HIKING THROUGH THE ALPUJARRAS

The Alpujarra is a region of mountain villages to the south of the Sierra Nevada. They cling to deep valleys and gorges that runsouth towards the Mediterranean. Their terraced farmlands have a good supply of water all year round thanks to the melt waters of the high mountains, giving the area the appearance of an alpine oasis. This is perfect hiking terrain.

Culturally the area is fascinating. It has more than 50 villages that were the last stronghold of the Moriscos (Muslims from Granada forced to convert to Christianity).

Our proposal is a week of easy level hiking, staying in peaceful family run hotels in three different villages. The first of these (the highest, at 1,470m) is Trevélez which is famous for its ham-curing. From Trevelez you will hike to the second village, Busquístar, which means hidden Moorish paradise, one of the finest examples of traditional Alpujarran architecture. Then we walk to our next destination, Capileira, the last village we will stay in on this hike. It is situated in the Poqueira valley, at some 1300m above sea level. We sill spend two nights in the spectacular Poqueira valley, visiting villages like Pampaneira and Bubión on the last day's hiking before our return to Granada. You will visit Granada ant its Alhambra palaces on the first day of this tour, but maybe you would like to stay one more night to enjoy this lively town.

U kunt deze reis ook boeken via de Belgische reisorganisatie Te Voet: klik hier

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ROUTE OF THE CALIPHATE WALKING

Virgin olive oil and magical trails, Baroque churches and steep, winding streets, hilltop villages, castles, the capital of an ancient world, the centre of an Eastern Kingdom, following the water-god between the mountains… Walking on the Route of the Caliphate.

This is a tour that explores the human and natural landscapes that mark out the famous Route of the Caliphate, between Cordoba and Granada. Once we get to Cordoba, immersing ourselves in its splendid past and its bustling present, we will then travel to Baena, the olive oil capital, at the head of the Subbética Mountains. These mountains (now designated Nature Reserve), reach some 1,500 m above sea level and constitute an impressive limestone range southeast of the city of Cordoba. Since time immemorial they have been home to some of the most beautiful, romantic towns and villages in Andalusia, such as Priego de Córdoba, Carcabuey, Cabra, Zuheros and Luque... Age-old olive groves, holm- and gall-oaks grow on the red-coloured hillsides, hiding magical rock formations such as the Cueva de los Murciélagos (Bats’ Cave).

We are not limited to this nature reserve and its stately villages, however. We will also visit the area surrounding a major fortress (Alcalá la Real) and the brief, yet rugged mountains that protect the plain and the Nazrid capital of Granada, heritage of a small, legendary village called Moclín. Once in Granada itself, if the host of attractions on offer allow you time, you can still discover the secret of Moorish wells and waterways, search out the origins of famous poems in the walls of the Alhambra, get to know Ángel Ganivet’s native city, a lover of bread and water, austere and happy like the Alfaguara Mountains.

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Walking South from Granada

This vast view of mountains, valleys, villages and distant sea lay spread out like an illustration of the features of the world in a child's geography book
The English writer Gerald Brenan was perhaps Andalusia's last romantic traveller, and 'South from Granada' is one of his best known works. It deals with the landscapes and way of life in and around the Alpujarra village that was his home: Yegen. In the spirit of the writer, and with the unmistakable backdrop of one of the region's most emblematic villages, you will make a thoroughly active visit to this part of the Alpujarra. Located on the southeastern foothills of Sierra Nevada, below the San Juan peak (2,786m) and flanked by the Mecina and Valor rivers, Yegen is a high, peaceful village (at 1,000m) with mild weather. It lies between the provinces of Granada and Almería, enjoying spectacular views and allowing us to imagine the sea that lies hidden behind the Contraviesa mountains to the south. Here you will experience two or three days of true communion with the landscapes, peoples and trails of the Alpujarra.
Live the Journey: Alone, with family or friends, you will do two hikes on this tour: One is long, with wonderful views of the high Sierra, and the other is shorter, but packed with delightful spots amidst cultivated land and untouched landscapes that will let you get to know this village from every angle. Furthermore, your accommodation there will make you feel truly at home and you will sample delicious cooking. There is also the chance to visit a ham curer in Mecina Bombarón and peruse the photographs of El Dinamarca, a devoted lover of this village for the last 50 years.

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Short hiking trip Route of the Caliphate

You will enjoy an incredible tranquillity and gorges views when hiking in the Sierra Subbética. Your Base will be the Village of Zuheros, which is one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, also famous for its excellent goat cheese. From here you will two very different hikes in hidden valleys, to silent hilltops, passing through enchanted landscapes. Disconnect from a rushed world and discover Andalusia while you find yourself on charming hikes of this getaway.

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ALMORAVIDS' ROUTE, RONDA-TARIFA, 8 days on foot and by train

We set out from the ancient town of Ronda, heading for Grazalema, one of the famous "white villages". You will discover silver and pink mountains with their perennial pastures, and then continue down through the Guadiario River valley to Algeciras and the Mediterranean, and on to its meeting with the Atlantic Ocean.

We cross the Grazalema Mountains on foot, heading south, passing another beautiful village, Villaluenga del Rosario, the highest in the province of Cadiz. Autochthonous species of sheep and goats ("payoyas") graze on evergreen meadows set between limestone valleys, fairy-tale gall-oak forests and rocky gorges, producing delicious, highly-prized cheeses. We continue on foot on the ancient Campo de Gibraltar Cattle Trail, following the course of the Guadiaro River to Jimera de Líbar station. The train, that we will take again later to get to our final destination in Algeciras, now crosses a dense cork forest, while the river converts the valley into a canyon, opening out again as we arrive at Jimena station. Our last walk runs through the Estrecho Nature Reserve, heading down towards the sea and then on, following the coastline. Your curiosity will be awakened by the rocky beaches and old military installations to be found in the area, while we awaken the curiosity of the many dark-coloured calves that graze on these coastal hillsides. Seduced by the wild landscape of this coast between two seas, daydreaming as we stare out to Africa, we arrive in Tarifa.

This tour is suitable for all, combining easy walks through unspoilt mountain countryside, valleys and villages, with train rides, a form of transport ideal for getting to know your fellow travellers.

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The Grazalema Mountains

Six days hiking through spectacular scenery between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz, covering rugged mountains and forests unique in Europe, while the sun shines down like God's fingers through magical broken cloud...

Not in vain might Grazalema mean "farmstead of peace". On this journey we will discover a hidden corner of our world, home to silence and serenity. We will see the famous "Pinsapo" (Spanish Fir tree) forests, covering the hills or clinging to mountainsides - a species unique to this area, descendent of the central European pines that arrived here in the glacial era. That is not all. We will also see holm-oak, cork, blackthorn, gall-oak and carob and depending on the season, gorse, thyme, lavender, salvia, peony, mountain clove or "Grazalema poppy" (unique to this reserve) in flower.
Walking on varied trails we will get to know the names of the mountains that make up the Grazalema range (like Zafalgar, El Pinar, Endrinal, Líbar), visiting peaks and caves, home to underground rivers that are the life-blood of these limestone formations.
From our very first steps we will envy the inhabitants of villages like Benamahoma, Montejaque or Villaluenga del Rosario with their long history and welcoming Moorish architecture. As the vultures circle above, we will discover their secret, which is no more than the knowledge of how to live a different kind of existence.
During this journey you will see the Reserve's special flora and fauna and its impressive geology (like Republicano peak and Pileta cave, home to important prehistoric finds). You will also visit beautiful villages with their Moorish architecture and, of course, the charming city of Ronda.

U kunt deze reis ook boeken via de Belgische reisorganisatie Te Voet: klik hier

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