Walking in Mallorca

Name: Walking in Mallorca
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (40 reviews)

Expert Local Guides

Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

Support Local Communities

8 Days from

~~USD 1,949~~ USD 1,779

USD 2,434

4.5/5 from

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

TST

Enjoy coastal panoramas and walks up into the dramatic Tramuntana Mountains

Behind Mallorca’s (also known as Majorca) façade lies a tranquil and timeless landscape. Rising abruptly out of the island’s interior are the craggy outcrops of the Tramuntana Mountains (UNESCO site since 2011), over which birds of prey can often be seen soaring on the breeze. Following a network of established trails, we trek to some of the highest peaks and enjoy spectacular vistas to the Mediterranean. Elsewhere, we discover picturesque hamlets complete with mediaeval churches and pass terraced hillsides adorned with sun-kissed citrus trees. In contrast, our coastal walks will reveal sleepy fishing marinas, secret coves and pebble bays.

Highlights

Unearth a traditional and tranquil side of Mallorca
Stay in characterful accommodation including a converted monastery
Enjoy coastal panoramas and walks up into the dramatic Tramuntana Mountains
Walk through ancient forests and spot birds of prey including falcons, osprey and vultures

Key Information

4 nights comfortable hotel and 3 nights monastery, usually with en suite facilities
5 days walking; 1 free day
Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
Low altitude throughout
Challenging departures available on selected dates

Countries visited: Spain

What's Included

All breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches (6 on level 5 weeks) and 1 dinner
All accommodation
Transfer for group flights

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas & vaccinations
Single supplement

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. One of the hotels we use is family owned.
Our local partner contributes a percentage of their income to the local Red Cross.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
As this is a walking holiday it provides a low impact way of exploring the destination.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

We start at our hotel in Puerto Sóller, arriving in time for a welcome group dinner.

Meals Included: Dinner

We walk along the coast to the beautiful little bay of Cala Deiá, where (time permitting) we can paddle in the turquoise waters of the bay. From here, we head inland towards one of the most beautiful villages in Mallorca, Deiá, owing to its idyllic setting in the hills. This walk explores the delightful area between the mountains and the sea, using old tracks and paths over the cliffs, and offers fantastic coastal views along the Mediterranean pinewoods and coastal shrubs. We stop for a picnic lunch along the way.

Walk Profile: Distance- 12km/ 8 miles, ascent 400m, descent 250m, 5 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We take the tram to Sóller and walk towards the village of Biniaraitx. From here we follow a wonderful cobbled track known as the Pilgrim Steps, which originally went all the way from Sóller to Lluc to connect the monastery with the port. We then diverge onto a small path up to the Mirador den Quesada, the high point of our day at 957m. This Mirador, or look out point, is at the summit of some particularly rocky outcrops known as the 'Cornadors', of which we will have had some stunning views on our ascent. We descend past a mountain hut and through fields and forests of holm oak until eventually our track brings us back to the centre of Sóller, where we usually stop for a drink or a wander around the town before taking the tram back to Puerto Sóller.

Walk Profile: Distance- 16km/ 10 miles, ascent 915m, descent 915m, 6 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

There are no included activities today. Choose to relax in Puerto Soller or explore elsewhere on the island. Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and there is a wealth of things to see and do - your leader will provide further details and help you to arrange any excursions locally. For instance, you may decide to spend the day in Soller (inland from Puerto Soller) - wandering through its narrow streets and visiting some of its museums. Other options include visiting picturesque Valldemossa or the island's capital, Palma, which is home to a magnificent Cathedral, numerous churches, museums and excellent shopping opportunities - it is recommended to take the historic wooden train through the mountains between Soller and Palma at least one way. For something a little different, it is possible to take a taxi boat to Sa Foradada (to eat at the restaurant) or take the ferry to La Calobra to visit the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis Gorge.

After a short drive from the hotel, we start our walk from 'Es mirador de ses Barques.' From here we follow an old mule track away from the coast to Coll de Moncaire and head inland through a hidden and unspoilt little valley to Balitx farm. Next, we climb up to Coll de Biniamar to join the coastal path of Sa Costera, offering spectacular scenery throughout, until we reach the little bay of Cala Tuent where the bus will meet us for the transfer (approx. 1 hour) along the beautiful Sa Calobra road to the Lluc monastery.

Walk Profile: Distance: 14km/ 9 miles, ascent 275m, descent 650m, 5 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This is a similar walk to Moderate (level 3) description but with longer duration and higher ascent/descent.

Walk Profile: Distance- 16km/ 10 miles, ascent 650m, descent 650m, 6 1/2 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we enjoy a wonderful circular walk forming an arc around the Monastery of Lluc. The scenery along the route is varied and spectacular, including ancient oak forests, rock formations up to 60m high and views of Mallorca's highest peaks.

Walk Profile: Distance- 10km/ 6 miles, ascent 270m, descent 270m, 4 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast

We ascend Puig Tomir (1104m), with its impressive viewpoint of Pollença and Alcudia Bay.

Lunch is included (for challenging departure only).

Walk Profile: Distance- 18km/ 12 miles, ascent 885m, descent 885m, 7 1/2 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast

We finish the trip on a high, setting off to climb Puig d'en Galileu, which at 1,181m is one of the island's highest peaks. The recently restored path to the top is beautiful and offers outstanding views across the dramatic Lluc Valley and the peaks of Tomir and Roig.

Walk Profile: Distance - 9km/ 6 miles, ascent 700m, descent 700m, 5 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We ascend Massanella (1365m), the highest peak that we can climb in Mallorca.

Walk Profile: Distance- 15km/ 9 miles, ascent 1025m, descent 1025m, 7 1/2 hours duration.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

The tour ends after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Spain

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Spain. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/spain
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html

Vaccination

Spain

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

Moderate (Activity Level 3) weeks:

All breakfasts, 4 picnic (packed) lunches and 1 welcome dinner are included.

Challenging (Activity Level 5) weeks:

All breakfasts, 5 picnic (packed) lunches and 1 welcome dinner are included.

Breakfast: Normally continental style including tea or coffee, fruit juice, bread, jam, honey, marmalade, and sometimes fresh fruit or cheese/ham.

Lunch: Comprises a typical Mallorcan-style Mediterranean packed lunch full of locally grown fresh produce. Lunches will be eaten as picnics during your walks, and will include foods such as bread, tomatoes, peppers, olives and olive oil, Mallorcan cheeses, sausages, fruits, chocolate & biscuits.

Vegetarians: It is possible to cater for vegetarians. A meat and seafood diet is the norm in Mallorca but salads and vegetables are included. Many vegetarians have been on this trip with no problems, but you must be prepared to be flexible and to take the food as you find it. If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements, please inform us on booking.

Weather

Please note that the weather in mountainous areas can be unpredictable all year round and occasionally your leader may be forced to amend the itinerary accordingly. On the days where we climb the mountains, it can be cold when the wind blows from the north, so we recommend carrying a warm layer with you. Mallorca generally enjoys fine weather conditions although there is always the possibility of some rain. March and April can be pleasantly mild, with a daily average of five hours or more of sunshine. Average maximum daytime temperatures vary between 14 and 19ºC. It is generally quite hot in May, June and September with approximately 10 hours of sunshine per day. Average maximum daytime temperatures are 23 - 26ºC. From the end of October to March are colder months with increased rainfall and average maximum daytime temperatures range between 15 and 23ºC but even at this time of year it is often perfectly pleasant.

Weather Charts

Palma

Is this trip for you?

This trip is Activity level 3 (Moderate) with 5 days of walking.

Avoiding the scorching hot summer months, we instead take advantage of the Spring and Autumn when it is the ideal temperature for walking. Wildflowers bloom in Spring and nature enthusiasts will be amazed by the amount of flora and fauna we encounter. We usually walk between 4 and 7 hours per day, including stops and lunch breaks. You will only need to carry your daypack with a good supply of water, your picnic lunch and a waterproof layer. The footpaths are generally well marked stony (typical of a limestone landscape) paths with many traditional cobbled sections, but there are a few moderately steep ascents and descents and the occasional easy scramble and unmarked section.

On the ascent of Es Cornadors on day 3, we follow an old pilgrim's trail for much of the way, which involves quite a lot of stone steps. There is plenty of time to complete the walks and the pace is fairly gentle. A reasonable level of fitness will definitely add to your enjoyment of this trip.

Whilst most departures are Activity Level 3 (Moderate), we also offer two Activity Level 5 (Challenging) departures per year. On these departures, the terrain is similar but the walks are longer and require some scrambling. There are also steep drops on Days 6 (Puig Tomir) and 7 (Massanella). Please ensure that you book onto the correct activity level week.

Low altitude throughout.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Irene L

Reviewed June 2022

Lovely scenery, disappointing walks

I booked on a Level 5 Challenging departure in April 2022. Mallorca is a beautiful island with absolutely lovely scenery but I was extremely disappointed with the walks chosen. Short, coastal walks at a very slow pace and far too many stops. There was only one day where we were really reached a summit. It was very frustrating and has deterred me from booking a guided tour with Exodus again. I specifically booked a Level 5 departure for the challenging hikes but Exodus did not deliver. I travelled with Exodus on many occasions in the past and always had a fantastic experience. I would not book with them again based on this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Puig Tomir

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders which led to the trip being disjointed. Jacob for the first three walking days and Eduard for the last two days. Very knowledgable about the area and keen to share that with the group, which was really interesting. However, ultimately they did not deliver on the Level 5 Challenging nature of the trip.

Suggestions

I really enjoyed staying in LLuc monastery

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Irene, although we are incredibly sorry that you found some of the walks to be too easy, as we recognise that you were anticipating more of a challenge from this trip. As I hope you appreciate, activity levels are inherently subjective, but we do endeavour to describe each trip as accurately as possible, and we are always open to suggestions to amend our guidance should we be made aware of clients feeling a particular trip’s grading should be changed. We have been operating this trip for many years, and we therefore receive a large volume of feedback regarding our clients’ views on the itinerary. Whilst our product manager, Malcolm Parkinson, and tour leaders feel that the current grading for our Walking in Mallorca trip is accurate, we are aware that adverse weather conditions and the abilities of some of your group members prevented you from completing some of your walks and affected the pace of the walks that did go ahead, which we acknowledge must have been extremely disappointing. It must have been further frustrating to have two different tour leaders, as this is not the usual arrangement. This should certainly not have been the case, and, following your feedback, we have instructed our local manager to not operate future trips in this manner. We are hugely grateful for your loyalty to Exodus over the years and we genuinely hope that you will reconsider your decision to not book with us again.

Jerry Dawson

All of this superbly orchestrated and managed by our experienced local guide Eduard who was a star in every respect from planning the logistics of the walks, leading professionally, making sure everyone was safe, preparing lunches, driving, and particularly gelling with the group and communicating his passion for everything Mallorquin having grown up on the island.

Most Inspirational Moment

Views of the coastal walking particularly dramatic but all days had views to savour.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Put aside any preconceptions you may have about Mallorca and go and find the real Mallorca for yourself.

Suggestions

Read All Reviews

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 3 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 2 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

Availability

Availability

Availability

Availability

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes