Richard Hammond describes this 7-day self-guided, hotel-to-hotel, easy to moderate to walking holiday, taking in the Spanish island’s mountain and coastal scenery and picturesque towns and villages before staying in three of the island’s charming hotels full of character. Luggage is transported between hotels for you, taking away the hassle.
In a nutshell:
The flexibility of this trip allows you to decide how to split your time between walking and sightseeing so you can make the most of north-west Mallorca. Prepare to be awestruck by the rugged mountain backdrop of the Tramuntana Sierra while enjoying the much-loved trails that connect the island’s pretty towns and villages of Fornalutx, Sóller, Deià and Valldemossa. Following old paved mule tracks, the trails traverse wooded valleys and terraces of olive and citrus groves.
Nights: 7
Price: £870 per person (not including train travel or transfers)
What's included: 7 nights at three selected hotels (one guesthouse; one 2-star hotel; one 4-star hotel); route notes and maps; 7 breakfasts; 1 dinner; luggage transported.
Departures: March, April, May, June, September, October.
Nearest station to start of trip: Barcelona
Nearest station to end of trip: Barcelona
How to travel by train to Barcelona: It is possibly to travel by train and ferry from London to Mallorca though it does require stopping off overnight in Barcelona (which is thankfully now reachable from London in a day). Take the Eurostar to Paris then change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon for the connecting train to Barcelona where you stay overnight and then take the ferry over to Mallorca (there's a departure at 1pm that arrives in to Palma at 9pm). The total journey time from London to Mallorca is about 36 hours. The transfer in Paris can take 20-30 minutes on the Paris metro (9 stops), but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer (see our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris) depending on where you stay overnight. For more details on the train journey from London to Barcelona, including some suggestions for where to stay near the train stations if you want to break up the journey and spend more time in Paris or Barcelona, see our flight-free journey planner: Train from London to Barcelona.
Optional extra: Add two nights in Palma City, Mallorca (from £180pp).
What's the trip like:
Starting in Fornalutx, you can choose between a gentle 6km (2hrs) circuit taking you to the neighbouring villages of Binibassi and Biniaraix passing citrus and olive groves as you go. Alternatively opt for the highly recommended, and slightly more challenging 13km, (5.5hrs) Lake Cuber to the Ofre Pass. Taking you through pine woods, to the spectacular Biniaraix Gorge on an ancient cobbled pilgrims’ trail thought to have been cut by the Carthaginians for transporting olive oil some 2,500 years ago. However, if you’d rather take Day 1 easy, stay local and explore the beautiful cobbled streets of Fornalutx.
Day 2 is an 8km (3.5hrs) walk to Sóller via hillside to the north-west where you can stop off at the Mirador de Ses Barques to enjoy including the fantastic views on offer. Spend the afternoon taking in the elegant mansions, Art Deco architecture and citrus groves in Sóller before retiring for three nights at Ca'l Bisbe, set in secluded gardens with a pool, or upgrade to the Ca’s Curial.
Days 3 and 4 are ‘free days’ in Sóller where you can choose whether to spend your time relaxing on the beach in Port de Sóller, taking in the mountain-lined train journey to Palma or embarking on one of four walking routes (5km – 11km).
Sóller to Port de Sóller (5km, 2hrs) offers a pleasant walk to the port whereas the Refugi de Muleta (10km, 4hrs) is a longer trail across the Muleta plateau, passing the distinctive lighthouse at Cap Gros. The Quiet western hills (11km, 4.5hrs) involves a shaded walk into the hills to the west of the town or try the Ses Barques to Cala Tuent (9.5km, 4hrs) walking along cobbled trails through a deep valley flourishing with orange groves before joining the spectacular coastal path to the beach, which offers some of the best sea views on the island.
Day 5 involves a 9km (4hrs) scenic walk, skirting the edge of the Muleta Plateau with mountains to your left and the sea to your right before reaching Deià in time for lunch. There’s also an option to extend your walk along the surrounding cliffs before taking public transport for the short distance to Valldemossa, for the final two nights at Es Petit.
Day 6 is another ‘free day’ in Valldemossa, described by Chopin as “the most beautiful place in the world”. It’s famous for its Carthusian monastery where you can see Chopin’s piano and works by Picasso and Henry Moore. The final walk is 11km (5hrs) uphill to the Cairats Refuge where you can enjoy stunning coastal views as you pass beneath the peak of the Teix (1,064m) before descending through the woods of holm oaks.
How to enquire/book this holiday:
This holiday is provided by Inntravel, one of the founding tour operator members of Green Traveller. One of the great things about this holiday is its flexibility: you have a choice of start/end dates and you can add additional nights on to the itinerary. If you'd like to know more about this holiday, please see more details on the relevant page given below and if you'd like to book it, do contact them directly or complete their booking form and a member of their team will be in touch with you:
Bon Voyage!