Spain

Gran Canaria - Finca Los Olivos and rum distillery tour with cave-side lunch

Gran Canaria's seamless blend of Spanish, African and Latin American flavours makes for a culinary experience like no other. With your Scandinavian-speaking guide on hand to show you around, this tour serves up a selection of local delicacies, with a side order of scenic and impressive views. Lukas, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘There's a great mix of island landscapes and authentic flavours on this tour, and you'll get to find out how our wonderful local rum is produced from sugar cane.'We'll start with a light tapas treat in Finca Los Olivos, where you'll get to sample some classic Canarian specialities in a great setting. Next, you'll head to Arehucas distillery to sample some of its famed rum. The distillery tour includes an introduction to the history of rum in Gran Canaria, and how what was initially a side product of sugar production became one of the best loved island products. To finish off, you'll enjoy a tasting of some of the different rums produced at the distillery.Then, as lunchtime beckons, you'll round off your trip with a tasty Canarian lunch made with locally produced ingredients at a family-run restaurant. You'll either be under the cool, vaulted ceilings of the cave or out on the terrace with views of the valley and mountains.

Majorca - Drach Caves, pearl shop with digital museum & local market tour

Three Majorca musts share top billing on this tour. You'll stroll the stalls of a farmer's market, delve into the depths of the famous Drach Caves and visit the renowned Majorica pearl factory. Xisca, one of our local guides, says, ‘Before you even set foot inside, you call feel something truly spectacular lies ahead. The cave system is a world of secretive caverns and subterranean lakes brought to life by music and light shows.'Your first stop will be the Majorica shop and museum, where possibly the finest imitation pearls in the world are made. See digital displays explaining the manufacturing process before browsing pearl jewellery in the shop. Xisca says, ‘The designs are creative and exquisitely crafted, which is why Majorica jewellery is such a popular birthday or Christmas gift on the island.'It's then on to the weekly market in a country town. Poke around stalls stocked with everything from fragrant fruit and vegetables to aromatic herbs and pungent cheeses. The chance to try products such as Majorca's famous black pig pork is part of the experience. Spicy sobrassada, a spreadable paprika-cured sausage, makes for a great take-home souvenir – and helps local producers. Then, round off the day at Drach Caves. Get the lowdown from your guide on the formation of the system millions of years ago. There are four caves and a large lake, made all the more magical by the special lighting and a classical music concert from a quartet right in the very depths of the caves.

Lanzarote - Timanfaya Volcanic Tour

This half-day tour is Lanzarote in a nutshell. You'll call in at El Golfo lagoon, journey through Timanfaya National Park and visit the Salinas de Janubio. We'll even throw in a wine tasting session to round off the tour.First up, you'll visit the waters of El Golfo - it's emerald waters have starred in many a Hollywood film over the years. But that's just an appetiser for the main event – the visit to Timanfaya National Park. Famed for its moonlike landscape is dotted with lava fields and black rocks, you'll see the ‘Fire Mountain', to name but a few.We'll continue the tour with a stop in La Geria for a sip of some local wine before we reach Salinas de Janubio, the largest salt flats in the Canaries. Snap a few selfies with the miles of cotton-white salt mounds as your guide fills you in on the history of this all-important island resource. You'll even get a chance to try some, too.

Tenerife - La Gomera Tour with Garajonay Forest and San Sebastian

La Gomera boasts unspoilt landscapes and a distinct culture all of its own. On this tour, you'll visit this Jurassic-like island and discover Garajonay National Park, a string of villages and the charming capital, San Sebastian. Arianne, one of our guides, says of the island, ‘La Gomera is a totally different world – it's a return to the past, to the origin of the Canary Islands.'The star of the show is without doubt Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a mishmash of deep ravines and gorges filled with ancient, misty laurel forests and rare plant life. On a visit to its interpretative centre, you'll find out about its botany and history. You'll also get to know hamlets such as oasis-like Chejelipes, which is on the banks of a reservoir, and the northern villages of Hermigua and Aguilo. One of the highlights is a visit to a family-run restaurant famed for its jaw-dropping views over the island's volcanic landscapes. Here, you'll enjoy a typical lunch made from locally sourced ingredients.And you'll get you to learn about local culture, too. There's a demonstration of the unique-to-the-island ‘whistling language' known as 'silbo gomero'. To round off the experience, there's free time to explore San Sebastian. Here, you can follow in the footsteps of Columbus before he began his first voyage of discovery. More than a visit to another island, a trip to La Gomera is a journey to another era.

Gran Canaria - Gran Canaria’s Poema del Mar aquarium and Guayadeque canyon tour

From the sea to the central mountains and even underground, you'll see the very best of Gran Canaria with this tour. You'll get up-close to more than 300 marine species in Poema del Mar aquarium, drive through the green valley of Guayadeque and tuck into a light lunch before wrapping things up with free time in the colonial town of Agüimes. Miguel, one of our local guides, says, ‘There's so much packed into one day. But for me, the most interesting part is Guayadeque, which represents a very important part of our prehistory.'First up is one of the most popular attractions in Las Palmas. With panoramic curved windows and countless exhibitions, Poema del Mar is where you'll get lost in a hypnotic underwater world that's home to hundreds of sea creatures. There are electric eels, bull sharks and fish that look just like Nemo. You can also take advantage of their state-of-the-art cinema, showcasing hourly screenings of interesting and fun short films.Next, you'll journey through the island's greenest corner to Guayadeque Canyon. It's famed for its cave homes, which the ancient aborigines built in lava bubbles, and winding hiking trails. After exploring, you'll refuel with delicious traditional tapas made from locally sourced ingredients. Then it's on to Agüimes, where you'll have some free time to wander through this pastel-coloured parish perched above the green ravine of Guayadeque. You can see the elegant church, stop for a coffee in a local café or take some selfies by the town's many statues.

Tenerife - Teide Volcano Tour with Cable Car Ticket

Tenerife's towering Mt Teide is the third-largest volcano in the world. And its 3,718-metre peak is the centrepiece of the UNESCO-listed Las Cañadas del Teide National Park. Take a guided tour of the mountain's otherworldly landscapes and soak up spectacular views over the island. And to really give your day the wow-factor, this tour includes a cable car ride to the summit.

Gran Canaria - Gran Canaria's 'Little Venice' – visit Puerto de Mogan by boat

Puerto de Mogan is said by many to be the most beautiful town in Gran Canaria, and once you've set eyes on its toytown houses, it's hard to argue. This tour brings you by boat, docking right in the heart of the harbour after a scenic approach, so you avoid long walks from out-of-town parking lots. Maria, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Mogan market is a classic in Gran Canaria, known all over the island. And to arrive in the town by boat gives you that a spine-tingling sensation you get in anticipation of a special experience.'Sailing from Puerto Rico harbour, you'll glide along the rocky, volcanic coastline of the south before arriving at Puerto de Mogan. Cupped into cliffs at the mouth of a steep valley, it's known as ‘Little Venice' for its canal, blue-and-yellow-trimmed white cottages, wrought iron balconies and flower-festooned lanes. Traits that have made it very popular.Arriving by boat, you're in the middle of all the action straight away. Only we bring you to and from Puerto de Mogan by sea. Antonio, another of our local guides, say, ‘If you arrive by coach, not only is the journey less scenic but you have to walk a fair bit to get to the waterfront.' You'll have free time to poke around the stalls selling typical Canarian products or just relax at one of the many terraced cafés overlooking the yachts. Oh, and there's also an enticing sandy beach to stretch out on, too.

Gran Canaria - Island tour of Gran Canaria including typical lunch

This grand tour of Gran Canaria takes in the best of the island's highlands in just one day. You'll tick off the villages of Tejeda and Teror and enjoy a typical Canarian lunch. There'll be plenty of photo stops along the way, too. Pepe, one of our local guides, says, 'Teror is one of my favourite spots on the island, with history seeping from the walls in the old quarter. The buildings are so charming and in the main square, you'll get to see the typical Canarian balconies the town is famous for.'It's a blockbuster from the go. Our first stop is at the Degollada de la Yegua viewpoint, which by day boasts views of a Wild West-like canyon and by night of the stars. Then it's on to Tunte, where you might decide to visit the Casa Los Yánez Ethnographic Museum, though it is not open every day. Next, you'll head to Tejeda, considered one of Spain's prettiest villages. All pretty whitewashed houses and palm trees nestled in the shadow of Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga, it's Insta-perfect.We'll then head to Valleseco for a three-course lunch in a family-owned restaurant. Savour traditional Canarian dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, washed down with local wine, while admiring the views of a gorge below. With a full belly, the afternoon is dedicated to the picture-postcard town of Teror. It's famed for its pastel-coloured colonial homes with carved overhanging balconies.

Gran Canaria - Gran Canaria Spirit of the Sea dolphin-watching cruise

The thrill of watching dolphins in their natural environment is one of the great experiences Gran Canaria has to offer. Onboard Spirit of the Sea – World Cetacean Alliance certified for responsible whale and dolphin watching – you'll get to see these friendly and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.There are six types of dolphin to spot, including bottlenose and common. And fin – the second-largest mammal – and pilot whales also make regular appearances. In fact, one-third of all species of cetaceans, which include whales and porpoises, can be found in these waters.You'll be able to keep a look-out for other creatures – turtles, flying fish and brightly coloured parrot fish – thanks to the Spirit of the Sea's viewing area. Plus, there's a swim stop included, for when you want to cool off in the water.

Gran Canaria - Full-day Gran Canaria tour with Teror, Tejeda and typical lunch

Villages, viewpoints and volcanic rocks dot Gran Canaria's jagged spine. This tour weaves its way through some of the island's most dramatic landscapes, stopping along the way to visit gems such as Teror, Tejeda and Fataga. David, one of our local guides, says, ‘The legend of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Teror still intrigues me. It was in 1481, amid the Castilian conquest of Gran Canaria, and it helped change the island's destiny.'And Teror is where your adventure begins. Strolling past the balconied townhouses of Calle Real de la Plaza towards the mountain-framed basilica of Our Lady of the Pine is one of the defining Gran Canaria experiences. A scenic mountain drive away is Tejeda, which is a bit of a looker itself – red-roofed, whitewashed houses sprinkled on the slope of a valley. David adds, ‘Every time there's a list of Spain's prettiest villages, Tejeda is near the top. Its setting is unbeatable.' There's also a pit stop at Las Tirajanas viewpoint to admire a vast volcanic caldera, as we make our way to Fataga to eat. A lunch made from locally sourced ingredients will be served in a family-owned restaurant. After a little amble through the town, we'll visit a nearby aloe vera plantation to get the lowdown on its medicinal properties. Generations of islanders have used extracts from the plant for skin burns.

Tenerife - Teide National Park tour with local guide

Tenerife's greatest natural wonder, Mt Teide is Spain's highest peak. Avoiding the busiest times of the day, this expertly guided tour explores its wild volcanic habitats and offers unbeatable views over Tenerife and the rest of the Canaries.

Majorca - Full-day Majorca tour with Port de Soller and Lluc Monastery

There's something really special about this trip to northern Majorca – the way in which you go sightseeing is part of the adventure. That's because you'll travel by coach, train, tram and boat during our exclusive excursion through Soller, Port de Soller and Sa Calobra.