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Self-Guided
Walking Holidays/
The
Alpujarras Itinerary
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Arrive in the village of Mairena nestled on the southern slopes
of the Alpujarras. From your hostelry you have views down over
the gorges and barrancos to the Contraviesa mountains and the
far mediterranean. On a clear day you might even see the coast
of north Africa from this oasis of tranquility.
A transfer across the pass of La Ragua in the morning puts you
on the start of our walk along the GR7 trail at La Calahorra
/ Ferreira. A steady ascent up the tree-lined Arroyo Hondo brings
you up to the Puerto de la Ragua at around 2000 metres before
you follow the GR7 down again along the gorge of the Arroyo de
Bayárcal to the Posada de los Arrieros, and your stay this evening.
Leaving your accommodation you continue along
the GR7 down the Arroyo de Bayárcal. Following the path along
the riverbed and through woods of oak and conifers to the village
of Bayárcal itself. You then turn to drop down to the barranco
and traversing around to the village of Laroles and then on along
a circuit of the Laroles valley to come again to the lovely town
of Mairena.
From Mairena you follow easy paths through almond and olive groves
on the lower slopes of the hills here before descending to the
villages of Nechite and Valor. An easy trail then brings you
along the green paths to Yegen - the village made famous by the
English write Gerald Brenan.
Leaving Yegen you drop down along the sandy and twisting trails
of the barrancos before climbing up to the villages of Golco
and Mecina Bombarón. Then it is a short section over a steep
shoulder to Bérchules. You can drop straight down to Bérchules,
or if feeling fit you can follow a beautiful circuit via Cerro
Gordo and then along the gorge back down to Bérchules.
You strike off the GR7 today to follow the higher route woward
Peńabón and on to Trevélez. Although a steeper walk, it opens
up wonderful views of the higher Sierra's and especially Mulhacén.
Along the way you are very likely to encounter many of the wild
deer that inhabit the upper slopes. A zigzag descent then brings
you down to the town of Trevélez and its curious mix of tiny
streets and large ham curing businesses.
Today you have a number of choices. You can take a lovely circuit
walk from Trevélez high above the valley or follow the Trevélez
gorge walk. Alternatively you can visit the slopes or even the
summit of Mulhacén - which although very high at 3,482 metres
(11,424 feet) is not technically difficult by the popular route.
There is even the option of taking a special National Park bus
service as high as 2,700 metres to explore the high slopes. Whatever
you choose you will return to Trevélez in the evening before
transferring back to Mairena for your last night.
The tour is completed following your breakfast in Mairena.
7 nights accommodation, based on two adults sharing, in our partner
hotels and guesthouses (normally with en-suite facilities).
Transfer to/from either Granada or Almeria airports
or rail stations at both start and end of the tour. Please contact
us for transfers from further afield.
Meals consist of a breakfast each day, packed lunch
and a two/three course meal each evening. Drinks are not included.
Luggage transfer each day along the route, detailed
daily route notes, and map(s).
For more information on Andalucia visit the official
Andalucia Tourism website at www.andalucia.org.
Flight schedules and information on Granada
Airport.
Flight schedules and information on Almeria
Airport.
For information on trains to the area, visit the Renfe
/ Ave Rail site.
