Hike The Volcanic Island of Gran Canaria

Even though we were small in number (6) this was un grupo pequeño con muchísima energía! Our guide Pablo was calm, supportive, encouraging, knowledgeable and just a little bit mischievous! A perfect host to this beautiful, friendly island (which he knows like the back of his hand). He gave us lots of information about the natural & social history of land we were walking through. Meanwhile Stefano was a constant support, popping up at opportune moments in his van with food and (crucially) water - keeping us hydrated through the long days in very hot temperatures. He also brought bags of positive energy, entertainment & joy! If you get lucky like me and find yourself with really supportive & friendly co-walkers you can't fail to have a brilliant experience - an unforgettable walk!

The trek is challenging lots of verticals up an down, switchbacks, but the views were amazing. Pablo our guide was amazing taking breaks, encouraging us to drink and eat making sure our stamina was ready for each push. Stefano our logistics guide was equally amazing getting our accommodations in order, food, snacks and of course water. Our group was just the right size, many stories were shared and memories made!! Excellent trip!

If you want to get a pair of sore legs this is the trip for you! Extremely well organised with a trio of fantastic guides. The walking route is filled with lush and dramatic scenery. 🌞 The coffee tour and cheese tasting experience were real highlights. Thank you Pablo, Stephano, Zander Peter and Alice x

. . . with the best group of people (though we started as strangers, within hours we felt like old friends). Gran Canaria is beautiful; hiking through misty forests, above the clouds, descending into lush gorges and stopping off at the most marvellous bakery. A special mention to the wonderful guides. Thank you!

I would thoroughly recommend booking this. I booked very last minute and am so glad I did! The hikes are challenging but very rewarding with some really stunning views. Our guides Pablo, Stefano and Rachael really made this trip. They looked after us from start to finish and did such a fantastic job! It was my first MBA trip and I will definitely be booking with them again.

I've just finished my first MBA trip hiking in Gran Canaria and it was fabulous! The guides Pablo, Rachael and Stefano were AMAZING and each couldn't have been more helpful or kind throughout the trip. The hiking was great; challenging but not too difficult and when the sun shone the views were spectacular. The trails were blissfully quiet and we saw barely anyone else. The accommodation was great throughout and the food didn't stop coming! The cheese and wine night was a particular highlight, as was Rachael's pilates class on the last morning. The thing that really made the trip was the brilliant group I was with. We had so many laughs along the way and whilst a trip like this always brings like-minded people together, this really was a fabulous bunch of people! One thing I would say is that the weather can be really changeable, so pack loads of layers. One day we started off in full waterproofs with hats and gloves and finished the day in shorts and t-shirts. I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone; you'll discover a part of the Canaries that is a world away from the beach resorts that we often associate them with.

Great trip with a great group. Beautiful scenery with lots of different landscapes and climatic conditions - come prepared for rain and windy weather as well as sunshine and probably pack an extra layer as it's not always easy to get things dry. Otherwise though all the accomodation was nice and cosy and food and snacks were plentiful to keep us well supplied throughout (even for me as a vegan). Hikes were all good and well paced - satisfying walking days without being too challenging at any point - although the loaned poles were helpful for some of the downhill. Pablo, Carlos, Maude & Xander were a great guiding / support team. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a varied, well supported hike through amazing scenery. Only thing/s I would change would be to pack an extra jumper and to spend the night before the trip in Las Palmas rather than Arinaga (which I booked on the company's recommendation) as that seems easier with buses / drop offs from the airport as well as there being more to do with the extra time.

Great trip,stunning scenery,great leaders,expertly organised,good food and accommodation. Definitely book another Much Better Adventures Trip

A brilliant week in Gran Canaria in January. Such a fantastic team made up of Pablo, Carlos and Stefano who looked after us so well. And a brilliant group of fellow hikers, all solo. The ascents were a great challenge, but absolutely manageable. The descents proved difficult on my knees, but the team and group rallied round to get me rested, taped up and ready to go again pain free. I felt incredibly supported. Stunning scenery to walk in. Weather was varied. Cold, wet and windy days first hiking day was tough, but we were graced with some stunning blue sky days after that. Pack dry bags, gloves and layers!

I’ve done a number of trips with MBA now, and this one easily goes into my top three so far. Gran Canaria is a beautiful island and far more diverse than I expected, having previously visited Tenerife and Lanzarote each island is very different. This trip takes you away from many of the island’s tourist hotspots and into truly spectacular and varied scenery. The itinerary was well organised, and the guides—Pablo, Carlos and Stefano—were excellent throughout. I was lucky to joined by a fantastic group of people on the trip, which really enhanced the experience. We gelled well, shared plenty of laughs, and supported each other along the way. If you enjoy hiking and are of a reasonable fitness level, this trip is well worth considering. Pablo led the group and looked after us brilliantly. His love for his home was obvious as he enthusiastically shared stories about its history and culture. Carlos made sure we had everything we needed—going above and beyond, even rescuing lost items from a previous night’s accommodation—while Stefano brought great motivational energy and positivity, keeping spirits high even when the weather on the first day wasn’t kind to us. Each of them added something unique to the group dynamic, and every evening they clearly explained plans for the next day and what we’d need in our day packs. The food was varied and plentiful. Sampling local cheeses, wines, coffee and cakes along the way was a real treat. Breakfasts were simpler on some days than others, but there was always plenty to eat. I never went hungry, and the team did their best to accommodate different dietary requirements within the group. Accommodation was of a good standard—always warm and clean. Some beds were more comfortable than others, but I enjoyed the variety of locations and styles. Staying in the mountains of Tejeda was a particular highlight for me, even if the ceilings were a little low! If you’re doing this trip in winter, make sure to pack your waterproofs and a couple of warm layers. We had mixed weather overall. The first day was cold, wet and very windy at times, and after reaching the top of Pico de las Nieves (sadly with no view), Pablo sensibly altered the route to keep us out of the worst of the weather for the second part of the day. The second day, however, brought glorious sunshine, and by the time we reached Roque Nublo we had almost clear skies—perfect for a sun-soaked lunch on top, which more than made up for the previous day’s washout. Descending to Agaete through the lush Barranco Hondo gorge on the final day was another highlight for me, with constantly changing vegetation and views. A rewarding dip in the natural sea pools and a fantastic sunset at the end of the day really was the icing on the cake. Before the trip, I debated whether to bring my hiking poles. In the end, I didn’t take them and didn’t feel I missed them. I’d say that if you’re a confident, sure-footed hiker and don’t usually use poles, you’ll be fine without them. However, if you have dodgy knees or normally hike with poles, I’d recommend bringing them—or borrowing some from the guides—for the ascent on day two and the descent on the final day. One final practical tip: depending on the weather, you’ll need to swap items between your main luggage and day pack, so leave a bit of space in your main bag. On previous trips I have overpacked and barely used some items, which made moving between accommodations unnecessarily stressful. Thankfully, I avoided that mistake this time. All in all, an awesome trip!