Private and Bespoke
Travel
ESSENTIAL SPAIN
On this 9 day essential Spain travel plan, you will explore the incredible treasures from the varying cultures of Spain from Barcelona to Madrid, to Andalusia. Spain represents an enormous variety of awesome cultural activities, a great local wine production scene, night life, top restaurants, shopping and so much more. Discover the essence of Spain with our guidance. Whatever type or traveler you are, we are confident that Spain will offer you the experience you are looking for to have an unforgettable trip.
SUGGESTED PLAN
Day 1
BARCELONA CULTURAL IMMERSION TAPAS & WINE TOUR
This evening's food and wine tour is all about decoding Barcelona using its great bars and restaurants. Aside from being a great night out, this experience will set the stage for your whole wine retreat, and leave you with a full overview of Spanish wine.
Day 2
MODERNIST BARCELONA
Follow the Modernist route, including a visit to Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Palau de la Musica, and the Hospital de Sant Pau. The final leg of this tour will take you truly behind the scenes as you will be invited into the home of a local who lives in a perfectly preserved Eixample modernist apartment. Here you will have some wine and snacks while you discuss the significance of Barcelona’s modernist style to its local residents.
Day 3
COSTA BRAVA & MIDIEVAL GIRONA
We’ll first drive to Pals, one of the most well-preserved and beautiful medieval villages in all of Catalunya. Then we’ll head to a white-washed coastal fishing village where you will love walking along the seafront path. We’ll have a great seaside paella lunch before our final stop in Girona, which is a very well-preserved medieval city. After a 1.5-hour tour of the old quarter, we’ll head back to Barcelona.
Day 4
AVE TO MADRID, AFTERNOON PRADO & WINE
In the morning, check out and head to the train station for your fast train to Madrid. You’ll arrive in the mid afternoon, get checked into your boutique hotel and then after getting settled, head over to meet your guide at the Prado Museum, where we will enjoy the most famous Spanish painters of the, such as Velázquez, Murillo and Goya. As you will be accompanied by our local expert, these pieces will be brought to life and you will adapt a new appreciation for their significance and impact. After the visit and to unwind, we’ll head to an elegant local wine shop for a private Spanish wine tasting. Evening at leisure.
Day 5
DAY TRIP TO TOLEDO
Your guide will meet you to start your private day tour through the spectacular Castilian landscape of windmills and castles, all the way to Toledo, nicknamed the “City of three Cultures”. We’ll explore the winding cobblestone streets of the old town, wander through narrow alleys, see the Cathedral, walk along the wall and its gates, and learn about the legacy of the Moors, Jews and Christians.
Day 6
AVE TO GRANDA, PRIVATE ALHAMBRA TOUR
In the morning head to Atocha station and catch your fast AVE train to the city of Granada. Once settled at your hotel, your private guide will pick you up and begin by exploring the Albaycin on a walking tour, visiting beautiful viewpoints of the Alhambra. You will then have a private guided tour of the Alhambra Palaces and Generalife Gardens. After the tour, we’ll bring you back to the hotel, or you can continue to wander Granada at your leisure.
Day 7
WHITE VILLAGES OF ANDALUSIA & FLAMENCO
Your private guide will pick you up for the incredible White Villages tour, including Zahara. As you drive into each of them, you will experience the unique feel and distinct character of this series of towns and small villages. Then get ready to take in the incredible views of Ronda, a mountaintop city that’s set dramatically above a deep gorge. Finally we will end in Seville where after getting settled at your hotel, you will have front row seats for one of the best intimate Flamenco shows in town.
Day 8
EAT WITH A LOCAL IN SEVILLE
Taste the best in home-cooked cuisine, discovering the reality of life in Seville. A friendly local will open their home to you for a few hours, cooking an authentic regional meal and offering insights into Spanish life often overlooked by tourists. This will likely be the most enlightening and enjoyable meal you experience in Seville, letting you savor a true taste of Spain. After lunch, your host will take you out on a 2hr panoramic walking tour of Seville, giving you a solid lay of the land.
Day 9
CORDOBA & AVE TO MADRID
For your final day we will take you back in time to the glorious kingdom of Al-Andalus. Cordoba, situated on the legendary Guadalquivir River, boasts monuments to both its Islamic and Christian heritage. See its mosque (known as the Mezquita), a fine example of Islamic architecture that features intricate arches. You’ll see the contrast with the Gothic style of the city’s World Heritage-listed cathedral, then walk along the narrow alleys of the former Jewish quarter. Finally, we will get you to the train station for your fast train to return to Madrid where you will end your journey.