Our walking vacations in Spain
Walking vacations in Spain are rarely just about the hiking. Some combine walking with Spanish lessons and village homestays in the Picos de Europa, while others explore the Sierra Nevada with breathers at bodegas selling glasses of Pedro Ximenez and cured ham. Self guided trips in Catalonia come with route notes that encourage you to pause at the many fishing villages and artist workshops en route. Accommodation is often a highlight – low-key inns and hotels with the warmest of welcomes (and the most delicious of dinners). Plus, many vacations are designed by people who live locally, giving you unrivalled insight into walking in Spain.
Our top Hiking vacations in Spain
Spanish course & hiking vacation, Picos de Europa, Spain
From
€830 to €965
5 days
ex flights
Spanish classes + stunning hikes in Picos de Europa
Small group2023: 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct
Las Alpujarras hiking vacation, Spain
From
€1395
8 days
ex flights
Guided walking vacation, Andalucia, with writer Chris Stewart
Small group2023: 15 Apr, 13 May, 23 Sep, 21 Oct
Spanish Pyrenees guided walking vacation
From
€1495
8 days
ex flights
Guided Walking in the Ordesa National Park, Spanish Pyrenees
Small group2023: 6 Mar, 9 Sep, 28 Sep
Sierra Nevada winter walking vacation in Spain
From
€1395 to €1495
8 days
ex flights
Alpujarra walking vacation: sun, snow, and mountain views
Small group2023: 11 Feb
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
From
€739 to €887
8 days
ex flights
Self-guided walking vacations in Catalonia
Tailor made
Andalucian mountains self-guided walking vacation, Spain
From
€350
7 days
ex flights
Self-guided walking in the Spanish Lake District
Tailor made
Sierra de Aitana walking vacation in Andalucia, Spain
From
US $1999 to US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Magnificent trek with views over the sparkling Mediterranean
Small group2023: 12 Mar, 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 14 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov, 19 Nov, 10 Dec, 2024: 7 Jan, 28 Jan, 11 Feb, 25 Feb, 10 Mar, 24 Mar, 7 Apr, 21 Apr, 28 Apr, 12 May, 26 May, 2 Jun, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 6 Oct, 20 Oct, 3 Nov, 17 Nov, 8 Dec
Cooking and walking vacation, Spanish Pyrenees
From
€1495
8 days
ex flights
Gastronomy and beautiful walks in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Small group2023: 22 Apr, 19 Sep, 19 Oct
Gran Canaria walking tours, Canary Islands
From
US $1190 to US $1470
8 days
ex flights
This unique volcanic island reveals unexpected variety
Small group2023: 25 Feb, 18 Mar, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 11 Nov, 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 20 Dec, 27 Dec
More about our walking vacations in Spain
Self guided or small group?
Our self guided walks in Spain are designed by people who love and know the landscapes. You’ll be equipped with maps and detailed route notes (wildlife check lists, language tips and restaurant recommendations included), and if you’re staying in a different place each night, your luggage will be transported ahead of you. Most are tailor made to your preferences (say, if you’d like to stay an extra day in the Rioja wine region). Small group walking vacations offer set itineraries for hikers who prefer company and a guide on the trails. The communal mindset is particularly welcoming for solo travelers.
Andalucia walking vacations in Spain
Las Alpujarras, Sierra Nevada National Park, Cabo deo Gata-Nijar Natural Park… Many of the best walking vacations in Andalucia are just a few kilometres away from the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol, but a world away in spirit. You’ll see a different take on life in Andalucia each day, from mountainous white villages to mystical oak forests. For a pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago dips through the region between Seville and Cadiz. Guided hikes add a layer of anecdotal history, but footpaths in Andalucia are generally well signposted so it’s also great spot for self guided walking vacations.
Catalonia walking vacations in Spain
Walking vacations in Catalonia explore this easterly region slowly but surely. You’ll spend a week hiking up to mountain communities in the Spanish Pyrenees and down to Mediterranean seaside bays once frequented by Picasso and Dali. Evenings are whiled away at a guesthouse or hotel run by truly Catalan characters happy to discuss anything from the best salted bacallà in town to the pros and cons of Catalan independence. Remember to pack your swimsuit, too; secret bays are Catalonia’s speciality – plus Barcelona is just a high-speed train ride away from the countryside.
Walking & learning Spanish
Learning Spanish while traveling is all well and good – but what about walking and learning Spanish at the same time? You’ll be taught in a village well accustomed to hosting Spanish language novices, so everyone from shopkeepers to bar staff are tolerant and pleased to have you there. You’ll often sleep in guesthouses or homestays that immerse you in Spanish life. Some lessons will be taken on the trail, so you might wind up walking through the peaceful Picos de Europa with a wildlife guide who’ll teach you your mariposa from your mariquita.
Walking vacations & yoga
It makes sense to combine walking and yoga in Spain. On a practical level, yoga will limber you up for a day exploring the trails. Spiritually speaking, pairing these activities will put you in touch with your body and environment in a way that often gets passed by when you’re back at home. You’ll be based somewhere peaceful, such as in the mountains outside Valencia. And the wellness aspect will extend beyond the activities – you’ll eat homemade food communally and be hosted by people with a sense of warmth that’ll stay with you for a long time after departure.
[Self guided or small group?: Jose Antonio Gil Martinez]
[Andalucia: Jean-Baptiste D.]
[Catalonia: Christine McIntosh]
[Walking & learning Spanish: Rick McCharles]
[Walking & yoga: Eneko Urunuela]
