SPAIN
Teba Castle
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My connection to Spain runs deep. In my younger years, I spent countless days exploring its landscapes, hiking trails, and climbing 2000-metre peaks with my dad and our dog. That’s where my love for the mountains began. Over the past 20 years, I’ve returned to Spain twice yearly, and can also speak some Spanish. Now, I’m excited to share that passion by offering guided walks with an experienced walk leader in the area.
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Phil, from Andalucia on Foot, and I share the same love for this area and have created what we believe to be the BEST of the BEST in showcasing extraordinary walks in the area. It was a difficult task, but we stand proud with these wonderful selections... I cannot wait to show you.
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Andalusian Wonders:
Trails of the Extraordinary
Join us for this bespoke trip, designed especially for KDA clients. You can book as individuals, couples or groups alike and all you need is a sense of adventure and a good average walking fitness and ability.
Expect walks of around 7-12 km in length, featuring gentle elevation to keep your legs engaged. After a day of exploration, with delicious tapas and a glass of wine in the evening!
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About the trip
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15th - 19th October
£625pp
Thursday - Your arrival
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Induction to tapas!
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You will land at Malaga International airport and we will run two journeys on the arrival day. We try to operate these with your flight times and generally have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon collection. Some participants like to arrive a few days earlier and explore the local area. Nerja makes for a great stay with its typical Andalusian food and drink, nightlife and spectacular beaches. Collection can be arranged locally.
If you cannot join us on one of our collections, then there are taxis that operate from Malaga Airport to Colmenar.
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We will meet up for a tapas and drinks in the afternoon so that everyone can get to know each other over a cafe con leche or a local cerveza, and run through the itinerary for the weekend.
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Friday - Straight into the heart of Andalusia
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Caminito del Rey:
This walk probably needs no introduction as it is world-famous!
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Once an old cliff-side walkway its been restored for modern tourist exploration!
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The Caminito del Rey ("The King's Little Pathway") was originally built between 1901 and 1905 as a, walkway to provide workers access between the Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls hydroelectric power plants in Spain. It served as a critical, infrastructure route for transporting materials and for the inspection and maintenance of the water channel.
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Today the route has been carefully restored, making it absolutely safe for day walkers, yet the experience remains just as dramatic: narrow walkways suspended over sheer cliffs more than 100 metres high, with unforgettable views throughout.
The Caminito del Rey winds through cliffs, canyons, and the vast Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge, where rock walls rise up to 700 metres above the Guadalhorce River. The landscape is rich with wildlife, including griffon and Egyptian vultures, golden eagles, wild boar, and Iberian ibex.
Total walking distance for the day, which includes a walk to the dam to see how the Gaitanes Gorge was formed, is around 10 kilometres, with around 150 metres of ascent.
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Saturday - El Torcal
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A circular walk in the El Torcal Natural Park.
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One of the most striking karstic limestone landscapes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a truly unforgettable walk around the main plateau of the natural park. There’s so much to see on this walk, from the clints and grykes, pancake alleys and some incredible formations; it’s another superb walk.
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We finish the day with a visit to the nearby city of Antequera, a tapas stop, and a short tour of the Alcazaba and a viewing point overlooking the city.
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The distance is around 7 kilometres, with 230 metres of ascent.
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Sunday - Puente Colgante de Saltillo
Voted the best official trail in Spain in 2024, this fantastic walk follows an old irrigation channel from the village of Canillas de Aceituno to the Almanchares Gorge, and the suspension bridge that crosses it.
It’s a very dramatic location, fantastic views out across the Axarquía valley, and always under the towering face of La Maroma, the highest mountain in the Malaga Province.
The hardest of the three walks, as after crossing the bridge, we have a continuous climb for around 2 kilometres, with the first 800 metres up the side of the gorge. Although a very safe track, there are exposed sections.
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Total walking distance of around 12 kilometres, with around 700 metres of ascent.
Monday - lazy breakfast in the sun
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A lazy morning on the breakfast terrace, reminisce on the last few days with like minded folks. Then your onward journey.
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Extend your trip with sightseeing around the city of Malaga or nearby.
Nick Livesey Mountain Images
FAQ'S;
Where will we stay?
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We will reside in a family run hotel in the outskirts of Colmenar, Malaga.
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Antonio, Rosa, and their family look after us for the duration. They are very accommodating and friendly and go to great lengths to ensure your stay there is comfortable. The rooms are spotlessly clean and well-furnished, and the restaurant has an extensive and generous menu.
After freshening up after your day of walking, the restaurant offers a wide range of foods. Meat and fish dishes, soups, starters, salads, and speciality cuisine local to the area are all available. The servings are generous, and we have never had anyone comment that they were never full up.
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Each morning, there is a substantial and assorted continental breakfast, including meats, cheeses, fruit, yoghurts, and bread. Additional bread and bottled water are available to make your packed lunch for the day.
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It is also just a short 35-minute drive from Malaga Airport to the hotel.
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What flights do I get?
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You will fly into Malaga on the arrival day and depart from there also. You can arrive a few days either side of your walking schedule if you wish to explore further and pick ups can be arranged around your extended stay!
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More info on flight times will be shared upon booking. Most carriers fly twice a day from major airports to Malaga. Flights are from £120 and baggage is extra please see individual carrier details.
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What are my extra costs?
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Your trip itinerary includes everything except your flights. You will also pay for evening meals at the hotel. (budget 20-30 euros per day as extra for tapas and evening food/drinks) The hotel accepts cash or card payments.
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Andalucía On Foot is run by Phil Mills. His love of walking began in the Black Mountains in the 1980s and later took him across the UK and to the Pyrenees before I moved to Spain in 2013. From his base near Málaga, he has been guiding and developing walking routes across Andalucía since 2014.
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Phil says;
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"I believe Andalucía is an underrated walking destination, offering quiet trails, stunning landscapes, Moorish history, and welcoming villages. I carefully research each route to ensure great scenery, cultural interest, and good tapas, focusing on quality of experience rather than distance or speed."