Walking Holidays
Spain

Andalucia

Our 10-night walking holiday in Andalucia is designed to experience the best trails through the two best national parks for walking in southern Spain. You'll start in the fabulous town of Ronda and then walk through Grazalema National Park taking in the fabulous limestone outcrops and some amazing wildlife. You'll then take the beautiful Ronda to Granada train journey where you can visit this historic city before walking from Capileira to Cadiar following the Las Alpujarran valley with some walks exploring the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This holiday is totally flexible in terms of the number of nights with extra nights possible to enjoy the wonderul towns of Ronda and Granada as well as elsewhere along the trail to enjoy the Andalucian culture. For example you can add extra nights in Grazalema where we have a wide choice of walks.

Located between Sevilla and Malaga, the Grazalema National Park is a wonderful location for a self-guided walking holiday with spectacular limestone and dolomite crags that rise dramatically above beautiful gorges. Grazalema was the first Spanish National Park to be designated in Andalucia, following its recognition as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Sierra de Grazalema has an exceptionally rich wildlife with Europe's largest population of Griffon Vultures. As well as the rich wildlife and stunning countryside, Grazalema and the surrounding area is home to some beautiful small white villages with some great accommodation, which we link together on our self-guided walking holiday. On the first day of your walking trip you'll arrive in Ronda, a spectacular town built on the edge of huge cliffs with its old and new towns connected by an immense bridge.

The Alpujarras in the Sierra Nevada has beautiful upland scenery which is home to a large variety of wildlife including the Nevada clover, Nevada violet and Sierra chamomile. Spring is one of the best times to come walking in the Las Alpujarras if you have an interest in wildflowers. There is also a fantastic array of other wildlife to be seen, most notably the Cabra Montes, the Spanish ibex. As well as wonderful landscapes and a rich flora the region is known for its unique villages and hamlets which have retained their traditional Moors architecture - with white box-shaped houses clustered among the hills. There are more than fifity villages which have preserved their original character and charm. A visit to this part of Andalucia in Spain would not be complete without a day in the historic city of Granada and a trip to the amazing Alhambra palace.

On this independent walking holiday you will have a mixture of day walks from your hotel and walks between locations. On 4 of the 8 walking days you'll have the choice of walks meaning you can adapt the length of your trails.

Holiday Profile

10 nights/11 days, 8 days independent walking (mixture of day circuits and moving between locations)

Dates

Everyday (subject to availability) from January to June and September to December

Walking Profile & Grade

This self-guided or independent walking holiday in Andalucia is made up of 7 or 8 walking days; 3 days walking between locations and 4 or 5 days with circular walks. The walks vary between 8 and 20km in length and between 100m and 1300m of ascent in the day, although there is a choice on 4 days and so the maximum on any one day is 20km distance and 700m of climbing. There is a choice of walks on the centre-based walking days meaning that the overall grade can vary according to your choices. You can also choose to have a rest day among those days. The two walking days which go between hotels are among some of the more difficult walks. Some sections of the trail are rough and stony in places.

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This walking holiday is graded moderate +. See more information about walking grades.

Accommodation & Meals

10 nights in charming country hotels, 5 evening meals included in price

When to Travel

March to June & September to October is generally dry (although, if it does rain, it pours), with warm/hot sunny days and bright blue skies, perfect for walking at any altitude. July & August are very hot and only high altitude walking is recommended. December to February is the coldest time of year with some frost at night and a chance of rain or snow but there are many bright sunny days which are perfect for walking at low altitudes. The wettest period of the year is from November through to February inclusive.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

There are a variety of markings and signs . Your walking holiday does not follow one particular way-marked trail. It is a composite of a large number of trails, although it does follow the GR 7 trail on some of the days. There are also footpath signs. The walking notes include reference to markings and signs where they help with navigation. As well as the walking notes we supply detailed walking maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between accommodation so you only have to carry a day rucksack with picnic lunch, water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc.

Travel Info

Flights

There are a large number of flights to Malaga from destinations from all over Europe by most of the main short haul airlines. From the UK, there are flights from many destinations including London Airports, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff as well as others. Airline companies include British Airways, Easyjet, Iberia, Vueling.

Transfers from and to Malaga Airport can be included in the holiday price.

Note: Please check concerning the availability of a holiday before booking any flights. 

10 nights / 8 days walking

• From €1220 
• Extra: Transfers between Malaga and walking areas available. Price dependent on number in party. Please contact us for a quote
• Prices per person based on 2 sharing a room