DURATION
5 nights
LOCATION
Gran Canaria
ANNUAL LEAVE
4 days off work
SEASON
Oct-July
GROUP SIZE
Up to 14 people
MEETING POINT
Gran Canaria Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Guesthouse · Hostel
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
You’ll need to be fit and capable of hiking for up to 9 hours a day, up paths of moderate difficulty, with some steep, loose sections.
Stomp to the summit of Pico de las Nieves, the highest point on the island at a hefty 1949m
Bask in a subtropical climate, traversing one of the sunniest islands in the world, and cool off in coastal rock pools on remote beaches
Explore this biodiverse island on little-used hiking trails, experiencing dramatic mountain ranges, sunken calderas and epic ocean views
Day 1
Welcome to Gran Canaria
After being met by your host, begin your Canarian adventure with a quick drive to a beautiful beach. Enjoy your first sea swim and bask in the island’s year-round sun, before heading inland to the peaceful Barranco de Guayadeque. This area was one of the first parts of the island to be colonised after the Spanish conquest in 1491. You’ll have dinner with your guide and fellow adventurers at a traditional cave restaurant and hear all about the challenge ahead.
Day 2
Through the volcanic canyon
Hiking
9-10hrs · 21km · 1200m up · 200m down
You’ll head off through the lower hills of Barranco de Guayadeque; this ancient gorge once housed a river that carved smooth walls into the cliffs. Filled with caves, the gorge has been a hiding place for pre-Hispanic mummies, pottery and inscriptions, and your guide will have plenty of stories to tell about this fascinating culture. Passing first through pine forests, then up a steep mountain pass, you’ll end up in the La Cumbre region, the highest part of the island. You’ll push on to the summit of El Pico de Las Nieves (1950m) - soak up that ‘top of the world’ feeling and check out the blanket of clouds below you.
Day 3
The Spanish Stonehenge
Hiking
7hrs · 19km · 700m up · 300m down
Today’s hike crosses the highlands as you make your way to the famous Roque Nublo. This 80-metre monolith has inspired painters, writers and composers, and is a sacred spot rich with mystic stories and tales of worship and sacrifice. You’ll continue on the undulating track through lost hamlets before reaching the village of Tejeda - this circular route gives you the chance to soak up the enormity of the Caldera de Tejeda.
Day 4
Laurisilva Forest
Hiking
6hrs · 11km · 200m up · 700m down
Enjoy a more relaxed day today as you pass through the highest caves on the island, Cuevas del Caballero, and catch sight of one of the youngest volcanos on Gran Canaria - Montañon Negro. After that, you’ll head deep into the greenest part of the island, and trek through Laurisilva Forest, a rare remnant of subtropical laurel forest related to those found in Macaronesia. There may be the opportunity for an excursion to a nomadic local cheese farm at Fontanales, where you can learn all about the traditions of artisan cheese-making process - this is weather dependent as the farm moves bi-annually with the seasons that are less defined every year.
Day 5
What goes up must come down...
Hiking
8hrs · 18km · 300m up · 1400m down
The morning begins with a hike into yet another new landscape, helping Gran Canaria live up to its nickname of ‘a continent in miniature’. You’ll descend into the green and humid gorge of Barranco Hondo, leading to one of the most fertile valleys of the island - the Agaete Valley, bursting with an abundance of flora and fauna. Before arriving at the coastal fishing village of Agaete, you’ll have the option of dropping into a local coffee plantation to learn about the growing, harvesting and processing of the coffee beans, according to permaculture principles.
Day 6
Time to chill...
Wake up refreshed and stretch into the day with a yoga class and relaxing ocean views to reinvigorate those tired muscles. Today is yours at leisure - If you wish to have a massage, a local masseur is on hand and your host can arrange this at the start of the trip for you. Following a leisurely breakfast, maybe jump into one of the volcanic rock pools along the coast, known locally as Las Salinas, and soak away that thigh burn. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the village of Agaete - why not try some of the local fish for an early lunch or spend a couple of hours relaxing on the black-stone beach? In the afternoon, you’ll head back to the airport and say your goodbyes.
Included
Guides
English-speaking, qualified mountain guides
Accommodation
5 nights in small rural guesthouses
Meals
Tasty food to munch on throughout
Luggage transfer
Vehicle support to take your overnight kit
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Visas where required
Day 1
Guesthouse · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Guesthouse · Twin or triple share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 4
Guesthouse · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Hostel · Multi share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Savour the delights of Canarian gastronomy, with fresh produce cooked with love by the host's family chef and a wide variety of regional dishes, from artisan cheese to locally-grown coffee. Breakfasts most days will be continental style, consisting of tea and coffee, bread, butter, local jams and honey, fruit, pastries, cheese, ham and juices. For lunch in some seriously scenic spots, expect more than sandwiches, as your support crew will provide an abundant spread of salads, cold mezze and vegetarian dishes - all made using local produce.
Dinners will be eaten at the guesthouses. You’ll feast on regional specialties, from delicious papas arrugadas con mojo (potatoes cooked in salt water with a piquant sauce), bienmesabe (a traditional dessert made on the island, consisting of almonds and lemon zest) to tapas and meat cooked on an open fire. This is a wonderful way to support the local economy and learn more about Canarian culture.
Vegetarian, vegan and most dietary requirements can be accommodated, please just let your host know upon booking.
What is the accommodation like?
On the trek
You’ll sleep in comfortable and unique guesthouse accommodation, known locally as casas rurales, with incredible views of Gran Canaria’s changing landscape.
On the first night you will stay at Casas Cuevas Tagoror in cave houses looking out over a dramatic gorge. The next two nights will be spent at Hotel El Refugio, located 1,500m above sea level, with a small swimming pool and an incredible view of the sunset. On the fourth night, you will stay at Cabañas Valle Verde in Fontanales in cosy wooden cabins. The final night of the trip will be spent at Casa Calma Yoga Hostel in Agaete, just fifteen minutes walk from a glorious beach.
Most guesthouses are converted houses, the rooms available vary at each one but you will be in same-sex twin-share rooms for most nights. In general, the guesthouses have two or three single beds per room, (double beds can be arranged for couples). On the last night, you’ll be sleeping in dorms of up to six people. These will mostly be single-sex but there may be some trips where men and women will share in a six-bed room. You will only share with members of your trip. Agaete is not yet on the tourist map so accommodation options are extremely limited.
Upgrades
Due to the small size of the accommodation and limited room availability on this trip, there is no option to upgrade to a private room. As this is a rural trek, options are extremely limited re where to stay with a group.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Las Palmas City Centre or Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)
Prior to 11:00 Las Palmas City Centre, or 11:00 - 16:00 Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) on Day 1
Ends
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)
13:30 on Day 6
Transfers
If you are flying into Gran Canaria on Day 1, please ensure your flight lands between 11:00 and 16:00 and the host will collect you from the airport according to your flight schedule (if your flight is scheduled to land outside of these times, please contact your host prior to travel to arrange alternative transportation).
If you are already in Gran Canaria before the start of the trip, your host will collect you from your Las Palmas accommodation prior to 11:00 on Day 1 (if your accommodation is outside Las Palmas, please contact your host prior to travel to arrange alternative transportation).
At the end of your trip, you will be dropped at the airport at 13:30, please book a flight that departs after 15:30. Once you have booked your flights, please provide your host with this information, who will plan logistics and provide you with pick-up times within two weeks of your trip starting.
There are regular shuttle buses to/from Las Palmas to the airport, the journey into the centre takes 20 minutes.
Travel options
There are daily flights to Gran Canaria from major airports across the UK and Europe. If you choose to arrive early, there are regular buses across the island that you can use to explore. Our local host has a wealth of information about accommodation and activities - please do not hesitate to contact them for advice before planning your experience.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
Bags
Overnight soft duffel or rucksack
Daypack/rucksack (approx 20 litres)
Waterproof liner/drybag for day bag
Clothes
Waterproof jacket
Breathable wicking layers
Fleece or similar
Buff or neckscarf
Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
Underwear and socks
Swimwear
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Something to sleep in
Hiking boots or shoes (worn-in)
Sandals
Thermals (merino ideal) for Dec-Feb trips only
Other
Tupperware and cutlery for lunches
Universal travel plug adapter
Passports (and visas)
Travel insurance documents
Suncream (minimum factor 30)
Towel
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper to the guesthouses to dispose of)
Alcohol hand-gel
2 x reusable water bottle x1 approx litre capacity ea.
Optional
Ear plugs
Insect repellent
Energy bars and snacks
Walking poles can be very useful for long downhill sections
No optional extras are available for this trip.
Beautiful scenery from rugged valleys, lush green forests and barren black volcanic rocks, you see it all on this trip!
Our group dynamic was excellent with everyone being a solo adventurer and the guides, Robin, Ferre and as others have said Papa Pier were fantastic, I'll not say too much as they really go the extra mile to showcase the Island with a few surprises! There were mixed ages in our group / fitness levels but the pace was well managed to account for everyone's abilities so noone felt rushed or under pressure to keep up.
Overall another great experience and easily 10/10!
I can't recommend this trip enough! Ferre, Robin and Papa Peir did a fantastic job of sharing their love of the island, it's nature and culture, and of looking after everyone on the trip. They provided info and tips both before and after the trip to make sure everyone had the best time.
The hiking and views were incredible, the food was amazing and accommodation was comfy. Although they were fairly long days of hiking, it was so well paced and never felt rushed.
I haven't laughed that much with, what were, strangers at the start of the trip. Beautiful island and beautiful people!
What a trip!! Gran Canaria is epic! The team were amazing Pier, Ferre & Robin were constantly ensuring we got the best experience. The views were epic, food delicious, good amount of challenge with time for downtime too! We were so lucky with the amazing weather for march and laughed about all the weather gear we carried and in the end didnt need! A great trip that really enjoyed and makes me know that again MBA delivers and il be booking another.
An amazing trip which shows a completely different side to Gran Canaria away from the tourist trail. The views, nature and scenery were spectacular. It was very well organised, with Robin and Ferre working very hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Our guide Papa Pier was a great source of knowledge and I enjoyed his passion for all aspects of this beautiful island. Finally a big thanks to our amazing group of fellow travellers, thanks for all the wonderful memories 😎🙏
A stunning trip traversing the glorious island of Gran Canaria. The views are breathtaking, with so many sights, scenes and smells. The hiking routes were well planned and ensured something different everyday. Another unique aspect was not having to spend huge amounts of the day travelling to and from the hiking routes! We just walked from place to the next. Above all, the trio of ‘Papa’ Pierre, Robin and Ferre made the trip special. ‘Papa’ for his energy, stories and chocolate treats. Robin and Ferre for their professionalism, hard work and overall kindness. All three made sure we had the best trip possible and the group truly appreciated their efforts.
Absolutely exceptional - if you're considering booking just go for it! The scenery, hikes, guides, and the host's commitment to sharing the local culture and supporting local businesses, were all fantastic. The food is easily the best I've had on a group trip and yoga by the ocean on the last day was a great way to end the trip. Robin, Ferre and Pier went above and beyond to make every aspect of the trip brilliant and as unique as possible.
The hikes are long but not technical (clear paths, no scree or scrambling) and all paces are welcomed so don't be put off by the 3/4 rating if you're used to long hikes
If you’re thinking about booking this trip, do it! From start to finish, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Our guides, Pierre, Robin & Ferre, were the best of the best. Angels! They created the perfect balance. We were challenged on the hikes yet there was never any pressure and the pace was relaxed so that the whole group could stay together. We were blessed with stunning sunny March weather and no rain, which of course helped. The island was exploding with blossoms and nature and the low twenties weather was ideal for hiking. A brilliant time to visit Gran Canaria. Food wise, as someone who doesn’t eat meat or dairy I was looked after at every meal. I always had more than enough food, and it was always really tasty. I could go on, and on! Book it!
One amazing adventure. This hiking tour shows a new side to Gran Canaria, this island is so much more than all-inclusive resorts. During the 4-day hike we experienced a continent's worth of terrain and weather. Highly recommend
Very happy to have discovered MBA with this trip to Gran Canaria! The local team and guides really made the trip for us: From the thorough organisation at the beginning (A WhatsApp group created before even leaving the UK, providing instant accessibility if help was needed), to extensive local knowledge and lots of downright enthusiasm and fun throughout (That's you: Pier , Robin and Ferre!) We will be back!! 🤗😃🤩
I can't recommend this trip enough. The island is stunning and the guides, Robin, Ferre and Pier were excellent throughout the trip. They were very organised and so passionate and knowledgeable about the Island - they really could not do enough for the group. There were too many highlights but I especially enjoyed Roque Nublo and the sunset natural pools in Agaete, both were magical. The group got along really well, lots of different personalities and lots of laughs along the way. On the forth day we booked ourselves into the Parador Spa near Tejeda, this was amazing and after a 3 days of hiking it was a great way to refresh the body. The views from the spa absolutely stunning also. This was simply one of the best trips I've been on and it was made by the stunning island and the amazing people on the trip. If you are thinking of booking but hesitating don't, just book it - you are in for a fabulous experience.
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 148kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
This trek requires a good level of fitness. You must be capable of hiking all day up paths of moderate difficulty with steep, loose sections. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the loose footing and long climbs will make the going quite difficult in parts. The views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
You can fill your bottles up at the guesthouses every day and your host will provide water stops at most lunch spots. The water on Gran Canaria is perfectly safe to drink - the locals mostly choose not to as it has been treated from the sea so contains minimum minerals and sometimes a slight chlorine taste. This can be eradicated with a cordial or similar to add to your bottle if you like. Your host will also provide mineral water from 5ltr bottles should you choose not to drink the water.
Gran Canaria enjoys year-round warmth and sunshine with very little seasonal variation. Summers are hot and dry while winters are just slightly cooler, with the potential for a few showers. The island’s southerly location is on the same latitude as the Sahara, meaning it is much hotter than mainland Spain in the winter. However, it will get cooler at night, and once in the high interior of the island, the temperature can drop by quite a few degrees.
While hiking you can expect fairly consistent daytime temperatures of 18-24ºC and mostly clear skies; however, in the winter it can drop as low as 5ºC at night time. It can also be windy on the top of the peaks, and as you will be passing through different microclimates, it's not unusual to experience days where you will be hiking in 15ºC in the morning and 30ºC in the afternoon. As you will be getting up pretty high there is, of course, the chance of some showers in the mountains but these are rare, short and sharp if they do occur. The sea temperature will be approx 18-26ºC, so very swimmable in the winter months.
Your overnight luggage will be transported with you in the van each day. During the day, you can leave your bag in your room at the mountain chalet.
For current advice about travelling in Spain, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.
Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
Pay In Installments
You can choose to pay for this trip in as many installments as you like, with no interest or fees.
Full Financial Protection
Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.
