Andalusia Hike

A 1hr 15 min transfer takes you to the town of Hornachuelos, whose whitewashed houses look out over the blue waters of the Bembézar Reservoir. The surrounding Nature Preserve was established in 1989 and contains extensive Holm oaks, cork oaks, and riverbank woodland forests. Water flows through the region from the mountains down to the Guadalquivir River, making it the perfect habitat for 30 species of mammals, including the nearly extinct Iberian lynx, the mongoose, and the otter. We enjoy lunch in a local spot in Hornachuelos village, where we drink from the “Fountain of the Three Caños” for health, luck, and love!  We end the day in world-renowned Córdoba. Our four-star hotel is in a restored noble villa in the heart of the old town. We have a guided visit of the incredible Mezquita before reconvening for dinner.  The Hike: 9.2 km (5.7 mi). Duration: 2.5 hrs. Uphill 230 meters/995 ft. Overnight Córdoba. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

A short transfer this morning takes you into the countryside for a beautiful loop hike into a verdant forest featuring streams, waterfalls, Moorish mills, and Roman ruins. We return to Cordoba for a late lunch, and then you’ll have free time to explore the colorful streets and bodegas before meeting again for dinner. Tonight, we will enjoy a traditional tapa meal before attending a fabulous Flamenco show.  The Hike: 9.3 km (5.8 mi). Duration: 3.5 hrs. Uphill 260 meters/ 830 ft Overnight Cordoba. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

Head south today into the Subbética mountains, a rugged and rough terrain that is rich in fossil remains as well as sinkholes (called “poljes”), caves, and striking limestone formations that were created during periods of heavy rainfall over the millennia. The entire region is classified as a UNESCO geopark. Our trail takes us out from the charming whitewashed village of Zuheros across the calcareous massif of the Sierra de Cabra. We stop along the banks of the Bailón River for a picnic lunch before completing our hike and returning to Zueheros. Enjoy a crisp glass of Albarino wine before dinner. The Hike: about 14 km (8.7 mi). Duration: 5 hrs. Uphill 550 meters/1,760 ft. Overnight Zuheros. Hotel, and all meals included.

We transfer you out into the countryside along a scenic route to start today’s walk in the nearby village of Zagrilla Alta. The trail leads you through olive groves, rocky gorges, and meadows of wildflowers to the town of Luque, just a few kilometers from our home in Zuheros. We enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. We return to the hotel to enjoy a little downtime before our visit to an olive mill, where you’ll learn about the centuries-old techniques that produce some of the best olive oil in the world. We return to the hotel before we enjoy dinner together. The Hike: 6.6 km (4.1 mi), Duration: 2 hrs and 45 mins. Uphill 265 meters /850 ft. Overnight Zuheros. Hotel, breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner included.

Continue south this morning to visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, “El Torcal,” a spectacular landscape of twisted and layered karstic limestone. You will hike the Route of the Ammonites, which features an extraordinary amount of fossils and sweeping vistas over the largest karstic formation in Europe. We have a late lunch in the village of Villanueva de la Concepción before continuing to our final destination: the fabulous city of Granada. Your guide will take you for an orientation walk to introduce you to the historic city center before a free evening in Granada. Overnight at a four-star hotel in the city center. The Hike: 11.2km (6.9 mi). Duration: 4.5 hrs. Uphill 520 meters/1,650 ft. Overnight Granada. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner is not included. 

A short transfer out of Granada brings us to an unexpected trail that features waterfalls, swimming holes, narrow tracks, hanging bridges, and wide-open vistas, all in a few hours. You will enjoy spectacular views of the valley from the trail's upper reaches. The green meadows are a riot of colorful wildflowers if you are here in the spring. We have lunch in Monachile village before heading back to Granada. Some people opt out of this walk for free time in lovely Granada. Get together again tonight for a special dinner to celebrate a wonderful week. Overnight Granada. The Hike: 8.7 km (5.4 mi) Duration: 3 hrs. Uphill 350 meters/1,120 feet. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

This morning, we have a guided visit of the stunning Alhambra, a massive medieval complex of fortresses, palaces, and gardens home to the Islamic rulers of Spain for centuries. It is now Spain’s most visited monument. Afterward, join us for an optional walk through the Albaicín neighborhood, a picturesque jumble of streets and alleyways, churches, and high-walled gardens, where you can get a great view of the Alhambra framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The tour officially ends after the visit, so you can travel to your next destination or have a leisurely lunch and spend another evening in Granada on your own. Breakfast and Alhambra visit included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.  

The hikes in Andalusia contain moderate hills over some uneven terrain, but nothing particularly "technical." We usually hikebetween 3-5 hours a day, divided between morning and afternoon. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 km (5 - 9 miles).