Hill-Perched Villages of Sierra Nevada
Walking Holiday

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!

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: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

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, picnic lunch, 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!

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, picnic lunch, dinner

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, picnic lunch, 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, picnic lunch, dinner

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

Meal: Breakfast

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.

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.