Gourmet, cultural and adventurous tour around Catalonia

Gourmet, cultural and adventurous tour around Catalonia

12 days- Catalonia 11 nights

Nº of participants: from 8 people

Available upon request

This a unique Gourmet, cultural and adventurous tour around Catalonia, a region situated in the northeast of Spain, to discover amazing cultural treasures full of history , and taste great wines as well as one of the best cuisines in the world. This tour will take you to the beautiful region of Catalonia that consisit of 4 provinces , 3 of which the group will visit : Barcelona, Gerona and Tarragona.

This wonderful gourmet food and wine tour takes you to a land of outstanding beauty, visiting the most fascinating fishing villages and well preserved medieval towns in Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia by the Mediterranean Sea, where its enchanting landscape, filled with rolling hills and picturesque stone-built villages is a pleasure to explore as well as the beautiful beaches and shaped cliffs of the amazing Costa Brava. From here we will visit the nearby medieval villages of Pals, Ullastret ,Peratallada…. And we will go along the Dali,s route : Cadaques, full of historical and cultural interest, with monuments and museums, such as the famous house Museu of Dalí. We will then continue up to the Pyrenees, frontier with France, to be amazed by its fascinating landscapes, of hights, lakes and rivers…..

You will not only discover a route of amazing Dali,s surreal art, gorgeous villas and castles , lovely beaches and exquisite wineries, but you will also find out a cuisine that is unique ,imaginative and varied: in no other place except in this region, it is known how to mix with as much deftness and imagination, all types of produce from both the land and the sea. Through combinations called “Surf and Turf’ or fish and Meat the Catalan chefs are able to marry both worlds with a result of sophisticated dishes which would seem to have been designed by Dalí.

During this culinary tour we will enjoy some “hands-on” cooking classes at prestigious cooking schools at Barcelona and at Costa Brava , to bring you up on the most traditional recipes of Catalonia as well as a few avant-garde recipes called “Cocina de Autor “.

One of our winery visits will be in the stunning Castle of Peralada, a perfectly preserved medieval village at the base of The Pyrenees. Peralada is the official wine centre for wine originating in Empordà, and down in its celebrated cellars, where the Carmelite monks had made wine from the fourteenth century, the best wine and cava (sparkling wine) are produced with great care. We will also enjoy a biking tour among the vineyards at the Penedes wine region and visit a DO Emporda winery, so you will have the chance to taste diferent spanish wines from several regions.

Other unique culinary activities we will experience during this vacation will be swiimminng with blue tunas¡¡ visits to artisan food producers, like an olive oil mill, a factory that elaborates the best fuet and salchichon in Catalonia, and visit the local fish port or Palamós, breath the nature at the breathtaking mountains of the Pyrrenees, and more You will be amazed…..

The hotels are hand selected, modern, comfortable, charming and cozy ones, with the best views and high quality service and installations.

B- Breakfast L- Lunch D- Dinner

Day 1- D. Welcome to Barcelona.

Private transfer from airport to our modern and centric hotel situated right in the centre of Barcelona, within ten minutes walking distance of Gaudi’s Pedrera and Casa Batlló, the Ramblas street, the Liceu opera house, the Picasso museum and much more ¡
Welcome lunch or dinner at a typical restaurant in the heart of Barcelona.

Day 2- B/L Penedés- Wine region –bike adventour

Penedès wine region has more than 250 cellars and is the largest wine area in Catalonia, This is the perfect environment to enjoy biking through the vineyards and discover the great wines of their cellars.. We want you to enjoy the magnificent scenery of this wine region, and the fascinating world of Wine and Cava in a privileged
We want to give you the chance to enjoy a half day by electric bike ( around 3 hours) surrounded by vineyards, visiting a winery that we will find along the way where we will discover the different steps in the process of making Cava and Wine. This will lead to a tasting of the final product. Finally you will enjoy a great lunch in a restaurant in order to know the fantastic Catalan cuisine.

Day 3- B/L Tuna tour experience

Today you will have an unforgettable experience, full of sensations for all five senses
where you will be the star because you will be able to observe wild Bluefin tuna fish in their environment while you feed them and swim among hundreds of them.

You will sail in a modern and innovative two-deck catamaran from which you will be able to see the entire coast of the Gulf of Sant Jordi and will learn about the history of the Bluefin tuna, its biology and how they got to l’Ametlla de Mar.

In addition, you will be able to enjoy tasting the most highly appreciated tuna in all the restaurants of the world.

Day 4- B/L Barcelona

Check out. Our meeting point will be the Boqueria Market, situated in “ Las Ramblas” , a famous cheerful pedestrian street with traditional shops, the fresh market of “la Boqueria” is one of the most spectacular and nicest food market in Spain. It is famous for the quality and diversity of its produce which comes from around the world. It is located on a site originally intended to be used as the courtyard of the church of Sant Josep. We will meet our chef to buy the ingredients for our cooking class.
Then we will go to our prestigious cooking school, just 5 minutes from the market, and put on our aprons …….The workshop will last about three hours and will consist of a complete menu- first and second dish and dessert -based on regional or other typical Spanish recipes you may wish to learn how to cook such us:
• Gazpacho, tomato soup with garlic, olive oil and other vegetable/ Spanish omelette, with potatoes, onions and more Mediterranean ingredients/Famous rice dish: PAELLA ¡¡/ Dessert: Catalan cream.
We will finish with a delicious lunch based on what we have prepared accompanied with excellent Spanish wine.
Before we head to Costa Brava, (just one hour and a half from Barcelona.) we will enjoy a walling tour at the Gothic quarter and a panoramic tour of Barcelona, with some drops off, to admire, Sacred Family by Gaudís, the Tibidabo mountain with its breathtaking views,,the Olympic port, Casa Batló, Colon Plaza….
Check in your 4* Hotel, well known for its great views to the Mediterranean sea and beautiful surroundings, the ideal place to disconnect while you enjoy a magical ambiance and taste superb Mediterranean dishes prepared by its Chef.

Day 5- B/L Full day excurison to Ampurias and Gerona

First we will have the great opprtunity to visit an Anchovie family run factory. Since 1888 this family packed the best anchovies using traditional methods, which makes their anchovies have popularity among the best chefs in the world. We will see the production and taste this delicacies¡
We will then visit Ampuries: constitutes a privileged site for understanding the evolution of urban Greek in the western Mediterranean, as well as to examine the town planning of the final period of the Roman Republic and its transformation during the post-imperial era.

A great gourmet lunch will follow.

After lunch, Within 40 minutes, Gerona, the great unknown, the “City of the Four Rivers”, has all the charm of big cities, but without the crowds, and has a historic centre dominated by medieval buildings and Roman reminiscences, Arabic and Hebrew, to captivate.
We will discover the ancient city of Gerona, with its medieval narrow streets, Arab baths, and stunning 15th century Gothic cathedral.
You will walk around with an expert guide, its medieval buildings, visiting the Cathedral and the church of San Félix Carolingian walls, the University Square, the Jewish Quarter (one of the most important Jewish communities in the network of Spanish Jewry) entering the fascinating Jewish Museum, and the district union.

Day 6- B/L- Cooking class, fishing port and winery

Today We will first Visit to the open market of Palafrugell and its lovely town by the sea.

Next, the Fishing museum and learn about the fishing methods, modern and ancient ones and know the fish specialties and catches of our seas.
We will then enjoy a hands-on lesson of the cuisine of this region at The Cooking school of The Fishing Museum. A spacious and prestigious school with views over the Port, where you will learn the best specialties of the Mediterranean Cuisine.

Around 4p.m guided visit to the “Lonja” to welcome boats coming back from a hard day of work ande where the fresh fish of the day is sold. we might have the chance to welcome the boats coming back from the deep sea with their fish catches of the day on how the dispatch them and sell them by auction at “ La Lonja” or fish market. Very curious and very interesting to learn about Mediterranean seafood ¡¡

After we will visit a 350-year-old country house, which has a beautiful and sunny terrace overlooking the sea, are situated in the middle of the vineyard.

The construction of a larger winery began in 2002 and ended in 2006. Fermentation rooms have thermoregulated steel tanks. The malolactic fermentation and aging rooms, fully air-conditioned, are located on both sides of the fermentation room. The reception area is located at a higher level, allowing us to work by gravity in most of the process.
We will taste 3 of is superb wines.

Day 7- B/L-Medieval towns, olive oil mill & Michelin star

Excursion to the nearby lovely medieval villages as Pals, Peratallada .. . Your guide will take you within its cobblestone streets, amazing medieval walls.
We will also visit to an olive oil mill and olive groves and learn about the “gold liquid” production . Tasting of the olive oil they produce.

We wiil then have a GOURMET lunch at a Michelin restaurant by the sea.

In the afternoon we will enjoy a lovely seaside walk along a beautiful pine grove. We will drive up to the top of the hill by the “Far” and contemplate a breathtaking panoramic view of the Mediterranean sea.

Day 8- B/L Castle winery and Cadaques

Check out
Full day excursion to the stunning Castle of Peralada, just one hour from our hotel. The Cellar Master will give us an intimate tour through the vineyards, the winery, the museum, followed by an informative wine tasting down in the cellar, where the prestigious “Cava Gran Claustro” is produced. We will also visit the Carmelite monastery with its outstanding collection of glass and crystal ware, its magnificent library and wine museum.

Lunch based in regional cuisine will follow in a traditional Masia (catalan traditional house).

In the afternoon we travel to the lovely seaside medieval village of Cadaqués. Get lost at its cobblestoned streets of its historic centre is a pleasure. We will visit the museum of Dalí ,its home where he lived and worked most of his live.

Day 9- B/L Cadaques and Pyrenees

Check out.
Optional kayac activity at the spectacular crystaline water of its sea.
Lunch based on fresh fish of this area.
Off we go to the Pyrinees along a charming way to look and make some stops at spectacular medieval villages, like Castelfullit de la Roca ( it seems like hanging onethe mountain).

Arrive to Meranges, a charming village. An amazing set to rest, have

peace, observe and breath pure nature. One of the most beautiful landscapes in this part of the Pyrenees.

Day 10 B/L Treking at Pyrenees

Today we will enjoy a wonderful morning of treking, for one of the most beautiful places, around lakes, crossing rivers and valleys . This will last around 3 hours, to end with a great lunch to recover energy¡ we will taste de specialties of this region.

Afternoon to rest and enjoy your cozy hotel with views.

Day 11- B/L Vic and sausage factory

Chek out.
On the way back to Barcelona we will stop at Vic. It is considered the capital of the production of embutidos catalanes, like fuet or salchichon, a type of cured sausages. We will visit the most important factory, learn about its production methods, and taste this great products with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) since 2002. The selection of the best ingredients, natural drying and knowledge transmitted from generation to generation has given to the Vic Salchichón by this Factory, a unique and exceptional bouquet able to cross borders.

We will then, enjoy a walking tour around the historical area, taking in the Roman Temple, city walls, Romanesque bridge, Plaça Major, City Hall, etc.
Fabolous lunch will follow at one ot the best restaurant in town.

Back to Barcelona,Check in and afternoon on your own
Optional farawell dinner.

Day 12–B. Last day

Check out. Transfer to Barcelona Airport
Culinary spain wishes you a back trip safe home and hopes you had a memorable trip with us.

WHAT INCLUDES:

• 11 nights with full breakfast daily

• 4 nights in Barcelona
• 4 nights in Costa Brava
• 1 night in Cadaques
• 2 nights in Pyrinees
• Private transfers and transportation by bus (20 or 30 seats, depending on size group) from/to airports and during all itinerary.
• 7 lunches at renowned/prestigious restaurants or cooking schools with wine and waters included. ( 1/ 2 bottle per person) Extra drinks not included.
• 2 lunches at cooking schools with wine and waters included. ( 1/ 2 bottle per person).
• 1 lunch at Michelin star restaurants. ( drinks NOT INCLUDED)
• 1 welcome dinner with wine and waters included. ( 1/ 2 bottle per person)
• Private guided tours  of Barcelona, Medieval towns at Costa Brava, Ampuries ( entrance to Greek site) Gerona ( entrance to cathedral and Arab baths) , Cadaques ( entrance to DAlis house museum), Vic ( entrance to Roman temple)
• 2 cooking classes with Chefs including all material and lunch, at Barcelona and Palamós ( costa brava)
• Guided Visit to local producers including tastings:

1. 3 wineries ( penedes, peralada and EMporda)
2. Anchovie factory
3. Olive oil mill
4. Fuet and salchichon factory

• Biking tour ( 2to3 hours) at Penedes wine region, including guide and insurance
• Tuna tour, including, catamaran ride , swimming /snorkking with tunas , material, tasting and insurance.

• Hiking or trekking tour ( 2 to 3 hours) including guide and insurance
• PDF with itinerary with directions of all hotels, guides and visits
• Local taxes.

*** There will not be a guide with them on the bus during the excursions. ( except transfers from/to Airport in BARCELONA) Guides are local and will meet then upon arrival at the different cities or places to visit.

What is not included:

• Extra drinks not specified and all drinks at Michelin Star restaurant
• Travel insurance
• International flight
• Guide in the bus during itineary ( only for airport transfers)
• Turistic taxs at hotels ( for example : per person and night in Barcelona  is+1,20€)

Optional:

• Dinners and farawell dinner.
• Extra nights
• Kayac at Cadaqués
• Reservations for dinners
• Travel insurance