Walk Spain's Sierra Nevada & Granada

Excellent walking

A good variety of walks out from a lovely small hotel run by very friendly people.
The food was excellent, the lunch bags superb, the wine and beer very enjoyable.

Sierra Nevada

The heat and the rough trails made the walks challenging enough for a grade 3. Although some of the days were less of a challenge than others. After a very hot summer in Europe, late September was still very hot and the scenery reflected this. It was cooler down in the valleys shaded by trees with lovely natural streams still full of water.

Glorious location, great walks and a fabulous hotel

We took this trip in early September, the weather turned out to be very hot (mostly 30-32 degrees) but the walks were still fine for most of the group and were really well selected with varied and interesting walking every day. I would say, though, that a fair rating would be ‘moderate to hard’ as each walk had some challenging sections, especially in the heat. The scenery of the Alpujarra is glorious, different to any other mountains we have walked in and very beautiful. Our guide Dan was also excellent, really well informed, dryly funny and considerate to all members of the group. Finally a word for the hotel in Berchules – it was absolutely fabulous! Csilla is a wonderful hostess, so friendly and welcoming and Alejandro is a terrific chef, evening meals were a delight and the breakfasts and packed lunches were very generous. The setting of the hotel, at the head of the Berchules valley, is glorious – one of my favourite memories of the trip was just sitting on the terrace before breakfasts and suppers, chatting over drinks with our walking buddies. I thoroughly recommend this trip.

excellent

All round extremely good holiday with a fine bunch companions interesting people

Unspoilt high mountains and verdant valleys in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe.

The Sierra Nevada is the highest mountain range in mainland Spain. They remain snow covered well into the Summer and these walks take place in the wooded valleys in their foothills. The sound of running water seems always to be in the background. The bird life is rich and varied and we heard the cuckoo on our first day. Nightingales and golden orioles and eagles and falcons were viewed with awe and delight.
The walks are pretty challenging but rewarding. Conditions under foot are variable but generally reasonable.The Hotel art Los Berchules is a place of repose and delight. The food is first rate and the owners and staff delightful dedicated and friendly.

Peace and beauty

Just returned from a wonderful holiday in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This tour has been part of the Exodus programme for many years, I understand, and deservedly so. The walking itinerary and accommodation are both excellent.
We experienced Spring unfolding as our week progressed – the temperatures rising, the leaves and flowers emerging, the warmth of the sun! The walks were varied – 3 ascending from the village, in cool fresh air, following irrigation channels and gorges and one to the snowline, whilst 2 descended to explore the local villages and cultivated slopes with blossoming almond groves, olive trees and vineyards. We saw wild ibex in the remote Berchules valley. We walked through herby scrub with the intoxicating scent of sage, thyme, rosemary and lavender wafting up as you brushed through it. We viewed the snowcapped peaks and Mulhacen.
The staff at the hotel were exceptional – Wendy, Alejandro, Csila, Omar – so friendly and good service. Rooms cleaned immaculately daily, and the meals were lovely – hearty and tasty. Amazing breakfast buffet – no stale rolls here! Chat with Wendy and you will catch her enthusiasm for this area – she is the lychpin – so classy to meet us to chat at breakfast and at the end of our walks, with genuine interest to hear of our adventures each day.
And well, as for Granada….what can you say – except book your Alhambra tickets well in advance. The Alhambra is a special place indeed – beauty in architecture and the gardens, with peace (if you pause away from the crowds) and spirituality of a bygone age. Dan our guide helpfully took us to a lovely meal in the city, a fantastic flamenco show and gave those who wanted it a guided walking tour.

Beating expectations

From the lovely hotel family, who went the extra mile for me when my case was smashed by Ryanair, to the delicious and plentiful meals ,and the comfortable hotel with its great fire this was the perfect base for our superb trek. Great varied walking with Dan as guide who was a fount of knowledge of all things floral, trees, history, people.
Just go for it .

Top Autumn Walking

There is a lot of enjoyable walking to be had on this trip, varied routes and tantalising views of big ridges and high peaks. There is also wildlife a plenty but it does need looking hard for. There are some steep ups and downs in places but the paths are considerably better than I had expected and are all very ‘doable’ if you have a reasonable level of fitness.

The hotel in Berchules is a comfortable and very friendly base to operate from, Wendy and her staff couldn’t do enough to help and they serve up some appetising food too; tThe packed lunches are perhaps the best I have had anywhere. If you have an interest in avaiation history ask Wendy about the Royal Air Force Asscoiation plaque that is on the bar!

Granada is a complete and very enjoyable contrast, a city with a really nice ‘feel’ to it. A different but decent hotel. The Alhambra really is a must – it would be a shame to not see it if you are in the city.

Spain

This is a wonderful combination of walking in the lovely Sierra Nevada mountains and then staying in Granada, although we extended our trip to give us 3 days in Granada, which meant we could explore most of this interesting and beautiful city.

Berchules, Sierra Nevada, Spain

Another great holiday thanks to Exodus! This was my 13th walking holiday with Exodus and one of the best, thanks to the varied walks, excellent leader, great scenery, wonderful family run hotel and good weather.