Sierra Nevada Trails & Historic Wonders From Granada to Cordoba
Feel your senses come alive on this spectacular adventure in southern Spain! Marvel at Granada's exquisite Alhambra palace and stroll the medieval streets of the Albayzin before traveling to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Follow mountain trails from white stone villages and summit Mulhacen — the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula! Explore Cordoba's enchanting Mezquita and learn about ancient Al-Andalus. See a vibrant flamenco performance, and enjoy warm hospitality at luxury historic hotels and tranquil mountain hideaways. This trip promises a unique blend of traditional culture, dazzling historical monuments, and active days in breathtakingly scenic national parks.
Feel your senses come alive on this spectacular adventure in southern Spain! Marvel at Granada's exquisite Alhambra palace and stroll the medieval streets of the Albayzin before traveling to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Follow mountain trails from white stone villages and summit Mulhacen — the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula! Explore Cordoba's enchanting Mezquita and learn about ancient Al-Andalus. See a vibrant flamenco performance, and enjoy warm hospitality at luxury historic hotels and tranquil mountain hideaways. This trip promises a unique blend of traditional culture, dazzling historical monuments, and active days in breathtakingly scenic national parks.
Welcome to Spain! Arrive in Granada and meet your guides at the train station or airport by 5:30pm. Transfer to our hotel, and enjoy some down time before our orientation and welcome dinner at 6:30pm
Accommodation: Hotel Alhambra Palace
Meals: Dinner
Visit the Enchanting Alhambra
Day 2
Rise for an unforgettable half-day tour of the magnificent UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace complex, towering over Granada. Originally constructed as a fortress in 889 and converted into a palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada, the Alhambra ("red or crimson castle") exhibits Spain's most remarkable Islamic architecture. Explore the beautiful Generalife gardens and take in the stunning panoramic views before a sumptuous lunch at a traditional restaurant nearby.
Later, take an early evening stroll around the splendid medieval streets of Granada's Albayzin to the Sacromonte, where we enjoy dinner and end the day with a vibrant flamenco performance.
Accommodation: Hotel Alhambra Palace
Activity: 3.5 hours walking tours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to Las Alpujarras & Hike in the Sierra Mecina
Day 3
Depart from Granada this morning and transfer to the picturesque region of Las Alpujarras, located in the Sierra Nevada - Spain's highest mountain chain and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Check into your hotel in the charming white stone mountain town of Capileira and then set out for an afternoon hike. Follow scenic trails in the area's lush valleys, passing delightful villages along the way, and warm up those legs for tomorrow's summit challenge.
Accommodation: Hotel Rural Finca Los Llanos
Activity: 5 hours/4.5 miles hiking with 2,450'-820' elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 2-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hike the Sierra Nevada & Summit Mulhacen
Day 4
It's summit bid day and your chance to hike to the top of Mulhacen (11,420') - the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula! Follow rugged trails on a steady uphill hike that is well worth the effort. The reward? Epic views of the Sierra Nevada massif, Granada to the north, and the Mediterranean and Africa's coast to the south.
For those not wanting to hike to Mulhacen there will be an option of a somewhat less strenuous hike to the Poqueira mountain refuge (6-7 hours/9.5 miles hiking with 1,150'-5,250' elevation gain and loss.)
Accommodation: Hotel Rural Finca Los Llanos
Activity: 6-10 hours/9-13 miles hiking with 2,600'-4,300' elevation gain and loss depending on conditions
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Cazorla & Stay in a Parador
Day 5
After breakfast, travel north to the region of Jaen and Parque Natural de las Sierras de Segura y Cazorla, the largest protected area in Spain and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Enjoy a picnic lunch before setting off on an afternoon hike in the little-visited eastern part of the park where wildlife abounds. Keep an eye out for ibex, fallow and red deer, wild boar, mouflon (wild sheep), and raptors soaring overhead in the 6,000-foot peaks.
Accommodation: Parador de Cazorla
Activity: 4.5 hours/5 miles hiking with 1,800'-650' elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 4-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spectacular Rio Boroso Hike
Day 6
Today you'll enjoy a classic hike in the Sierra de Cazorla's hauntingly beautiful karst mountain landscape. The trail follows the Rio Borosa upstream through exquisite valley and mountain scenery, via a narrow gorge, and past two deep-blue mountain lakes. Eventually you'll reach the source of the Borosa River, welling out from under a rock! Be awed by Cazorla's dramatic scenery and limestone pinnacles.
Accommodation: Parador de Cazorla
Activity: 6 hours/8 miles hiking with 400'-2,300' elevation gain and loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Cordoba
Day 7
Leave Cazorla in the morning and travel west towards Cordoba, once the largest city in Roman Spain and for the heart of the Western Islamic Empire for three centuries. Cordoba offers a wealth of fine buildings, churches and monuments, but the highlight of our walk through the city is La Mezquita. Founded in 785, this Great Mosque is the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain. After a walk through the Old Quarter and the Jewish Quarter, have some free time before a festive farewell dinner tonight. After dinner, take a stroll along the Cordoba Roman Bridge.
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Leo S.
Leo was born in the mountains of Spain's Basque Country and made his home in Jaca, in the heart of the Pyrenees, where he spends his winters on backcountry skis. He has been guiding in the Pyrenees for many years, as well as in Nepal, Morocco, Tanzania, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Pakistan, India, and the French Alps. He has also taught skiing in Colorado. He is an International Certified Mountain Guide (UIAGM) and a professional ski instructor (ISIA). Leo is fluent in English, French, and Basque.
Welcome to Spain! Arrive in Granada and meet your guides at the train station or airport by 5:30pm. Transfer to our hotel, and enjoy some down time before our orientation and welcome dinner at 6:30pm
Rise for an unforgettable half-day tour of the magnificent UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace complex, towering over Granada. Originally constructed as a fortress in 889 and converted into a palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada, the Alhambra ("red or crimson castle") exhibits Spain\'s most remarkable Islamic architecture. Explore the beautiful Generalife gardens and take in the stunning panoramic views before a sumptuous lunch at a traditional restaurant nearby.
Later, take an early evening stroll around the splendid medieval streets of Granada\'s Albayzin to the Sacromonte, where we enjoy dinner and end the day with a vibrant flamenco performance.
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For those not wanting to hike to Mulhacen there will be an option of a somewhat less strenuous hike to the Poqueira mountain refuge (6-7 hours/9.5 miles hiking with 1,150\'-5,250\' elevation gain and loss.)
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Leave Cazorla in the morning and travel west towards Cordoba, once the largest city in Roman Spain and for the heart of the Western Islamic Empire for three centuries. Cordoba offers a wealth of fine buildings, churches and monuments, but the highlight of our walk through the city is La Mezquita. Founded in 785, this Great Mosque is the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain. After a walk through the Old Quarter and the Jewish Quarter, have some free time before a festive farewell dinner tonight. After dinner, take a stroll along the Cordoba Roman Bridge.
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Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 4. Moderate to challenging hikes through spectacular landscapes with an opportunity to summit a mountain at 11,420 feet. Cultural touring includes walking on narrow cobblestone streets-some steep uphills. Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
3.5 hours walking tours
Day 3
5 hours/4.5 miles hiking with 2,450'-820' elevation gain and loss
Day 4
6-10 hours/9-13 miles hiking with 2,600'-4,300' elevation gain and loss depending on conditions
Day 5
4.5 hours/5 miles hiking with 1,800'-650' elevation gain and loss
Day 6
6 hours/8 miles hiking with 400'-2,300' elevation gain and loss
Accommodations
A luxurious historic hotel in Granada, rustic and romantic mountain retreats, and a modern hotel in Cordoba.
Inspired by the beautiful Alhambra itself, the five-star Hotel Alhambra Palace exudes century-old historic charm and elegance. Its rooms are comfortable and stylish, and come with an array of modern amenities. Unwind with a refreshing drink on the terrace and enjoy the hotel's spectacular location and warm ambience.
This pretty whitewashed hotel in the heart of Capileira offers a tranquil mountain escape with plenty of warm Andalusian hospitality. Its comfortable rooms have a rustic charm, in keeping with the hotel's rural setting, and come with modern amenities. After a day of hiking, unwind on the patio or take a dip in the pool.
The romantic Parador de Cazorla is a classic Andalusian country house set in an oasis of natural beauty. Its comfortable rooms have a classic feel and are equipped with modern amenities. Chat by the fireplace, relax by the hotel pool, and take in the panoramic views from this beautiful mountain retreat.
This elegant hotel built in an18th-century Moorish mansion is a 5-minute walk from the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, and 2 miles from the Cordoba train station. Modern rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and pull-out sofas, as well as minibars and coffeemakers. Amenities include a bar, a Mediterranean restaurant, and a cafe with a covered terrace and courtyards, along with a plunge pool and a fitness center.
Weather
Expect a warm Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summer days, cooler nights, and a chance of rain in spring.
May
Jun
Sep
Oct
Cordoba
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Cordoba
80
53
90
60
88
61
77
54
Granada
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Granada
77
54
87
62
83
59
74
53
FAQs
Who will meet me in arrival in Granada?
Our MT Sobek guide will meet you and the rest of your group at the train station or airport in Granada by 5:30pm on Day-1 of the itinerary.
How do I get to and from this trip?
Most travelers from the U.S. will fly in/out of Madrid, and take the train to/from our trip. The Madrid (MAD) airport train station is on the 1st floor of terminal 4. The journey to Granada is 3 - 4 hours, and 2 hours from Cordoba.
Can I skip a day of hiking if I want?
We hope that you enjoy hiking, and will want to join us each day, but it is possible to skip a hike if you want to relax or explore the towns on your own.
I hear Spain is a meat and potatoes destination. Can you accommodate my diet?
The cuisine of Andalucía is some of the best in all of Spain, with a variety of seafood, meats, vegetables, and spices. We can accommodate most diets. Please let us know in advance of your dietary restrictions.
Will it be hot where we are hiking?
Our departures are scheduled before and after the hottest summer months in Spain, avoiding temperatures that would prohibit our hiking.
Who is this trip perfect for?
This trip is perfect for strong hikers who appreciate comfortable 4-star accommodations, and an emphasis on Spanish culture.
What is the minimum age for this trip?
The standard minimum age for this trip is 18, but check out our private trip options for families and groups with younger guests.
