Cooking in Andalusian Olive Country

Tucked away in the heart of the Andalusian olive country that borders the stunningly beautiful Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas lies the Andalusian finca (farmhouse). The accommodation is surrounded by breathtaking views: a superb panorama of hillsides carpeted with olive trees rolling gently across the horizon as far as the eye can reach. It is authentic rural Andalusia, a gem truly unknown to most visitors to Spain, yet the finca is within easy reach of the World Heritage cities of Granada and Córdoba.

The farmhouse has been lovingly restored to a high standard yet has retained many original rustic features with plenty of cosy nooks and crannies for the guests to enjoy. Shying away from extravagance, the setting is very intimate and idyllic. The fresh and fruity aroma of the olive oil will dominate your senses as you approach the region; this is where the producers of one of the world’s finest quality extra virgin olive oils originate. The region is full of outstanding natural beauty, diverse history and rich cultural heritage that the locals strive to preserve. It will be a unique culinary experience exploring some of the undiscovered jewels and genuine flavors of Andalusia.

Latest Review

I gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Abhishake

Washington

Clive and Maki were amazing hosts. I learned so much and it was genuinely a pleasure to be in their company. They are great people with a wonderful story and taught me a lot about Spain and life in Andalusia. The accommodations were neat, prepared, clean. Maki was so nice to drive me to and from my arrival and destinations. The area is absolutely beautiful and the weather was perfect. The cooking was an adventure and I definitely came away with an experience, not just a class. All meals were five star + and I could not have asked for a more pleasant time.

Trip Details

Your 4 hands-on cooking classes with be with your host and chef, Clive, who has been a professional Chef of the highest caliber for over twenty years, with a distinguished career in the United Kingdom. He specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, and his passion for food and cooking led him to launch his own cooking retreat in rural Andalusia with his wife Maki in 2005. A true food connoisseur, Clive will teach you the preparation of standard Andalusian fare and will lead you in an exploration of the Moorish flavors that have influenced the cuisine of the region. Most of the produce will be picked from their own garden. The fun-filled cooking sessions are casual, informative and very hands-on, usually based around the preparation of a three-course menu. Clive’s laid-back style and gentle nature will increase your confidence in cooking and inspire your imagination.

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Day One

Please note that we recommend you be in relatively good shape to do this itinerary, as the excursions require a good deal of walking and negotiating stairs and inclines.

Afternoon pick up (after 2 p.m.) at Granada or Málaga international airport or Antequera/Santa Ana train station and transfer to the farmhouse in the heartland of Andalusia.
Enjoy welcome drinks followed with some free time to settle in.
In the early evening you will have an opportunity to take a stroll around the charming whitewashed lakeside village of Iznájar, perched on a rocky outcrop, where you will enjoy a spectacular view of the Lake of Andalusia.
Tonight’s dinner will feature contemporary Andalusian cuisine and will be served by your hosts at the finca.
Overnight.

Day Two

After breakfast, you will travel through the delightful Andalusian countryside to visit one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces, Mezquita in Córdoba. You will learn about the different cultures that shape the region — Moorish, Jewish and Christian. You will visit the most famous street, the Callejón de las Flores, whose balconies and walls are decorated with hanging pots of vibrant-colored geraniums in summer.
Following, you will have a quick stop at the Moroccan tea salon and then free time to wander around the World Heritage site, the Judería, or old Jewish quarter.
Lunch will take place at a popular tavern with a Moorish-style patio offering some of the most celebrated regional cuisine.
Return to the farmhouse, refresh and attend your first hands-on cooking session with your host, followed by dinner.

Day Three

After leisurely breakfast, depart for an award-winning olive mill, where you will be guided by an official olive oil taster for the DO Priego de Cordoba and taste one of the finest olive oils in the world.
Visit the energetic and lively town of Priego de Cordoba, which is known as the Baroque Jewel in Andalusia with its glorious Baroque architecture, national monuments and stunning attractions, and yet it is delightfully unspoiled.
Following a gentle stroll in the narrow passageways of Barrio de la Villa, or the Arab Quarter, bedecked with a myriad of colorful flowers, stop at a typical Andalusian tapas bar for lunch with fino, the local sherry wine.
After a relaxing lunch, return to the farmhouse and time for a little relaxation.
Meet Clive for your next cooking session, followed by dinner.
Overnight.

Day Four

After breakfast, depart for Granada to visit another World Heritage Site: the exquisite Moorish Alhambra Palace is the highlight of any visitor’s trip to Spain. An expert will guide you through the palace.
After your tour, you will have a chance to walk around the maze of narrow alleyways in the central district before settling in at a traditional Granadian bar for tapas lunch.
After lunch you will have a chance to do some shopping before making your way back to the finca to rest.
Later in the evening, you will enjoy your third cooking session with the Chef, followed by dinner.

Day Five

Following breakfast, your day begins with a visit and tasting at one of the best-known producers of sherry wine, a vineyard founded in the eighteenth century in Montilla. Nobel Prize writer Camílo José Cela praised the wine from Montilla in his travel essays, declaring “its quality is as good as its soil: so pure, so gold, so delicate… and the taste is superior!”
Return to the Finca to unwind by the pool or by the terrace for a light lunch.
In the late afternoon, you will enjoy a farewell cooking session outdoors (weather permitting), followed by dinner.

Day Six

After breakfast transfer to Granada or Málaga international airport, or Antequera/Santa Ana train station.

Day One

Please note that we recommend you be in relatively good shape to do this itinerary, as the excursions require a good deal of walking and negotiating stairs and inclines.

Afternoon pick up (after 2 p.m.) at Granada or Málaga international airport or Antequera/Santa Ana train station and transfer to the farmhouse in the heartland of Andalusia.
Enjoy welcome drinks followed with some free time to settle in.
In the early evening you will have an opportunity to take a stroll around the charming whitewashed lakeside village of Iznájar, perched on a rocky outcrop, where you will enjoy a spectacular view of the Lake of Andalusia.
Tonight’s dinner will feature contemporary Andalusian cuisine and will be served by your hosts at the finca.
Overnight.

Day Two

After breakfast, you will travel through the delightful Andalusian countryside to visit one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces, Mezquita in Córdoba. You will learn about the different cultures that shape the region — Moorish, Jewish and Christian. You will visit the most famous street, the Callejón de las Flores, whose balconies and walls are decorated with hanging pots of vibrant-colored geraniums in summer.
Following, you will have a quick stop at the Moroccan tea salon and then free time to wander around the World Heritage site, the Judería, or old Jewish quarter.
Lunch will take place at a popular tavern with a Moorish-style patio offering some of the most celebrated regional cuisine.
Return to the farmhouse, refresh and attend your first hands-on cooking session with your host, followed by dinner.

Day Three

After leisurely breakfast, depart for an award-winning olive mill, where you will be guided by an official olive oil taster for the DO Priego de Cordoba and taste one of the finest olive oils in the world.
Visit the energetic and lively town of Priego de Cordoba, which is known as the Baroque Jewel in Andalusia with its glorious Baroque architecture, national monuments and stunning attractions, and yet it is delightfully unspoiled.
Following a gentle stroll in the narrow passageways of Barrio de la Villa, or the Arab Quarter, bedecked with a myriad of colorful flowers, stop at a typical Andalusian tapas bar for lunch with fino, the local sherry wine.
After a relaxing lunch, return to the farmhouse and time for a little relaxation.
Meet Clive for your next cooking session, followed by dinner.
Overnight.

Day Four

Breakfast and departure.

Trip Details

5 Night Details
3 Night Details

Included in the 5-Night Trip

Accommodations

5 nights accommodation at charming finca (farmhouse) B&B

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast
4 lunches
5 dinners
Wine, water, and coffee with all included meals

Classes & Instructors

Excursions

Excursion to Córdoba
Olive mill visit with tasting
Visit of Priego de Cordoba
Excursion to Granada with visit of Alhambra Palace and time to explore Granada on your own (please note the guided tours of the Alhambra sell out far in advance, and if unavailable we will substitute a self-guided audio tour)
Sherry producer visit and tasting

Transfer Details

Arrival transfer from Granada or Málaga international airport, or Antequera-Santa Ana train station (on day 1 please plan to arrive in the afternoon after 2 p.m.)
Departure transfer to Granada or Málaga international airport, or Antequera-Santa Ana train station (check out by 11 am).
Please note that due to driving restrictions we cannot usually accommodate pickups or dropoffs from/to the city centers. Late arrival and early departure may incur a surcharge, please inquire.

Included in the 3-Night Trip

Accommodations

3 nights accommodation at charming finca (farmhouse) B&B

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast
2 lunches
3 dinners
Wine, water, and coffee with all included meals

Classes & Instructors

Your 2 hands-on cooking classes with be with your host and chef, Clive, who has been a professional Chef of the highest caliber for over twenty years, with a distinguished career in the United Kingdom. He specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, and his passion for food and cooking led him to launch his own cooking retreat in rural Andalusia with his wife Maki in 2005. A true food connoisseur, Clive will teach you the preparation of standard Andalusian fare and will lead you in an exploration of the Moorish flavors that have influenced the cuisine of the region. Most of the produce will be picked from their own garden. The fun-filled cooking sessions are casual, informative and very hands-on, usually based around the preparation of a three-course menu. Clive’s laid-back style and gentle nature will increase your confidence in cooking and inspire your imagination.

Excursions

Excursion to Córdoba
Olive mill visit with tasting
Visit of Priego de Cordoba

Transfer Details

Arrival transfer from Granada or Málaga international airport, or Antequera-Santa Ana train station (on day 1 please plan to arrive in the afternoon after 2 p.m.)
Departure transfer to Granada or Málaga international airport, or Antequera-Santa Ana train station (check out by 11 am).
Please note that due to driving restrictions we cannot usually accommodate pickups or dropoffs from/to the city centers. Late arrival and early departure may incur a surcharge, please inquire.

Accommodation Information

The husband and wife owners of this 100-year-old property have lovingly restored this finca (farmhouse) while still retaining some of its original features, such as wooden beams. The rustic finca includes four bedrooms that have underfloor heating and electric fans. The property, in addition to the amazing views, includes a wood burning stove for the winter months, and a beautiful pool and patios for the warmer months. Please note that there are no accessible rooms, and as it is a rural farmhouse there are stairs, including the original staircase, which your hosts had restored. One of the upper floor rooms is on 2 levels, and the annex suite and one of the ground floor rooms have a few steps leading down from the door.

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Pricing & Tour Dates

5 Night Pricing
3 Night Pricing

Looking for tour date information?

Year-Round Pricing:

5-night Program
US$2550 per person based on double occupancy

Add US$375 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Add US$175 per person to upgrade to to large room

30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Tour Dates

Available the following dates excluding December 17-January 10 and August, for a minimum of 1 person. Other start dates also possible, please inquire.

2019
June 24-29 (sold out)
June 30-July 5
July 7-12
July 14-19
July 22-27 (sold out)
July 28-August 2
August 4-9
August 11-16
August 18-23
August 25-30
September 1-10 (closed)
September 8-13
September 18-21 (sold out)
September 23-28 (2 spaces left)
September 29-October 4
October 6-11
October 13-18
October 20-25
October 27-November 1
November 3-8
November 10-15
November 17-22
November 24-29
December 1-6
December 8-13
December 15-20
December 22-27

2020
January 13-18
January 20-25
January 27-February 1
February 3-8
February 10-15
February 17-22
February 24-29
March 2-7
March 9-14
March 16-21
March 23-28
March 30-April 4
April 6-11
April 13-18
April 20-25
April 27-May 2
May 4-9
May 11-16
May 18-23
May 25-30
June 1-6
June 8-13
June 15-20
June 22-27
June 29-July 4
July 6-11
July 13-18
July 20-25
July 27-August 1
August 31-September 5
September 7-12
September 14-19
September 21-26
September 28-October 3
October 5-10
October 12-17
October 19-24
October 26-31
November 2-7
November 9-14
November 16-21
November 23-28
November 30-December 5
December 7-12

Looking for tour date information?

Year-Round Pricing:

3-night Program
US$1500 per person based on double occupancy

Add US$275 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Add US$100 per person to upgrade to large room

30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Tour Dates

Available the following dates excluding December 17-January 10 and August, for a minimum of 1 person. Other start dates also possible, please inquire.

2019
July 22-27 (sold out)
July 28-31
September 1-10 (closed)
September 11-14
September 15-18
September 18-21 (sold out)
September 23-25 (2 spaces left)
September 25-28
September 29-October 2
October 2-5
October 6-9
October 9-12
October 13-16
October 16-19
October 20-23
October 23-26
October 27-30
October 30-November 2
November 3-6
November 6-9
November 10-13
November 13-16
November 17-20
November 20-23
November 24-27
November 27-30
December 1-4
December 4-7
December 8-11
December 11-14
December 15-18

2020
Sample dates, other dates also possible.
January 13-16
January 20-23
January 27-30
February 3-6
February 10-13
February 17-20
February 24-27
March 2-5
March 9-12
March 16-20
March 23-26
March 30-April 2
April 6-9
April 13-15
April 20-23
April 27-30
May 4-7
May 11-14
May 18-21
May 25-28
June 1-4
June 8-11
June 15-18
June 22-25
June 29-July 2
July 6-9
July 13-16
July 20-23
July 27-30
August 31-September 3
September 7-10
September 14-17
September 21-24
September 28-October 1
October 5-8
October 12-15
October 19-22
October 26-29
November 2-5
November 9-12
November 16-19
November 23-26
November 30-December 3
December 7-10
December 14-17

Pricing & Dates

Class Pricing

Reviews

I gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Abhishake

Washington

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Gerald & Elaine

New Jersey

Maki and Clive were wonderful hosts. We were in a great rural area. Accommodations were very comfortable. We traveled to great sites in Andalusia. Of course we ate well and learned a lot about Spanish cuisine. Couldn't be happier. This trip is highly recommended.