A Taste of Spain in Historic Andalusia

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7 days | 6 nights

Mediterranean Cultural and
Culinary Traditions along the Pueblos Blancos

Witness how locally grown and sustainable products are transformed into a cultural tango of meats, wine and fresh produce. The inland Pueblos Blancos (white towns) provide a sunny taste of Spain in the community of Andalusia and Province of Málaga. The culinary traditions of southern Spain are as diverse as its landscape, from fantastic fish and seafood on the coast to delicious sausages, stews and game dishes inland. Eating is a way of life in Spain, and the Pueblos Blancos are literally food obsessed. Meal times are relaxed, social occasions, allowing plenty of time for experiencing the fantastic flavors of the Mediterranean. Spain is famous for its Rioja wine, a full-bodied red wine served slightly chilled. Southern Spain is also famous for its sherries, the most famous being Jerez from Andalusia. Your culinary vacation package includes round-trip airport transfers from the Malaga airport, welcome reception, accommodations with private bath, delicious meals served with house wine, foodie tours, hands-on cooking classes, wine and olive oil tastings and market shopping with your host chef. Some meals will be at the hotel or local restaurants, while others may accompany your cooking classes.

A Taste of Spain in Historic Andalusia

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Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ

VACATION HIGHLIGHTS

Please note: Our tours are designed with flexible itineraries to accommodate seasonality and desired dates of travel.

•6 Nights Premium Accommodations

•Daily Breakfast

•Round-Trip Málaga Airport Transfers

•Traditional Welcome Dinner

•Guided Ronda Village Visit

•Traditional Andalusian Cooking

•Sherry Tour & Wine Tastings

•Guided Tapas Tour in Ronda

•Oil Mill Visit with Tastings

•Mediterranean Cooking Class

•Seafood & Fish Cooking Class

•Cheese & Hamon Workshop

AVAILABLE DATES

March through November 2018 (This tour starts on Monday and ends on Sunday)

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.

(click item for details)

Day 1

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Malaga to Ronda Airport Round-Trip Transfers

Your excursion into the land of Andalusia is a full-immersion culinary adventure designed to create memories that will last a lifetime. All tours run seven days and six nights with arrival on Mondays and departure on Sundays throughout the year. Upon arrival at the Malaga Airport, you will be greeted by your own car and driver. After a quick orientation of the city, you will enjoy a leisurely drive to your hotel located in the beautiful Cliffside village of Rhonda. After your final breakfast, your driver will transfer you from your hotel back to the Malaga Airport to board your flight back home, or to wherever your journeys may take you.

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Traditional Welcome Dinner | Ronda Village Visit

Despite being Andalucía's fastest-growing town - it overtook Córdoba in the big three Andaluz tourist attractions, behind Sevilla and Granada, in the early 21st century - Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the Rio Guadalevín through its center. Check into your hotel, and enjoy a traditional multi-course French Welcome Dinner.

Day 2

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking mountain views. The hotel serves a full international buffet breakfast to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, yogurts, breads and pastries, as well as cooked items. If long, leisurely breakfasts aren’t your thing, grab a quick bite and take a morning walk around the village.

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Traditional Andalusia Cooking Class| Lunch | Dinner

You will learn about the extraordinary products of the Andalusian homeland – (Wine, cheese, olive oil, sherry vinegar, etc.) You will learn how to cook a three-course meal including traditional Spanish starters, main dishes with meat, fish, paella, and exquisite desserts such as: Meringue Mimosa, orange cake, sesame puff pastry, rice/peach pudding, and more. Together you will cook and taste some of the best examples to be found in all of Spain. You will enjoy the fruits of your labor in an informal tasting lunch at the conclusion of your instruction. This evening's dinner will be in Ronda.

Day 3

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

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Tapas Tour | Cheese Workshop

Today you will walk through the maze of narrow alleys, streets and patios in Ronda to visit the locals’ favorite tapas bars. Also, learn about Andalusia’s fine cheeses, often eaten as a tapas accompanied by a glass of fino or manzanilla sherry. The cheeses are mostly made from goat's milk, from herds which live in the mountainous areas of the region. In an interactive workshop and visits to cheese artisans & hamon shops, learn how it is all cultivated, produced, and enjoyed – the Spanish way.

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Mediterranean Tapas Cooking Class | Lunch | Dinner

The mild Mediterranean climate allows the cultivation of various fruits and vegetables for most of the year. The finca’s (estate) location, surrounded by small vegetables gardens, facilitates the availability of a variety of organic products that will be incorporated into the traditional dishes you will prepare, such as mini chorizo sausages in cider, mushrooms in garlic sauce, potato omelet with tomato bread, meatballs with squid, and pears in wine sauce. You will enjoy the fruits of your labor in a casuall tasting lunch at the conclusion of your instruction. This evening's dinner will be in Ronda.

Day 4

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

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Oil Mill Visit & Oil Tastings | Lunch | Dinner

Today you will have the opportunity to visit famous olive mills and taste some of the best olive oil in the world. Spain is the undisputed powerhouse of olive oil production with nearly 50% of global production annually, led by the southern region of Andalusia. Here it is possible to visit some of the very best mills in the world for tastings and educational tours – so savor the opportunity to discover some of the most exquisite olive oils ever made! Lunch will be in the form of tastings, and there will be plenty to satisfy even the most robust appetite. Dinner will be back in Ronda this evening.

Day 5

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

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Fish and Seafood Cooking Class | Lunch | Dinner

The traditional seafood menu is both natural and passionate, full of contrasts. Its presentation is elaborated, innovative and creative, to allow those who experiment in the culinary arts to feel just as real as a chef in their own kitchen. In this hands-on cooking class, you will learn about different types of fish & seafood. Andalusia’s location between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean has offered a rich seafood culture and history throughout the centuries. Lunch will be at the conclusion of your culinary instruction. Dinner will be enjoyed back in Ronda this evening.

Day 6

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

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Sherry Tour & Wine Tasting | Farewell Mult-Course Dinner

Your day will begin with a visit to one of the best-known producers of sherry wine. Here you will have the opportunity to learn about the production of wines and taste each variety. Your guide will lead you through the rows of casks – explaining the criadera and solera system used to blend different vintages, and the difference between the dry finos, amontillados and olorosos. The tour will end with a tasting of the various wines, expertly drawn from the barrels. Dinner this evening is a multi-course, farewell dining experience that will highlight regional cuisines.

Day 7

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Morning Breakfast Buffet

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Check-Out and Departure

Time flies when you’re having so much fun, but alas…it is time to check out and depart this delicious, “Edible Destination.” Remember, short excursion packages are often available in nearby cities or historic destinations. Should you desire an extension, please let your culinary travel specialist know prior to check-in. This morning you will be transferred back to the Malaga Airport to begin your journey back home. May your future travels come from sweet dreams, and create tasty memories!

Catalonia Reina Victoria

Overlooking Ronda's spectacular Tajo Gorge, The Catalonia Reina Victoria is a luxurious 4-star hotel and spa settled in a unique environment, located between a lovely pine forest and the heart of the city center of Ronda. Around the hotel is a 3,000 square meter garden with a beautiful terrace overlooking the valley & gorge, a restaurant, and panoramic views. Local tourist attractions such as Plaza de Toros (Ronda), City Centre Ronda, and Puente Nuevo are just a short walk away from the hotel. Immerse yourself in the beautiful outdoor swimming pool, full-service health spa, great cuisine, 24-hour room service, panoramic views, and more... Decorated in a sleek contemporary style, your room will offer you all the comforts you need as you embark on a culinary journey through Andalusia.

Ronda, Spain•Malaga, Spain

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What Currency is being quoted?

All prices are quoted in USD. The price quoted on the first page of a tour is always per person, double occupancy.

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What does Double Occupancy mean?

Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.

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What is a Single Supplement?

Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.

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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?

Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.

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Is a Deposit required to book a tour or getaway?

Yes. We require a 30% refundable deposit for all our domestic (USA and Canada) getaways and tours, and a 50% refundable deposit for international destinations outside of the USA and Canada. Reservations made for destinations within the USA and Canada must be paid in full 30 days prior to departure. Reservations made for destinations outside of the USA and Canada must be paid in full 60 days prior to departure.

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Are flights included in the tour price?

No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.

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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?

Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.

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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?

Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.

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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?

Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.

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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?

In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.

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What is your Cancellation Policy?

Our full cancellation policy is stated in the Terms and Conditions when making your reservation. Cancellations with a full refund are allowed up to 31 days or more prior to departure for USA and Canada tours, or up to 61 days or more prior to departure for international tours. No refund is allowed 30 days or less prior to departure for USA and Canada tours, or 60 days or less prior to departure for international tours.

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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?

Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.

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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?

Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.

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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?

The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.

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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?

Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.

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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?

Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.

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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?

All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.

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Do you recommend Travel Protection?

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company), 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N

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CULINARY TRAVEL
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Mediterranean Cultural and Culinary Traditions along the Pueblos Blancos

A Taste of Spain in Historic Andalusia

Mediterranean Cultural and
Culinary Traditions along the Pueblos Blancos