Walking Tour: Mountains and Villages of Mallorca

The scenery of north-west Mallorca is simply breathtaking and the views are astonishing.  With this walking tour, you will find rugged mountains of the Tramuntana Sierra plunging into the sea and villages that perch precariously on the slopes above tiny coves. This beautiful sierra offers the island’s best walking – old paved mule tracks wind through wooded valleys, between terraces of olive and citrus groves, and high above the coast.

All of the walks follow well-waymarked trails that link some of the island’s most picturesque towns and villages – Fornalutx, Sóller, Deià and Valldemossa – where you will stay at hand-picked hotels of character.  The itinerary has been designed to be as flexible as possible – choose six days of rewarding walking or a mix of walking and sightseeing, making use of the inexpensive trains, taxis, buses, boats and trams if you want more time to explore further.

Itinerary 

STARTING POINT: Fornalutx Petit Hotel in Fornalutx for your first two nights.

DAY 1

Circular introductory walk: 2.5km, 1hrs
Circular walk via waterfalls: 2.5km, 1hrs
Circular walk through olive groves: 6.5km, 2hrs

For your day here, take your pick from three short routes from the door that introduce you to this wonderful region. The first walk is intended as a very brief scene-setter, perhaps if you have time on arrival in the village, or as a late-afternoon or early evening stroll after one of the longer walks. The second option provides a different perspective of Fornalutx as you walk alongside the river past a series of waterfalls and alongside orange groves. The third is a longer, more strenuous circuit from the hotel door, enabling you to explore the olive groves that cloak the lower foothills of the mountain opposite your base.

LAKE CUBER TO THE OFRE PASS : 12km, 4.5hrs

However, if you want to try something a little bit more challenging,  you can take a taxi (pay locally) to Lake Cúber, from where a path rises gently through pine woods to the Ofre Pass for your first views towards the Mediterranean. From the pass, you descend into the valley and walk down through the spectacular Biniaraix Gorge on an ancient cobbled pilgrims’ trail that incorporates almost 2,000 shallow stone steps that are thought to have been originally cut by the Carthaginians for transporting olive oil some 2,500 years ago. If you don’t wish to walk, you can take time to explore the cobbled streets of Fornalutx, considered by many to be the prettiest of Mallorca’s villages.

DAY 2

Fornalutx to Sóller: 9km, 3.5hrs; shorter option: 4km, 1.5hrs

On clear days, this route to Sóller enjoys views of the Puig Major, Mallorca’s highest peak, as it ascends along ancient mule paths between cultivated terraces to the Ses Barques viewpoint. Here, you can admire the views of the port of Sóller and its lighthouse. For a more leisurely walk, a much shorter route offers an easy descent to Sóller. Whichever route you choose, you will have time in the afternoon to explore the town, which is set in a fertile valley and surrounded by citrus groves. Elegant mansions built by wealthy fruit merchants line the streets, and there are numerous fine examples of modernista (Art Deco) architecture to seek out. Here, you have three nights at Ca’l Bisbe, set in secluded gardens with a pool.

Alternatively, there is the option to upgrade (for a supplement) to the 4 Star Ca’s Curial, a beautifully restored farmhouse , surrounded by five hectares of fragrant orange and lemon trees. Please ask for further details.

DAYS 3 & 4

Linear walk to Cala Tuent, return by boat: 11km, 4.5hrs
Circular walk via Muleta Plateau: 7km, 2.5hrs

There are numerous ways to spend your days in Sóller. For an easy day, take the old-fashioned tram to Port de Sóller, where you can relax on the beach or take a boat trip, or catch the nostalgic narrow-gauge train to Palma for a day of sightseeing and shopping. The train journey to Mallorca’s bustling capital is a highlight in itself, taking you right through the heart of the mountains.

For more walking, you can return by taxi to the Ses Barques viewpoint and walk along ancient cobbled trails through a deep, fertile valley coated with orange groves. After ascending out of the valley, you descend to the coast and follow the spectacular coastal path to the beach at Cala Tuent, enjoying some of the best sea views on the island before returning to Sóller by boat (usually available weekdays April to October). A shorter alternative is to take the tram to Port de Sóller and follow a panoramic circular route around the Muleta Plateau, passing its distinctive lighthouse before dropping back down to Port de Sóller.

DAY 5

Sóller to Deià: 12km, 4hrs

The route to Deià for the most part follows the Camí del Castello, a series of cobbled mule tracks that have linked the two towns for centuries. You skirt the edge of the Muleta Plateau, with mountains to your left and the sea to your right – here, the peaks of the Tramuntana Sierra are just 2 kilometres from the coast. You are rewarded with sweeping sea views even before you reach the coastal path and you arrive in time for lunch at one of the many restaurants lining the main street. We offer options to extend your walk along the cliffs around Deià after lunch, then take a bus or taxi the short distance to Valldemossa, where you spend your final two nights at Es Petit.

DAY 6

Circular walk the Cairats Refuge: 12km, 4hrs

For a final walk, a rewarding route winds steeply uphill from Valldemossa to the Cairats Refuge, passing beneath the peak of the Teix (1,064 metres) for superb views of the coast. You then follow bridleways created by the island’s benefactor, Archduke Luis Salvador, across a limestone plateau high above Valldemossa before descending through woods of holm oaks where small family groups of wild goats often graze.

Alternatively, for a spot of culture, you can spend the day exploring the village of Valldemossa – described by Chopin as “the most beautiful place in the world” – and its famous Carthusian monastery which houses a 17th-century pharmacy, Chopin’s piano and an excellent small art collection that includes works by Picasso and Henry Moore.

DISCOVER PALMA

As a contrast to the countryside, why not add on a couple of nights to your holiday to explore the historic city of Palma. We can recommend a number of excellent hotel in the city, please ask for further details.