Hill-Perched Villages of Sierra Nevada(Walking Holiday)

Center Based 7 Days/6 Nights Hotels En-suite Half Board Available year round From €680

Stroll along the Alpujarras trails while enjoying the sunshine and Sierra Nevada’s stunning peaks.
Reach hill-perched villages with their white-washed stone houses decked with flowery balconies.
Discover the Moorish influence on architecture, food & art.
Relax with tapas and a glass of local wine while we look after your luggage transportation and accommodation.

A Walking Holiday in Sierra Nevada & The Alpujarras, Spain. The “Alpujarras” region, in the province of Granada, is one of outstanding beauty. It is overlooked by the magnificent Sierra Nevada and its seventeen peaks over 3000m! The region was once so difficult to access that the Moors managed to keep it under their control for more than a century after the fall of the Caliph of Granada in 1492. The Alpujarras is a major hiking destination, almost unknown outside the walking community. Over eight days you will witness some spectacular sights; Berber-style villages, streets adorned with flowery balconies, dramatic ravines, country markets, terraced fields filled with olive trees, 800 year-old balcony trails following fascinating irrigation systems. You will also taste Arab-inspired cuisine, drink strong sweet wine and enjoy the passion and drama of a Flamenco performance. A fabulous contrast to the Costa Brava!

One Foot Abroad has meticulously designed this trip to give you a deep and integrated insight into the Alpujarras-Sierra Nevada region. Accommodation on the way varies from hotels to guesthouses, all with en-suite bathrooms. The selected towns are ideally located within the Alpujarras chain.They have been selected for their walking location, cultural interests and services. The route, designed by the dedicated One Foot Abroad team, is unique and takes you to unspoiled and spectacular landscapes that will remain with you long after your visit. In the morning, you start your hike with only a light day pack because your luggage will be waiting for you at the next hotel! You don’t carry unnecessary weight during the day, but you still get to wear your favorite outfit in the restaurant that evening! One Foot Abroad provides you with clear maps and very detailed walking notes that describe the route step-by-step. The

walking notes also include information about the culture, the flora
and fauna, places of interest, and the best picnic spots along the way.

Day By Day

Note that times given refer only to time spent walking, so consider adding 30% to allow for rest and stops

Day 1 – To Capiliera**
After flying to Malaga or Granada, you will have a chance to discover the magic of the Sierra Nevada from the typical village of Capiliera. Here, the white washed, flat-roofed houses are reminiscent of Morocco’s Berber architecture. You will be pre-booked in a spacious en-suite room. Tonight’s menu will include traditional Andalusian cuisine as well as other European dishes. Welcome to the valley of the Alpujarras!

Town: (659m, pop 440) Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities.
Hotel: 3* hotel with spacious rooms, fantastic views and a swimming pool, situated in the heart of the town. En-suite.
Meal: Dinner

Day 2 – Villages of Poqueira valley circular walk/Summit of the Mulhacen [5h,9km,+-762m], [3h45,9km,+-528m]
Today, as we are staying a 2nd night in Capileira, you have 2 options:
1-Villages of Poqueira valley circular
walk Travel along an old mule trail into the dramatic Barranco
de Poqueira (ravine). Here, the villages appear to cling to the sides of the deep valley. On the way you will find Puente Molino, the perfect spot for a picnic or a swim!
2-Summit of the Mulhacen Scale the Mulhacen (3450m),the highest peak in Spain. It starts with a short bus transfer (€8)to the base camp, then it’s a 4h30/5h return hike. The ascent is easy but should be attempted with care. On clear days you can even spot the Moroccan Atlas!

DAY 3 – To Busquistar [3h, 9km, +188m, -524m]
The trail starts with a pleasant introduction to the contrasting landscapes of the Alpujarras; from agricultural pastures
to barren lands and wild valleys. Then we will follow an easy track down to the quiet and pretty village of Pitres (1243m). Just below is the famous “Taha”; five lovely hamlets named after the old Arabic administrative units into which Las Alpujarras were divided. We take the old Moorish trail down to the Taha. Here, evidence of a medieval silk trade can still be seen in the abundance of mulberry trees – the leaves of which provided food for the silk worms. Taha is famous for idyllic paths and exceptionally pretty villages, climaxing with the finest vantage point (mirador) in the valley – the Mezquita(1194m).

Town: Food shop.
Hotel: beautiful, family-run hotel situated at the edge of the valley in a renovated Berber-style house. Includes a shaded balcony with views over Picon (1275m) and the valley.
Meal: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 – Cerillos Negros,Circular walk [3h,8km,+-647m]
A gloriously wild walk exploring a little-known, scarcely-visited end of the Taha. Climb to the Cerillos Negro for tremendous views of the Trevelez gorge, then descend to the easternmost Silk Road pass over the Sierra Mecina. Although the ascent and descent are steep, they are truly exhilarating!

DAY 5 – To Trevelez [4h, 9km, +640m, -74m]
An attractive woodland route with stunning views over Trevelez gorge and Penabon (2536m) looming above. For the most part, it’s an easy walk with good opportunities for bird-watchers; spot the colourful bee-catchers, and maybe even a Golden Eagle.In Trevelez – the highest town in Spain (1426m, pop 800) – you will stay in a very comfortable family-run 1* hotel. Don’t miss the famous Mijas, a local dish made of sausages and bread crumbs, which are sometimes mistaken for couscous!

Town: Internet, ATM, shops.
Hotel: 1* family-run hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner.

DAY 6 – To Cadiar [4h50, 15km,+315m,-875m]
From Trevelez, the path starts with an easy climb through pines
and craggy rocks. The descent to Juviles (1255m) is more exposed and might be hot in Summer. From there, we arrive at an attractive low mountain walk linking some wild, secluded spots to more ‘lived-in’ landscapes. This portion of the route is rarely visited bytourists – enjoy the peaceful solitude. In Cadiar (933m, pop 1600), your luggage will be waiting for you in a delightful 2* farm
stay, where you can unwind with a swim in the pool.

Town: ATM, shops.
Hotel: 2* farm stay, with swimming pool.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner.

DAY 7 – Back to Malaga or Granada
After breakfast, we bid you farewell.

Meal: Breakfast

About the hotels

Please note that all of our hotels and guest houses have been carefully selected for their comfort, location, food, friendliness and character, and are subject to availability. If the hotel described is not available, we will provide you with one of the same standard of comfort & price.

Day 1&2

Day 3&4

Day 5

Day 6

About the Lunches

About the Luggage

“Lunch boxes” are provided every day. They are filling and very tasty. They usually contain ham or chicken sandwiches (vegetarian options available), a salad and fruit.

Luggage transported by us from hotel to hotel. Whilst walking, you only carry your day pack!

Weather

Average temperatures (°C)

Average rainfall (mm)

Las Alpujarras has its own unique weather system. Whereas on the coast the temperatures are fairly constant all year round, the combination of mountain air and valleys in Las Alpujarras make the weather more changeable. Summers are often hot and dry, with temperatures in excess of 30 degrees celsius. Rain and cloud is rare, but can occur at higher altitudes, however it never lasts long. Winters are still quite warm and relatively sunny during the day, but can be a lot colder at night after the sun has gone down. If visiting during this time, it is recommended you bring plenty of warm clothing. Both seasons have their advantages – a BBQ in the summer and an evening in-front of a roaring fire in the winter. The best time for walking in Las Alpujarras is from April to mid-June, and from mid-September to
mid-November.

Prices and Options

Price
Price (€)	Single room supplement (€)	Solo Departure (€) (including single room)
680	140	230

Additional nights
3* Hotel in Granada – B&B		3* Hotel in Malaga – B&B
Double room (€ pps)	Single (€)	Double room (€ pps)	Single (€)
90	120	70	100

*How to get there

Included / Not Included

To Granada/Malaga
From Dublin, Shannon, London: several companies now operate a direct service to Granada & Malaga at competitive prices. See:
www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.ba.com
www.aerlingus.ie
To Capileira From Malaga: The airport is 10km outside of the city.
- From the airport take the shuttle to the bus station (30 mins duration, every half hour). See:www.emtsam.es.
- Buses to Granada leave Malaga’s bus station every hour (takes 2hrs).- From Granada’s bus station take a bus (1hr) to Capileira (departures year round at 10am, 12pm, and 5pm) From Granada: The airport is 15km outside of the city. From there take the shuttle to the bus station. 6 buses a day leave for Capileira (1hr50)
See: www.alsinagraells.es
Back to Dublin.
From Cadiar, there is a bus to Granada every day at 7am and 4pm (2hrs).
From there, 14 buses a day connect to Malaga (1hr45)
See: www.alsinagraells.es

Included
2 nights in a 3* hotel, 3 nights in 2* hotel, 1 night in a 1* hotel.
Half Board (breakfast & dinner)
Luggage transported from hotel to hotel
Detailed Walking Notes & maps

Not Included
Flights
Holiday Insurance (mandatory)
Drinks
Minibus to Mulhacen base camp (€8)
Transfer to/from the airport