Itinerary
Day One
Transfer from the airport to your hotel by bus (a car is not necessary on this holiday). Enjoy a drink on the terrace while reading your walks pack before dining under the stars.
Day Two
Fornalutx and Biniaraix: (Easy 5 miles/6.5 km or Moderate 7 miles/11 km)
A stunningly beautiful circuit, deep in the Sóller valley, among terraces of olive and citrus groves, surrounded by the island’s highest peaks. Visit a beautiful old town house where the same family has been pressing olive oil for over 300 years. Enjoy a freshly-squeezed juice before following quiet country lanes with splendid panoramic views to Fornalutx with its honey-coloured stone houses. We recommend lunch at a lovely little restaurant with vine-covered terraces.
Having explored the village, one of the most beautiful on Majorca, return to Sóller along centuries-old wayfarers’ routes. At journey’s end, after a drink at one of the the Placa d’Espanya’s colourful cafes, enjoy exploring this delightful little town.
Day Three
Deia via the Cami de Castello to Soller: (Easy: 5 miles/6.5 km or Moderate: 8 miles/12.8 km)
Take the bus to Deia, to this beguiling village, once home to the poet Robert Graves. There's an option to visit the excellent museum housed in his former home. Strolling through cobbled streets of pastel-coloured houses, explore twisted hidden alleys and descend to the picturesque bay of Cala de Deia for a swim. Nothing beats the seafood lunch here, perched on stilts above the water.
An entirely different landscape follows with wonderful views of mountains towering above. Pause at a friendly farmhouse to sip freshly-squeezed juice (and perhaps savour a delicious home-made Majorcan pastry!) More panoramas unfold as you pass date-palms rising above the bell tower of a tiny chapel. Finally, descend into the port of Sóller to take the old tram back to Soller. (An easier version of the above walk omits the cobbled descent into the port.)
Day Four
Valldemossa & The Archduke’s Bridleway: (Easy: an enjoyable day in Valldemossa or Moderate: morning in Valldemossa; afternoon 5 miles/8 km)
Visit Valldemossa's magnificent Carthusian monastery whose cloisters were once home to the famous lovers Frederic Chopin and George Sand. Chopin described Valldemossa as ‘the most beautiful place in the world’. In the monastery you'll find the piano on which Chopin composed his famous Preludes. Our notes guide you round this enchanting village full of charming little streets filled with cafes, galleries and gift shops. The narrow streets and houses themselves are constructed of a lovely golden stone and each doorway and street is lined with beautiful green plants and flowers, making the village one of the most beautiful in Mallorca.
For the Moderate option, we recommend following a magnificent circuit through holm oak woods to a mountain ‘crossroads’ to join the ‘Cami de S’Arxiduc, the creation of the Archduke Luis Salvador. This takes you across a high limestone plateau with magnificent views towards the rugged coastline below. Finally descend through more woodland where wild goats graze, to Valldemossa and the bus back to Soller.
Day Five
Cuber Lake & The Barranc de Biniaraix: (Easy: 5 miles/8 km or Moderate: 9 miles/14.5 km)
By bus to the Cuber Lake situated in the heart of the Tramuntana mountain range, an area rich in birdlife where ospreys and red-footed falcons circle high on the thermals. Walk around the lake, enjoying its serenity and beauty, watching the occasional trout leap out of deep blue water. A gentle rise up through pine woods towards the Coll de L’Ofre at 875 metres with spectacular views of the lake glistening in the distance below, the imposing slopes of Puig Major towering above.
Following a picnic under a shady olive tree, descend into a beautiful gorse-covered valley, a prelude to a long descent through the dramatic Biniaraix Gorge. The ancient cobbled pathway was cut by Carthaginians 2,500 years ago, once part of a pilgrims’ route crossing the mountains to the monastery at Lluc. (For the easy option, follow a shortened, modified version of the above walk, omitting the ascent to the Coll and the descent of the gorge. Picnic by the lake, enjoying the peace and beauty of this remote spot before returning to Soller by bus.)
Day Six
Visit to Palma: (Easy: 4 miles/7.25 km)
No visit to Majorca is complete without visiting Palma, its vibrant and cosmopolitan capital. Take the old wooden train that rattles ‘wild-west’ style along its narrow-gauge track. The train retains its original character, the journey through orange, almond and olive groves remaining virtually unchanged since its inception in 1912. Palma, a beautiful Mediterranean city, is full of architectural and cultural delights. Our notes will guide you on an optional tour to give you a taste of Palma’s varied and cosmopolitan character, bringing in elements of past and present.
After an authentic Spanish lunch at a favourite tapas bar, you can spend the afternoon visiting the spectacular Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece, Es Baluard Museum, Renaissance city walls, Bellver Castle, or of course, simply shopping! Return to Soller by train or bus.
Day Seven
Port de Soller or Mirador de Ses Barques and Cala de Tuent: (Easy: 4-miles/7.25 km or Moderate: 8 miles/14.5 km)
Today’s walk is a fitting end to this most scenic of walking holidays. The route takes you high above the sea, displaying the entire scope and beauty of this wild, deeply indented coastal landscape with its many bays and capes. From the viewpoint at the Mirador the route wanders through a wonderful terraced valley of ancient olive trees, almond groves and bubbling springs. Stop for a rest and a freshly squeezed orange juice in idyllic surroundings before climbing up out of the valley to the Coll de Biniamar. Further spectacular views await you as you wind your way above an azure sea.
A descent through rosemary and myrtle brings you to lunch on a terrace overlooking the sea (seafood highly recommended!). Finally to unspoilt Cala Tuent for a swim or a paddle in crystal clear waters, followed by a boat back to Soller Port to enjoy some of the best sea views on the island. The tram takes you rattling back to Soller for your farewell dinner, the perfect end to a perfect walking holiday in Majorca. (For the easy walk, follow a picturesque route to Port de Soller in the morning for a coffee and exploration of the pretty harbour. Then take the boat to Cala de Tuent for a swim and lunch as for the Moderate holiday above, before returning by boat to the port and tram back to Soller.)
Day Eight
Departure:
Depart Soller for return flight from Palma.
