Tailormade tour Mallorca scenic and cultural highlights tour Spain

This luxury tour begins with your arrival into Palma de Mallorca from London Heathrow Airport. Collect your hire car and find your way to the Hotel Convent de la Missió, situated in the centre of Mallorca’s most famous city. This hotel blends exceptional history with the simplicity of contemporary art and design, punctuating minimalist rooms with bright pieces of art.

Begin your tour of Palma with a visit to the Basilica de Sant Francesc, less than a ten-minute walk from your hotel. This unassuming building is built in a refined Gothic style, which gives it its austere look. Inside, however, the magnificence of this building becomes clear, from the light pouring in through the rose window, to the charming serenity of the cloister. From here, move on to the Santa María Cathedral, built out of the golden limestone quarried in Santanyi in the Gothic style. A proportion of its majesty comes from its waterfront position, though it is worth visiting the Chapter House to see the bejewelled True Cross. The rose window of this building reaches eleven metres in diameter. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Almudiana Arab fortress, since converted to a royal residence. Similarly, the Banys Àrabs, which date back to the 10th century, pay testament to the island’s Moorish history, and demonstrate the beauty and intrigue of such a mingling of cultures. If you have time before leaving for Deià, consider driving five kilometres outside the city to the Castell de Bellver, a Gothic structure commissioned by Jaime II which was originally his summer residence but later became a prison. Now, visitors can admire its distinctive circular shape, and the cloister of arches that ring the central courtyard. In the evenings, walk back down to the port to see the illuminated cathedral and its reflection in the harbour waters, which ripple with the swaying of moored boats. This is the perfect place and time to appreciate the laid-back cosmopolitan lifestyle of this city, whilst taking a drink in one of the waterside bars and watching the world go by.

Leaving the city, you pass through fertile fields of orchards and olives, and in particular in early spring fields of almond blossom, and pretty towns, to your second stop on this touring holiday, Deia on the north coast. Built into the green land between the sea and the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range, this village has an air of exclusive seclusion that will peacefully pervade your two night stay at the Belmond La Residencia. The enchanting hilltop village of Deia is sure to cast a pleasing contrast with the bustle of Palma, and your stay at La Residencia will set you up for the rest of your exploration. The rooms are light and airy with numerous windows flanked by traditional wooden shutters, combining the rustic feel of the village with luxury comfort.

On your first morning, choose between taking the tram from Soller to the port to appreciate the views across the rocky coast, or trek along the network of footpaths that vein the mountain sides. The simplicity of the pleasures of Deia really takes visitors back to Old Mallorca. In the centre of the town is the Archaeological Museum and Research Centre, housed in a converted mill. This museum was founded by the American Painter Dr William H Waldren and is a valuable insight into the history of the area. The Monastir de Miramar near San Marroig once trained monks in Arabic, but now houses another interesting museum; its old stone walls and gardens overlook a rocky peninsula that forms a natural cove on the northern shore. The Manor House of San Marroig is the former home of the Archduke. Despite its formidable façade, the main highlight of this building is the small, circular neo-classical temple in the garden, which has magnificent views across the sea. For a taste of traditional Mallorcan fishing, head down to the Cala de Deia. This small shingle beach has crystal clear water and is perfectly tranquil, shared only by the locals. The single restaurant and bar serve fish straight from the sea, caught by the fishermen you can see on the beach. Take lunch on the hotel’s terrace under the shade of the trees or relax beside the pool with the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains as your backdrop.

Continue east through the Tramuntana mountains, pausing perhaps to visit the town of Soller and its nearby beach on the way, to Puerto de Pollenca, for two nights. The steep cobbled streets and stone houses of Pollenca village, set slightly further inland, wind up the hillside and bring all the charms of rural Spain to the coast, making it, combined with the Puerto, one of the most quintessentially Mallorcan towns. Walk up the famous Calvari steps, past cultivated trees and gardens, past traditional houses, to the top of the town from the collection of squares nestled between the hills.

Spend your time here admiring the boutiques and cafes that define Pollencan lifestyle; perhaps partake in some watersports at the port, or ensure your visit coincides with the Sunday morning market to enjoy the sights and sounds of Spanish life. Cyclists and walkers may be attracted to the twisting pathways of the Cap de Formentor, with the reward of the quaint lighthouse waiting at the end. Those interested in sampling some of the local Mallorcan wine may wish to visit the Bodegas Ca’n Vidalet just outside Pollenca. The winery produces white wines from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia, and Moscatel grapes (the latter two being both sweeter and more traditional), and red wines from Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In Alcudia, just south of Pollenca, are a collection of Roman ruins that once formed Pollentia, the Roman capital of the island. This would make an excellent excursion for anyone looking to explore the history of Mallorca before it became the famous Spanish island it is today. Also, in Alcudia is the Fundacion Yannick y Ben Jakober, which sits on the picturesque Coll Baix Peninsula and houses a permanent collection of over 150 European portraits of children, a collection of contemporary art, a sculpture park, and has a rose garden in its grounds with over 100 varieties of roses. For a museum closer to your hotel, you may wish to visit the Museum of Pollenca, which displays collection of contemporary paintings, a Prehistoric Room, a collection of works by Atilio Boveri, and a collection of Gothic paintings.

Drive to the island’s eastern corner, stopping off in Alcudia, Manacor and Porto Cristo to Canyamel where you spend two nights amidst pine forests and olive groves, within walking distance of Canyamel beach.

Guests looking to get out and about may want to hike across the low mountains, wander along the wide sandy beaches, or follow the banks of the Torrente de Canyamel. Perhaps spend a few hours enjoying the scenery in the Llevant Nature Reserve, or in the wetlands of the S’Albufera Nature Reserve. There are also 4 major golf courses within 15 minutes of your hotel, at Canyamel, Capdepera, Pula, and Son Servera. Alternatively, for a taste of this part of Mallorca’s history, visit the Bronze Age settlements near the pretty town of Arta, the Talaiot sites that are over 3000 years old and belonged to the first inhabitants of Mallorca, or the Capdepera mediaeval castle. This castle is one of the largest in the world and claims a vast stretch of a hillside, with a small town pouring out from its walls. Take the time to walk around its battlements, enjoying the views from every direction, which stretch to the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. Inside the walls, the Casa del Gobernador and the Church of San Juan are both open to the public and very well preserved. Back in Arta, a pretty town with pavement cafes and sloping streets, the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador contains an effigy of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus that is one of the oldest figures in Mallorca still used for worship; and, the view from the Sanctuary is recognised to be one of the island’s best sights. When you return to Canyamel after exploring further out, be sure to go and see the Torre de Canyamel, a mediaeval fortified tower that has since been converted into a thriving artisan centre. Originally, the tower provided refuge for the Valley of Canyamel’s residents during pirate attacks.

Today you drive south to the southernmost point of the island, passing through hills of Mediterranean forest, of pine and rosemary, to Colonia de Sant Jordi, in a natural and unspoilt area. You stay at the Font Santa Hotel, just inland. The Font Santa Hotel resembles a typically Spanish villa, with white-washed walls, light tiled roofs, and pagodas and terraces that either trap the sun or protect you from the heat. Spend at least one afternoon under the shade of the palm trees beside the pool or enjoying the extensive spa facilities, before you return inside to dine in the restaurant, under its light wood beams and within its light stone walls.

Once a small fishing village, Colonia de Sant Jordi was only recognised as a seaside resort in the 1950s. Colonia de Sant Jordi has a harbour with a small beach that overlooks the National Maritime Park of Cabrera on the Cabrera Archipelago. Boats trips can be made across to the 19 islands, so visitors can explore the beautiful protected ecosystems, both above water level and below. Endangered species such as turtles, whales, rare fish, and coral can all be found in the underwater caves or further out to sea. Dropping anchor on one of the islands, hikes can be organised across these vast landforms, allowing you to witness the unimpeded flora and fauna, or trips to the lighthouse and caves of La Miranda. One of the islands, Goat Island, is inhabited, with an ethnological museum displaying the ceramics and tools of ancient dwellers. Back on land, a walk along the shore will bring you to some of Mallorca’s most beautiful white sandy beaches. Es Carbo, in particular, is a 20-minute walk from the harbour, and is a favourite of the royal family. After relaxing on the sand for a few hours, you may also wish to explore the reefs and sandbanks behind the beach. D’es Port beach is lined with well-established restaurants serving excellent seafood accompanied by beautiful views. If your holiday here happens to fall on a Tuesday, however, we would recommend enjoying some tapas in the evening in the town, as this is Sant Jordi’s traditional tapas night. The Colonia de Sant Jordi market is held on a Wednesday, should you desire to pick up a few local specialities, wines, or souvenirs, and on Thursdays and Saturdays, there is a market in Campos. To really achieve a complete picture of Spanish culture, you should consider organising your trip around one of the many festivals on the island. In Colonia de Sant Jordi, the Summerfest falls on the first weekend of August, the Spring Festival in Ses Salines is on the 1st of May, and Sant Bartomeu is on the 24th of August.

Enjoy your last breakfast at the Font Santa Hotel before heading north to the airport at Palma. Drop off your hire car here and board your flight back to the UK.