Walks & Wine in Sierra Nevada

Typical Itinerary

1. Day 1: Fly to Malaga & transfer to Mairena, afternoon village walk

   On arrival at Malaga airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Mairena. This afternoon you have the chance to stretch your legs with a guided walk through Mairena to an old stone threshing circle and on to the neighbouring village of Jubar.

2. Day 2: Huerta walk, cooking demonstration & olive oil mill visit

   After a leisurely morning, visit the property's gardens and help forage for fruit or wild salad before watching a cooking demonstration of local recipes, cooking over a large paella burner. Enjoy what has been prepared for you, surrounded by orange, fruit and olive trees.

   This afternoon you can choose to relax with a book or join an optional walk in the surrounding area. Before dinner, take a stroll to see around the village oil mill, one of only two traditional mills of this kind still working in the province of Granada.

3. Day 3: Walk to Júbar & winery visit

   This morning after breakfast, walk to Júbar to visit the church which has a singular venerable history, combining influences from Judaism and Islam as well as Christianity. After lunch, the history lesson continues as we drive to Laujar de Andarax. Reputedly the 'oldest village in Spain' it is said to have been founded by the grandson of Noah - making it even older than the Ark - but whatever the truth of this, it is certainly a place with a lot of history to tell, including some lost mines of Hanniball and the famous Carthaginian general. There are several wineries, all small-scale owner-run operations, in this region of the Alpujarra, and on our return to Mairena we make a stop at one to learn about the grape varieties and taste some of the vintages. 

4. Day 4: The Poqueira Gorge: walk from Capileira to Bubion

   Today you bid farewell to Mairena village and head to the vibrant city of Granada. On the way you will visit the stunning Poqueira Gorge and walk between Capileira and Bubion. Calling at a local ham curing business, you will have the chance to sample a slice or two of its exquisite delicacy – jamon serrano.

   Continuing your journey to Granada, there will be an orientation walk of the city that will take you past the cathedral and into the lower part of the Albaicin – a hilly neighbourhood of narrow winding streets and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. Day 5: The Tropical Coast

   Our first stop is at the winery Señorio de Nevada, a boutique winery set in plains below the Sierra Nevada, where since 1996 they have been dedicated to the production of fine reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, as well as the Spanish “classics” Tempranillo and Garnacha) on their 15 hectares. We are given a guided tour of the terroir, the installations, and the cellars, followed by a tasting of three wines.

   From here we continue to the coast and the seaside town of Salobreña, with a stroll around another “Albaicín”, the cluster of steep, narrow streets and houses that surround the impressive 13th century castle, before lunch in a restaurant from the terrace of which there are fine views along the coast.

   After lunch, we visit a local plantation which grows a variety of tropical fruit that make this coastline famous: mango, papaya, avocado, banana, and a strange fruit called a “custard apple”.

   Upon return to Granada the rest of the evening is free, to further explore the city.

6. Day 5: Guided Alhambra tour & Granada countryside walk

   Meet with our local guide for a private tour of the Alhambra palaces and the gardens of the Generalife (entrances included). The visit lasts around 2.5 hours, after which you are free to spend more time in the monument on your own, as you wish.

   This afternoon we walk along the wooded slopes above the Alhambra palaces and gardens. The route descends to the verdant Río Darro valley and passes through the fascinating cave house district of Sacromonte, before ending in downtown Plaza Nueva.           

7. Day 7: Fly back to the UK

   This morning is at leisure, so you have some time to further explore Granada, do some shopping or relax before an afternoon single timed transfer takes you back to the airport in time for your flight back to the UK.