to a thriving medieval metropolis.
From the gothic quarter, you will go to the quarter of El Born to start a private culture and gastronomy tour of this part of the city. El Born emerged as the medieval extension of Barcelona and it is a quarter that combines tradition and modernity these days. It is an area of contrasts where some of the most historic streets of Barcelona coexist with modern fashion, gastronomy and art businesses. Your guide will share with you both history and architecture aspects while they throw in relevant information about the present character and personality of this area of Barcelona. Along your tour, you will visit the iconic basilica of Santa María del Mar, dating from the 14th century and built with the help of the inhabitants of the quarter at that time.
7:30pm: after your introduction to the history and architecture of El Born, it will be time to immerse yourselves into the local dynamics and to start discovering the character of Barcelona through its food and wine scene.
Understanding how Catalonia works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the region. The Catalans love their excellent food 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 around Catalan tables to make meals memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the region 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 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 drinks. Along the tour, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that citizens of Barcelona have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
Barcelona 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 scene of the city, while you also learn about its particular character and identity, together with your local host.
9:45pm: after your tapas tour be transferred by taxi back to your hotel in Barcelona.
10pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: Mimosa Suite for triple occupancy and breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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17th of March: half day tour of the architecture masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí: Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell
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10:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred by taxi to Parc Güell.
10:55am: upon arrival, you will be taken on a private walking tour of the park aimed at understanding the extent to which Gaudi was able to expand his creativity and versatility. Promoted by the local businessman Eusebi Güell, the park was originally devised as an exclusive garden for the well-to-do local families who wanted to get away from the busy city life and be closer to nature. Güell gave Gaudí free rein to design the site, in such a way that the architect was able to experiment with new construction techniques and incorporate references to Classical mythology, the history of Catalonia and the Christian religion and this is what your tour will uncover for you.
12:15pm: after your tour of Parc Güell, take another taxi and be transferred to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
12:25am: arrival to la Sagrada Familia and private tour of the site. After your initial discovery of Catalan Modernist architecture and the work of Gaudí, you will have the right context to enjoy the magnificence of this temple and to understand the visionary that Gaudí was, by taking a private tour of both the inside and the outside of the building with your personal local host. The church of la Sagrada familia is the most ambitious and complex project of Gaudí as it incorporates all the structural innovations he had developed during his career. Also, the temple contains a fascinating symbolism revealing the in-depth knowledge of Christian liturgy that Gaudí acquired after several decades of intense study.
2:15pm: end of your tour at La Sagrada Familia and taxi transfer back to your hotel.
2:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of the services of your local host and of the tour.
Overnight in Barcelona: Mimosa Suite for triple occupancy and breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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18th of March: day at leisure in Barcelona
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All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Barcelona. Maybe we can incorporate a bike tour of the city beyond its medieval quarters and the architecture masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí.
Overnight in Barcelona: Mimosa Suite for triple occupancy and breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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19th of March: from Barcelona to Ronda by plane and private transfer and Introductory walking tour of Ronda old town
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10:10am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Barcelona and be transferred to Barcelona airport.
10:40am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to Málaga at 12:40pm.
12:40pm: departure of your flight from Barcelona to Málaga (Vueling airlines, a subsidiary of Iberia. Flight VY2121).
2:20pm: upon arrival to Málaga airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Melissa Pollack – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Ronda old town.
4:15pm (estimated): upon arrival to Ronda, meet your personal local host at a previously agreed meeting point and enjoy a private guided tour of Ronda old town starting with its bullring (the oldest in Spain).
This tour will allow you to learn about the origins and evolution of bullfighting in Spain, while you see the different sections of the bullring, from the pens where the bulls are kept before the fight, to the arena where the actual fight takes place, from the chapel where the matadors say their prayers before the fight, to the areas where the audience and the bullring authorities sit.
After your tour of the bullring, enjoy a private walking tour of Ronda old town with a special focus on its history, most representative landmarks, viewpoints and picturesque locations.
This private walking tour of Ronda old town will 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 splendor and its main landmark was built: the majestic New Bridge, which you will visit during your tour.
Ronda also has stunning nature in its surroundings and your tour will take you to the best viewpoints. This will allow you to understand why this whitewashed gem attracted so many romantic travelers in the 19th century during their Grand Tour and the impact that their written, drawn and painted portraits of Andalusia had in the international perception of Spain in the following decades until today.
7:15pm: after your tour of Ronda, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your country hotel just outside Ronda.
7:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in the country outside Ronda: one Junior Suite with a double bed and one standard double room with twin beds, both with breakfast included at hotel Fuente de la Higuera (4*)
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20th of March: day trip from Ronda to the Genal Valley nature reserve for a small hike and an immersion into the life of one of its villages with lunch in the house of a local chef
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10:30am: meet your personal nature guide at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minivan 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.
11am: 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.
12:45pm: 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 house of a local chef, who uses ingredients from the surrounding plots and farms. There you will enjoy a homemade lunch that will be the icing on the cake to your discovery journey of the Genal Valley.
4:15pm: end of lunch and private transfer from Benalauría back to Ronda.
5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in the country outside Ronda: one Junior Suite with a double bed and one standard double room with twin beds, both with breakfast included at hotel Fuente de la Higuera (4*)
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21st of March: from Ronda to Seville with a stop en-route to visit a farm of brave bulls and Spanish horses
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10am: meet your personal local host at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to a selected farm of brave bulls and Spanish horses.
11:30am: upon arrival to the farm, be welcomed by the owner, who will show you first the family estate while giving you an introduction about the history of breeding brave bulls in the family. Then it will be time to get on a 4 x 4 vehicle to go and explore the areas where their brave bulls are bred.
Along the journey you will learn about the art of breeding brave bulls. From the selection of the mother cows and breeding bulls, to the identification of the characteristics that are demanded by different bullrings in Spain for the bullfights. Then you will learn what being a farmer of brave bulls is like in the middle of the 21st century. Then visit the family stables to see the Spanish horses they have. Learn about their morphology and history and also about the special occasions when the family ride their horses and use their horse carriages.
Back at the house of the family, you will be able to enjoy some relaxed time with the owner and ask as many questions as you like while you are served some appetizers. Then you will be called for a homemade lunch that you will enjoy with the owner and your personal local host. This will make an excellent opportunity to immerse yourselves into the life of a farmer of brave bulls in Southern Spain and to learn some very interesting facts about this Spanish tradition.
3pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred to your hotel in Seville.
4pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: 2 Grand Deluxe rooms (one with a double bed and one with twin beds) with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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22nd of March (Olivia arrives to Seville in the evening): private walking tour of Seville World Heritage Sites in the morning and evening flamenco and tapas tour through the quarter of Triana
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10:30am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its most impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar and the Cathedral with its Giralda tower.
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 gardening dating from the 17th 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.
1:30pm: after your tour, you may want to be escorted back to your hotel or be given some orientation to enjoy lunch at leisure before your evening flamenco and tapas tour.
6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards the flamenco quarter of Triana. Along this walk you will be explained 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).
7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8:30pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through the quarter of Triana. Along the journey, your host will take you to 2 – 3 selected tapas bars where the 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 3 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This will give you a good overview of SouthWestern Spanish gastronomy and will allow you to learn about some of the most iconic local dishes and recipes, while understanding the differences between NorthEastern (Barcelona) and SouthWestern Spanish gastronomy.
10:30pm: after your tapas adventure, be escorted back to your hotel stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
11pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: 2 Grand Deluxe rooms (one with a double bed and one with twin beds) with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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23rd of March: day trip from Seville to the natural park of Aracena to visit a farm of Iberian pigs and to learn about Jamón Ibérico
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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 this part of South West Spain.
10:20am: 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.
11:45am: after your visit to the dehesa and with all the knowledge acquired there, be escorted to the facilities where the Iberian ham of this farm is cured.
12pm: 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 South West Spain.
2pm: after your visit to the Iberian ham farm, be transferred to the whitewashed village of Aracena for lunch.
2:30pm: arrival to Aracena and lunch in a selected local restaurant specialized in traditional recipes cooked with fresh local produce from the natural park around the town.
4pm: after lunch, you may want to take a stroll around Aracena to enjoy its picturesque streets and traditional architecture and to maybe try its local sweets.
4:30pm: end of your visit to Aracena and private transfer back to Seville.
6pm: arrival to Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: 2 Grand Deluxe rooms (one with a double bed and one with twin beds) with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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24th of March (James’ birthday): palm Sunday walking tour in the morning and Easter procession watching from a private balcony in the evening
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10am: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on a discovery tour of its most representative festivity: Semana Santa.
Along this tour, you will be explained about the origins and evolution of the Semana Santa processions to later be taken to see a selection of the impressive floats that will be ready in different churches of the city to be taken out in procession during holy week. These floats include exquisite works of carpentry, gilding, floral arrangements, sculpture, embroidery and silver smithery and you will be explained about their iconography and present role in the traditions and social fabric of the city too.
This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about the city, to see some fabulous examples of religious architecture and to start your immersion into the most iconic local tradition.
1pm: end of your tour and free time for lunch at leisure before your evening Semana Santa experience from a private balcony.
4:30pm: reconnect with your personal local host at your hotel and take a short guided walk to the property where the private balcony that you will have to watch the processions is.
4:45pm: arrival to the property and start of your in-depth Semana Santa experience.
The city of Seville lives and breathes for its most spectacular festivity: Semana Santa. The very many religious brotherhoods from the Andalusian capital are formed by hundreds of members who await with extreme impatience and devotion the arrival of Easter. This is the only week of the year when they take their breath-taking and meticulously ornate floats outside the churches where they are kept, to go on a selected itinerary through the most meaningful spots of the historical center to the members of the brotherhood.
With an impressive level of reverence and respect for this combination of religious fervor and fine art, thousands of Sevillanos flood the streets to witness the floats, with their corresponding penitents, musicians and associated religious authorities pass by. People go hours in advance on the hunt for a great spot to watch the processions. However, there’s no better and more comfortable place to enjoy the processions than from a well located balcony.
With this tour, you will be able to watch and experience this fascinating tradition from a privileged balcony located on a first floor in one of the main squares of Seville old town. This square is part of the so-called “Carrera oficial” or “official route”, which every procession must take to get to the cathedral, so you’ll have plenty of Semana Santa action guaranteed!
Upon arrival to the property, a selection of tapas, drinks and Easter sweets will be served. Your personal local host will then be at your disposal to enhance your experience by interacting with you and by answering as many questions as you like about Semana Santa and about what it represents in Seville.
Then it will be time to enjoy the processions all together from the balcony and to comment on the different brotherhoods and floats and on as many details as you like about them.
After watching the processions pass by (4 processions are expected to parade in front of the balcony on Palm Sunday during your stay), you will have more time to reflect on the experience and to wait until the crowds dissolve.
8pm: afterwards you will be escorted back to your hotel by your personal local host or be given recommendations to make the most of your evening in Seville at your own leisure.
Overnight in Seville: 2 Grand Deluxe rooms (one with a double bed and one with twin beds) with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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25th of March: from Seville to Granada with a stop en-route to visit a premium olive oil manufacturer and to have lunch in the town of Carmona
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10:50am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the olive grove and pressing facilities of a selected olive oil producer.
11:30am: upon arrival to the olive grove, be welcomed by your personal host from the company to enjoy a private tour of the olive grove and of the production facilities. Along the tour you will learn about their trees, the particular types of olives they work with and the very modern extraction methods that they use to produce some of the best olive oil in Andalusia. After your introductory tour you will enjoy a comprehensive professional tasting of different types of olive oil from different olives and using different techniques.
1:30pm: end of the visit to the olive oil manufacturer and private transfer to your hotel in Granada with a stop in the town of Carmona to have lunch.
1:45pm: arrival to the restaurant in Carmona (we will give you recommendations) and free time for lunch at leisure.
3pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your hotel in Granada.
5:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Granada: 1 Deluxe patio room with a double bed and 1 grand deluxe room with twin beds, both of them with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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26th of March: morning walking tour of Granada city and afternoon walking tour of the cave-houses quarter of el Sacromonte with a 19th century photography workshop in a cave
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10am: meet 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 the history and architecture and experience the beauty of three different quarters of the city.
These are three 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 noble residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
From there you will be taken to the nearby quarter of El Realejo. This part of Granada was once home to the Sephardic community that lived in the city from the 8th century until 1492. Your tour of El Realejo will take you to the spot where the main synagogue was while you are explained about the origins of this Hispanic-Jewish settlement and about the events that happened in this part of the town during the centuries when it was inhabited by Jewish people. Along your tour you will also learn about important members of the Sephardic community of Granada and about their contribution to subjects such as medicine, poetry, philosophy and translation in medieval Spain.
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 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.
This introduction to the city of Granada will set the historical context for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.
1pm: end of your tour and free time for lunch at leisure before your photography workshop in el Sacromonte.
3:30pm: reconnect with your guide for your afternoon tour of the quarter of el Sacromonte. This hilltop quarter is probably the most unique in Granada. Perched on a hillside offering the most beautiful views of the Alhambra and with a very particular residential architecture of cave houses, el Sacromonte also has some very interesting inhabitants. This tour offers a visit to this magical area of the city aimed not only at enjoying its rustic beauty but also at meeting some local artists and at engaging with them through a unique 19th photography workshop.
You will start your afternoon tour by taking a guided walk to el Sacromonte. Along the way, you will be explained the history of the quarter and how the first gypsy communities that arrived to Granada in the 15th century settled down in the area, carving their houses on the rock.
Once in el Sacromonte, you will enter one of its caves. There you will be introduced to a couple of local artists – photographers who have their studio there. There they research and work with historical and vintage photography techniques from the 19th century. Their specialty is “Wet Plate”: the most popular and widespread technique for portraiture in the old days, first described in 1851.
Then and together with them, you will travel back in time through a photography workshop that will include a portrait shoot of your family. Your hosts will make you feel comfortable and they will do their best to take the best shot of you, that later you will develop in their dark room. Wet Plate photography is a 100% artisanal technique, which will demand your full care and attention in every aspect of the process. Witnessing the images appear in the darkroom is a beautiful and rewarding experience. Your portrait, casted in pure silver by the action of sunlight, will last over 200 years and it will make not only a memorable experience but a long-lasting souvenir of your trip to Spain too!
After your photo workshop, you will leave with a unique artisanal portrait and also with an unforgettable experience!
Then your personal local host will escort you back to your hotel.
6:30pm: end of your tour back at your hotel and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: 1 Deluxe patio room with a double bed and 1 grand deluxe room with twin beds, both of them with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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27th of March: private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife
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10:30am: 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.
10:45am: 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 relaxation 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.
2pm: end of your tour of the Alhambra and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: 1 Deluxe patio room with a double bed and 1 grand deluxe room with twin beds, both of them with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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28th of March: from Granada to Cordoba via the majestic hike of Caminito del Rey
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*We will ask your hotel to have a packed breakfast for you (in addition to your breakfast this morning served at the hotel) so it can make a nice packed lunch.
10:15am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the start of the impressive hike of El Caminito del rey. El caminito del rey is a walkway with some sections pinned along the steep walls of a stunning gorge, offering amazing views of the surrounding nature. Spring is simply gorgeous in Southern Spain and this hike will allow you to enjoy its beautiful nature through a fun adventure.
12:05pm: 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.
3:30pm: after the hike, bid farewell to your personal nature guide and be driven to your hotel in Córdoba.
5:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Córdoba and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Cordoba: 2 superior double rooms (one facing the courtyard of the hotel, with a double bed and one with twin beds with preference to face the street) with breakfast included at Hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
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29th of March: afternoon walking tour of Córdoba old town including the Great Mosque – Cathedral
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All morning: enjoy your morning at leisure, maybe taking in the ambiance of Viernes Santo (Good Friday).
1pm: be met by your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel 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 Chapel of Saint Bartholomew 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.
In the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew you will be explained about the transformations that the Jewish quarter of Córdoba suffered after the pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts.
4pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and rest of the day at leisure. Recommendations for dinner will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Cordoba: 2 superior double rooms (one facing the courtyard of the hotel, with a double bed and one with twin beds with preference to face the street) with breakfast included at Hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
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30th of March: high-speed train to Madrid from Córdoba
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10:30am: be met by your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Córdoba train station.
2:05pm: arrival to Córdoba train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid.
11:29am: departure of your high-speed train from Córdoba to Madrid (1st class seats).
1:24pm: upon arrival of your train to Madrid train station, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Melissa Pollack – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
2pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Madrid and places to eat too. We will book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Madrid: 1 executive room with a double bed and one preferential room with balcony with twin beds, both with breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
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31st of March: morning and early afternoon at leisure and introductory walking tour of Madrid old town including the Prado Museum
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Morning and early afternoon: free time at leisure to go to mass (we will give you recommendations) and to have lunch at leisure.
3:30pm: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the Spanish capital in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital it is today.
A first highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
After this introduction to the Spanish capital, you will continue your discovery journey of the city and of Spain with a visit to the Prado Museum. There your guide will take you on a private tour that will allow you to travel through Spanish history of art while you enjoy the remarkable works of Spanish master painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco amongst others. This will allow you to understand how different historical periods shaped the artistic creation at each time and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
7:30pm: after your tour enjoy the rest of the day in the city at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: 1 executive room with a double bed and one preferential room with balcony with twin beds, both with breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
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1st of April (Olivia departs from Madrid to Barcelona): Madrid artisans tour followed by a tapas lunch
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10:30am: meet your personal local host at your hotel to go on a private walking tour of Madrid old town along which you will meet some selected local artisans in their workshops privately.
Your tour will take you first to visit a workshop of Spanish guitars where the fourth generation of the same family of guitar makers have been working since 1887.
You will also visit the workshop of a tailor who makes the famous Spanish capes with traditional methods of cutting and sewing. The Spanish cape is unlike any other cape and you will learn how the classic models are made and how some contemporary ones are also crafted for bespoke orders.
To complete your artisans tour you will visit a selected leather workshop where you will meet a self-taught leather artisan who learnt the art of leather craftsmanship dismantling and reassembling bags to understand patterns. Now the items that are designed and crafted in this workshop form part of a millenary tradition and are true works of art.
1pm: after your introduction to the artisanal workshops of Madrid, be taken by your personal local host for a tapas lunch in order to enjoy a selection of different specialties from the central and northern regions of Spain. This will widen your appreciation of Spanish gastronomy after your introduction to the main Andalusian dishes during your journey through the South.
2:15pm: end of the tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: 1 executive room with a double bed and one preferential room with balcony with twin beds, both with breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
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2nd of April: flight back to the US
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8am: be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan from your hotel in Madrid to Madrid airport.
8:30am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flight at 10:50am (UA50 to Newark) and end of services.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke trip for a private group of 3 pax (4 pax from the 22nd of March) is 39850 Euros.
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This price includes
– 17 nights’ accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above (accommodation and breakfast for up to 3 pax the first three nights and accommodation and breakfast for up to 4 pax the following 14 nights).
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated uniformed driver.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all the guided tours.
– All the taxi rides for your tours of Barcelona on the 16th and 17th of March.
– A tapas dinner in Barcelona on the 16th of March including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– Domestic flight (Vueling airlines VY2121. A subsidiary of Iberia airlines) with a luggage allowance of one checked-in bag of up to 20kg, a cabin bag of up to 10kg (55 x 40 x 20cm maximum) and a small handbag.
– A homemade lunch in the house of a local chef in the village of Benalauría on the 20th of March including a starter, a main course, a dessert and drinks.
– A private visit to a premium olive oil producer on the 21st of March with the corresponding tastings of olive oil there.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist).
– A tapas dinner in Seville on the 21st of March including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– A private visit to a producer of premium Iberian ham with the corresponding tastings there.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the village of Aracena including a selection of 2 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– Private and exclusive use of a 1st floor balcony in Seville’s Plaza de San Francisco to watch the Semana Santa processions on Palm Sunday from 4:45pm until 8pm with your personal local host for the experience.
– A selection of tapas, wines and Easter sweets during your stay in the property where the balcony is. This will make a good dinner.
– Private visit to a farm of brave bulls in the countryside outside Seville including a tour of the farm in a 4×4 vehicle and followed by an aperitif with tapas and a homemade lunch including a starter, a main course, dessert and drinks.
– 19th century photography workshop in a cave house in the quarter of el Sacromonte in Granada with a framed family portrait of 25 x 30cm as a souvenir of your activity.
– Guided hike along the Caminito del rey with your own personal nature guide including the corresponding tickets for 4 pax and a packed lunch.
– High-speed train (1st class seats) to travel from Córdoba to Madrid on the 30th of March.
– Private visits to 3 selected artisan workshops in Madrid.
– A farewell tapas lunch in Madrid including a selection of 5 – 8 dishes to share and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat during your free time in each of the cities you will visit.
– 24h guardian angel throughout your trip.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights
– Any meals not mentioned right above
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this trip we require a 25% deposit of the grand total no later than the 11th of October at 11:59pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card as well as all your full names, all your passport numbers, all your birth dates and all the expiry dates of your passports. The final 75% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip.
Grand total of this bespoke trip: 39850 Euros
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25% deposit no later than the 11th of October 2023 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 9962,5 Euros
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Final 75% needed needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip 29887,5 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its start, we’ll charge the 25% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 15 days prior to its start, we’ll charge 40% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 60%
– If you canceled your trip between 14 and 8 days prior to its start, we’ll charge 55% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 45%.
– If you cancel your trip 7 days or less prior to its start, we’ll charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the duration / activities of the trip.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance from MedJet.
(***) If Spain borders close due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country due to this closure of the Spanish borders, we will give you a full refund.
