Spain needs no introduction: welcome to the land of mouth-watering dishes, lively festivals, and pristine nature. You’ll spend 7 days following rocky trails and narrow streets of the Alpujarras region in the company of like-minded adventurous women. After some hiking during the day, you’ll always have plenty of free time to unwind at the hotel’s pool or take an afternoon siesta—and later on go to an evening fiesta! If you’ve been dreaming of basking in the Mediterranean sun, this hiking tour is for you. You’re just a few clicks away from turning it into reality.
Your guides have arranged group transportation from the Málaga Airport to Capileira, the starting point and the base for your adventure. You’ll have an evening briefing at the hotel around 6 pm with dinner to follow. Enjoy the next 6 nights in Hotel Rural Real de Poqueira and its elegant and comfortable rooms decorated in a rustic style. You also have a fantastic pool and a garden at your disposal.
Meals: Dinner
Start your hike in Capileira, the top one of the 3 white villages in the Poqueira gorge.
The villages are named so due to their recognizable whitewashed look stemming from the Islamic period of Andalusia. It helped create a sense of unity among the Moorish pueblos, but it also came in handy for keeping homes cool by reflecting the sun and for seeming hygienic during past epidemics. Stroll along the historic trail that links these three villages. The trail drops down to cross Rio Poqueira via a small bridge, then continues winding down through the hills to Bubión, where you’ll find cafés and rest stops. The final village is Pampaneira, after which you’ll go back via a circular route.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 9.5 km / 6 miles
Elevation gain and loss: 544 m / 1,785 ft
Today you’re walking through the mostly medieval trails of the La Taha del Pitres region, characterized by small white villages, steep-sided gorges, and abundant flora and fauna. Start in Mecina Fondales and drop down into the enchanting village of Fondales. Here you’ll turn east and head to Ferreirola, perched high above the Trevelez gorge. An uphill hike will take you to the quaint Atalbeitar before rising to reach the road that leads you back to the town of Portugos. Taking quiet backtracks to Pitres before dropping steeply back down takes you to the starting point at Mecina.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 8.5 km / 5.3 miles
Elevation gain and loss: 424 m / 1,391 ft
The GR7 is a long-distance footpath winding its way through Andorra, France, and Spain, but you’ll only be doing a tiny portion of it on day 4. Traverse hillsides and gorges until you reach the quiet, non-tourist white villages of Soportújar and Cañar. This is a varied walk through forests, cultivated land, streams, irrigation channels, and finally, through the pueblos blancos.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Elevation gain: 386 m / 1,266 ft
Elevation loss: 680 m / 2,231 ft
This footpath lets you experience the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Walk through the pine forests to open hillsides and reach Puerta del Molina. This is a superb viewpoint of the Sierra Nevada—on a good day, you can clearly see the main peaks.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
Elevation gain and loss: 539 m / 1,768 ft
For your last day of hiking, you’ll have the option of walking up the Mulhacén peak with an elevation of 3,482 m (11,424 ft). This is the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada range as well as of Western Europe outside the Alps. However, if you want to take it easier today, you can visit the highest village in mainland Spain, Trevélez. Retreat to your hotel for the final night in paradise.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Elevation gain and loss: 977 m / 3,206 ft
After your final breakfast at the hotel in the Alpujarras, pack up and say goodbye to your group and the area. Organized group transfer to the airport departs at 10 am from Capileira, so make sure you book a flight after 2pm. If you’d like to stay for the weekend in Málaga or Granada, your guides can help you arrange it.
Meals: Breakfast
The itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and at the discretion of the guide. The days walking will be discussed with the group the evening before. There will be an option for having more relaxed days during the week and resting at the hotel.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This all-women hiking tour in the Alpujarras is ideal for hikers with good fitness. The most you’ll hike within a day is 15 km (9.3 miles), so as long as you can cover that distance, you’re good to go!
You’ll be staying in the Sierra Nevada in the village of Capileira, the highest white village (Pueblo Bianco) in the Poqueira Gorge, sitting at 1,436 m (4,711 ft). A local guide will lead you through Sierra Nevada’s paths, which are good and steady, and you’ll have plenty of breaks, rest time, and shorter walks. You’ll also have the chance to climb Mulhacén, the highest mountain in peninsular Spain. It’s at 3,479 m (11,414 ft) above sea level. You’ll start walking, though, at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) so the ascent will only be 879 m (2,884 ft) and very gradual.
If you’d love to join a beginner-friendly all-women tour in the Priorat wine region in Spain, check out this guided hiking tour in Priorat.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in the Alpujarras can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
You’ll be based in Capileira for the duration of your tour, which is 2 hours away from Málaga. Your guides have arranged transportation to and from Málaga Airport, so all you need to do is land before 2:30 pm on day 1 and book a return flight after 2 pm on the last day.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will give you more details about the transfer to Capileira.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!