|
Day one : Arrive Malaga airport |
| Arrive Malaga airport, collect your hire car and
transfer to the mountain village of Canillas de Albaida and settle in to
your hotel which is in the heart of the village on the main plaza, which
will be your base for the week. |
|
Day two : 9km circular walk of The Three
Moorish Villages |
| Start your week by taking a 9km circular walk through
the foothills of the
Sierra Almijara, following the Río Cájula and visiting
three white washed Moorish villages along the way. You will pass by a
beautiful Roman bridge, follow ancient cobbled mule tracks and have
morning coffee overlooking a 13th Century Arabic minaret. |
|
Day three : 12km walk through the high Sierra
Almijara |
| A 12km circular walk through virtually uninhabited
sierra with absolutely incredible panoramic views across the
sierras of Malaga, Granada and even over to The Riff Mountains of
Morocco. Crossing the river may mean taking your boots off in the winter
or taking a dip in the mountain streams during the warmer months of the
year. |
|
Day four : Free day to explore La Axarquia |
| The Axarquia is an historical area, bursting with
traditional village life and heart-warming rural scenes such as a man
with his mule and a goat herder guarding his flock, asleep under an
olive tree. Take a day to explore the area with your hire car and guide
pack notes and take time to explore the villages and sample the
traditional tapas in the local Spanish bars. |
|
Day five : 15km walk of the Nerja Mediterranean
Mountains |
| A 15km circular walk into the mountains behind Nerja,
following forest paths and old mule tracks through the stunning scenery
of pine forest and deep gorges with the high sierra towering
overhead and The Mediterranean Sea glistening below. Look out for
Iberian Ibex and soaring eagles and the highly protected Chameleon. |
|
Day six : 16km "Puerto Blanquillo Circuit" |
| This is a challenging 16km walk up into the high
sierra amidst the complete mountain wilderness which takes you
through the mountain pass of Puerto Blanquillo, where the scenery
changes dramatically and the views are stunning. On the way back you
follow the river cut gorges until you once again reach the mountain
village of Competa and a glass of the local Malaga dulce wine. |
|
Day seven : 10km Hidden Villages and Vineyards
Walk |
| Starting from a nearby white village, follow a 10km
circular trail which links two of the regions most attractive, yet
unknown white villages which only recently have become accessible by
car. This walk takes you through the ancient terraced orchards of La
Axarquia and past the 2000 year old vine fields that produce the famous
sweet Malaga wine. |
|
Day eight :
|
| Transfer back to Malaga Airport for your flight home. |
La
Axarquia is an undiscovered pocket of Southern Andalusia where the mountains of
The Sierra Tejeda and Almijara sweep down to meet The
Mediterranean Sea. Over 30 white-washed Moorish villages pepper the landscape of
ancient olive groves and deep twisting river valleys bursting with citrus and
exotic fruits. The rocky outcrops of the sierra cascade below the highest
peak Mount Maroma, which is often snow-capped in Winter. Views sweep down
to The Mediterranean and even over to The Riff Mountains of Morocco on a clear
day. The walking is exhilarating and the
sierras are wild and dramatic, with deep gorges, craggy peaks and patches
of ancient woodland. The Spanish Ibex is endemic to the area and eagles and
vultures are a common sight overhead. The local villages are of Moorish origin
with tiny cobbled streets clinging to the hillsides, and tiny flower filled
plazas and balconies. The local village fiesta is still very much
alive here, where locals turn out in flamenco costumes and parade around on
horseback. This is the land of olive oil and one of the best in the world comes
from the Verdial tree which is grown in Axarquia. The southern slopes are
covered in vines which have been producing the famous sweet Malageñan
wine for over 2000 years.
