Average rating Trekking the 3,000m Peaks in the Sierra Nevada

A five-day trek covering all the 3,000 metre peaks of the Sierra Nevada, including Mulhacen, Spain’s highest summit. Not for the faint-hearted, this awesome journey through one of Europe’s hiking Meccas has “trip of a lifetime” written all over it!

Spain’s most majestic landscape, it’s difficult to talk about the Sierra Nevada without slipping into hyperbole. Snow-clad ridges, sparkling mountain lakes and vast plateaus make this a hiking paradise, as well as one of the best places in southern Europe for birding and wildlife spotting – the biosphere reserve is home to golden eagles, wild cats and the nimble-footed Spanish Ibex. This week-long trek promises some serious adventure. Setting off from the storybook village of Lanjarón, with its ruined castle and chalybeate baths, you’ll make a gradual ascent to 3,000 metres, spending the night in a hikers’ hut on Cerro de Caballo. Hereafter you’ll traverse the range, including the mighty Mulhacen (3,479 metres), Spain’s highest peak, before descending to the Edenic Siete Lagunas (Valley of the Seven Lakes). You’ll spend two nights here before heading onwards and downwards to Trevelez, the highest village in Spain, for a celebratory wine tasting in a local bodega!

Led by experienced UK and Alpine guides, this trip is a great way to explore this stunning region. You’ll have access to expert knowledge of trails and weather conditions, but with the freedom to engage with the landscape in your own way, whether that’s scrambling up the jagged spurs or going for a paddle in an Alpine stream. The Sierra Nevada may lack the spectacular peaks of the Alps, but their epic sweep and the sense of solitude it engenders make them one of Europe’s ultimate travel destinations.

It should be pretty obvious that you need to be fit to traverse four 3,000+ metre peaks! If you don’t have any previous experience of hill walking you’d be better off starting with a gentler trek, perhaps lasting two or three days. You won’t be going above 3,500 metres on this trip, so altitude shouldn’t be a problem (and there are no sheer drops), but you’ll be walking for around five hours per day so stamina is essential. Food and camping gear (provided) will be transported by 4WD at the start and finish of the trek, but expect to have to carry your own stuff between times (you can share things like cookers and tents). If you fancy a slightly different itinerary there’s the option to end the traverse at Jerez or Guejar Sierra, though this depends on weather and group fitness levels, and obviously the guides have the final word on this. There’s also the option of including scrambling sections if you want to raise the adrenalin levels. Don’t expect to be able to plot a completely new course though – your group might be of fairly mixed ability, but you can guarantee there’ll be like-minded individuals and some excellent camaraderie.

Getting there

Fly to Granada, Malaga or Almeria airports and you will be met by a guide and transported to Lanjaron.

Price includes

Accommodation, local transport, backup vehicles, gear hire, experienced Alpine, local and UK guides

Available

Jun—Nov

Typical Duration

1 week

Comfort level

Down to earth (hostels, camping, huts)

Experience required

Some previous experience is needed