Moderate Walking Holiday in Soria

Spend a week exploring the charms of undiscovered Soria. Follow in the footsteps of the Catholic Kings and El Cid, walk through poplar, juniper & pine forests and watch in awe at the griffon vultures circling above! This walking holiday is graded as ‘moderate’ and can be guided or self-guided, either way you’ll be staying in classic, authentic rural inns along the way and eating at some of the best local restaurants!

Located in north central Spain, Soria is a relatively undiscovered province, making it an ideal destination for those looking to experience the country, without having to fight the hoards of tourists! If fresh air, juniper forests, wild flowers and soaring eagles and vultures are your bag, then you’re in for a treat. The area is not just about nature and wildlife though. Inhabited by humans since 3000 BC and by dinosaurs before them (footprints dating back 140 million years have been found there) this is an area steeped in history. As well as its pre-historic residents, Soria has also been home to the Celt-Iberians, the Romans and the Castillian hero, ‘El Cid.’ More recently, the area has inspired film directors, with scenes of Dr Zhivago and ‘Chimes at Midnight’ being filmed there. With a lovely climate to boot, you couldn’t ask for a better place to lace up your walking shoes and get out exploring!

This holiday can be enjoyed as either a guided or a self-guided trip. Starting and finishing in the capital of the region, Soria, it is a prefect blend of walking, nature and culture. Walking an average of 10kms per day, you will explore the pine & oak forests of Gomara, the diverse birdlife in the Jalon Valley, the vultures & deer around Ambrona and the juniper forests in the Nature Reserve La Fuentona. On the cultural side, you’ll follow the footsteps of the ‘Catholic Kings’ Isabella & Ferdinand on their stay in the region in the 15th Century. Going further back in time, you’ll also visit medieval towns, ancient tombs and see rock art dating back 3000 – 2000 BC.

While this isn't a five star, luxury tour, Spanish Footsteps takes care to choose accommodation that is comfortable and reflect the charms of Soria. This is a tour for those people who don't mind moving around, getting a bit sweaty but at the same time learning about history and experiencing daily life in the rural part of a foreign country. Each day packs in a lot so really think about how active you want to be on your holiday. If you choose the guided option, you will be in a group so you will have to be okay with hiking with strangers who hopefully will become friends. The hiking is classified as moderate with around six miles or three to four hours of walking a day, sometimes on slight inclines and declines so it's good to be the kind of person who moves around in day to day life, but you don't certainly don’t need to be a triathlete to participate!