Andalucía,
the southern region of Spain, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the
Mediterranean Sea under the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.
Here all of Spain seems to come together; sun drenched temperate
climate, olive trees, rugged mountain nature parks, idyllic
whitewashed villages, and cities steeped in a cultural mosaic of
religion, history, and some of Europe's best known historic
monuments. KT's hiking tour explores two distinct mountain
regions along with visits to Granada & Córdoba, two of
Spain's most
enjoyable small cities. Like so many other KT trips
there will be lots of history & cultural insight.
"There
is no pain in life so cruel as to be blind in Granada."
The words above are inscribed on the ramparts of the Alhambra, the
fascinating monumental complex of Moorish Granada's artistic legacy
whose exquisite design, gardens, and fountains magically exceed our
expectations and alter our perception of religious and cultural
differences. Knapsackers meet up in Granada, a lovely city
where so much history along with charming shopping districts and the
lively Albaicín
university
neighborhood provide a perfect two or three day complement to your
exciting hiking tour of southern Spain.
Our hiking tour begins fittingly in front of
the Alhambra where on a clear day you can see the snow capped Sierra
Nevada mountains towering above this ancient city. We drive south
and west soon crossing the "Suspiro
del Moro," the Moor's Sigh. It was here in 1492, as the
armies of Ferdinand &
Isabel approached, that the last
ruler of Moorish Spain, Boabdil, the boy king, turned for one last look
at the fading glory of Granada and the end of Islamic rule in Spain.
KT's destination is the whitewashed
village of Capileira (4,739 ft. & 900 pop.)
and its "Ruta del Aqua"- route of the historic water fountains.
Capileira is on the southern
slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in a region called
La Alpujarra (perhaps
referring to "white mountains"). This area comprises one
of Spain's
most distinct cultural & natural areas where Spain's highest peak
is just thirty miles from the sea. We
spend three nights in a lovely 3 star hotel with daily hikes exploring
the Poqueira Ravine & wandering village to village. You'll
have plenty of time to sample local cuisine, shop for artisans'
products, or simply enjoy the ambiance of your hotel grounds and
village life.
Our tour
continues north of Granada to the largest protected natural
space in Spain - Cazorla, Segura and
las Villas Natural Park. Located off the main tourist
route the park has a feel similar to our own national parks where
nature and human activity are kept in balance. Our visit
includes two distinct locations in and near the park. One
is two
nights at a 3 star hotel located on the central plaza in the lively
town of Cazorla (3000 ft. & 9000 pop.) with
it's winding streets, ancient castle, & colorful
plazas. 
Our other Cazorla location is a 4 star spa hotel in the tiny hamlet of
Arroyo Frio deep inside the park. We'll be pampered at our luxury
hotel with
its wonderful spa complete with hot and cold tubs, dry sauna, &
other treats. Our hikes in Cazorla are much wilder &
include spectacular viewpoints, remote gorges, & a wonderful hike
along the Rio Guadalquivir, one of Spain's major rivers, which begins
here in Cazorla Nature Park & later passes through Córdoba on its way to the
sea.
Our tour
will conclude at approximately 1:00 p.m. on either Wednesday or Sunday
depending on your tour choice. We'll depart Cazorla Natural Park
after breakfast for a leisurely three hour drive to the
ancient city of Córdoba. Here you will be dropped off at
either the train station, for those taking the high speed rail to
Madrid or Seville, or to a nearby recommended hotel. KT highly
recommends extending your tour for at least one night in Cordoba,
famous for its tapa bars, old
Jewish Quarter, Flamenco exhibitions, and its most famous site the
Mezquita, a 9th century mosque. In its time the Mezquita was
second in size & importance only to the mosque in Mecca. A
tour of the Mezquita reveals the genius of Moorish architecture 
&
offers an insightful look at the tangled
history of Islamic & Christian Spain.
Knapsack's Andalucía hiking trip offers an excellent combination
of guided hiking in two distinct mountain parks along with
an opportunity to explore on your own two of Spain's most interesting
and famous cities - Granada and Córdoba. KT's
trip packet will include maps & hotel suggestions for both cities
along with detailed travel ideas for getting to and from both locations
from Madrid. For those looking for additional holiday ideas, KT
has explored & can recommend a pre-trip beach holiday along Spain's
Costa del Sol, the sunny stretch of over 200 miles along the
Mediterranean Sea. Please feel free to call or email KT with any
questions regarding the hiking tour or your pre or post trip travel
options.
Tour Features
- Wonderful time of year and
typically great weather
- Explore two major hiking
regions along with two great Spanish cities
- Incredible history and beautiful
hiking sites
- Town, village, and hamlet
hotel locations - great variety!
- Small group with two KT
guides
- Daily hiking with lots of
sightseeing
& cultural insight
Tour
Includes
- All breakfasts &
dinners
(dinner day one through breakfast last morning)
- Charming double occupancy
3*
and 4* hotels
- Comfortable coach transport
- Daily guided hikes
- Detailed trip packet with
all kinds of helpful information
- All entrance fees to sites
and
attractions
Tour
Does Not Include
- Airfare or train to/from
Granada and Córdoba
- Lodging before/after tour
dates
- Lunches - picnic trail
lunches from local shops
or restaurants
Spain
Travel Details
- Meeting point:
Granada across from the Alhambra 2:00 p.m. Wednesday or Sunday (depending on tour choice)
- Ending point: Córdoba approximately 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday
or Sunday (depending on tour choice)
- Detailed travel
information for each tour provided
in trip packet
- A Passport is required
for travel to Spain
Note: If you are flying directly from the USA to Granada, then
Madrid is
usually
your best transfer point for flights. There is no airport in
Córdoba, but high speed trains depart hourly for the less than
two hour
journey to central Madrid. Details for all of the travel options
will be included in the trip packet.
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