Walking the White Villages of the Alpujarras

Day 1: Arrive in Berchules

Arrive at your hotel in Berchules where you stay for the first 2 nights.
Hotel Rural Los Berchules, Berchules (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 2: Yegen to Berchules (14km/8.7mi)

You will be transferred to the start of your walk in Yegen after breakfast. A wonderful and diverse walk, leading you from the cultivated terraces down to the sculpted shapes of desert-like bad-lands, then up again to craggy alpine valleys. This is magical and wild territory with striking rock formations and many bird-watching opportunities. Look out for bee-eaters, rollers, hoopoes and Bonelli eagles at the right time of year. After climbing to the pine forests above Berchules, come down the ancient track that used to be the old silk-trading route, connecting the Alpujarra with Granada.
Hotel Rural Los Berchules, Berchules (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 3: Berchules to Trevelez (16km/9.9mi)

Start todays walk through the narrow streets of Berchules before climbing steeply out of the village to the highest point of the trek. Enjoy the foothills of Mulhacen, the highest mountain in Spain, dropping down to the steep-sided rugged valley of Trevelez, famous for its air-dried ham and artisanal shops.
Hotel La Fragua, Trevelez (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 4: Trevelez to Capileira (18km/11.2mi or 20km/12.4mi)

A pleasant walk from Trevelez to the beautiful village of Capileira. Either take the low-level tranquil and contouring Pista Forestal, with good views of the surrounding area and the high mountains, or the high-level Sulayr path on the southern flank of the Sierra Nevada. This is a wonderful walk with a high mountain feel and great views over the sea, and if you are lucky, the Atlas Mountains in the distance.
Finca Los Llanos, Capileria (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 5: Capileira to Pampaneira (Orgiva) (5km/3.1mi)

Today’s walk you will take you to the charming white villages of Capileira, Bubion and Pampaneira. The paths are well marked passing cherry, walnut and fig trees as well as goats clattering their bells below you. From Pampaneira you will be transferred to Orgiva where you stay overnight.
Hotel Puerta Nazari, Orgiva (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 6: Orgiva to Lanjaron (9km/5.6mi or 20km/12.4mi)

Leaving Orgiva, follow the riverbank of the Rio Sucio before climbing the slopes of a green valley to reach the high point where the GR7 and GR142 paths meet. Here there is a detour for an extensive view over Orgiva and the Guadalfeo valley up to Canar to the north-east, the route is then downhill on tracks, with viewpoints overlooking Lanjaron, and the the Embalse de Benar reservoir.

Alternatively, there is a varied, sometimes challenging route taking you from the riverbanks of the Rio Chico at Orgiva to the Mirador overlooking the town, then steeply up to visit the pretty villages of Carataunas and Soportujar with their fascinating sculptures. Enjoy wonderful views as the route is high above the valley. Wind your way to the Canar Mirador and fountains before descending via paths with views of Lanjaron in the distance.
Hotel Alcadima, Lanjarron (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 7: Walks around Lanjaron (14km/8.7mi or 7km/4.3mi)

Lanjaron Circular

This circular walk dips down to the river valley to the south before climbing to a ridge, providing fantastic panoramic views. To the north is countryside with scattered corijos and houses with their olive and fruit trees together with fantastic views of Lanjaron. At the end of the walk there is the opportunity to visit the castle. Standing on a rocky prominence above the Lanjaron river valley, it was built by the Moors between the thirteenth and sixteenth century.

Lanjaron Acequia Aceituno to Cecarta

A lovely walk through the narrow streets of Hondilla and up via paths and tracks into the wooded Rio de Lanjaron valley. The walking along the acequias is easy with an unexpected airy section at the beginning. The Huerta de las Monjas is a pleasant place to rest before returning to Lanjaron via another acequia and descending more steeply to the town centre.
Hotel Alcadima, Lanjarron (breakfast and evening meal included)

Day 8: Departure

Depart after breakfast