Unusual holidays in Spain travel guide

... you’re not a sociable sort. Most experiences and activities are shared with like-minded potential new friends – and friendly local hosts. ... you’re not interested in Spanish culture. What sets aside an unusual holiday in Spain is a deep connection with the people and places of Spain. Cultural immersion is an intrinsic part of each trip, not an optional extra. ... you prefer bangers and mash to tapas and tortillas. You’ll likely be well away from the tourist bars, so expect more traditional Spanish food to be your day-to-day fare.

Foodie escapes go beyond sampling a selection of tapas bars by night – instead they offer a hands-on insight into traditional Spanish cuisine. You might be spending time with a local farmer who’s opened up his home to share traditional skills – be it cheese-making or bread-baking, or heading to Andalucía’s Sierra de Aracena for an Iberian ham carving, tasting, production and cooking masterclass.

Avoiding the busy summer holiday peak in July and August is less of a concern for unusual holidays in Spain which tend to make use of more off-the-beaten-track areas. So if you’re tied to school holidays, while you’ll still need to book ahead you won’t be bothered by crowds of other families in the Altiplano de Granada or the Picos de Europa. In fact, in the Picos and the Pyrenees June to August tend to be the best time to visit – while the rest of Spain swelters in the Summer heat the mountain air keeps things cooler – around 25°c – and there is less chance of rain. For painting and photography holidays in Andalucía you’ll want to avoid the summer – when sitting outside in the (up to 40°c) heat of the day in June to August can be unbearable, but the April to May springtime brings mountain slopes carpeted in wildflowers and the September to November autumn crystal clear air is filled with migrating birds. Spanish courses run year-round, and for some off-season sunshine consider travelling in winter – November to February – which in the far south are dry and mild with temperatures often remaining around 20°c.