Specialist tour operators
AdventureAdventure Center US t1 800 228 8747, wadventurecenter.com. Active vacations in the Picos de Europa, Pyrenees, Catalunya, Andalucía and the Sierra Nevada – self-guided trekking to rustic family adventures, starting at $1000 (excluding airfares).
Alto-Aragon UK t0208 398 1321, waltoaragon.co.uk. An established English-run company offering summer hiking and activity holidays (from around £500, land-only), and winter cross-country skiing programmes (from £300, land-only) in the high Pyrenees.
Exodus Travels UK t0845 805 9418, wexodus.co.uk. Walking and cycling in Andalucía, Mallorca, the Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees (and most minor mountain ranges), as well as cycling or multi-adventure (climbing, caving, rafting, etc), cultural and sightseeing trips. There’s a big range of trips at all prices, but typical is a week’s walking in the Sierra Nevada, from £769 including flights.
Spirit of Adventure UK t01822 880 277, wspirit-of-adventure.com. Multi-activity holidays in Catalunya, Andalucía, Galicia and the Picos de Europa. There’s trekking, climbing and sea-kayaking, with some activity holidays specifically aimed at families (from £600 per person).
Backpacker travel
Busabout UK t0845 0267 514, wbusabout.com. The European backpacker bus service also offers a seven-day Spain/Portugal bus tour (basically Andalucía and the Algarve; from £449) plus special annual Fallas, Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina trips, all aimed at a young, party crowd.
Cycling
Bravobike Spain t917 582 945, wbravobike.com. Offers a variety of cycle tours from one day in Madrid, Segovia or Toledo, for example, to themed week-long tours in conquistador country, La Rioja wine country or along the Camino de Santiago. Prices are variable, but from €25 for a short half-day trip, €800 self-guided per week and from €1000 guided.
Easy Rider Tours US t1 800 488 8332, weasyridertours.com. Guided cycling and sightseeing tours in Andalucía, Castilla y León, and along the pilgrims’ way to Santiago de Compostela. Tours are all-inclusive and fully supported, from around $3500 for a week, though airfares are extra.
Iberocycle Spain t942 581 085, wiberocycle.com. An English-run, Spain-based company specializing in supported or self-guided cycling tours of northern Spain in particular (Cantabria, Asturias, Basque Country, Catalunya). Short five-night trips start at around €510.
Food and drink
Arblaster & Clarke UK t01730 263111, warblasterandclarke.com. The most notable wine-tour specialist, with quality trips to all Spain’s wine-producing regions, including agreeable accommodation and tastings at both famous and little-known wineries. From £1500, excluding flights.
A Taste of Spain Spain t856 079 626, watasteofspain.com. Organizes gourmet culinary tours of Catalunya, the Basque region/La Rioja, Andalucía and central Spain, with tastings, meals and cookery lessons. From around €300 for a day’s excursion to taste Iberico ham to €3000 for a week following La Mancha’s saffron route.
History, art and culture
Abercrombie and Kent UK t0845 618 2200, wabercrombiekent.co.uk; US t1 800 554 7016, wabercrombiekent.com. Upmarket independent or fully escorted tailor-made tours, with the ten-day “Signature Spain” trip (Córdoba, Granada, Seville, from $8500) typically providing high-speed train travel, luxury hotels and a private guide for monument visits.
Madrid and Beyond Spain t917 580 063, wmadridandbeyond.com. Classy customized holidays and special experiences, from private gallery tours to expert-led walks through Gaudí’s Barcelona. Variable prices.
Martin Randall Travel UK t020 8742 3355, wmartinrandall.com. The leading cultural-tour specialists, offering small-group, expert-led trips to Catalunya, Madrid, Toledo, Aragón and Seville, among others. Departures several times a year on various trips and themes, from around £1300 for a five-day Madrid art trip to £3000 for eight nights’ gourmet wining and dining in Catalunya.
Horseriding
Fantasia Adventure Holidays Spain wfantasiaadventureholidays.com. British-run company offering riding breaks on the Costa de la Luz, from full-board weekends to week-long holidays (from £525, excluding flights). Contact is best by email.
Surfing
Surf Spain UK wsurfspain.co.uk. Surf camps and tailor-made surfing holidays in the north and south of Spain, with six-night breaks from £409 per person (excluding flights). Contact is best by email.
Walking
ATG-Oxford UK t01865 315678, watg-oxford.co.uk. Sustainable-tourism outfit with off-the-beaten-track walking holidays in La Rioja or the volcanic countryside around Girona, plus the Pyrenees, Catalunya and the Camino de Santiago. Five-day holidays start from £475.
Inntravel UK t01653 617722, winntravel.co.uk Self-guided walking tours in Galicia, Andalucia; the Pyrenees, Balearics and Catalunya. Each night’s destination is a small family-run hotel where your baggage is waiting. A typical seven-day walking holiday starts at around £600.
Olé Spain US t1 888 869 7156, wolespain.com. Small-group cultural walking tours in Catalunya, Andalucía and Extremadura, with prices starting at $3300 for an eight-day tour (excluding airfares).
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays UK t01707 331 133, wramblersholidays.co.uk. Long-established walking-tour operator, with hiking holidays in most Spanish mountain regions, as well as vineyard rambles and tours of classical Andalucía. From around £725 for an all-inclusive week in the Sierra Nevada.
Walk Alpujarras Spain t958 858 580, wwalkalpujarra.com. Group and individual self-guided walking tours organized by experienced guide and author Jeremy Rabjohns. From around £400 for a seven-night holiday.