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 Welcome to Hooked on Spain Holidays and our walking holiday in Andalusia in a region called Grazalema which is not far from the famous white village of Ronda. This hiking vacation in the Grazalema National Park is available as a seven night self guided walking tour.
Six days hiking through spectacular scenery between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz, covering rugged mountains and forests unique in Europe, while the sun shines down like God’s fingers through magical broken cloud. Not in vain might Grazalema mean "farmstead of peace". On this journey you will discover a hidden corner of our world, home to silence and serenity. You will see the famous "Pinsapo" (Spanish Fir tree) forests, covering the hills or clinging to mountainsides - a species unique to this area, descendent of the central European pines that arrived here in the glacial era. That is not all. You will also see Holm oak, cork, blackthorn, gall-oak and carob and depending on the season, gorse, thyme, lavender, salvia, peony, mountain clove or "Grazalema poppy" (unique to this reserve) in flower.
Walking on varied trails you will get to know the names of the mountains that make up the Grazalema range (like Zafalgar, El Pinar, Endrinal, Líbar), visiting peaks and caves, home to underground rivers that are the life-blood of these limestone formations.
From your very first steps you will envy the inhabitants of villages like Grazalema, Benaocaz, Montejaque or Villaluenga del Rosario with their long history and welcoming Moorish architecture. As the vultures circle above, you will discover their secret, which is no more than the knowledge of how to live a different kind of existence.
Available March to November ( Level 2-3 Tour )
Day 1 arrival Grazalema (830 m).
By bus you can arrive from Málaga to Grazalema (daily 2 direct buses) or to Ronda from where you can take a taxi to Grazalema.
Day 2 Grazalema circular walk
Today we start with a nice circular walk first through this wonderful village and continuing with a hike in the Sierra de Edoinal . Walking time 3-4 Hours
Day 3 Grazalema-El Pinsapar
Today you explore the famous Spanish Fir Forest of Grazalema. It is a specially protected area, requiring a permit from the park. You follow the ancient trail that connects Benamahoma and Grazalema, beneath towering trees, more than 40 metres high. You climb to the Cumbres Mountains, with spectacular views of Grazalema and Ronda, with mountains as distant backdrop. From Benamahoma you travel by taxi to Grazalema again (taxi to be arranged by the hotel). Walking time 6 hours, 14 km, 650m ascent, 850m descent.
Day 4 Grazalema-Villaluenga del Rosario (872 m)
The “Salto del Cabrero” (Goatherd’s Jump) is a narrow gorge with massive vertical walls only 50 metres apart, constantly watched over by soaring vultures. This is one of the days many highlights.
5 hours, 12 km and 500m ascent/descent.
Day 5 Villaluenga del Rosario (872m)-Montejaque (689 m).
You continue walking through impressive limestone rock formations, including the Sima del Republicano. You get to the Líbar plains, hiking comfortably over this deserted landscape to Montejaque. Walking time 6 hours, 17 km, 450m ascent, 550m descent.
Day 6 Montejaque, circular route.
Today you can make a circular route in the environments of Montejaque. You first head down to the station of Benaoján from where you take a train to Jimera de Líbar (10 minutes), from where you return in 3 hours easy walking along the river Guadiaro, with a beautiful vegetation. You are walking over the very old „Cañada Real del Campo de Gibraltar“. At the end you can connect in half an hour to the impressive Cueva del Gato before walking back to Montejaque. Walking time 4 hours, 300 m ascent/descent
Day 7 Montejaque-Ronda.
You hike gently along the ancient Ronda trail. This trail links these two places, to then continue towards Gibraltar. The landscape here is a mixture of wild and tame, with big, old trees (like Carobs and Cork), arable land, wild flowers to finally come out at the bottom of Ronda’s gorge and climb to the towns new bridge. Walking time 3-4 hours, 11 km, 300m ascent/descent
Day 8 Ronda visit.
This is probably the town that best conserves the romantic heritage described in the journals and drawings of so many 18th Century travelers. Not to be missed are her Moorish and classical architecture, palaces and monuments, her bridges, bullring, her tapas bars, Moorish baths, etc.
Difficulty: Moderate. Day-walks of 4,5 to 6 hours during which you climb and descend an average of 500 m (maximum 650 m). Basic knowledge of maps and orientation required
Accommodation: Family run hotels
If your holiday finishes on a Spanish National Holiday day 2 above is replaced with a 2nd night in Ronda.
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What is Included
- 7 nights Bed breakfast
- 3 or 4 star Hotels ( 1 night 2 star )
- Information Pack
- Maps and walk instructions
- Permit for Pinsapo hike
- Luggage transfer
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Extras
- Transport before and after tour
- Single Rooms
- Entrance to attractions
- public transport
- Travel Insurance
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2010 Prices
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Tour Code Graza1
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Price per persons based on 2 persons sharing double room
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£588
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Single person
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N/A
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Extension Hotels in Ronda per person
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£53 Double , £106 single
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High Season per person 26/3-4/4
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£39
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How to get there
By Plane to Malaga or to Granada . Check out Easyjet , FlyGlobespan
The by bus to Ronda
Ideal Holiday Extensions Ronda
Click below to view our other European walking holidays
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