Andalucia walking vacations
Andalucia is the channel surfer of the Spanish regions. Never happy with the same old, it flicks from mountains and river gorges to wild Atlantic and sandy Mediterranean coastlines. From Arizona-like deserts of cacti to cork oak meadows and blossoming almond orchards. Here, you’ll see a rural lifestyle that still follows the slow ways of the stone-walled mule tracks from white village to white village. But you’ve also got Seville, Granada, Ronda, Malaga and Cordoba – five of the most glittering (and in some cases underrated) cities in Spain.
Ancient trading routes, pilgrimage paths, village mule tracks, coastal cliffhangers, cities that both amaze and are a maze… Expect them all in a week’s work.![]()
A week or two-week walking vacation in Andalucia will introduce you to the whole shebang of landscapes. And each walk will peek into a different angle of Andalucian life. You could be headed for the eagle mountains, staggered orchards, white water rivers and lace-white villages of the Sierra Nevada National Park and its beautiful foothills, the Alpujarras. Or the coast, where trails tightrope-walk along clifftops in Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park.
You might even take on a legend. How about an offshoot of the Camino de Santiago between Seville and Cadiz? Or you could dip into the unknown. Grazalema Natural Park plants cobblestone villages and mystical oak forests in a mountainous amphitheatre. Sierra de Aracena isn’t to be sniffed at, either. Here, Andalucians still slowly cure Iberian ham and grow apples, peaches, figs, olives and walnuts in a wild, cave-carved landscape.
Can’t decide where to start? Read on to find out how to decide which of our Andalucia walking vacations is the best fit for you.
Our Spain walking Vacations
Spanish course & hiking vacation, Picos de Europa, Spain
Spanish classes + stunning hikes in Picos de Europa
From
€735 to €858
7 days
ex flights
Sierra de Aitana walking vacation in Andalucia, Spain
Magnificent trek with views over the sparkling Mediterranean
From
US $1999 to US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Picos inn to inn walking vacation in Spain
Hike through beautiful mountains staying in rural inns
From
£1380
8 days
ex flights
Spanish Pyrenees guided walking vacation
Guided Walking in the Ordesa National Park, Spanish Pyrenees
From
€1495
8 days
ex flights
Las Alpujarras hiking vacation, Spain
Guided walking vacation, Andalucia, with writer Chris Stewart
From
€1395
8 days
ex flights
Sierra Nevada winter walking vacation in Spain
Alpujarra walking vacation: sun, snow, and mountain views
From
€1395 to €1495
8 days
ex flights
What do Andalucia walking vacations entail?
Small group
You’ve got two choices when it comes to Andalucia walking vacations: small group tours or tailor made trips. Small group walking vacations will match you with a group of up to 14 fellow hikers and a guide or two. Itineraries change from vacation to vacation, but you can expect to walk between six and 16km a day; that’s around 4-8 hours daily. Some tours might tackle the 1,569m summit of Simancon, while others stroll through butterfly meadows and centuries-old Spanish fir forests. You won’t have to struggle with map reading, arranging transport and accommodation, or rooting out the best picnic stops – they’re all part of the package when you book a small group vacation.Your guide will be your captain. Some trips star a famous face (say, Chris Stewart, author of ode to Andalucian living Driving Over Lemons). Others will offer a born-and-bred guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge of local life. Either way, you’ll learn all about the region’s storied North African history (Morocco is just a 7km stone throw away) and exactly what the acequia you’re walking along was in a former life. They’ll also keep tabs on the weather and deftly adjust the itinerary in the case of heatwave or deluge.
Arranging transportation is out of your hands on a small group walking vacation. Sometimes a mini bus will pick you up at the end of a calf-creaking walk. Other times, you’ll focus on circular walks that begin and end at your hotel – usually just in time for a sunny dinner on the terrace.
Tailor made
Tailor made walking vacations to Andalucia tend to also be self guided, with a suggested itinerary that’s completely bespoke. You might be based in one spot – perhaps a mountain finca with a swimming pool or family-run guesthouse – and start your walks from there. Or you can choose a trip that will have you walking between hotels using beautiful paths in, for example, Grazalema Natural Park, with your luggage sent on ahead of you. If you’d rather explore a different corner of Andalucia each day, then a self drive vacation will give you the chance to get more miles under your belt, as well as more freedom to roam.
On a tailor made vacation with a single base, you can take things as leisurely (or as speedily) as you like and can pick and choose walks. And on any self guided walking vacation, pocket guides and maps are supplied for you by an expert tour operator who knows the very best hikes in Andalucia. Detailed waypoint directions and insider tips will ensure you rarely put a booted foot wrong. And there’s no need to practice your mayday signal. The tour operator will always leave you with emergency support numbers on the off-chance you lose your way.
Base yourself in one spot and you can also factor in as many rest days as you fancy. While away the hours on the terrace with a glass of vino tinto, or spend them whale watching from Tarifa, exploring the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, bird watching in Donana National Park, or nosing around a minaret-spiked city like Seville, Ronda or Cordoba.
Our top Spain walking Vacation
Spanish course & hiking vacation, Picos de Europa, Spain
Spanish classes + stunning hikes in Picos de Europa
From
€735 to €858
7 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 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
2023: 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
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Andalucia walking vacation tips
More about Spain walking
The best time to go walking in Spain depends whether you’re considering Catalonia, the Picos de Europa or Andalucia.
Step inside our walking Spain travel guide and you’ll get to experience walking vacations in Spain advice based on what Responsible Travel recommends so you can discover whether a walking vacation in Spain is for you.
Packing a walking vacations map is essential for finding Spain walking vacation highlights with everywhere from the Basque Country to the Balearics, mentioned further on this page.
Catalonia walking vacations reveal stunning Balearic views on less visited stretches of the Costa Brava , head inland through national parks or into more hilly areas as you reach the Pyrenees.
The Picos de Europa region in northern Spain is an area where walking and talking are part of the landscape, so imagine being able to walk with a native Spanish speaker after a morning of Spanish language lessons.
Our walking in Spain travel tips always come from our friends in Spain and include real advice from experienced walkers with packing advice, language tips and health & safety advice all detailed to help you travel safely while walking in Spain.
Responsible walking vacations in Spain start with responsible travelers and if you want to know how to walk the walk and how to avoid getting into trouble then read to find the best route possible to responsible tourism tips and advice from the experts.
