Eastern Spain is home to the lush region of Valencia, where the sun rises first in the Iberian Peninsula every dawn. Nicknamed “El Levante” proudly by the locals, this privileged eastern chunk of Spain has the sparkling Mediterranean Sea as its front yard, the fertile interior farmlands packed with Valencian orange groves and rice plantations in its back gardens, and an infectious gunning-for-the-future spirit that can be felt from its inhabitants and on the streets. Pay a visit to the Valencians in their paradise of a home with a customised Valencia and eastern Spain tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and immerse in their spirit of the good life as they know it.
Paella is served
Valencia is the birthplace of Paella, arguably Spain’s most famous culinary export to the world. While we may or may not have eaten good renditions of it, nothing beats going to the source of it all to unlock the true secrets of this world-famous dish. Learning to whip up an authentic paella and hopefully replicating it in your kitchen back home is obviously going to be the main takeaway, but the opportunity to transport yourself to the Valencian countryside, visit a market full of bright local produce straight out of farms and then indulge in a steaming plate of goodness that you have just whipped up sounds surely like a dream come true for all aspiring home cooks and foodies alike.
Sun,sand and sea
The famed Costa Blanca, while certainly not a hidden secret, can be experienced in a manner that is not just a congested tourist nightmare. Chartering a private boat for your party and having flexibility to plan your own route – hang with the pretty crowd some parts and get away from it all the next instance – sounds like the perfect way to take on this popular tourism magnet. Some of the best bespoke experiences to be had is seeing the impressive Santa Barbara Castle perched above the hilltop from the water, cruising along to El Campello and Altea and anchoring at sea to enjoy a swim in clear waters, escaping to fishing village Tabarca for a slice of rustic charm, then stopping for lunch in chic hidden coves to recharge and rejuvenate. For others who don’t mind being in the company of fellow sun-worshippers, all you need to is to simply touch ground on its white sandy shores.