7 Day Guided Walking Holiday

Your week of walking explores the incredible rocky summits, valleys and canyons of the Costa Blanca mountains. You will also visit ancient castles built by the Moors, whose descendants still live in the area. One of the highlights is an ascent of the Sierra Aitana, at over 5,000 feet it is the highest summit in Valencia province. You will also explore some of the abandonded settlements, old mills and mule trails that are testament to a self sufficient population that thrived, and then struggled to live in this rugged landscape.

Please contact us and we will arrange accommodation and provide free advice on guiding options

Location: Guadalest Valley (Sierra Serrella & Sierra Aitana)

Itinerary:  This is a typical weeks walking, but it may vary according to weather conditions, etc,

Day 1: Arrival in Abdet. A short walk around the village (depending on your arrival time), looking at some old mills, ancleint irrigation systems, and the old wash house (lavadero).

Day 2: Guadalest Castle and Moorish Villages. Dating back nearly 1,000 years the citadel of Guadalest commands views over the lake and mountains beyond. The walk includes a circuit of the lake.

Day 3: Serrella Castle and Abandonded Settlements. Our route follows an ancient mule track that negotiates a hidden canyon and a massive rock arch, it then visits the spectacular ruined Moorish castle perched high on rocky ridge.

Day 4:  Snow Traders Route. To the North of Abdet lies the Sierra Serrella, we explore the route that ice traders of the 17th and 18th century would have used, and visit the massive ice well (nevera) that remains high on the summit of Pla de la Casa

Day 5: Confrides Castle and the Hidden Canyon. We visit the castle built in a spectacular location amongst pinnacles and surrounded by huge cliff faces. Returning to Abdet via the canyon of the Barranco Fanalic

Day 6: Aitana Summit and the Boulder Field traverse. This walk visits the highest summit in Valenica at over 5,000 feet, where we explore some enormous rock crevasses (100's of mertres deep) and also a great path through the Partagat boulder field

Day 7: Bernia Fort and through the Ridge. We head to the Bernia peak which lies beyond Guadalest. A superb route visiting an unusal fort and then a natural tunnel through the mountain!

Day 8: Depart Abdet

As part of the week you are invited to help clear/maintain some local walking paths. This involves clearing collapsed walls and rocks, cutting back fallen trees and thorns, and making signs. This is of course optional and is just for half a day, it's actually great fun!

Price from: £550 (based on two sharing)