Adventures in Andalucia – June

SUMMARY

Dates: Saturday June 4th to Saturday June 11th – 7 nights with 6 days walking.
THIS HOLIDAY IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER – Saturday October 8th to Sat October 15th

Guide: Local Guide in partnership with Spanish Highs

Walking Grade: 3 Goats – good paths and steady but with some challenge as some of the walks have steep climbs.There is a chance to walk Mulhacen the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada.We will have rest time and you have options to shorten walks or stay by the hotel pool!

Base: Hotel de Real Poqueira,Capileira. 2 hours from Malaga Airport.We will arrange one airport transfer and will co ordinate once we have all flight times.The hotel is a traditional old hotel with a bonus of a large outdoor pool.

Price: £828 per person for the holiday inclusive:

• Ensuite,Bed and Breakfast
• Packed lunches for 6 days walking
• Dinner together on the first night in a local restaurant
• Local guiding
• Group transfer to and from Malaga airport.

Not included:

• Travel to Spain
• Dinners after the first night. There are many very reasonably priced restaurants in and around Capileira.
• Drinks

Stay in a beautiful white mountain village in the heart of the Alpujarra and explore an area with rich culture and a wonderful variety of walks from rivers to mountains. A real Spanish adventure.

DETAILS

Our itinerary will include the following walks which will be subject to change depending on the weather:

1. Walking the local paths between the White Villages

2. The Medieval Way – the Taha de Pitres

3. Walking the high forests the GR240 route

4. A walk along the GR7 long distance path.

Weather permitting their will be the option to walk up Mulhacen which is the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada. There is a bus that takes us to the base where it is a well marked path to the top. The descent is a gradual walk down around the mountain.

We are based in a lovely small village and it is possible to have free time to explore or to follow well marked paths between the villages. In a nearby village you can buy chocolate hand made by local women.

ITINERARY

Arrival for an evening briefing at our hotel around 6pm with dinner to follow. There will be an airport transfer from Malaga leaving early afternoon.

Walk 1 – White Villages Of The Poqueira

We start from our hotel at the top of three white hill villages in Capileira. We walk between Bubion and Pampaneira all sitting on hillsides above the dramatic Poqueira gorge only a couple of hours from Malaga and the coast. Mulhacen, the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada at 3482m rises above Capileira where we are based. We will walk along the historic trail that links all three of these villages.

We start from our base in the highest of the villages, Capileira. The trail drops down to cross the Rio Poqueira via a small bridge. We wind down through the hills going through Bubion with lots of cafes and rest stops. Then on to Pampaneira and back via a circular route.

Walk 2 – Medieval Way – Taha Del Pitres Villages

We will walk in the Taha de Pitres region. This is an area characterised by small white villages, steep sided gorges and abundant flora and fauna.

Most of this walk we are follow old medieval trails through the hills and villages. We start in Mecina Fondales and drop down to the enchanting village of Fondales. Here we turn east and head for Ferrierola, perched high above the Trevelez gorge.

Then it’s uphill to visit the very quaint, Atalbeitar before rising to reach the road that leads us to the town of Portugos. We take quiet back tracks to Pitres before dropping steeply back down to the start point at Mecina.

Walk 3 – GR7 long distance path

The Alpujarra boast stunning scenery, normally sunny weather and is a wonderful area for enjoying the delights of this uniquely andalucian spanish walking tour. We choose the spring and autumn months when the surroundings are particularly beautiful; in spring the land is carpeted with a vast array of wild flowers and blossom adorns the fruit trees which are dotted around the slopes.

We walk along the long distance GR7, traversing hillsides and gorges, through the quiet non-tourist white villages of Soportujar and Cañar.

This is a varied walk through Forests, cultivated land, gorges, streams and irregation channels, compete with sleepy white villages. The walk is, for the most part easy gradients. A lovely day walk and a good introduction to the area.

Walk 4 – GR240 High Forests Of The Alpujarras

This is a walk to visit the high forests and experience new vistas of the Sierra Nevada. We walk through the pine forests to break out onto open hillside and arrive at the Puerta del Molina. This is a superb viewpoint of the Sierra Nevada and on a good day we can clearly see the main peaks.

We will walk on the long distance path, the “Sulayr”,GR240 and end up at our hotel in Capileira to relax at the end of a week of discovery.

Walk 5 – Steady walk up  Mulhacen depending on weather

We have a rest day during the week to have time to rest at the hotel pool, wander about the village or visit Granada or the coast. We also have a yoga teacher with us who will offer sessions for the group during the week.

Departure – Saturday after breakfast. Transport is provided back to Malaga.