The Moorish Trails of Valencia

The trails connect all the major valleys and villages and cross mountain ranges.

We are offering a unique opportunity to walk over these trails, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean in the distance, the orange and lemon groves in the valleys below and almond and olive groves further into the mountain ranges. The stone walled mountain terraces are still cultivated to this date with almond and olive trees, some of which are believed to be many hundreds of years old.

All the walks are moderate giving you the opportunity to explore the area, soak up the atmosphere in this Mediterranean climate, where the sun shines 300 days per year with temperatures seldom dipping below 16 degrees at midday in the winter months.

Accommodation is mainly in small, traditional hotels with good facilities and one night in a beautifully restored village guest house.

Getting there. Flights to Valencia.

British Airways/Iberia from Gatwick

Easyjet from Stansted, Bristol&Gatwick

Thomson Fly from Coventry Jet 2 from Manchester and Leeds/Bradford

Flights to Alicante

All major scheduled, low cost and charter flights from virtually all airports in the UK

What is included?

Half board in small hotels and one guest house

7 evening meals

6 packed lunches

Airport transfers from and to Valencia or Alicante

maps and route details in English

local transfer on Day4

luggage transfers

emergency support

ITINERARYDay 1: Arrive either Valencia/Alicante. Private transfer to your first nights accommodation in a traditional Spanish village Guest House near to the pleasant town of Gandia. You are hosted by our British tour organisers who provide bed & breakfast with private facilities and dinner on your first night in Spain

Day 2:Val D'Ebo to Benimaurell. Transfer to Val D' Ebor for your walk to Benimaurell and the Hotel Alahuar. Ancient trails lead you from the typical Spanish village of Val D'Ebo, at first along the banks of the Rio Ebo and then in the hills above to descend into the dramatic gorge of the Barranco del Infierno on a beautiful Moorish trail which is claimed to date back to the Eleventh Century. Beyond is the village of Fleix and short walk leads to the nearby village of Benimaurell. Accommodation at Hotel Alahuar, Bed/Breakfast/Dinner en suite facilities. Approx 10 miles Approx 5 hrs (6 with diversions)

Day 3:Circular Walk From the Hotel Alahuar to the head of the Valle de Laguart where you will have distant views of the Valley below and the Valle de Jalon, draped in Almond blossom in the early Spring, and the Mediterranean beyond. You will also have the opportunity of viewing the Barranco del Infierno from the western side before returning to Benimaurell on reputedly the best preserved Moorish trail in the area which descends into another gorge and back up to the hotel .

Approx 10 miles Approx 4.50 hours

Day 4: Serrella Castle to Castell de Castells. Transfer to the mountain village of Castell de Castells and after a short coffee break transfer to the start of your Walk to Serrella Castle. The castle is situated at over1000m. However the ascent is gradual and once the peaks have been achieved you will have uninterrupted views of various mountain ranges including Sierra Helada at Albir, Ponoch above Polop and Puig Campana at over 4,000 feet.and below the Valle de Guadalest and once more views of the distant Meditteranean. A downward walk to the village of Castell de Castells to your hotel, Casa Pilar.a beautifully restored village house with a vaulted dining room, complete en suite facilities.Bed/Breakfast/Dinner included. Approx 8 miles Approx 4 hours ( 5 with diversions)

Day 5: Castell de Castells Today's shorter walk allows you the opportunity of exploring this traditional Spanish village. There is a small Moorish Museum worthy of a visit. Our circular walk today goes downstream along the Rio de Castells river bed and climbs along a Moorish trail by the side of La Espalda. The route circumnavigates the village and climbs to the peaks once more, offering distant views of various mountain ranges including the Sierra del Alfato and the Sierra Aixorta before descending back to Castell de Castells where we return to the Casa Pilar, with facilities as on the previous night. Approx 8 miles 4.30 hours.

Day 6: Castell de Castells to Tarbena Today we walk from Castell de Castells to our final hotel in Tarbena. The walk is a mixture of pine clad valleys, almond and olive groves, moorland hillsides, the deep gorge of the Rio Villatona, distant views of mountain ranges and finally a dramatic view of the Barranco Tancat as we descend into the village of Tarbena. This last valley has probably the most dramatic scenery on the whole of our walks. Approx 12 miles 6.50 hours.

Accommodation is in the Hotel Tarbena, a 2 star hotel, offering en suite facilities and Bed/Breakfast, once more in a beautifully restored village house, under the management its owner, Paco and his wife.

Tarbena was a last stronghold of Republicanism during the Spanish civil war. The Casa Pilet bar/restaurant near the hotel, is decorated with memorabilia and serves excellent food.

Day 7: Tarbena The last walk is a circular walk from Tarbena where you will explore the delightful valley seen yesterday on your walk from Castell de Castells. There are dramatic views of the Barranco Tancat, and in the distance the Costa Blanca resorts and the Mediterranean. The walk meanders on to the Font del Olbis to descend and return to the village through the almond and olive groves of the Valle de Tarbena.

Accommodation as previous night approx 9 miles 4/5 hours

Day 8: Private transfer to your destination Airport or to your hotel in Valencia

(7 Nights). Self-guided.

Start any date: 1/3 to 1/6 & 1/9 to 1/12 FULL BOARD & INC. AIRPORT

Price: £665.00 per person based on 2 people sharing

Discovery Travel was established by Jeremy Kemp and Alan Robertshaw in 1996. At that time we offered self-guided walking and cycling holidays in the North of England. Over the years we gradually extended our portfolio of UK holidays and, as the business expanded we introduced an increasing variety of European holidays as well.

From the beginning our aim has been to offer the kind of holidays we would like to go on ourselves and to this end we have personal knowledge of all our destinations, the routes and accommodations, as well as having knowledgeable local representatives in our European destinations.

Our other aim has always been to provide a personal service whether at the enquiry stage of a holiday or on the holiday itself. We meet as many of our clients as we can and there is always someone at the end of a telephone to help in case of difficulties.

Prior to setting up Discovery Travel, both Alan and Jeremy were Officers in the British Army.