SPAIN
Balearic islands & Mallorca

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands. It offers some excellent walking destinations especially the lesser known West Coast. We are based in the Sierra de Tramuntana Valley near Sòller, on the rugged West Coast. The region is famous for its orange groves and small romantic villages and the Moors called it the golden "Suliar". Hidden rocky bays with crystal clear waters, and magnificent scenery make this area a real paradise.

Our walks, well away from the tourist resorts, lead us past orange and flowering almond plantations with marvellous views of the mountains and the sea. From Valldemossa we follow the bridle path of Archduke Ludwig Salvator where the charcoal burners frequented the Holm oak forests until quite recently. Their charcoal hearth, ringed by stones is known as “sitjas” and still visible in many parts. We explore the extraordinary Sierra Tramuntana, a dramatic little-visited area, and walk from Orient to Alaro.

The lunch in one of the many Fincas is a special treat. On our classic walk from Sòller to the pretty village of Daia we pass Lluc Alcari, the smallest village on the island. Both coast and mountain host a profusion of flora and fauna, including magnificent black vultures and eagles, red kites, kestrels and peregrine falcons.

The great variety of wildflowers include wild rockroses, many different orchids, winter crocuses and the cistus albidus. The main cultivated plants are fig trees, almonds, orange and lemon trees and of course the olive and carob trees.

Our Hotels & Cuisine

Our splendid hotel in Mallorca is situated in the olive and citrus groves above Sòller. After renovating the former 200-year old olive mill and two neighbouring "Fincas", a luxury hotel was created. It has a wonderful pool with stunning views, aromatic gardens and landscaped surroundings. The well known Eckart Witzigmann and Roland Trettl's Mediterranean-style cuisine initially set the tone and Chef Jaime Vaquer has certainly maintained the high quality, style and succulent Mediterranean flavours.

The stillness of the night is only disturbed by the usual sounds of the Mallorcan countryside that are muffled by the thick walls of the house, and the beauty of the mountain scenery comforts the spirit and revives weary limbs.

Regular ferries from Barcelona in Spain crossing over to Mallorca several times per day. It is also possible to travel by plane to Palma.

Tour combination

Departure dates have been arranged to allow both the "OFF THE BEATEN TRACK" and "A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME" walks to be combined.