Don Carmelo's Andalusia

New Date TBC

6 days - 5 nights
Price pp: 1090 euro

(excl flight to/from Málaga, price based on a shared hotelroom).

Maximum amount of guests: 7
This journey takes us past the most beautiful places within a radius of 60 km around our finca. We want to introduce you to the interesting culture and incomparable nature of our region: the Axarquía. You do not have to do a lot of kilometers to discover in a short time the true soul of Andalusia. Don Carmelo was the illustrious vet / magician / savant who visited the farmyards in the area around our finca on the motor. We travel, as it were, in his tracks and discover the beautiful Axarquía region, which is not very well known by tourists, through his glasses. Of course there is a visit to our finca (with olive tasting!) On the program, just like two very beautiful routes through the mountains, the 'Ruta de los Olivos Milenarios' and the 'Ruta Mudéjar'. A (short) walk through the Natural Park Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alháma, a city tour on the pearl of the Nerja coast, Frigiliana, the most beautiful village of Andalucía, and the lesser known Alháma de Granada with its spectacular gorge (El Tajo, as in Ronda, but without tourists), this makes a very varied journey. This 6-day trip is a combination of Andalusian culture, culinary discoveries and the wonderful natural beauty of the magnificent region between Málaga and Granada.

Program

Day 1
Pick-up at Málaga airport at 10.00 in the morning.
 If you do not want to or can't fly in that early, it is always possible to arrive the day before: we will then pick you up at your hotel in Málaga.

Transfer by minibus to Finca Don Carmelo via the coastal road, where we enjoy a cortado, cafe solo or cafe con leche on the beach. We drive through the montes de Málaga to the wine bar of our friend Juan, for a tasting of Vermut and Málaga wine and a guided tour in the rustic bodega. We have lunch in the village in a typical Spanish bar.

Transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

At 10 am we leave the hotel and drive to Alháma de Granada. On the border between Málaga and Granada, we think this is one of the most interesting towns in Andalusia. Our driver drops us off in the center and travels with our suitcases to Hotel El Ventorro.
We explore the historic heart of this extraordinary village that stood as one of the last strongholds of the Moors. After a drink and a tapa on the cozy central square we walk through the spectacular Alháma gorge, less known than Ronda, but at least as beautiful, along the idyllic Alháma river and old water mills, towards our hotel.

We have lunch in the hotel's traditional restaurant and afterwards there is time for a spa session in the Baños Arabes of the hotel. In the evening we go back to the village to have tapas at our favorite bars of Alháma, El Tigre and La Ochoa (once elected by the English newspaper The Guardian to one of the five best bars in the world.

Day 3

After breakfast we follow the Ruta Mudéjar (the route of the Moriscos, last remaining Moors in Al-Andalus) along the Moorish villages Canillas de Aceituno, Sedella and Salares. In the Middle Ages, this was also the Andalusian silk route that was used to transport the silk (made in this region) to the Moorish court in Granada by arrieros (mule drivers) via the so-called veredas (mountain paths). We stop for a short walk through Canillas where we eat a tapa of the local specialty chivo (young goat) at the locally famous restaurant La Sociedad. Canillas is a typical white village where the winding streets are decorated with many flower boxes. We pass by the village of Sedella that takes its name from the side (seda) and when there is time we visit the church that - like almost all the churches in this region - is built on the ruins of a mosque. All roads in the village of Salares lead to Bar El Theo, so we can not help but enjoy lunch with our dear friend Theo in Salares.


Theo creates his world-famous arroz especially for us: the local version of paella. We take a short walk through the village of Salares, along the Roman bridge and possibly a piece of the Sierras de Tejeda nature park, Almijara y Alháma. Then we continue our way to Nerja, the pearl of the Costa del Sol, where everyone has the evening off to discover this lovely coastal town, where the 'Wittekerke' of Spain played a long time (the Spanish TV series dates back more than 30 years ago and was called Verano Azul), making it known to all Spaniards. Despite its popularity - both with Spanish and international tourists - Nerja has managed to preserve its authentic character with its winding streets and beautiful promontory, the 'Balcony of Europe'.

Overnight in Nerja, right on the beach.

Day 4
After breakfast we drive to the caves of Nerja, which geologists consider even more interesting than those of Lascaux. These caves are of great archaeological importance and are therefore part of Spain's historical heritage. Paleontologists have discovered only two years ago the oldest cave drawings (43,000 years old!) That were the work of Neanderthals.

Then it is time for a visit to Frigiliana, which has been voted the most beautiful village of Andalucía a number of times by, among others, National Geographic. We have lunch in the former haunted village of El Acebuchal, a hamlet with a dramatic story, deep in the mountain range of the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alháma. That the Andalusian ornamental race during the civil war were hiding place for the resistance against Franco suddenly becomes very clear here.
After lunch we drive to our hotel.

Day 5

Early birds have time this morning to hang on the beautiful pool of the hotel or together with us to take a walk in the nature park.
Afterwards we drive to Finca Don Carmelo where you will experience a traditional cata - an olive oil tasting - a tour of the domain, followed by a healthy lunch with some of our own products.
We close the trip in the evening with a farewell dinner.

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Day 6

Transfer to the airport for those with an early flight.
Anyone flying later in the day can drop off at Málaga train station, where luggage can be stored in lockers so that you can still visit the city. From the station a train goes to the airport in 10 minutes.

Practical
Price: 1090 euro pp
All overnight stays, breakfasts, lunches + the farewell dinner included.

Travel guided by Alain and Jakobien, transfers by minibus.
Limited group: max 7 participants
Single supplement 125 euros.
The program can still be adjusted slightly in function of the ever changing opening hours in Spain.