Olive Picking Holidays in Spain
The major producer of olive oil, a visit
to Spain during the harvest allows you to share in this age old tradition.
 Olive Harvest and Spanish Cooking
The olive harvest normally takes place
between late November and late March (but may vary depending on the weather).
On this holiday you will spend some time
with local farmers finding out about the different methods that they use to pick the olives. You will also discover
the different varieties of olive grown here in Andalusia. The holiday will let you experience the olive oil harvest
and teach you about olive oil production - plus you get to taste and cook with the produce - dishes such
as lubina al sal con salsa de pimientos rojos y aceite de
oliva (salt roast seabass with charred sweet red pepper and olive oil
salsa).
You stay in a 150 year old carefully
restored Finca (Spanish farmhouse) overlooking a lake in the Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas in the
province of Córdoba. Each of the three rooms and the suite have their own private bathroom and delightful
views. This holiday is arranged by golearnto.com. Read about Lucy Gilmore's experiences on this
holiday.
Catalonia Olive Harvest and Olive Oil Special
There is still time to book onto the four day gourmet Catacurian
Cookery and Wine Experience in El Priorat south west of Barcelona. As a special bonus during November you get to
spend a day finding out how olives are picked and watch the whole process of olive oil production, complete with a
traditional outdoor harvest lunch. Available 24-28 November - book here.
No Going Back
If you read the inspiring No Going
Back you will know about Martin Kirby's escape to rural
Spain and how he and Maggie made themselves a new life as organic farmers in Catalonia. Now as Martin
writes: 'olives have become a vital part of this story – and our
future'. What you may not be aware of is that you can go and stay
at Mother's
Garden in their 'luxury rustic' holiday cottage complete
with pool. During the winter there is the opportunity to visit at reduced rates and help with the olive
harvest.
Whet your appetite with this excerpt from the Mother's Garden
website:
"a few days ago we drove
slowly through the tiny farms of the villagers we work with. The groves ... look rich and so
healthy" ... more
A great option would be to combine a working holiday at Mother's
Garden with a city break in Barcelona. Visit Travel Ideas to explore this option, book hotels and car rental.
Andalusian Olive Oil Harvest Tour
Another option is to take a culinary tour
with a tour specialist such as Euro
Adventures. Travelling from Seville to
Cordova you get to visit the Andalusian olive groves when the harvest is taking place. You will see both hand
picking - the traditional (if time consuming) way to harvest olives and also the mechanical harvest techniques. You
will also visit a gourmet oil producer, an olive oil museum and participate in a tutored tasting.
You stay in historic hotels in Seville,
Umbeda and Cordoba and your tours and many of your meals are included in the holiday price - which varies depending
on when you travel and how many are in your party (as a guide if you were in a party of six travelling at the start
of November you would pay around €2000 based on double occupancy). Throughout you are accompanied by a guide to
ensure you get the most from your trip.
Andalusia Olive
Oil Harvest Tour
Description: This culinary
tour will leave you with a clear memory as to why Spanish Olive Oil is called Liquid Gold by many chefs. The base
of Mediterranean cuisine since the time of the Phoenicians, Spanish...more...
Discover Las Alpujarras
Made famous by Chris Stewart's best-selling book Driving Over Lemons this is an outstandingly beautiful, and lesser
known, part of southern Spain with whitewashed villages, terraced valleys, ancient olive trees alongside a
traditional and unspoiled way of life. No surprise then that hosts David and Emma have chosen to live and raise
their family here. Now you can share this special place, staying at their wonderfully named Casa de las
Chimeneas where from December to January you can help with the olive harvest.
Contact info@alpujarra-tours.com
Olive Oil Weekends in Mallorca - An Olive Odyssey
What could make a more perfect weekend
break? You will be picking olives on a 600 year old olive farm - making sure you collect enough to make a
litre of olive oil. While you relax over lunch this will be pressed (using a 15th century press) and bottled for
you to take home. Later you will explore some of the oldest olive groves on the Island and learn tips
on maximising the use of olive oil in your cooking with a Michelin starred chef. The holiday is based in
delightful accommodation in Fornalutx.
This Olive Picking Weekend will be held at
the end of October 28 - 31st and costs €529 per couple. You will stay at Ca'n Reus - a beautifully restored,
traditional Mallorcan house with a delightful garden and great mountain views. For more information and photos
visit their website.
Also on offer for 2012 is the unique
opportunity to combine harvesting olives with the Festival of San Antonio. This includes the
blessing of the village animals .... and if you don't have a live animal you can always bring a favourite soft
toy instead! Available for the weekend of the 13 - 15th January price €499 per couple,or €400 for an
individual.
View of the Pool and Lemons at Ca'n Reus
Spain can also provide opportunities for cycling tours through olive
groves. Visit Olive Routes for more information.
Add A Deluxe Cooking Holiday
If you are considering Mallorca why not combine your break with the
opportunity to cook with Marc Fosh, Michelin starred chef at the fabulous Read's Hotel.
Deluxe Cooking Holiday on Mallorca Island Spain with a Michelin
Starred Chef
Description: Enjoy a Deluxe
Cooking Holiday on Mallora Island at Read´s Cookery School, which is also a five star Relais Chateux Hotel &
Restaurant. Perfect for those who are passionate about cooking, and enjoy joining in with some culinary fun with a
Michelin-starred chef...more...
Why not visit our
Travel Shop to arrange car rental, flights, hotels and more ...
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