Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
This is a 7 night step back in time. Choose day to day whether to join an easier moderate walk or a higher harder hike. In this stunning corner of Andalucia, Collett’s provides a week of outstanding walks in a reassuringly mountainous region of fincas, farmhouses and whitewashed hilltop villages of Moorish origin, all interspersed on hillsides of olive, almond and vine.
Our base is the pretty village of Canillas d’Albaida, loomed over by its amazing backdrops, which are the rocky peaks of the Atalaya and Verde Mountains of the Sierra Tejeda Natural Park. We provide half-board accommodation in a charmingly converted convent and also a modern villa with impressive panoramas. Fabulous food is served here and often eaten al fresco in the village square.
Spring 2022 |
Autumn 2022 |
An Easier Moderate Walk
A Higher Harder Hike
Self-guiding is not available in Andalucia.
The Walks – all organised walks. Collett’s is all about memorable walks of your chosen grade.
Accommodation – bed, breakfast & 3 course dinner with wine at Posada la Plaza. See Accommodation Tab at the top of this page.
Office Hour – guarantee yoursleves a succession of fabulous days out by joining us and other guests each early evening for a relaxed and optional pre-dinner gathering. Sign up to the next day’s organised walks, choosing whichever one takes your fancy. (Drinks at office hour not included)
Airport Transfers – to and from Malaga airport.
Local Transport – to and from organised walks, as required.
Flights, Insurance & Packed Lunches
Getting to Andalucia is easy.
Fly to Malaga and meet a free Collett’s airport transfer.
But there are other options – see the Other Info Tab at the top of this page.
In uncertain times, booking with financial peace of mind is essential – as members of ABTA, our walkers have been doing this for over 23 years. In addition, our booking conditions are now more flexible than ever:
We are based in Canillas de Albaida, an ideal springboard for some early and late season walking in a sub- tropical climate. The village is 576 meters above sea level. This is classic Andalucia, mountainous, Moorish and charming and a step back in time. It is a region of ‘fincas’, farmhouses and pretty whitewashed hilltop villages of Moorish origin, interspersed on hillsides of olive, almond and vine, and home to an abundance of bird and animal wildlife.
The village is set against the stunning rocky peaks of the Atalaya and Verde Mountains of the Sierra Tejeda Natural Park, which rises to 2065m and forms the natural frontier between the provinces of Málaga and Granada. They offer spectacular views of the Mediterranean coast and adjacent mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada and the distant Atlas mountains of North Africa.
Canillas de Albaida is just 40 miles from the city of Málaga to the north east, providing an excellent opportunity to add on a couple of days in this historic port city at the beginning or end of your walking week. The small town of Competa is Canillas’ nearest neighbour and under a half hour walk away – well worth an explore and a drink in its bustling plaza.
Our secret weapon in Canillas d’Albaida is our old friend, Mick Smith. He moved out to the area 20 years ago and has spent much of his time exploring the region on foot. As a result, he is now a font of geographical, historical and cultural knowledge for visitors, who love their walking and simultaneously take an interest in what makes the region tick. Mick leads our Walks Team and you can chat with him each early evening at Office Hour. He puts together a brilliant week of walks for you, whether you opt for the higher harder treks or the more moderate leisurely walks.
In respect of your midweek rest day, the city of Granada is a popular option. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Alhambra Palace, it is a 2hr drive away. Don’t underestimate Malaga either! To many, it is just an airport providing access to the Costa del Sol. Actually, it is a highly attractive vibrant city and port steeped in impressive historical buildings, bustling markets and an awe-inspiring cathedral.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Join Daily walks of your chosen grade
Join Our Organised Walks
All fitness levels
Join an organised walk of your chosen grade every day except Wednesday. Day to day we offer an easier moderate walk and a higher harder hike. This is perfect for parties with varying levels of fitness, as you can do different walks and still enjoy the same holiday. Your time here will surely be enhanced by the Collett’s Walks Team. Mick is our main man on the ground and he lives here. Originally from the UK, he and his family came here 20 years ago and fell in love with it. He is a passionate hillwalker with a wealth of local knowledge, which he shares enthusiastically, whether it is historical or cultural..
Wednesday is our day off, a midweek rest day for you, which we can help you plan. A popular option is a visit to the Alhambra in Granada, but you might opt for a day in historic Malaga or the celebrated coastal caves at Nerja. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for details
Our base in Canillas de Albaida is the ideal springboard for walking in Spain’s sub-tropical sunshine.
We are 576m above sea level but some of our walks venture into the rocky peaks of the Sierra Tejeda Natural Park, which rise to an impressive 2065m and form a natural frontier between the provinces of Málaga and Granada. At every turn you will be captivated, perhaps by views of the Mediterranean coast, the Sierra Nevada or the distant Atlas mountains of North Africa; perhaps by soaring raptors, eagles, peregrine falcons or golden orioles; perhaps by the profusion of flora unique to this region.
Only recently discovered by British walkers, this is classic sleepy Andalucia, and you will explore it on ancient rocky trails, mule tracks, Roman paths and the old ‘Silk Route’ that snakes its way through La Axarquia to Granada. You will be enchanted by ancient oak woods, Roman bridges, vineyards, olive groves and step-back-in-time white Moorish villages with their exquisite examples of ancient Mudejar architecture. You will also see fast-flowing rivers and spectacular waterfalls, which have carved out remarkable canyons known locally as cahorros.
On a Collett’s walking holiday in Andalucia, you choose from two daily organised walks. Here are the walks we offer on a daily basis:
Our organised walks are breath-taking and we pride ourselves on the quality of your walking experiences whilst on holiday with us. Your stay will surely be enhanced by our own walkers, the Collett’s Walks Team. You can join them and other guests day to day – except Wednesdays, our local day-off – on stunning walks. Simply drop in on Office Hour each early evening and choose the walk that takes your fancy – see ‘Planning your days’ below.
Our walks take place in a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. Armed with a packed lunch (available daily and purchased by you locally) we set out at about 9am and, depending on the itinerary, return to our charming Andalucian base in Canillas de Albaida in the mid or late afternoon, allowing you time to relax after the walk.
As with all our centre-based holidays, you plan your days each early evening at Office Hour, a most popular Collett’s institution, which is far more informal and sociable than its name suggests. It takes place in the quaint piazza situated next to the characterful Posada La Plaza. At Office Hour, over a relaxing pre-dinner glass of something from the bar, you can glean all the information you require for the following day’s organised walks before choosing which one to join. Then you can enjoy dinner with everything planned for the following day.
Wednesdays on our walking holidays in Spain’s Sierra Tejeda is a rest day.
Guests can do exactly what they like, but we are here to help you plan something that is a positive part of your holiday.
The most popular option is a visit to the Alhambra Palace in Granada. This is a 2hr drive from us and, along with Gustavo’s help, we are used to organising this excursion so that it is plain-sailing and enjoyable.
Other options for the midweek rest day include Malaga, a vibrant and highly attractive port city with lots to see and do. Malaga is just 1hr from us and you will be surprised how rich it is in culture and history, not to mention its amazing cathedral, bustling markets and atmospheric cafes and restaurants. We also recommend the coastal caves near the Mediterranean resort of Nerja.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Our base in Andalucia, Posada La Plaza, is a converted 16th century convent. It comprises two sides of a classically traditional Andalucian village square, typically Spanish and surrounded by attractive white buildings, their balconies overflowing with colourful flower boxes.
Posada is the Spanish word used to describe an attractive guest house or inn that is not big enough to be called a hotel.
Posada La Plaza has 9 en suite bedrooms; all are air‐conditioned, immaculate, simple yet elegantly furnished. The top floor has a sauna, jacuzzi and a sun terrace, from which you can look over olive groves down to the distant Mediterranean sea.
It is owned and run by our old friend, Gustavo, full of Mediterranean personality and a love of his home village. Gustavo and his team – including his wife, Denisa – provide a warm, enthusiastic welcome and friendly hospitality. There is a daily continental breakfast and each evening (except Wednesdays) they provide an exceptional three course dinner with complimentary wine. Guests choose from delicious options for each course.
We eat in the traditional Restaurant La Plaza just across the square from the main Posada, but often we are able to eat al fresco at shared tables in the pretty setting of the square. There is plenty of fresh fish on the menu and usually Gustavo does a special paella evening and an impressive barbecue night.
Villa La Plaza – Gustavo has additional accommodation about 300m from the village square in his newly-built villa. Perched on a hillside, it offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding hills and mountains; from here you can also gaze down the valley towards the Mediterranean. The villa has 7 en suite bedrooms, which are air-conditioned, immaculate and simply furnished in the typical Spanish way. There is a large comfortable guest lounge with french windows opening out to an attractive terrace with an 8 metre swimming pool and plenty of sun loungers. It is a short and easy stroll up into the village square, where the Posada is located, and guests staying in the villa can wander up here to take breakfast, dinner and join us each early evening for Office Hour.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
On a Collett’s walking holiday in Spain’s Andalucia you organise your own flights to and from Malaga.
You can arrange your travel now or after you have booked your holiday. Please contact us if you have any questions. Most guests book a Saturday flight to Malaga and meet a Collett’s airport transfer for the onward journey to Canillas d’Albaida. Once you have confirmed flights, please contact us with details so that we can book your transfers.
You might want to arrive in Canillas in some other way. If so, please drop us an email with your proposed travel plans, so that we can inform our local team and ensure someone will be around to welcome you.
There are two transfers every Saturday.
The earlier transfer departs at around 12.30.
The later transfer departs at around 16.30.
Return Transfer – your flight home must depart after 12:00
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
All prices include participation in our daily organised walks
Deposit – £100 per person – Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure.
Our Day Off – Wednesday – No organised walks; no office hour; no dinner – guests eat out locally.
Posada la Plaza & Villa la Plaza |
£825 |
All half-board prices are per person per week based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
Half-board includes 7 nights bed & breakfast; 6 evening meals – 3 courses with wine included – except Wednesday.
Discounts & Supplements |
|
Single Occupancy |
Contact us for details |
2 Week Stays |
5% discount* |
Triple Occupancy |
10% per occupant* |
Group Walking Holidays |
Reductions apply for groups of 12+ |
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Your own Collett’s Portal – Soon after you book your holiday, you will have access to your own online portal, via which we provide everything you need to know in the run-up to your holiday: packing suggestions, arrival instructions etc. You can also upload information to your portal, such as dietary requirements, special requests and travel details. We want you to hit the ground running when you arrive at the start of a plain-sailing and memorable holiday experience.
Your Midweek Rest Day – Wednesday is our day off in Andalucia, a midweek rest day for you. There are no organised walks, nor Office Hour. Breakfast is served as normal. Dinner is not provided and guests have an opportunity to eat out locally. Our team will be happy to propose a local restaurant and make a booking on your behalf, if invited to do so. One option for a Wednesday is a visit to the Alhambra in Granada and you can find details of this (and other options) at the bottom of the page entitled Itinerary.
Transport during your holiday – This is arranged by Collett’s as necessary and included in the price of your holiday.
At Your Own Risk – Please scroll down to read notes under the heading – At Your Own Risk. These are important and refer to our organised walks and to any walks proposals we might give you, either verbally or through our ‘Ideas & Info’ files.
Special Dietary Requirements & Severe Allergies – It is important you tell us about any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten free etc.) when you book your holiday. Please only tell us about requirements, not preferences, as most hotels, particularly smaller establishments, can only cater for essential requests. If you have a ‘severe food allergy’ that represents a health threat of any sort, we strongly recommend that you are carrying the necessary medication during your holiday with us.
Walking Holiday & Travel Insurance – We recommend you buy a good insurance package at the time of booking (or certainly prior to purchasing flights or booking ferries etc.), so that you are covered in the unlikely event of you having to cancel for an ‘insurable’ reason. For more information on Walking Holiday & Travel Insurance – Click here
General Information – Queries relating to passports or visas should be directed to the Spanish embassy on 020 7235 5555 or https://www.exteriores.gob.es
For general information on healthcare whilst travelling, visit www.bit.ly/HealthcareAbroad
For pre-travel information visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Or use the ABTA information line on 020 3117 0599 or visit www.abta.com
All self-guided holidays are enjoyed entirely at your own risk and it is important that you understand that whilst the route notes are accurate at the time of writing, the situation on the ground may change and this itinerary relies on your sound judgement and decision making throughout. Our self-guided itineraries have been organised so that you might enjoy a route and associated accommodation you may not otherwise have discovered having organised the itinerary yourself. It represents nothing more than the opportunity to go out on a series of beautiful walks in wonderful walking areas, with the support of knowing that many of the logistics have been arranged for you. It is a fact that hill and mountain walking can and is associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s Limited trading as Collett’s Mountain Holidays will not be held responsible for your interest in the outdoors and your involvement in walking, which can occasionally have tragic consequences. The information provided uses only marked paths which are in use at the time of writing, however, it is your responsibility to continually assess the suitability and safety of the route throughout the walk and to undertake any action necessary to avoid any terrain which each or any member of the group is not comfortable with. The route choice also assumes an ability to read maps and navigate competently. It is the responsibility of each individual in the group to make an assessment of the information provided, and to make an informed decision about whether the itinerary is suitable for them. Finally, during your village to village holiday organised by Collett’s Mountain Holidays you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions included in any material prepared by us or on our behalf to help you get the most from the area.
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
This was our belated summer holiday. We enjoyed a lovely week with Mick, Helen and Millie, and our group of 26 clients. The walks were excellent, though shorter than at some other venues - that gave us plenty of down time for some to enjoy the pool and hot tub at the villa, before making our way to gorge ourselves on delicious dinners(Read more...)
What a stunning location for walking & relaxing in the sun in October. Mick has the local knowledge and coordinates the week with precision. We stayed in the Villa with the beautiful views down the valley and made good use of the swimming pool & terrace. Gustavo the hotel proprietor of the hotel where we ate had character and serve(Read more...)
My first mountain walk, I've skied & run them but never hiked. I enjoyed a lot. Unfortunately the weather on several days was not that good but that's due to the early season I guess. On the plus side the plants were flourishing & not burnt. Location was a good base to view the area & the walk guiding was excellent. Food & wine includ(Read more...)
I have stayed with Collett's in the Dolomites numerous times, in the Pyrenees, Austria, the Picos and Leyburn. Without a doubt 'Team Collett's' in Andalusia surpassed everything before it. This was another great trip that I will look back on with fondness. Mick was a star, closely followed by Mark and George. The "A Team', if ever the(Read more...)
Collett's was recommended to me by a work colleague. I enjoy walking but my family do not and my walking partner is getting over an injury. I booked with you because I didn't want to walk alone and fancied a sunny week with varied walks. Mick, Mark and Helen were all very good. Mick was able to share lots of local knowledge and I real(Read more...)
2nd consecutive holiday in Posada la Plaza and it didn’t disappoint. In fact it was even better with so much banter and laughter, such a great group.
Just a quick note to say our holiday with Collett's in Andalucía was excellent, Mick, the Collett's guide was an absolute gem,
A splendid week with the "Dream team" - Mick, Caroline and Cameron and a lovely bunch of fellow walkers adding lively conversation and much laughter, we could not have asked for more. Not forgetting Gustavo, the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna, perfect weather and fantastic cuisine!
A big thank you to all concerned, Rosie and Alist(Read more...)
I have just returned from a great holiday at Canillas de Albeida. Hotel quirky but comfortable and clean. Food was very good with a good choice of menu..Mick, Caroline and Cameron were good walk leaders, very friendly and knowledgeable about area.It was nice to be away from the busy
resorts and experience the real Spain in a typical s(Read more...)
Your staff at the resort were excellent in all aspects. Could not have asked for more attentive staff! And were very knowledgeable about all aspects of the activities provided!
I would like to make you aware of the of how well regarded your 3 members of staff in Andalucia, Mike, Alison & Max were regarded by me and all other guests. (Read more...)
Weather was very wet(very unusual for this time of year) but everyone was helpful, sociable and walks were enjoyable and well led.
A friend recommended us to look at your brochure, I had booked these holidays dates at work. We are planning to book with you for the Dolomites next year.
The staff working for Collett's were very good indeed (Max and Alison) ps also Mike. Activities on the day were subject to numbers and therefore arranged on an ad hoc basis.
Why Collett's? The challenges this walking holiday offered me with options for walking grades.The website was very persuasive and the holiday and experience generally surpassed expectations
Our third Colletts holiday, but first time to Andalucia, staying at the Posada La Plaza.
We had an amazing time - it is a really lovely area, with lovely friendly local people. The hotel is beautifully basic and steeped in tradition. "Luxury" it is not, but go prepared for this and enjoy the rustic charm. We absolutely loved it, an(Read more...)
This is our second trip with Collett's,and we had a very enjoyable week.
The food,accommodation and staff were all excellent.
The fine weather,scenery,and friendly group made it a trip that we will never forget..
We are planning our next Collett's holiday already!
They have the format spot on.
I think this is my thirteenth booking with Collett's. I expect the best and have never yet been let down. As ever, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Andalucia. It was a successful escape from the Scottish dreich and the weather, the hospitality and the companionship of the other clients was first class. We also enjoyed a culture visit(Read more...)
We tried out Andalucia for a winter walking break and everything came up to scratch including the wall-to-wall sunshine. The food, the company and the walking was great.
Looking forward to our next trip with Collett's.
All round with a few minor quibbles, were were very impressed. The balance of organised activity with some time to ourselves was just right. We enjoyed being in good hands and not over managed. La Posada rooms were cramped and it was not high end, but it is rural Spain and we took it as we found it. Gustavo is excellent and was always(Read more...)
Office Hour is a great idea - missing on trips with other companies and very useful for deciding which walks to do and asking questions as well as getting to know people over a drink. Not sure what the ideas and information file was (I may not have been paying attention!) Weather reports are difficult in mountain areas.
Smaller group(Read more...)
Been with Colletts before and have been happy with the set up and type of holiday. You know you are going to get like-minded people on the holiday and be able to share your love of outdoor places.
Previous customer. Know what to expect. We wanted walking with like minded and sociable people and that's what we got. You have absolute gems in Gustavo and Mick and this is what made our holiday for us. Keep them at all costs! Total confidence in Mick with all his years an expat and his observations on life in Spain. Gustavo is the h(Read more...)
By far the best service I have received from any company I have used. Really nice to have handbook information. I like to print it off before departure. Gustavo is a brilliant host and John took us around the villa. He is a lovely polite member of your staff. We really enjoyed the four long walks that we did. They were well organised (Read more...)
Will still return to Andalucía as overall the holiday was very enjoyable.Really appreciated the transport to Nerja on the day off.The caves there are a must and need to be included in the handbook notes - thank you
Personal attention and value for money. The ability to choose which walk to do on which, not just a fixed itinerary. Excellent trip
The office hour is an excellent idea, very informative. Mick was a fountain of knowledge on the local area. We had a very enjoyable day to the caves at nejca and a relaxing afternoon in the resort itself. All the leaders emphasised the "at your own risk"policy before each walk. The majority of the guests had been with colletts before (Read more...)
We enjoy the support of guides in unknown terrain and would not risk the mountains without that assistance. I can also suffer with vertigo in some environments and the guides experience & knowledge help. If it happens I know I can rely on their help and advice. We also enjoy the company of the other walkers and guides as well as the w(Read more...)
I chose the moderate walks with your organiser called Kelly. She was very professional making everyone feel comfortable at their own pace, resulting in a very happy and cohesive group. This made the holiday very enjoyable, allaying any fears I might have had about my first mountain walking holiday.
Mike was a brilliant friendly guide and quite knowledgeable on the history of the area. Gustavo and his wife were excellent hosts. Gustavo even gave up his day off to be a "taxi" for a group of us to go to Friglianna and Nerja as there were no available local taxis at reasonable rates.
We did not actually walk with Kelly as we did the(Read more...)
Have been to Dolomites in winter and enjoyed it very much. We were interested in Andalucia as a walking destination, liked the look of the Posada and village. thought the food would be good and it was excellent! Enjoyed meeting friendly group and eating together as a group.