Beginning with programs to entertain our own intellectual or cultural interest, some leisure and shopping needs, we invite you to discover the opportunities to journey through the Andalusi Islamic heritage of Al-Andalus, to gain knowledge from today into any traditional art or science.
Journeying through Knowledge and Tradition
Plan A Journey Worth Travelling
— choose or define your journey theme —
Get a start on any plan, create your own journey, for you and your guest list.
Ahmad Zaruq Summers
Specialist in Andalusian and Islamic Traditions.
Hi my name is Ahmad Zaruq, I’m British, resided in Spain since 1984 and founded Al-Andalus Experience in 2007. I work for individual, independent travellers, Schools, Teachers, Scholars or Institutions and some of the leading worldwide Tour Operators around the Muslim world as a Professional Travel and Event Planner in Andalusia Spain. I spent over ten years training myself and a number of local Muslim guides to be of service on the road and through the Islamic cities of Al-Andalus, effectively providing knowledgeable information with unique insights and experiences for travellers.
Al-Andalus Experience is set out as a tool for a wide range of local new generation academic field specialists, local specialist guides, artisan masters and artists, as well as holistic healers, therapists and health coaches. Our offer is for you to plunge and submerge into, to experience different fields of knowledge and tradition from Al-Andalus to China. We offer multiple local ground services, standards and options, within the most benign Andalusian city or rural setting for each occasion.
We aim to bridge a culture gap between the modern and traditional, European and Islamic worlds, inviting you to experience Al-Andalus today through tradition and synergies, rather than a dry political and warfare account. Read on to know a bit more about what inspires “Al-Andalus Experience”, you are welcome to inspire yourself with your own blend of “Al-Andalus Experience” and get in touch we are here to serve you towards any event, cause or journey.
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Years planning trips
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Islamic Golden Age Cities of Al-Andalus explained and explored.
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Goal, your best journey experience.
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Happy travel groups.
— need inspiring? —
“Seek Knowledge as far as China”
We invite you to experience history through tradition and synergies, rather than a dry political and warfare account. Learn arts and skills while realising the spiritual value in the transmission of knowledge and traditional apprenticeships. At the heart of traditional knowledge is a holistic approach, striving to perfect ourselves towards a better perception and understanding of our existence. Al-Andalus Experience is about you, where you stand today in a global civilisation and what you want to highlight or learn about, or to experience with your chosen company.
Best European Standards along with local insight and know-how.
Human Heritage Sites and natural attractions available and mostly sunny all year around.
Journeys to quench any thirst
Meal planning and special dietary needs.
Traditional knowledge built into local wisdom.
Easy to jump start any group trip or event
Plan Your Journey
Invite your guestlist!
Leisure and Culture Trip
Flexible and affordable group travel and event plans for everyone.
Our Travel and Event Planning Service empowers anybody to plan a trip or event in Andalusia, Spain, from elaborating a proposed itinerary for your group to confirming, booking assistance and any help you need in person during your trip.
Anticipate and gain full control of any situation with a local team of ground service managers, guides, experience, logistics and event venue providers in Andalusia, Spain.
Al-Andalus Experience can help you carry out your trip or event, guiding and assisting you or your group from arrival to departure in person through our own team of local travel assistants and guides, with online and phone support.
We also compliment UNESCO Heritage sites in Cordoba and Granada with our own favourite local UNESCO Guides.
You can choose from multiple arrival points, and to extend our staple tour base cities with other optional city extensions, depending on the duration and nature of your intended trip.
- Most used by Group Travel or Event Organisers
- Multiple arrival points: Madrid (MAD), Málaga (AGP), Granada (GRX).
- Highlighted cities: Málaga, Cordoba, Granada, Toledo, Madrid.
- Optional city extensions: Málaga (AGP), Sevilla (SVQ). Barcelona (BCN), Lisboa (LIS)
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Airport / Station Welcome-Departure & Transfers.
- Choice of select Hotel/Hostel/Apartments – or your own bookings!
- Breakfast included with 3-4 Star Hotel choice only.
- The choice to include accommodation vs Ground Services Only.
- Local tour leader, guiding the group step by step from arrival to departure.
- Intercity transportation by coach or courtesy vehicle.
- Optional High-Speed Train version.
- UNESCO Highlight Tours in Córdoba and Granada.
- Flexible travel routes.
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Multiple standards.
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Custom, flexible service.
- Mobile app itinerary day by day guide.
- Share your plan with all of the participant group.
Plan your trip or event anywhere in Andalusia, Spain, extending to Portugal, Morocco, or beyond to your choice. Complement with your own information, media or documents. Finally, share with any guest list to join and journey with you.
You will be guided on every step of planning and logistics towards your event. along with booking assistance to provide your own booking links or vouchers within a cohesive plan. Share your plan with your private guest list and have participants sign up for your own tours or events in Andalusia, Spain or beyond.
Study Trips and Workshops
Journeying through knowledge and traditions, at the heart of the spirit of Al-Andalus in Granada, Spain.
- Local artisan specialists in a wide range of arts and crafts: Islamic geometry, arabic calligraphy, biomorphic arabesque, decorations, ceramics, pottery, screen printing, perfume making, leather decoration, to mention a few.
- A range of local teaching or event venues within the historical cities and rural regions of Andalusia, Spain.
- Specialists available to any level of event, from street wise assistants to PHD mattter specialists, going through the best selection of a new generation of academics in Andalusi and Middle Eastern Studies, that cast new light and detail of a very bright history of Al-Andalus.
- Travel, city and logistics manager assisting onboard 24/7 during any trip or event.
- Meal plans with previous confirmation and any local meal advice on demand.
- Assistance with any group plans, tours, excursions, extra activities or plans during the duration of any event.
- Intercity transportation services available on demand, with a guided narration through the history of Al-Andalus by one of our local travel guides.
- Advice upon best accommodation and booking services available for hotels, touristic apartments and our own selection of rural homes or villas.
- Advice or thumbs up on your own preffered booking choice of hotels, AirBNB, Rural homes, Villas.
- Local communities’ closeness and support.
- Key local introductions and local specialist speakers.
- Local “know how” and “know what’s about” playing to favour your own trip and events.
With a wide range of local artisan masters and artists, as well as holistic healers, therapists and health coaches, we offer you to plunge and submerge into different fields of knowledge and tradition from Al-Andalus to China, in the most benight Andalusian rural setting for each occasion.
Wellness / Retreat Programs
Rural escapes, wellness and healthy lifestyle programs, in the most benign settings of rural Andalusia, Spain.
- Accommodation and venues within the most refreshing Andalusian rural bliss.
- Alpujarra vs Sierra Nevada, amongst other main natural parks and regions available in Andalusia.
- Healthy detox routine plan schedule.
- Meticulous meal planning to any standards or specification.
- Activities to keep you active.
- Time and exercises for relaxation.
- Health and wellness coaches available on demand.
- Therapists in Chinese Accupuncture, Rei-ki, Shiatsu, hijama amongst others available on demand.
- Group activities or formal teaching or presentation sessions on demand.
At the heart of traditional knowledge is a holistic approach, striving to perfect ourselves towards a better perception and understanding of existence. Beginning with programs to entertain our own intellectual or cultural interest, some leisure and shopping needs, we invite you to discover the opportunities that we offer to journey through knowledge from today into any traditional art or science. With a wide range of local artisan masters and artists, as well as holistic healers, therapists and health coaches, we offer you to plunge and submerge into different fields of knowledge and tradition from Al-Andalus to China, in the most benight Andalusian rural setting for each occasion.
— questions & answers —
Common Questions
Close to fifteen years of experience in group travel, from planning to performance is hard to put words to. Please feel free to contact us with any enquiries or questions, you will find some common questions answered below:
Do you offer full packages?
Yes, the bulk of our bookings is produced as fully comprehensive travel packages, including accommodation, transport, guidance, activities and meals. We are currently covering all group bookings through solid partnerships with local well reputated wholesale tour operators. This way we cover all group bookings with ease, allowing the core of our service to focus on attaining high standard travel plans to meet Muslim travel needs in Andalusia, Spain, Portugal and beyond.
Do I need a local assistant?
Why Should We Hire a Travel Assistant Local Guide?
Group guide to connect all of the locations and events on your trip or event plan.
Welcome service and local information.
Trip or event narrative guide.
Group guide to connect all of the locations and events on your trip or event plan.
Welcome service and local information.
Trip or event narrative guide.
Guaranteed 100% program times optimization
Large group logistics manager.
*Transport not included.
*Courtesy driving of your own rental vehicle, is free, and recommended.
*Groups Requiring bus transport should inlcude our bus+driver service separately.
What Do You Get With Your Travel and Group Event Planning Service?
The best of Al-Andalus Experience’s local team supporting you with our knowledge, experience, contacts, resources and tools.
Guarantee to get best local fair prices and a mapped cohesive plan for all your trip and event expenses.
Direct bookings link to our best options to your need, accommodation, transportation, meals, activities, guides, tickets, all attached to your plan in an “important document” section of easy access within our mobile app support.
Best travel plan route and text guides for your custom group need.
Day by day location and event-based plan for your trip or event.
A tidy list of all of our opt-in services, throughout your trip or on a per city basis, for you to confirm upon choice ahead of finalizing your travel or event plan.
Professional and digital support with administration, participant registration and booking processes.
Email invitation to guest lists after the plan is confirmed and ready to share.
Option for all of any group participants to download any of your trip or event plans onto a native mobile app support format.
Offline option for night-time or aeroplane reading of our text guides.
Add media or document assets to your program per event in your plan’s schedule.
Ask us if you need any further help and we can discuss a flexible way to solve your need to the best standards and final outcome, “in shaa a’ Allah”.
Guarantee to get best local fair prices and a mapped cohesive plan for all your trip and event expenses.
Direct bookings link to our best options to your need, accommodation, transportation, meals, activities, guides, tickets, all attached to your plan in an “important document” section of easy access within our mobile app support.
Best travel plan route and text guides for your custom group need.
Day by day location and event-based plan for your trip or event.
A tidy list of all of our opt-in services, throughout your trip or on a per city basis, for you to confirm upon choice ahead of finalizing your travel or event plan.
Professional and digital support with administration, participant registration and booking processes.
Email invitation to guest lists after the plan is confirmed and ready to share.
Option for all of any group participants to download any of your trip or event plans onto a native mobile app support format.
Offline option for night-time or aeroplane reading of our text guides.
Add media or document assets to your program per event in your plan’s schedule.
Ask us if you need any further help and we can discuss a flexible way to solve your need to the best standards and final outcome, “in shaa a’ Allah”.
What is your Covid-19 Policy?
Since the emmergence of Covid-19 we have observed strict social distancing, desinfection and face mask policies throughout our service and collaborator network. Following all government restrictions and advice, closing our service when required. Today leading onto 2022 we continue to observe the strictest health and safety advice when traveling or in closed atmospheres as a group. Indivudual preferences are for you to observe beyond the local regulations which we are obliged to follow as a government and general health and safety measure in Spain.
Can we choose our own accommodation?
Certainly. Given the multiple options toward short term accommodation in our favourite cities and regions of Andalusia, we can only hope to use our advice as a reference to your own choice and further research. We will be happy to include your accommodation in our favourite selection of city hotels to any standard or above! While also providing you our own favourite apartments and rural villas, or advice on any property that you may find on AirBnB or other popular property booking pages.
Tell me more about the meal plans.
Meals can be pre-booked and paid for at the establishment. If you prefer to choose your own meals on the go, you may use our schedule’s built-in restaurant suggestions. Spain not being a specifically 'halal' standard by default, we can help you choose from amongst the best local offer available at each location. Should you require any other particular health or wellness diet standards to be met throughout your trip or event, just ask us and we will be at your disposal to help with any dietary specifications.
Do you work with worldwide tour operators and travel agencies?
Yes, with local Spanish tour operators and others abroad, as well as smaller group travel organizations, schools and institutions. Our service is flexible so professional travel or event organisers may choose where we help them and how they may draw in their own value to their offers, being innovative and competitive, and performing at the highest standards with our assistance.
Still hesitating?
— make your choice —
*Average Price Estimation per day for a group size of 4-10 participants, including our basic standard options
LEISURE & CULTURE TRIP
Madrid - Toledo - Córdoba - Granada - Sevilla - Málaga
100€/day
per person
Airport / Station Welcome and Transfer+
Local Group Leader+
3-4 Star city centre hotels+
breakfast included +
Intercity Transportation +
Guided Highlight Tours +
Meals-
Night leisure program –
Workshops or extra activities –
Personal shopping assistant-
WELLNESS / RETREAT
Granada - Sierra Nevada - Alpujarra - Córdoba - Málaga
95€/day
per person
Airport / Station Welcome and Transfer+
Rural villa/home +
Schedule diary +
Activity program +
Optional extras not included:
Meal plan per day-
Personal cook –
Personal therapist –
Personal acupuncture sessions –
STUDY TRIP / WORKSHOP
Córdoba - Granada
200€ /day
per person
Airport / Station Welcome and Transfer+
Group Event Venue+
Group Event Facilitators+
Group Event Assistants+
Schedule diary+
Activity program+
Optional items:
Meal plan per day-
City Apartment / Rural Home –
Booking Assistance –
Fees for all of the necessary action and infrastructure to happen. Items listed in grey are options and can be quoted into your group price.
The costs above are listed as a reference and to provide a sample of each type of service and an example of inclusive and optional extra items. We will base ourselves on this estimation and your own request specifications when providing you with any trip or event quotation.
Ahmad Zaruq Summers
Specialist in Andalusian & Islamic traditions.
I work for individual, independent travellers, Schools, Teachers, Scholars or Institutions and some of the leading worldwide Tour Operators around the Muslim world as a Professional Travel and Event Planner in Andalusia Spain.
— start a journey—
For your guestlist
Seek knowledge as far as China
At the heart of traditional knowledge is a holistic approach, striving to perfect ourselves towards a better perception and understanding of existence. Beginning with programs to entertain our own intellectual or cultural interest, some leisure and shopping needs, we invite you to discover the opportunities that we offer to journey through knowledge from today into any traditional art or science. With a wide range of local new generation academic field specialists, artisan masters and artists, as well as holistic healers, therapists and health coaches, we offer you to plunge and submerge into different fields of knowledge and tradition from Al-Andalus to China, in the most benign Andalusian rural setting for each occasion.
Invite your own guestlist to your journey.
Invite your own guestlist to your journey.
Miriam G.
lost 5kg in 3 months
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Richard F.
lost 7kg in 2months
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Tiffany B.
lost 4kg in 1.5 months
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Alexandra G.
lost 15kg in 2 months
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— looking for inspiration? —
A splash of local affairs, thoughts and food for inspiration.
The cultural rainbow that explains Muslim Al-Andalus is full of readings, learning and insight for us today. A perception that has been at the root of most traditional cultures and civilisations, expressed in most human languages, contains a common understanding of the underlying unity of creation. In this spirit, though our specialising in Andalusi tradition, we embrace all paths that may take us to knowledge and a further experience of our reality than that which we are able to perceive today.
Two years into Covid-19 is marking a tendency in our daily habits and routines. We hope to play part in your day to day by offering more from our local news and affairs, some thought and a place for inspiration. In the hope of better times for travel, we will continue journeying with you through tradition and knowledge through our blog and social media updates. You can also find our new shop section to extend some of the best local artisans, art, decor, souvenirs to you at your home. If you are into speciality foods, warn drinks and spices please stay tuned. We hope to offer options for you to enhance your daily routines, whether your journey is from home to work, or you are journeying totally from home.
— how can we help? —
We are open to collaborations for any good cause
Do you have something to teach or that you would like to share with your own guest list for them to embrace in their own life journeys? Would you like us to help you get it set up for them in the most beautiful and inspiring locations in Europe and the world? Please use any or all the means provided to contact and follow up with our team. Should you want to simply introduce yourself and share any thoughts, you can also use our contact form right here!