The 3 Peaks Challenge in Spain
Tackle 3 back-to-back summits on this tough traverse in the Sierra Nevada, including mainland Spain’s highest peak
What's Included?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Scramble to the top of Mt Mulhacén (3482m), Pico del Caballo (3011m) and Mt Veleta (3395m), through Andalucia’s secret mountain range
Bed down in a high-altitude mountain lodge, your Sierra Nevada basecamp
Get lost while tapas-hunting and soaking up the musical heritage of the ancient Moorish city of Granada
Key Information
Day 1
To the mountains
Get picked up at Malaga Airport (or train station) and be whisked off into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. You will climb up to the small village of Pradollano where you'll bed down in a nearby mountain lodge at an altitude of 2500 metres. Time to enjoy the sunset this evening whilst getting to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2
Pico del Caballo
Hiking
The adventure begins! From the Mountain Lodge you'll take a short shuttle bus up to 2900 metres, from where the trek to the first 3000m peak of the trip, El Caballo, begins. Along the route you'll pass the oldest and highest mountain refuge in Sierra Nevada, Refugio de Elorrieta, located on a spectacular ridge with stunning views to the Mediterranean coastline.
Day 3
Mulhacén
Hiking
Today you will climb Mulhacen peak, the king of the Sierra Nevada! The highest mountain peak of the Iberian Peninsula at 3482 metres is famed for its craggy appearance and its variety of endemic plants and butterflies. Taking again the shuttle service, today's route will be somewhat more demanding than yesterday's but you'll arrive with a good acclimatisation base. The trek crosses beautiful turquoise glacial lagoons until reaching the final uphill section. Once at the top the reward is views of Granada, the Mediterranean and on a clear day you can even make out the coast of North Africa.
Day 4
Veleta
Hiking
Today's summit, Pico Veleta, is the second-highest peak in the Sierra Nevada and the third highest in Spain. The walk begins direct from the lodge and passes several glacial lagoons and snowmelt waterfalls. Return to the lodge in the afternoon for a well-deserved last dinner together in the mountains.
Day 5
To Granada
Hiking
With the three highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada behind you, head down from the mountains and stop for a short (approx 4km) walk at the hanging bridges of Cahorros de Monachil. You’ll then head back to Granada - an ancient Moorish city is steeped in history, its old town squares are the perfect spot to while away an evening sampling traditional tapas and listening to music floating amongst the rooftops.
Day 6
Back to Malaga
You’ll have time to explore the many winding streets of Granada before a transfer back to Malaga airport for your journey home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Malaga Airport
14:00 at the airport on Day 1
Ends
Malaga Airport
13:00 at the airport on Day 6
Transfers
The host will provide 1 group transfer pick-up in Malaga on Day 1. This is scheduled for 13:00 at Malaga Train Station, and then 14:00 at Malaga Airport hours in order to coincide with as many flight options as possible at the time of writing. Your host will reconfirm the exact pick-up time with you prior to travel.
At the end of the trip, your host will provide 1 x group transfer from Granada back to Malaga Airport, to arrive at Malaga Airport at approx 13:00 hrs. It is recommended to book flights that depart after 16:00 if planning on joining this group transfer.
Travel options
There are direct flights to Malaga from major airports across the UK and Europe.
To make your own way from Granada to Malaga, there are frequent bus or train connections (the journey usually takes between approx 1.5 - 2 hours).
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Expect traditional Andalucian food throughout. While staying at the lodge you'll grab breakfast before heading off each day - there will be a wide range of homemade bread, cheeses, honey, cakes and cereals and muesli to fuel you up for the morning. A packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit and nuts is provided for the daytime and a delicious mountain meal including soup, pasta, a protein and vegetable-based dish, bread, cheeses and desserts.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Mountain Lodge
You will spend 4 nights in the Albergue Universitario Sierra Nevada situated in the outskirts of Pradollano. This mountain lodge sits at 2500m and is used in the winter for ski touring and in the summer for hikers. Rooms are mixed dorms with bunk beds, blankets and pillows are provided and there are shared bathrooms with hot showers. There is a restaurant and a comfortable lounge for socialising.
Granada
In Granada, you'll stay in a centrally located 3-star hotel in twin-share rooms. You will stay in the Hotel Anacapri or an alternative of similar quality.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. This is only available for the night in Granada and not at the lodge. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
The Sierra Nevada range is worth packing your boots for an exciting and insightful journey to the top of Spain. Our guide, Jaime, was excellent; friendly, helpful and attentive. Our group was great and easily gelled. The final day in Granada to celebrate was a terrific way to end the trip. Good experience, definitely worth the journey to southern Spain!
A really excellent trip with so much packed into only five nights!
The Sierra Nevada was a fascinating and different place to hike and it was great to reach the summit of Mulhacen, the highest peak in mainland Spain. The group all got on really well and our guide was fantastic.
Granada was a great place to unwind and explore after the mountains too!
This was a fantastic trip. Jamie's local knowledge and hospitality was beyond what you would expect of a guide. The walks were of good length and taking in some beautiful scenery. Couldn't recommend this trip enough!
This trip was a brilliant action-packed few days, extremely well organised and well led by Jaime who was fun, energetic, kind and very knowledgeable. It was a big challenge for me and was hard work, especially at altitude and sometimes freezing temperatures, but the views at the top and sense of achievement was well worth it! It was great to also wander around Granada at the end. I thoroughly recommend it!
Brilliant MBA trip. Guide Jamie was fantastic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Challenging walks but doable. Mountain lodge was comfortable, sitting in a group having a drink was a nice end to the day. Lovely last day to explore Granada too.
Highly recommend this trip - the guide was amazing and had everything sorted to perfection. Never had such a great trip, amazing walks and lots of fun and laughter.
Challenging trip but that's exactly what I wanted! Jamie was a very knowledgeable and fun guide and the whole group had a fab time. Everything was organised very well and I didn't have to worry about anything. Transfers, packed lunches and 3-course dinners were definitely a bonus! :) Oh and hot showers! As not always available in mountain huts ;)
An amazing few days in the mountains with a wonderful group of people and a guide, Jaime, who exceeded our expectations in every way. I can honestly say there is nothing I would change on the trip.
An epic adventure in the Sierra Nevada with a fantastic group of people, mind blowing views, dizzying highs, beautiful flora and fauna. So many highlights but the stand out one had to be our guide Jamie. Absolute legend of a guy with amazing knowledge of the local area. Jamie went above and beyond to make this an unforgettable experience. Muchas gracias Jamie, vamos que no vamo! Dave
Amazing trip, great bunch of people and really enjoyed the challenge and duration of the hikes. Jaime was a fantastic guide and went above and beyond what I would normally expect from an organised tour.
It was such a great trip! Our guide, Jaime, was incredible - he was kind, caring, thoughtful and so knowledgable of the mountains, environment and wildlife. He always made sure we had enough water, were feeling okay and on the super tricky terrain he made sure we felt safe. 100% recommend.