| Walking through Spain along ancient footpaths you come across mediaeval castles and hidden villages nestling in the countryside. Passing through on foot, you see a Spain that so many tourists miss completely. |
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Time enough to enjoy it all... on foot you will experience the natural beauty of a country at your own pace. Become a part of the daily routine in a rural village, try your best in a conversation with local people. They'll try even harder. Visit that small castle just a short detour from your S-Cape walking route. Take in the fragrance of a thousand flowers in spring. And after a pleasurable day of walking, enjoy a glass of the best local wine served on the hotel terrace.
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On the south-western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, a mountainous area called the Alpujarras still recalls its Moorish origins.
The charm of this Arabic legacy remains, here at the perfect elevation for a true alpine experience. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada, all sorts of Mediterranean crops thrive: olive orchards, orange and lemon groves, almonds, figs and grapes, against a backdrop of snowy peaks. Dramatic views from enchanting white-washed villages, where terraced fields and authentic irrigation channels survive, remnants of an era gone by. Trip Highlights:
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The green coastal hills and lovely shores of eastern Asturias, an intensely lush paradise at the foot of the spectacular Picos
de Europa of northern Spain. Walk from village to village, stopping at beautiful sandy beaches and tiny coves. The views inland
over green pastures touch on cows grazing just above the beach with snowy peaks in the distance. Following parts of the northern variant of El Camino de Santiago (St. James' Way), you'll discover picturesque hamlets with interesting traditional architecture. You'll walk along coastal cliffs with spectacular natural blowholes. You'll enjoy the texture of rural life and conversation with friendly locals. Your journey ends in Llanes, a welcoming fishing village where the lovely and historic Medieval quarter makes a fine setting for a farewell dinner of fresh seafood served with local apple cider. Trip Highlights:
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Montsant, the Sacred Mountain, part of a beautiful limestone massif in southern Catalunya. A lovely area of quiet villages bordered by vineyards of well-known wine-producing regions. Travel on foot to fascinating historical sites, such as the Monastery at Poblet, walking through tranquil woods with an amazing diversity of Mediterranean vegetation. Trip Highlights:
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La Gomera, the greenest of the Canary Islands, lies just 30 kilometres off the coast of Tenerife, at the edge of an enormous shelf
in the Atlantic Ocean. Steep cliffs along the rocky coastline give way to volcanic peaks inland. Deep gorges, or 'barrancos', limit
access to many parts of the island, and tourism here is still in its early stages. The most surprising of La Gomera's treasures are found among the dense vegetation of its mysterious laurel woods, where centuries-old trees clothed in moss give the impression of a tropical rain forest. A walker's paradise, this island offers endless hiking routes, many of which follow the coastline and offer spectacular views inland toward towering volcanic peaks. Trip Highlights:
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The northwest coast of Mallorca. A surprisingly quiet and beautiful area, separated from the crowded playas by a whimsical limestone
mountain range, the Serra de Tramuntana. Walk from one picturesque village to another, along coastal cliffs, above idyllic beaches or right through the mountains, crossing vast private estates with orange, almond and olive trees. Accommodation at a family-run hostel, a beautifully-situated rural accommodation and a beach hotel. Trip Highlights:
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Menorca is the greenest and most authentic of the Balearic Islands and the perfect place to get acquainted with the true beauty of
life in the Mediterranean: deep blue bays, white sand beaches, spectacular cliffs, rolling hills, quiet farmland, historical towns, and ports full of tiny boats and seafood restaurants.
You'll follow the Camí dels Cavalls, a horsemens trail established long ago by English settlers, which has recently been way-marked as a GR long-distance walking path. Your trip begins and ends in the capital of Mahón (also written Maó), a convenient base for easy travel to Menorca. Each day, you walk a section of the route circling the island. With the help of an occasional taxi transfer or bus ride, you.ll walk the best routes and skip the less interesting parts. Trip Highlights:
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| The Sierra de Grazalema is an "undiscovered" oasis of green, a mountainous area adorned by picturesque white-washed villages such as Grazalema, Montejaque and the lovely town of Ronda. Here, you'll have the pleasure of walking through a landscape of marvellous limestone sculptures marked by deep gorges, where vultures nest among the cliff tops. At lunchtime, stop off to replenish your energy with a round of tapas and vino enjoyed on an outdoor terrace. Then continue on through unspoilt countryside, surrounded by landscapes painted in earth tones, punctuated by brilliant white buildings against the soft grey-green of cork oak woods and Spanish silver firs. In the midst of this exquisite natural setting, you'll find charming "pueblos blancos" with exotic names like Zahara de la Sierra or Cortes de la Frontera, which recall centuries of fluctuating borders between Arab and Christian kingdoms. At the end of the week, you reach the lovely town of Ronda, one of the prettiest in Andalusia, with its intriguing mix of Moorish and European monuments. |
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The Picos de Europa National Park: breath-taking landscapes, deeply rooted tradition and tasty regional gastronomy. A truly magical
corner of the world. Enjoy the best of the county of Cabrales in just one weekend. Immerse yourself in both natural beauty and traditional culture, while you enjoy a combined 4x4 and self-guided walking excursion one day and a guided cheese and cider tour the next. Discover 'the Picos' as you explore authentic villages and lush green valleys beneath towering peaks. These delicious Asturian specialities will be just enough to whet your apetite. Soon you'll be planning your next weekend escape. Trip Highlights:
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The Picos de Europa, without a doubt the most impressive mountains in all of Spain, emerge dramatically from the coastal landscape
as a natural frontier between the green north coast and the more arid Castille. The heart of the Picos is made up of three capricious limestone massifs, not easily crossed by car or on foot. Thus we offer you two different Picos walking trips. An 8-day trip on the north side, through the green province of Asturias, designed to be an enjoyable and relaxing walking holiday. This program offers a variety of landscapes to explore in the Eastern and Central Massifs, with easy or optionally more difficult daywalks, which include an ascent to the mountain hut at the foot of the famous Picu Urriellu. If you are looking for a more challenging hiking trip, a real trek, you might consider our 12-day trip which traverses the Picos de Europa National Park. Trip Highlights:
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The Picos de Europa. Without a doubt the most impressive mountains in Spain, emerging dramatically from the coastal landscape to
form a natural frontier between the lush north coast and the more arid Castille. Three capricious limestone massifs marked by
rushing rivers, plunging gorges, and stunning high peaks. Some of the most vertical terrain in all of Europe (120m to 2648m) and
home to a great variety of alpine flora and intriguing fauna. From the green north side to the warmer and drier climate of the
south, straight through the Central Massif. An unforgettable odyssey which will you have planning your return before the postcards even reach home. Trip Highlights:
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The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, one of the loveliest protected mountainous areas in Europe, with high glacier valleys,
deep canyons and extensive forests which display amazing colours in autumn. Explore the area around the village of Torla doing high or low walks, through Ordesa Valley or up toward Bujaruelo on the French border. Then drive south to spend two days at Nerín, walking up to the summer pastures high above the Añisclo Gorge. Transport by (own or rental) car. Trip Highlights:
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Tenerife: one of the most fascinating of the Canary Islands, due to the great variety of landscapes it offers. Woods of aromatic bay
laurel trees, vast deserts with bizarre basalt formations, humid areas with exuberant vegetation, colourful volcanic slopes . . .
and the king of all Spanish peaks: El Teide. Discover this world of extreme beauty while enjoying the luxury of four comfortable and charming hotels. Trip Highlights:
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Limestone formations and Moorish architecture characterize the area just inland from Valencia's Costa Blanca. Hills and plains dotted
with white villages and adorned by Mediterranean vegetation, with a mild climate year round. Beautiful early spring bloom, when
almond orchards put on a true display. Majestic limestone massifs stand out against this pastoral landscape and find their stone
reflections in castles of the Moors and fortresses of the kingdom of Aragón. Also very suitable for families with children age 8 or older. Trip Highlights:
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The Pilgrims' Trail to Santiago de Compostela is one of the great historical long-distance footpaths through Europe. According to legend, it all began in the 9th century when the bones of the apostle St. James, murdered in Palestine, miraculously appeared in a village in modern-day Galicia. Word spread round the Christian world, reaching (among others) King Alfonso II of Asturias. He undertook the pilgrimage - journeying through dark woods and daunting mountains, from Oviedo via Lugo to Santiago . and invited fellow kings and nobleman to follow in his footsteps. This 'original' route became very popular in the early Middle Ages, when areas south of the Cantabrian Range were continuously at war. This itinerary, walked by millions of peregrinos over the centuries, reveals the beautiful natural settings, captivating historical monuments, gorgeous rural farmland and authentically friendly villages of Northern Spain. Near Lugo, the Camino Primitivo joins the more popular French route, which is almost entirely paved. From here, we continue by bus to Santiago de Compostela, making the requisite stop at Monte del Gozo, the hilltop which affords a pilgrim's first glimpse of Santiago. Option of walking the last few kilometres to enter the city on foot. Trip Highlights:
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRIP The walking trips in this programme are ranked according to level of difficulty. Please choose your trip carefully, remembering that it is not always easy to give a correct estimation of the trip level. It is important to evaluate a number of factors: distance covered daily, the weather and your own physical conditions. |
EASY: Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths. |
MODERATE: Trips where easy day walks are interspersed with more strenuous excursions. Four to five hours per day (excluding breaks) in hilly to mountainous areas using well maintained paths, with occasional loose rock. |
CHALLENGING: Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. Five to seven hours walking per day (maximum), sometimes carrying your rucksack with overnight items and a change of clothes; total ascents / descents of 500 to 1000 metres per day. |
STRENUOUS: Trips with more demanding excursions in high mountain areas, sometimes carrying a rucksack with items for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; total ascents / descents of up to 1200 metres per day; only for participants with an excellent level of fitness and without a fear of heights. |
