Unforgettable Tours to Spain

when taking a Spain tour with Sarah Tours, our Cultural and spiritual tours of Spain cover a diverse range of experiences:

• Cultural Highlights: you will visit the best of Andalusia (Seville, Granada, Córdoba) to explore Moorish palaces such as the Alhambra, Mezquita, and Alcázar of Seville. Barcelona’s Sagrada Família and Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces are also must-sees.

• Spiritual Highlights: The Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), a famous pilgrimage route leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, is one of Spain’s most spiritual journeys. There are also Islamic Heritage journeys from Toledo to Granada, which have significant historical sites and spiritual landmarks.

• Monasteries: Spain is home to historic monasteries such as Montserrat near Barcelona and El Escorial outside Madrid, offering opportunities for reflection and learning about Spain’s religious heritage.

• Festivals: Experiencing Spain’s spiritual festivals, like Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Seville and Corpus Christi in Toledo, where religious processions occur in historic settings. El Rocio and many other religious and spiritual gatherings for Muslims and Christians alike.

Spain is known for its rich spiritual traditions for Christians and Muslims. What Sarah Tours offers in its tours to Spain is an emphasis on coexistence in the past and present:

• Camino de Santiago: Spain's most famous pilgrimage route in Spain, if not the world. It offers a deeply spiritual journey that can be walked, cycled, or done in parts. The most popular route is the Camino Francés "French route," but there are other routes like the Camino Portugués or the Camino del Norte "Northern route."

• Montserrat Monastery: Set high in the Pyrenees mountains, this Benedictine monastery is a pilgrimage site for those seeking the Black Madonna and spiritual renewal. It offers a unique spiritual journey in Spain.

• El Escorial Monastery: Near Madrid, this UNESCO World Heritage Site served as a residence for Spanish royalty and offers a place of spiritual reflection. Not to forget the most significant Islamic library of Moorish heritage. A sanctuary of knowledge scholars and researchers seek from around the world.

• Religious retreats: Some cultural and spiritual tours to Spain with Sarah Tours include quiet stays at monasteries or Islamic Sufi retreats, where you can reflect, meditate, or attend religious services in the most authentic settings.

Spain, as one of the best tourist destinations, is rich in religious and historical landmarks that reflect its deep cultural history:

• The Alhambra Palace in Granada is a Moorish masterpiece of architecture that blends Islamic, Christian, and Renaissance influences. This marvelous site is featured on all our tours to Spain.

• Sagrada Família in Barcelona: Gaudí’s monumental basilica is an awe-inspiring blend of faith, nature, and architecture.

• Mezquita de Córdoba: This is one of the best Islamic landmarks that we try to feature in most of our tours to Spain. Once a mosque, now a cathedral, it’s a powerful symbol of Spain’s multi-faith past, where Muslim and Christian influences converge.

• Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: Sarah Tours has devoted a special itinerary for this spiritual journey in Spain. This is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, where many pilgrims attend mass and visit the tomb of Saint James the Apostle.

Sarah Tours hires the best guides in Spain to facilitate and help visitors explore cultural Spain. They will introduce you to Spanish culture in its proper way. Respect for religious and cultural traditions is important in Spain, especially at spiritual and sacred sites, and social gatherings and festivities represent life in Spain. the need for human interaction and sharing makes Spain unique:

• Dress modestly: When visiting cathedrals, monasteries, or mosques, cover your shoulders and knees and try to be quiet so as not to disturb worshipers in their rituals.

• Silence and respect: Many spiritual sites are active places of worship, so maintain quiet and respectful behavior, particularly during religious ceremonies or services.

• Photography: Always check if photography is allowed, especially in sacred places. Many religious sites prohibit photos or require permission.

• Religious customs: If attending mass or religious festivals, follow the customs, such as standing, sitting, or kneeling during services, as appropriate, as the people of Spain do.

Accommodations vary depending on the focus of the tour. All of the tours to Spain we promote offer traditional, atmospheric, and authentic lodging:

• Cultural Tours to Spain: Travelers often stay in Paradores, where historic buildings like former monasteries, castles, or palaces are converted into luxurious hotels or boutique halal Inns. These hotels offer a blend of comfort and cultural immersion.

• Spiritual Tours in Spain: Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago usually stay in Albergues (pilgrim hostels), monasteries, or guesthouses. These simple accommodations provide a communal and reflective experience.

• Rural retreats and monasteries: Some spiritual travelers may stay in rural retreats or guesthouses connected to monasteries or Sufi retreats, which offer peaceful surroundings for contemplation and prayer. These places have spiritual settings and feel that would help you enjoy every moment of your journey in Spain.

Packing generally depends on the nature of the tour and the season. Please note that Spain enjoys over 325 days per year of great weather:

• Comfortable walking shoes are essential for those hiking, trekking in Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago, or touring cities with cobblestone streets.

• Modest clothing: Pack clothes covering shoulders and knees for religious visits. Layers are advisable for varying weather, particularly in mountainous regions or monasteries. In Andalusia, southern Spain, cotton clothes and light materials are advised.

• Pilgrim passport (for Camino travelers): If you are walking the Camino de Santiago, you must bring a credential (pilgrim’s passport) to collect stamps at various locations along the route.

• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat: Spain can get hot, especially in Andalusia and during summer festival gatherings and pilgrimages.

Spain is famous for its cultural and religious festivals, which can be integral to cultural or spiritual tours. Sarah Tours is the leader of spiritual and Islamic heritage tours to Spain:

• Semana Santa (Holy Week): This week-long celebration occurs in cities like Seville and Granada, with religious processions featuring intricate floats, penitents, and sacred music.

• Fiesta de San Fermín (Running of the Bulls): Celebrating Saint Fermin's bravery and martyrdom. This spiritual, historic, and culturally significant festival in Pamplona is rooted in religious tradition and the Vaqueros (Cowboys) of Old Spain.

• Corpus Christi: This festival, celebrated across Spain, notably in Toledo, features elaborate processions celebrating the Eucharist.

• The Day of Saint James (Fiesta de Santiago): On July 25, Santiago de Compostela celebrates St. James of Compostela, the Matamoros who led the Moors' exodus and is the patron saint of Spain.

• "Spirit of Al-Andalus Retreat," in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a spiritual and artistic legacy of Muslim Spain, while immersing themselves in the serene environment of olive groves; this retreat is often associated with the Rumi Center for Spirituality and the Arts.

Spanish cuisine is integral to the cultural experience, with local and regional flavors playing a key role in every tour to Spain:

• Tapas culture: Small plates like patatas bravas, jamón ibérico, and calamari are standard throughout Spain, especially in cities like Madrid and Seville.

• Pilgrim meals (on the Camino): Albergues often serve simple, hearty meals like soups, stews, and fresh bread. The famous Galician seafood is a treat for those reaching Santiago de Compostela.

• Paella in Valencia: This regional dish is made with rice, saffron, and a variety of meats or seafood.

• Zarzuela de Bilbao is a dish not to miss while exploring Spain and Tapas de Seville.

• Traditional desserts: Don't miss Tarta de Santiago, an almond cake traditionally served to pilgrims in Galicia. Flan of Andalusia is the best in the world. No discussion of Spanish desserts is complete without churros.

Cultural and spiritual tours offer meaningful interaction with local communities:

• Stay with locals on the Camino: Many accommodations along the Camino are family-run or operated by local volunteers, providing an opportunity for authentic interaction with local people.

• Crafts and artisans: Visit workshops in cities like Granada and Seville to see flamenco guitar makers, ceramics artisans, and leather crafters at work.

• Attend local ceremonies: Join local communities for village Virgin march or festive gatherings like flamenco, Merengue, or other folk music and dance. Spaniards love to share the zest of their daily life. Participate in spiritual services, particularly during festivals or at historic churches and monasteries.

The balance between spiritual reflection and cultural exploration depends on the focus of your tour in Spain:

• Cultural Tours: Primarily focused on sightseeing and learning about Spain’s history, architecture, and traditions. Visits to religious landmarks are often paired with exploration of cities and regions. In Spain often what is cultural is entwined with what is spiritual.

• Spiritual Tours: Pilgrimages like the Camino de Santiago or Islamic Sufi retreats at monasteries are designed to allow for personal reflection and spiritual growth. These tours may have structured times for prayer, meditation, or spiritual activities balanced with visits to sacred sites.