From two contrasting bases: the lovingly restored and tranquil guest house of El Saltador, just outside the village of Lucainena on the edge of the desert, and the pretty sea-side town of Las Negras in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. As well as easy walks and picnics, the programme for the week includes star-gazing in the clear desert air, visit to Almería city and Baños de Sierra Alhamilla with its natural hot springs and Palmery.
Almería province is notable for its desert ecology, the beautiful coastline of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park and for the historic city itself. The Tabernas area has been exploited by the film industry as settings for music videos, films such as Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and desert epics such as recently filmed Exodus. Cabo de Gata Natural Park with its stunning volcanic geology, beautiful beaches and protected marine-terrestrial reserve is a haven for walkers and a great place to spot migratory birds such as rollers and bee-eaters. The historic port of Almería was founded over a thousand years ago by the Caliphate of Cordoba to strengthen sea defences on the Mediterranean coast and is dominated by its Alcázaba (Moorish fortress), second only to the Alhambra of Granada in size.
THE WEEK:
- Day 1 - arrive El Saltador, Lucainena, settle in – supper with welcome drink.
- Day 2 - walk into Lucainena – picnic – Tabernas 'badlands' visit.
- Day 3 - transfer to visit Los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla – lunch at local restaurant – stroll through the Palmery. Depart for Las Negras.
- Day 4 - coastal walk to El Playazo - picnic lunch – return on foot or land rover pickup.
- Day 5 - Almería visit with lunch out, visit castle, Andalucian Photography Centre, Museum of Almería etc.
- Day 6 - excursion to the seaside town of San Jose, seaside picnic and walk Monsul/Media Luna beaches, evening meal at beach-side restaurant in Las Negras.
- Day 7 - depart.
What's included – transport throughout week, all meals (except lunches Monday and Wednesday and evening meal on Thursday), guided walks, accommodation in twin or double rooms (single supplement €15pp per night, limited availability).
What people say - "I loved Claudia's El Saltador homestead. It had a mind stilling, physically relaxing effect on me. An energetically blessed place." — S.D. Almería Seaside and Desert Walks and Excursions 2014
"The walks are through wonderful wooded and open spaces, different in every season and at every change of height. The uphill bits are paced to keep people going without knocking them out and the downhill is more like flying than walking, coming back into valleys and villages which appear as timeless as the spaces above them." — J.K.