Walking in Andalucia
| country: | Spain |
| location: | Andalucia |
| trip type: | Introductory / moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 24 Nov, 4 Dec 2009: 22 Jan |
| price: | From £499 (8 days) excluding flights. Single supplement £25. Additional nights' accommodation £25 per night. We can arrange flights from the UK. Winter trips - see below |
| offers: | Are you dreading the long dark winter nights? Escape to Sunny Andalucia with our all inclusive Winter Sun Breaks - only £450 pp inc. flights |
read 12 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Share the love of walking and enjoy great company on our walking holidays in beautiful Andalucia Spains southernmost region.
Our holidays are all about finding the hidden Spain and the fun and stimulation of walking with a group of like-minded people! Singles are particularly welcome. People who have been before have told us they enjoyed the activities and the relaxed atmosphere very much.
The walks are well organised and people like all the historical and local information that is provided. The wining and dining are superb. You stay in a lovely authentic village house and the accommodation is very comfortable.
Andalucia is a lovely walking area and we make sure that you take full advantage of that. For many of our guests, the best aspect of the holiday is the excellent company of the group members and in particular, the great company of Gill & Dave, the tour leaders, who always go out of their way to include everyone in the walking and social activities. A holiday you will always remember.
Our holidays are all about finding the hidden Spain and the fun and stimulation of walking with a group of like-minded people! Singles are particularly welcome. People who have been before have told us they enjoyed the activities and the relaxed atmosphere very much.
The walks are well organised and people like all the historical and local information that is provided. The wining and dining are superb. You stay in a lovely authentic village house and the accommodation is very comfortable. Andalucia is a lovely walking area and we make sure that you take full advantage of that. For many of our guests, the best aspect of the holiday is the excellent company of the group members and in particular, the great company of Gill & Dave, the tour leaders, who always go out of their way to include everyone in the walking and social activities. A holiday you will always remember.
day-by-day itinerary
If you are a group of 6 or more, contact us for a tailor made itinerary.
| Day 1: | Welcome to Andalucia. We will meet you at Malaga Airport and transfer you to your house in Torrox Pueblo by private transport. After settling into your accommodation, you will join the other guests for a welcome lunch followed by an orientation tour and introduction to the history of village. |
| Day 2: | Comares. Our first day's walking takes us via an old mule track to the hill top village of Comares in the beautiful Axarquia region. Comares is the highest village in the Axarquia region and the walk takes us round the outskirts of the village with breathtaking sea and mountain views. The whole area is rich in fruit trees. Velez Malaga is a major centre for the growing and export of mangoes and avocados. During the walk, there will be a wide range of other trees including almonds, pomegranates, oranges and olives. Flowers in April to June are spectacular including a wide variety of orchids. Eagles, kites and Griffon Vultures have also been seen in this high terrain. The walk finishes with a tour through the village and the opportunity to purchase some of the local muscatel raisins, figs, honey and almonds depending upon season. Walking time: 5 hours Height Gain: 2200 ft Grade: moderate |
| Day 3: | Casa de la Mina. We take a 20 min drive due north of Torrox and offer 2 alternative walks - the choice is yours. For those who want a more challenging walk, there is a steep climb up a track that then follows a dry river bed for about an hour. For those who prefer a more leisurely walk, we will drive you up the steeper part in our 4x4 drive. At the top end of the track there are wonderful views of the valley from a height of 980m. The walk is then on an excellent track, fairly flat, with stunning views across the Almijara. We walk for about 30 mins to the Casa de la Mina - a delightful stop for refreshments with beautiful views and good opportunities for taking photos. We then descend, at times quite steeply, towards the now disused Fabrica de la Luz where we meet the river. The descent takes about an hour to a wonderful picnic spot beside a waterfall. It may be necessary to cross the river a couple of times so weatherproof boots or spare socks are useful. Sticks would be useful for the ascent. Walking time: 4½ hours Distance: 12 km Grade: moderate |
| Day 4: | El Canuelo. This walk starts behind the village of Periana and involves a gradual ascecnt with stunning views of Lake Vinuela. It is a great walk for wild flowers and birds and in January and February beautiful almond blossom. At the start we walk upwards to an old railway track. It is an easy walk but you are rewarded with 360o views including that of Maroma, which is the highest mountain in Axarquia (2068 m). This is part of the Sierra Tejeda. We continue walking through to the Ventas de Zafarraya a spectacular pass through the mountain chain. We then head down to the village of El Canuelo where we have a stop for refreshment. The restaurant also has a swimming pool and we can relax and enjoy the views of Lake Vinuela below. There is then a leisurely walk down mainly tarmac road back to the cars. Walking time: 5 hours Distance: 12 km Grade: easy. |
| Day 5: | Rest day. Dave & Gill will be happy to provide information and help you to plan your own day out - others have enjoyed a trip to Nerja and its caves, or into the vibrant, historic city of Malaga, including the famous Picasso Museum. In the evening, BBQ / Meal at D&G's finca, a rural delight. |
| Day 6: | Lost villages of Acebuchal. This is a circular walk along a shaded river bed for part of its length with a short steep climb up to a good track for the return journey. The villages of Acebuchal, Bajo and Arriba were deserted in the 1950s when the villages were cleared in post Civil War guerrilla fighting. Our guide for this walk is steeped in the history of the area and we promise an entertaining and lively day. The Junta de Andalucia are now financing the restoration of the villages to encourage rural tourism run by local people. We finish the day at the Cortijo of Maria and her friends where they prepare a 9 course meal comprising typical local home made dishes and wines. Situated on a hilltop with views down to Nerja and the mountains, there is a swimming pool for the use of guests (fabulous on hot days after a long walk). Walking time: 4 hours Grade: easy |
| Day 7: | Canillas de Albaida. This walk takes us up a river valley with a steep climb up a small goat track before returning back down along gentle quarry road. The walk starts from the now disused Fabrica de la Luz which used to provide electricity for the area before the Spanish National grid was formed. The walk takes us through many walnut groves and in the spring fields of bright red poppies delight the eye. We pass a huge cave which was once used by the local honey maker and is now home to a herd of goats and climb to a height of 3,500 feet with superb views over the magnificent Sierra Almijara. Walking time: 5 hours Length: 12 km Grade: moderate |
| Day 8: | Adios! After breakfast we transfer you to Malaga Airport. |
travellers' tales
The beautiful scenery, the good company, excellent vegetarian food and well-organised walks all made for a fantastic holiday. Prepare to laugh a lot. (more)
5 day winter sun departures
As well as our 8 day trip (Mar - Oct departures) we also run a shorter version of this itinerary during the winter months, departing 24 Nov 2008, 4 Dec 2008, 22 Jan 2009 at only £450 (5 days) including flights from the UK. We are also offering our 5 day NEW YEAR PARTY again this year on 31 Dec 2008, which represents fantastic value for money at only £450 including New Year party, all food, wine, accommodation, airport transfers and full activity programme (excludes flights).
The Costa del Sol weather is exactly what you would expect from the name "Sunny Coast"; sun, sun and more sun. It is one of the best, most reliable and healthiest climates in the world with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. In the winter months the climate is temperate with average daytime temperatures of about 16ΊC. There can be some rainy days during this period - when tends to vary from year to year - but it seldom lasts more than a few days. It is a perfect climate during these months for walking.
how this holiday makes a difference
 Wherever possible we use our own organic fruit and vegetables grown on our own farm just outside the village of Torrox Pueblo. Where we buy food we use local markets, which only stock locally grown produce in season, thus supporting the local agricultural community. Evening meals are taken locally in typical Spanish restaurants serving regional dishes. We have the greatest respect for the local people and their customs and are anxious to share our knowledge of Andalucia with our guests. We take our clients to local fairs, processions and celebrations when they coincide with a holiday, and we explain the background. We also provide people with a history of Torrox and the surrounding villages during our walks. We encourage our guests to speak to the local people in the village, if only to say hello. We work in partnership with local businesses and we generate new business and work in the local economy. Guests have an opportunity to visit the local olive oil co-operative and purchase locally produced olive oil, local wine and other goods. We encourage clients to buy home-made products such as dried figs, raisins, honey, almonds and wine from housewives in the village of Comares. We also take guests to dine at a cortijo run and owned by a local Spanish woman. Our guests stay in local village houses, which have been restored by local workmen and we have been careful to ensure that these houses have retained their unique Moorish character whilst providing all necessary comforts. This helps the Pueblo retain its immense charm and encourages sustainable tourism, which is necessary for the growth of a healthy local economy. During our walks our guests are encouraged to behave in an environmentally responsible manner. We stay on well marked paths and we always take our litter home with us. We do not encourage the picking of wild flowers and plants. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |