Walking holiday in Mallorca, Spain

country:	Spain
location:	Balearic Islands
trip type:	Moderate walking holidays
departures:	2010: 12 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 29 May, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct 2011: 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 14 May, 28 May
price:	From £675 - £785 (8 days) including flights from the UK. Price includes 7 breakfasts. Single room options £90. From £475 - £505 excluding flights
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

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Moderate walking holidays here

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the amazing things you'll be doing

Mallorca boasts a stunning combination of coastal vistas, rugged mountain peaks and historic towns totally at odds with the familiar stereo-typed image of the Balearics. The scenery alone warrants the journey, with the added bonuses of cobbled streets, ancient churches, a two night stay in a sanctuary, a wonderful train ride and the chance to relax at the coast.

The main focus of this trip is to experience some of the finest walking in the Mediterranean – a traverse of the Tramuntana Range 'The Mountains of the North Wind', which rise out of the plains to a height of almost 1500m before plunging into the sea. We use a luggage support vehicle, enabling anybody who wishes to opt out of the walks. Ending days with a glass of wine and some hearty Spanish food, is the ideal antidote to a busy lifestyle. At the end of the holiday, there is the opportunity to hire bikes, explore the Formentor Peninsula, or relax at the nearby beaches.

Trip highlights:

Palma. Visit Medieval City.
Palma. Vintage train journey to Port de Soller.
Deia. Beautiful village and coastal views.
Serra De Tramuntana. Walk across the Tramuntana range.
Lluc. Stay in a 13th century sanctuary.
Pollenca. Atmospheric old town.
Port de Pollenca. Chance to relax or take optional walks.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Join Tour Palma airport; bus and train to Port de Soller. On arrival we take the short journey to the island's capital Palma for a short walking tour of this historic city. Your bags will be taken on to tonight's night-stop, enabling you to travel unencumbered. Palma dates back to pre-Roman times, the architecture shaped by the ebb and flow of trade. For many people the highlight is the warren of narrow streets, reminders of its prosperity before Spanish trade shifted to the New World. Later we board the vintage train to Soller. This narrow gauge railway first operated in 1912 to carry oranges and lemons to Palma, and retains its original turn of the twentieth century character with mahogany and brass fittings. Heading into the countryside we pass through citrus plantations and olive groves interspersed with farmhouses as the train heads towards the looming Serra de Tramuntana. The train negotiates a series of 13 tunnels as the track winds into the mountains. We alight in Soller, an attractive small inland town set among some of the highest and most impressive peaks of the Tramuntana. Typical of many such settlements on Mallorca, Soller was established away from the coast to have advance warning and better defences from pirate attacks, and later flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries as the centre of the citrus zone. The landowners' wealth – derived from citrus production – is reflected in the elegant mansions they built in the town. The façade of the church was designed by Rubio, an apprentice of the extraordinary Catalan architect Gaudi, who later took over the building of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona after Gaudi's death. We board the old tram that clatters along the short journey to Port de Soller, our base for the next two days. Port de Soller is ideally situated – set around a horseshoe bay, with views of the inland peaks as backdrop. Stroll through the old fishing port and take the opportunity to sample the excellent local fish dishes in one of the seafront restaurants. 3 nights hotel H+ (included meals: B).
Day 2:	In Port de Soller; Bus to Deia; walk to Soller. This morning we take a public bus the short distance to Deia, a beautiful village and once the home of poet Robert Graves. Deia's stone houses are stacked one above the other on the mountainside. We descend past picturesque houses and gardens, through stone-built terraces of olive trees, to the tiny Cala de Deia, a rocky fishing cove. Taking a small path clinging to the end of the cliff, we follow this dramatic Northern coastline to the hamlet of Lluc Alcari, with spectacular views along the way. Turning away from the coast, we have increasingly panoramic views of the coastline as we follow the old wayfarer's route to Soller. Passing through woodland, full of wild flowers in spring, we look down upon the breathtaking Soller valley, surrounded by the highest peaks on the island. The final part of the walk takes us through olive groves and past Cap Gros lighthouse back to Port de Soller, (approx 6 hours walk). (Included meals: B).
Day 3:	Walk from Cuber Lake to Soller. We drive inland to the Embalse de Cuber – set in the highest peaks of the sierra the still waters of the lake mirror the rocky crags around. Black vultures, red kites and eagles can be seen soaring above. Our walk starts in this rugged, open landscape in the heart of the Sierra, in the shadow of the highest peak on the island, Puig Major (1443m). We walk along an ancient cobbled track that zig-zags steeply down the 'barranca' or ravine. In spring the sound of cascading water is everywhere as we cross the rushing streams on small bridges and pass by crystal clear rock pools. The citrus groves and occasional palm tree that cover the fertile valley are hemmed in by compact, dry stone walls. Our walk brings us to the idyllic village of Biniaraix, with terraced lands surrounded by the mountains. From here we make our way back to Soller, (approx 5 hours walk). Alternatively you can opt out of this walk and take an easy two hour hike to the watchtower where you will be rewarded by excellent views across the bay back to Port de Soller. (Included meals: B).
Day 4:	Walk to Lluc. We return to the Embalse de Cuber by bus to continue our journey across the Tramuntana. The scenery is alpine-like with sheer peaks and racing rivers. Today's walk is our most challenging but we take our time to appreciate the amazing mountain scenery en route (approx 6-7 hours walk). Late in the afternoon we arrive at the remote valley where the Monestir de Lluc nestles. The rooms at the sanctuary have private facilities and are not as spartan as one might expect. 2 nights sanctuary H+ (included meals: B).
Day 5:	In Lluc; optional walks. The Monestir de Nostra Senyora de Lluc has been a sanctuary and place of pilgrimage since the 13th century. However, its history extends back much further – in pre-Roman times the oak woods were a holy place for the local people. The complex dates mainly from the 18th century and, just as in the 13th century, still takes in visitors. We can eat in the atmospheric wooden-beamed hall, formerly the monks' dining room. The impressive Basilica is well worth visiting, and the peaceful and beautiful setting is best appreciated by a short walk to the 'Mysteries of the Rosary' which will take you up through the woods to the crucifix at the peak of a nearby hill – look out for granite stations, some of which were worked on by Gaudi himself but never completed due to his sudden and unexplained departure from the island. There are a number of easy walks in the vicinity of the sanctuary if you wish to take it easy. You may choose to do the Caimari walk along a well-marked, little trodden and delightfully varied path, along the south side of the Tramuntana (approx 6 hours walk). For those keen to do a more strenuous scramble, it maybe possible to go to the imposing mountain of Puig Tomir (1103m) with our tour leader. The views from the top, weather permitting, are some of the best on the island (approx 6 hours walk). (Included meals: B).
Day 6:	Walk to Pollenca; continue to Port de Pollenca. Following one of the oldest wayfarer's trails on the island, dating back to the 13th century, we start our walk from Lluc passing through shady woodland, the imposing north face of Tomir looming over us at every turn, vultures often circling overhead. As the path starts to descend, we get our first stunning view of Pollenca Bay, built a few kilometres from the sea to protect against pirate attacks, and the port beyond, with the craggy tops of Cavall Bernat range forming a backdrop. Entering denser woodland, the steep, scree-covered slopes of Tomir tower even nearer as we continue our descent. Eventually we join a small lane going past pretty cottages and fields of almond and orange trees, a serene farming landscape with the mountain range rising majestically behind, before meeting our bus for the journey to Pollenca (approx 5 hours walk). Finally we arrive in Pollença, with its ancient narrow streets and impressive plaza. After a welcome refreshment break we recommend the short walk up the 365 Calvary steps – once the setting for public hangings – with excellent views over the surrounding area and town below. We complete our traverse of the Tramuntana Range by continuing the short distance on foot to the Mediterranean Port de Pollenca, or alternatively you may complete this section by public bus. 2 nights hotel H+ (included meals: B).
Day 7:	In Port de Pollenca; relaxing, optional walks. The day is free to relax, swim, walk or take one of a number of excursions in and around the Peninsula de Formentor. For those who wish to explore on foot a little more, it is possible to walk to Cala Boquer or the small but lively town of San Vicenc. The route affords superb views into the bays and wind among the palms and pine trees. The peninsula is also popular amongst ornithologists due to its resident birdlife and in April to October its location on the migratory routes. The largest marshland in the Mediterranean is located at the Natural Park of S'Albufera, just south of Port d'Alcudia and is criss-crossed by paths linking bridges and hides from which to view the varied birdlife. Alternatively you can hire a mountain bike or you may also choose to visit the historic walled town of Alcudia. (Included meals: B).
Day 8:	Saturday. Drive to Palma airport where tour ends. After breakfast we depart the hotel and drive to Palma airport. (Included meals: B).

small group adventure holiday

Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

award winner

This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

Join us on this one-week walking tour across the Tramuntana Mountains of Mallorca and leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of this spectacular corner of the Balearic Isles.

Our walking groups are limited to a maximum of 16 people which means we can use smaller, locally-owned accommodation and transport companies. This means that more of your money goes to the Mallorcan's themselves rather than to international hotel and transport chains. We also make best use of the island's public buses to take us to the start of our walks, this helps to reduce our carbon footprint and further support the local economy.

One of the highlights of this tour is our 2-night stay in Lluc Monastery, where the fee that we pay to stay there goes towards the upkeep of this important site – a place of special spiritual significance since pagan times. During our walks we make sure that we stick to marked paths and our tour leaders are keen to explain about the local flora and fauna of the area to our groups.

This tour is very much in keeping with the island’s tourism development strategy which aims to reduce mass tourism and its negative impacts and instead promote small group or independent travel to the island's places of beauty and to make visitors more aware of the need for the conservation of the island's fauna and flora and protection of its natural resources. As Mallorca is a small island, water is a very precious resource and all the hotels we use try to preserve water by not washing towels and sheets unnecessarily and much of the food is sourced locally or even grown by the hotel owners. One of our walks also begins at Cuba reservoir which is one of Mallorca's key water resources, so a visit here emphasizes to our clients the importance of water as a resource to the island population.

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