Village house, Tama.  Photo credit: Wild Photography Holidays

Fancy a wild photography holiday in Spain?  Then check out the Mountains, Forests And Villages of the Picos de Europa with Wild Photography Holidays.

The travel company specializes in small-group photography holidays in wild and inaccessible places.  In September, this Spanish photography holiday will take guests to Northern Spain, trekking through the mountains, forests and villages of the Picos de Europa.

Fuente De Central massif.  Photo credit: Wild Photography Holidays

Says Geraldine Westrupp, tour leader:

“This a truly magical photographic destination strongly reminiscent of Tolkien’s ‘hobbit land’, a really astonishing place and becoming popular for those who want to absorb the energy and peace of one of the last austere wilderness landscapes in Europe and capture some really exciting and different images.”

This wild, mountain landscape is known for its soaring peaks, deep valley gorges, ancient glaciers and river waters. Guests will travel mostly on foot to explore remote locations so they should like mountain walking and staying in local accommodation every night.

Tour leader Geraldine Westrupp, an experienced mountain guide, will be accompanied by photographer Martin Samtleben, who has worked in the Picos.

Garganta del Cares. Photo credit: Wild Photography Holidays

Other photography holiday highlights will include:

• Visiting the abandoned villages of the Beyos.
• Traversing the Garganta del Cares with its deep ravines, exotic plant life, cliffs and always changing light.
• Journeying to Sotres, the highest village in the Picos de Europa, where there are old shepherd’s houses.
• Traveling by 4×4 vehicle along the old mountain road that divides the eastern and central massifs.
• Walking into the Karstic Picos landscape and photographing El Naranjo.
• Descending by cable car into the valley.

For more info, visit the Wild Photography Holidays site.

Images courtesy of Wild Photography Holidays.

Fancy some mountain island living on Mallorca?  Self-catering travel company Mallorca Farmhouses now offers up to 40% discount on late availability bookings.

Mallorca Farmhouses features luxury villas, country houses and cottages which include a swimming pool, maid service and starter pack.  If you want still more luxury, there is also car hire and a gourmet chef service available.   Among the properties are:

Demana (shown above)
“Demana is a three-bedroom, stone-clad country cottage in a truly outstanding peaceful location near Pollenca old town with wonderful far-reaching views along the Colonya Valley and up into the Pollenca hills. Full of charm and character, the cottage boasts beamed ceilings, a master bedroom with en-suite and outside there is a private pool and covered terrace set amid the property’s large garden filled with almond and citrus groves, as well as ancient pathways to scented Mediterranean fennel and lavender.”

For more info, visit Mallorca Farmhouses.

Image courtesy of Mallorca Farmhouses.

When you’re traveling in the mountains, some of the best and most authentic hotels are the B&Bs.  In the hills and olive groves of Andalusia, Spain, there’s a new boutique B&B Casa Olea.

Based at Casa Olea, mountain travelers can explore the mountains of the Sierras Subbéticas on self-guided walking tours and mountain biking trips.

They can also visit the “Moorish wonders” Granada and Córdoba, picturesque “white villages” and medieval hill-top castles.  In the evenings, guests can return back to a home-cooked meal at Casa Olea.

Other trip highlights can include:

• Sampling award-winning olive oils, local goat cheese and wines from Montilla-Moriles.
• Seeing Priego de Córdoba’s baroque churches.
• Taking a steam, soak and a massage in their Arabic baths.

For more info, visit Casa Olea online.

Images courtesy of Casa Olea.

Are you planning a mountain trip in Andalusia?  After your mountain adventure, you can find many lovely hotels to stay in this stunning region of Spain.

Just ask Stylish Places to Stay, a travel company that specializes in stylish hotels and accommodation worldwide. Recently, the company released its 2009/2010 Andalusia Collection.

Here are a few stylish places to stay in Andalusia:

MARBELLA Casitas Villa Padierna (above). “A brand new concept from the prestigious five-star luxury Hotel Villa Padierna. 11 private villas and 3 suites in unique and elegant surroundings near the Roman amphitheatre offer clients a private second home with 24-hour butler service just a push of the button away. Golf courses, square km. of spa facilities, pools and water gardens, kids’ club, restaurants, bars and five-star hotel facilities next door.”

MARBELLA Hotel Villa Padierna (above). “Stylish 5-star grand luxe hotel with an enviable reputation for excellence in service, elegance and luxury. Built in the style of a Tuscan villa, it has 112 rooms and suites, 1131 m2 of impressive conference space ideal for business events, outstanding cuisine, one of Spain’s most exquisite spas, pool and water gardens, a championship golf course on the doorstep and a Roman-style amphitheatre for romantic weddings.”

CASARES Hotel Finca Cortesín. “The Finca Cortesín’s cobbled courtyard, fountains, perfect proportions and stone-flagged floors give the feel of a charming private finca several hundred years old. The 67 suites and public areas with soaring ceilings are decorated with restrained luxury, complemented by classic gardens, a delicious spa, gym and inspired cuisine. First-class events take place here in the 450 m2 of designer meeting and function space. Serious golfers are also a fixture: the 7,000-metre course is home to the Volvo World Match Play Championship and has some of the world’s best greens.”

JEREZ de la FRONTERA, Hotel Villa Jerez.  “Formerly a traditional country house attached to the bodega of one of the sherry families, the Hotel Villa Jerez. 18 large rooms with oversized beds, traditional décor and generous bathrooms; spotless housekeeping, charming service, good food and plenty of local atmosphere. Unbeatable location within walking distance of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, the González Byass and Domecq cellars and the Exhibition Centre (Recinto Ferial).”

VEJER de la FRONTERA, Hotel V (above). “Once a 16th century casa-palacio, this luxury 12-bedroom boutique hotel opened its doors in February 2009. Its intimate, elegant and exclusive interiors with serene whitewashed walls are furnished with extra large beds, Portuguese antiques, teak and rosewood. Avant-garde designer bathrooms, spa services and attentive staff are some of the other ingredients of this warm, tranquil haven. The hotel may also be rented as a private home with fully-staffed five-star service.”

For more hotels in Andalusia, visit Stylish Places to Stay online.

Images courtesy of Stylish Places to Stay.

If you’re planning summer holidays in Europe, you’ll find awesome Barcelona hotels and  Amsterdam hotels and more accommodation.

Do you want to also ‘go wild’ in Europe in 2010?  Then think about staying in a Eurocamp safari tent in France, Italy, Spain or Switzerland.  The company is adding more safari tents for 2010, including Eurocamp parcs in Spain’s Costa Brava, the Italian Lakes and Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland.

Already nine parcs in France (Dordogne, Languedoc, the Loire, Normandy, the Riviera, the Vendée and Vosges) offer safari style luxury camping.  The safari tent accommodation includes two bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen area, decked terrace and a barbecue.

For more info, check out Eurocamp online.

Image courtesy of Eurocamp.