Sierras to Sea Adventure in Andalucia

We just spent an amazing 5-day adventure in beautiful Andalucia in Spain, packed with 2 beautiful hikes in thrilling Caminito del Rey and Pinsapar Trail, canyoning, kayaking and biking. The activities were well organized and guided, our hotels, food and transportations were awesome and our tour manager Oscar was simply the best, very kind, helpful and friendly. My only suggestion would be to rate this tour as easy, not moderate.

This adventure had the perfect mix of mountain and beach vibes—Grazalema was stunning and peaceful, while Conil brought the fun coastal energy. Everything ran super smoothly, and the activities were a blast.

Jose and Oscar were absolute legends—professional but also so much fun to be around. The hotels were splendid, and the food was seriously top-notch. Plus, our group was full of fun, like-minded people which made it even better. Would 100% recommend!

This was my first much better adventures trip and my first ever solo trip. I was nervous about what the trip would be like and whether I’d get on with the group. As soon as I met the group, all of my nerves just went. They were all so friendly and open and always up for fun and adventure. Much better adventures really does attract like minded people.

The first hotel in Grazalema had amazing mountain views that could be enjoyed from the balcony in your room, the pool area and the dining area. The second hotel had gorgeous views of the sea and was a short 5 minute walk down to the beach. It was nice to get to experience both of these landscapes in one trip. The hotels were both very clean , comfortable and welcoming, with great facilities (the pools at both hotels and the 5 minute walk to the beach at the second hotel were a highlight). The quality and range of food at the hotel buffets were good.

There was a good balance each day between activities and down time and there weren’t too many early starts which was appreciated! Most days we left for the activities at 9am with breakfast at 8 am. The variety of activities was amazing. Hiking the Caminitio del rey, visiting Ronda, canyoning in the Sima del Diablo and hiking the Pinsipar trail in the Sierra de Grazalema are experiences that I will never forget. Our guides for the canyoning and the hiking in the mountains were passionate, knowledgable and friendly.

Our main guide Oscar was friendly, kind funny and helpful. He made sure we were always enjoying ourselves and were happy with everything. I was a bit worried about the food situation as I have some intolerances and am generally quite a fussy eater but he made sure that I always had food that I liked, which was really appreciated. It was obvious that he was very passionate about what he did and that he really cared about our enjoyment.

There was quite a lot of driving around in the minibus especially for the first half of the trip (on some quite narrow windy roads up in the mountains) but the places we were going made it worth it and there’s always someone to chat to to pass the time.

You know it’s been a great trip when you wish you could go back and do it all again and you are sad to be leaving the group and going home. This is a great trip if you are looking for a mix of adventure and relaxation where everything is taken care of for you. It is also a great option if you want to solo travel but want the safety and security of a group.

This trip exceeded my expectations and has made me excited to book my next much better adventures trip !

Picture standing in a forest of trees whose origin started pre-ice-age, with an enthusiastic guide sharing knowledge of the area, marvelling at the surrounding views. And then post-hike, ending up in a small outdoor cafe with a celebratory glass of ‘Tinto de Verano’, only to be chauffered back to your comfy hotel in time to use the pool (maybe for another cheeky cocktail). And then having a brand new, equally brilliantly curated adventure the following day.

This was my 3rd Much Better Adventure- with a more relaxed pace, which I didn’t know I needed. The views were absolutely a highlight- I have great pics from the awesome Caminito del Rey & the hike- but also the views from the hotel terraces out to the Grazalema range or sunset on the beach in Conil.

My fellow travellers were, once again, were so much fun, like-minded, easy-going and we spent our time laughing loads: MBA attracts great people!

The other thing MBA does fabulously is its choice of local guides: lead guide Oscar was fantastic, but we also had specialist guides for hiking and canyoning who were engaged, entertaining and knowledgeable.

The itinerary description needs tweaking as it’s a new holiday and some things have changed since the current description was written. Four of the included dinners on offer were at the hotel buffet, which had a great selection but some of these could be swapped for a more authentic experience - we opted out of one and chose to go to Grazalema for one night which I would recommend. Ignore the Ronda night out described as that is not on offer.

The hotels chosen are great - comfy, modern, plentiful breakfasts and dinners. No air conditioning in the first- so if warm, bring insect repellent to be able to have your windows open to let in the breeze.

Thank you MBA for another great trip!

I had a fab time on this trip. There was a great variety of activities so you had something totally different each day and being based in the mountains and then the beach made it feel like two holidays in one! The guides Jose and Oscar were brilliant, super friendly, supplied loads of local knowledge as well as making the trip run very smoothly. The hotels picked were great too, as were the local restaurants we ate at during the trip. Would highly recommend!

This trip was phenomenal. Every excursion was unique and interesting, the trip leaders were kind, engaging and knowledgeable and the group got along so well. Caminito del Ray was the easiest day. The views were stunning and the guide was really effective. Canyoning was my favorite experience, it was off the beaten path and really fun. The bike through pincapar was breathtaking and the guide was so amazing. Kayaking followed by a wine tasting was a nice slower place after the few days of big climbs. Cycling along the coast was challenging but the view of Morocco across the sea made it all worth it. Meals were great, hotels were lovely. 100% recommend!

Definitely a much better adventure! Overall, very impressed at the thoughtfulness of how the itinerary was crafted and how mindful our guides were with every detail. The hotels we stayed at had incredible views and were better quality than expected. The trip starts off in the cool/crisp mountains, exploring all that nature has to offer and ends by the sunny/warm beaches so you get the best of both worlds. We had an amazing group of people who made the trip that much more fun! :) Jose and Oscar were the perfect dynamic duo leading the group. This was my first trip with MBA and I am already planning my next! Highly recommend!

This was a really great holiday. The activities were fun and varied, the hotels were really comfy (the Grazelema Hotel has an amazing view!), the food was great and the group were a lot of fun. And our guides (Jose and Oscar) were great; very friendly, knowledgeable and organised. The trip is a real mix of fun activities and Andalusian culture and I highly recommend it.

An excellent trip! * This was a brilliant trip around Andalucia led by the wonderful personable guides Jose and Oscar, both showed great attention to detail to ensure everyone had a great time. Such a varied trip, the legendary Camineto Del Rey (once very dangerous, now very safe) followed by a trip to the spectacular town Ronda. Then canyoning, a hike through the pinsapar 'Christmas tree' forest led by a knowledgeable guide (a permit is required to walk through this so you will see few other visitors) Eagles and Griffon vultures circle overhead. Most of us thought the walk was the highlight of the trip. Onwards to the coast to kayak and cycle. Like the British weather, if you're not keen on a particular activity, another one will soon come along. The hotels are really top notch (part of the Fuerte chain) and you won't go hungry (unless you want to of course) as the food is plentiful and delicious). Buffet in the hotels, plus two local restaurant meals. Only one meal to pay for on the trip and an interesting group of people to share the experience. Plenty of UK flights to Malaga from many regional airports makes access easy - no trek up to London to fly on hols. I've offered my services as an extra guide for the trip, hope I pass the audition. . . .

• Jose said I had to write a positive review for the trip otherwise I wouldn't get a lift back from Conil to the airport, but this really was a fabulous trip so I needed no persuading to write a glowing review. Just go on this, fun guaranteed.

Amazing adventure! The contrasting experience of the two locations of Grazalema and Conil adds a great extra dimension to this excellently planned trip. The careful guidance of Jose Miguel and infectious enthusiasm of Oscar made a brilliant team. The hotels, and food in particular, was first class. Oh…and the people were not bad either! A fun, like minded group really makes for an amazing trip!

Just to echo the other comments, the trip, the guides, the activities, the accommodation, MBA and the food were truly excellent. Thank you Carlos and Jose for putting the trip together.

My personal highlight was just the immense group fun, but that view from the Grazalema hotel was awe inspiring, and of course there was Txetxu just being Txetxu. Was an absolute pleasure to spend another week with him. Loved the mix of activities.

I've done the Northern Spanish activity holiday and now the Southern Andalusian trip as well, so I thought I'd pen a few words to perhaps help someone to chose between the two, if anyone is interested. Just to say I'm 56, used to be fit, I don't do much now to be honest, but I'm still active.

In summary, I think the South is a tad softer with fancier hotels, and the North, fuller, perhaps harder and felt more off the beaten track. South has a beach right on your doorstep. It's a tough choice.

Lastly, a special thank you to my co-adventurers. You were great. Never forget you are MuchBetterPeople.

Just back from a week in Andalucia with a lovely group of adventurers.

This holiday is perfect if you are looking for a mix of relaxation, activities and culture.

On the harder rated tours I have occasionally felt rushed and have needed to do some training to ensure a high level of fitness before the holiday.

This tour is suitable for mixed abilities, and while some of the activities felt a bit short for me, everyone was satisfied overall.

The canyoning was the highlight for me, as it was a novel experience. The local guide was highly competent and if you followed the advice then it is extremely safe. You get to descend terrain that the majority of the population will never set eyes on. It left me wanting more which is great motivation to up the stakes next time.

The hotel in Grazamala was the highlight of the accommodation. Comfortable quiet rooms with a panoramic Mountain View from the balcony.

You can relax in a hot tub and watch vultures encircling the thermal current, all with the same stunning view of the mountains.

The hike in the Grazamala national park was absolutely stunning, guided by local experts with interesting knowledge of the local wildlife.

When we can down off the mountain our guides had to deal with a nationwide power outage. During this they were unflappable and relaxed.

Further to this, we had the best MBA guides in Chechu and Oscar. They were very friendly, fun to be around and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure everyone had what they needed.

On the coast, the mountain bike ride had some interesting trails. We were facing 50mph winds and so decided to cut it a little short. That said if you consider yourself to be a serious cyclist this will be an easy ride for you in any case.

Kayaking in backwater wetlands off the coast signified the end of our tour. I enjoyed the short but sweet choppy return to the kayak centre.

An accessible, varied & memorable week long experience of some of the places & experiences Andalucia has to offer.

The experience of our guides, thoughtful planning & ability to get to the places & experience multiple different activities in a number of days, whilst still having time to relax & take in the sun & water, was much more than I could have possibly done outside of this trip.

Our guides were a huge part of what made the trip so smooth & enjoyable. This trip took in a nation wide power outage for one day & was the first time running it, & the guides & MBA team adapted seamlessly.

This trip is only going to get better & better. Would recommend for those looking for a week long multi adventure break, & worth adding a few days on the end to enjoy the Andalucian coastline at your own pace afterwards.

What a wonderful mix of activities with lovely guides. Something different each day. Good size group. Felt safe and encouraged on all activities. Will definitely look for another MBA adventure .

Had a fantastic trip in southern Spain. The activities, food and accommodation were great and the scenery was beautiful. I would definitely recommend this trip and it has made me want to return to the region to explore more. Big thanks to the guides Txetxu and Oscar who made the trip so much fun also 👍

I had an amazing time on this trip. It was a great mix of activity and relaxation – I love unwinding by getting out into nature, and this trip delivered. The canyoning, hiking, and kayaking were definite highlights. The canyoning was brilliant – jumping into pools, abseiling down rock faces, and enjoying views from the canyon to the surrounding mountains. The hike was equally stunning, with awesome views and the opportunity to learn about the plants and animals of the area. Our last afternoon spent kayaking in the sunshine on the coast, and the delicious meal of local seafood that followed was a great way to end the trip.

What really made the trip special were our guides, Txetxu and Oscar. They were both incredible – full of energy, fun, and passion for what they do. If you're looking for a getaway with expert guidance and great company, I can’t recommend this trip enough.