Travel with us on custom-created small-group tours
Travel with us!
We are happy to announce our tours for 2026. Sign up here to get emails about our upcoming tours. The opportunities can pop up quickly, and space is always limited.
Check back often, or even better, reach out to us to let us know which of our destinations you are interested in. We've been known to design custom tours for small groups upon request. (See our past tours below.)
Andalucia Architecture and Cuisine; Nov 8-15, 2026
Yes, we're headed back to Spain! We are thrilled to be working with a unique company, Elective Study Abroad, to dive deep into the historic influences that have shaped the art and culture of our beloved Andalucía.
Their course on the Architecture and Cuisine of Andalucía is the centerpiece of this visit to Spain, and your payment and enrollment in the session will be handled directly by Elective. We encourage you to read the course description and then reach out to us to let us know about your interest and questions. For those Travel Past 50 attendees wanting to extend their travels in Spain around the Elective course, we're happy to offer suggestions for your personal itinerary.
Save $250 off enrollment with code TP502026
NOTE: Space is limited. As of March, only six spots remain.
Program notes
The Andalucía course is conducted over four days (3 nights) in Córdoba and four days in Granada, with accommodations at 4-star hotels. Welcome drinks and dinner are included, as are daily breakfasts. Also included are course materials, field seminar activities and transportation, entry fees to La Mezquita and the Alhambra, and a historical tapas tasting.
Is this Andalucía Spain travel right for you?
This is truly a trip that can be customized to your speed. The basic plan involves morning discussions and field trips, with afternoons and some evenings free for independent exploration, rest, or taking advantage of the excellent recommendations by the group's facilitator. The most demanding physical activity is visiting historic sites with some extended standing involved. Other field seminars involve city walking, which can include hills and cobblestones. No worries about the tapas “tour”: it takes place in one venue as we're guided through a tapas timeline. Evening events, which might be a 20-minute walk from the hotel, can also be accessed by taxi.
In any case, we are mindful of mobility issues and offer opportunities to sit and rest where possible. Both Elective and Travel Past 50 travel pros are adept at making arrangements for those who might need to take a break. Please contact either of us directly with your particular questions or concerns.
As for the fun part – learning from experts in their fields – there are no prerequisites! Any reading is at your own discretion, and there are no tests. The cities are the classrooms and your presence is all that matters. Our instructor, Blanca Espiagares Rooney, a native of Granada, is an architect specializing in historic heritage, with Master's and PhD degrees connecting these studies with urban cartography. She's not only been involved in restoration projects, including at the Alhambra, but has written on the cultural history of gazpacho. Sounds like someone we'd love to invite over for dinner or, better yet, meet up with in Granada and Córdoba.
Our facilitator is Liam Howarth, a professional flamenco guitarist and perennial student of music, languages and Spanish culture.
Share Andalucía with Us
Please consider joining us for this exclusive experience in two of the most artistic and interesting cities in the world. For background, check out our posts about the fabulous Mezquita of Córdoba and incomparable Alhambra of Granada.
For more about the experience of participating in an Elective Study Abroad course, read our post about their program in Montpellier, France, “Reinventing Study Abroad for Adults.”
Why Travel Past 50 Tours
Travel Past 50 Tours, like the TravelPast50 travel blog, was born out of interest from friends and readers to join us visiting some of the places we love the most. In response, we’ve created tours that blend places we know well with new places we want to explore, and classic sites, local dining, and engaging tours.
Here’s what makes our Travel Past 50 Tours unique:
- Small group tours (maximum 14 guests)
- Accompanied by Kris and Tom, with benefit of their life-long travel experience
- Custom-created itineraries combining cultural experiences with local cuisine and active tour options
- Sufficient unscheduled time
- Additional local expert guides as appropriate
- Local secrets not usually on tourist itineraries
- Comfortable travel, luxury touches, and affordable rates
- Kris and Tom’s helpful travel tips, shared with the group via personal communications in advance of the trip: getting ready to travel, what to pack, recommended reading, and how to enjoy to the max
Our goal is to introduce our tour guests to new destinations and new insights, offering everyone the opportunity to enjoy independent travel and free time along with the pleasure of meeting new people in our select group. Join us!
Sign up
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What our guests say about Travel Past 50 Tours
Here's what our clients have said about us, and why we think we're among the best small group travel companies for seniors:
“The combination of a small group and professional guides in each city made it an outstanding experience!”
-Karen M
“Very enjoyable tour of Northern Spain with Tom and Kris. The group was a perfect size. I can recommend traveling with them and would consider a second tour in the future.”
-Christiane M
“Travel Past 50 provides a balance of people, food, wine and sights with enough time to explore a bit on one's own time.”
-Bill T
“Kris and Tom's extensive first hand knowledge of Spain and the language made for a wonderfully interesting trip. I'd recommend any tour of Spain they put together.”
-Janice D
“Tom and Kris were great at showing their love of Spain.”
-Linda M
“We truly enjoyed the itinerary and thought the choice of activities was great. You blended the guide-enhanced experiences with self-directed exploration and discovery. Kudos.”
-Roger and Deb B
Past Tours
February-March 2026. Wine and Culture in South America: Santiago de Chile, Mendoza and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Related Posts: Santiago de Chile Itinerary;
Bellavista Neighborhood Murals;
October 2025, Ireland in Focus: Sligo, Ireland.
Related Post: Things to See in Sligo Ireland: An Insiders Guide
April 2023. Spain tour to Madrid and Andalucía: Madrid, Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla, Málaga.
Related Post: What to Do in Málaga, Spain.
November 2022. Northern Spain: Cuisine and Culture Itinerary Barcelona, Zaragoza, Logroño, San Sebastián-Donostia, Madrid.
Related post: Spain: Return to Five Cities.
August 2019. Sweden-Norway Itinerary
Stockholm, Östersund, Åre, Trondheim.
Related posts: Five Top Day Hikes in Sweden; Many Ways to Visit Trondheim, Norway
Travel Past 50 Tours Terms and Conditions
Here's all the fine print. Please note these terms and conditions may vary depending on the specific tour destinations and timing.
Requirements Traveling with TP50 Tours
We require all our guests to carry travel insurance, to sign a waiver agreeing to the terms and conditions published with each tour itinerary, and to be up to date with vaccinations, including against COVID-19. See more about traveling with us during COVID in this post updated July 2022.
We use Allianz Travel's annual “All Trips” insurance plan, but you can find their single trip insurance plans and get a quick quote here.
Of course passports are required, too. Here's a friendly reminder to make sure your passport is valid through six months following your travel dates, as required by most countries.
Where to?
Let us know where you’d like to travel with Kris and Tom. We’ll consider any place in the world. Let us know, too, what style of travel you are seeking with us. Would you like some hiking or biking? Museums and history? City walking tours? Food and wine? Email tom@travelpast50.com.
