Tenerife – The Nature & History of a Volcanic Island

A SEVEN NIGHT HOLIDAY | 17 NOVEMBER 2023

Tenerife, the largest island in the Canaries archipelago, is a volcanic island with an unspoilt and dramatic interior and a beautiful coastline. Perfectly preserved villages with colourful painted houses, pretty squares and churches, lush subtropical gardens and dramatic mountain drives, all add up to a relaxing and fulfilling week in a temperate climate. The Canary Islands have been welcoming visitors for 300 years and although Tenerife has a reputation for mass tourism, this has been cleverly contained in areas not included on our itinerary.

the itinerary

We fly to Tenerife and on arrival transfer to the 5* Hotel Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz. This long-established and very popular property is set within six acres of impeccably maintained gardens. There are spacious lounges, terraces, two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor and a spa. All bedrooms have balconies and views of Mount Teide or the sea.

Today is devoted to a selection of the luxuriant gardens on the island. We follow a guided tour of the hotel’s own splendid gardens with visits to the Botanical Garden of Tenerife, the Sitio Litre Orchid Garden where more than 300 varieties of orchid can be seen and the Parque Taoro Water Garden.

We will visit the Mount Teide National Park today, travelling to the 12,000 ft peak by cable car to enjoy spectacular views across the island and over to Gran Canaria. Afterwards, we drive down to Granadilla for an aperitif with Simon and Christopher Monckton, two of Kirker’s most popular tour leaders, and then to lunch in the tiny fishing harbour of Los Abrigos. On the way back to the hotel in the afternoon, we will visit the curious stepped pyramids at Guimar, restored by Thor Heyerdahl in the 1990s.

Wines from the Canary Islands were once very fashionable and sought-after – Shakespeare mentions them in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Twelfth Night - and this morning we will enjoy a tasting. Later we make our way to La Orotava, a lovely small town with 17th and 18th Century houses and churches, where a walking tour will be followed by lunch in a traditional Canarian restaurant.

TOUR LEADER

CHRISTOPHER MONCKTON

Christopher was a choral scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford where he developed a passion for both performing and teaching. This led to a life-long interest in history, music and art history. He has led countless tours all over the world covering many subjects and periods. He is equally at home in the ancient world as he is in the major art galleries of Europe. Christopher Monckton is also a professional musician and a distinguished organist.

5

This morning we drive along the spectacular north coast to Masca, a tiny village of pretty houses clinging to a steep ravine and dwarfed by the most dramatic scenery on the island. We will then drive back to the charming old town of Garachico where we pause for an independent lunch and visit the 17th century Franciscan Convent. For 300 years this sleepy village of cobbled streets, fishermen’s cottages and sun-baked cloisters was the most important port on the island.

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We visit Santa Cruz today, the capital of the island and a handsome city of tree-lined streets, parks and art galleries. We will have a guided tour of the stunning concert hall, the Auditorio de Tenerife designed by Calatrava. There will be free time for shopping and an independent lunch before returning to the hotel.

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Our final tour starts with a walking tour of the historic university town of La Laguna, the original capital, founded in 1496. After an independent lunch, we continue to the wild Anaga Mountains where the “cloud forest”, like that of the neighbouring island of La Gomera, has survived undisturbed since the dinosaurs walked the earth.

DAY

We drive to the airport for the flight back home.

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DAY 8

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP 17 November £2,798 £462

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with British Airways: Depart London Heathrow 12.35, arrive Tenerife 17.00 Depart Tenerife 17.50, arrive London Heathrow 22.15 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Three dinners • Two lunches • All sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities as described • The services of a Kirker Tour Leader