Why you should come here for your walking holiday?
The Alpujarra boast stunning scenery, hot sunny weather and is a wonderful area for walking. During the spring and autumn months the surroundings are particularly beautiful; in spring the land is carpeted with a vast array of wild flowers and blossom adorns the fruit trees which are dotted around the slopes.
The region covers the lower, southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The terrain drops from the jagged heights of the Sierra Nevada to forested gorges and citrus groves with tiny, whitewashed Moorish villages clinging precariously to the side of the hills. The sleepy villages of Soportujar and Canar contrast with the more touristic types found around Capileira, Bubion and Trevelez.
The area is characterised by steep valleys scoured by rivers and streams hurtling down the mountainside from the snow covered slopes. Traditional farming has left a legacy of terraced valley sides, dotted with small buildings or cortijos, which were the summer residence of village farmers.
The Alpujarra was one of the last outposts of the Moors when they ruled Spain many years ago. They left a legacy of attractive villages, built in a style unique to this part of Spain, together with many miles of acequias, a complicated system of irrigation which remains to this day. These are fed from numerous springs which are a product of the snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, producing crystal clear waters enriched with minerals. Many of the villages have public drinking fountains where you can enjoy an ice cold glass of mineral water or fill a bottle for later.
Walking Tours
There are many tour companies offering guided walking throughout the region. Walking tours in the Alpujarras will lead you into some incredible locations and scenery. The area offers walks of great variety and suits both relaxed ramblers and the more adventurous hiker. The contrasting views, the rich heritage as well as the open friendliness of the people makes this an ideal location for a walking holiday.
The first is from a central base in Lanjaron. From here our experienced guides will take you out each day. Some of the walks are circular in nature and some are linear with organised pick up locations (more detail below).
Spanish Highs Mountain Guides have been established here since 1999. They offer two types of walking tour. The first is from a central base in Lanjaron. From there experienced guides will take you out each day. Some of the walks are circular in nature and some are linear with organised pick up locations (more detail below).
The second tour offered is a multi-day linear tour, staying overnight in different villages for example, Soportujar, Capileira, Bubion, Busquistar, Pitres or Trevelez. Your luggage is taken on each day to the next days stop over.
Sample Tours
A ROUND OF THE POQUEIRA GORGE – SAMPLE CIRCULAR WALK
We take you up to the start of the walk in the village of Capileira. The route takes us round the head of the dramatic Poqueira Gorge and up to a height of 2000m with an option to ascend to the Poqueira Hut at 2500m. The scenery is wild and mostly accompanied by the rushing waters of the river. We have options available for a 5 hour or 7 hour hike depending on requirement. There are some short, steep gradients involved and a height gain of 500m (1000m for the ascent to the hut).
PAMPANEIRA, SOPORTUJAR, CANAR AND LANJARON – SAMPLE LINEAR WALK
The walk linking these villages along the GR7 is full of variety. Forest, cultivated land, gorges, streams and irregation channels, compete with sleepy white villages. The walk is, for the most part, of easy gradients. Time 5.5 hours. Ascent 550m.
TAHA DE PITRES TO ORGIVA – SAMPLE LINEAR WALK
Explore the quiet villages of La Taha below Pitres before crossing the Rio Trevelez gorge via a narrow bridge and ascending the steep hillside behind via a ingenious path. Above the gorge we follow old trails and the GR142 down to the Rio Cadiar. We are now in the vicinity of Los Agustines and we follow the road back to the market town of Orgiva. 5hrs. 200m ascent.
VENTURA TRAILHEAD, CASA FORESTAL DE TELLO AND LANJARON – SAMPLE LINEAR WALK
We start from a high point at 2100 above Lanjaron after a 45 minute 4WD journey. Here we make the short ascent to the old ruined Ventura Hut with good views up the valley to the Cerro de Caballo and the Rio Lanjaron. Then it’s a long descent over open moorland and into then pine forests around Casa Forestal de Tello. After crossing the Rio Lanjaron we follow the old drove road of the “Camino de Las Sierras” back down to a welcome drink in Lanajron. 4hrs. 50m ascent.
PUENTE PALO FOREST, CUNA AND LANJARON – SAMPLE LINEAR WALK
The pine forests of Puente Palo are our start point. This area lies at 1700m above the village of Canar. Following good tracks we climb up though the forest eventually emerging from the last trees. A short section of pathless ground follows until we reach the ridgeline, which is followed to the summit of Cuna (2292m). The ridge down is followed before breaking off and following a series of interesting trails that lead back down into Lanjaron. Intersting and contrasting views throughout of both the Lanjaron and Rio Chico valleys. 5hrs. 600m ascent.
More Information about the Walking in the Alpujarras or Walking along the GR7 and GR142
Video showing the type of walking found in the Alpujarras
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