List of what to bring when walking in the Serranía de Ronda, Andalucia

When going on a walking holiday in the Serranía de Ronda, Andalucía, it is important to pack all the key items which will enable you to enjoy fully your walking holiday. Here is bellow a list of the items that are in my opinion essential to bring with you: 

Essential items for all seasons

√ Worn in walking boots (you will be more likely to get blisters with brand new boots)
√ Walking/hiking socks (goog quality socks adapted to the time of the year you will be walking will keep you nice and comfortable)
√ Water bottle (always have plenty of water with you as you can easily get dehydrated even in winter)
√ Light weight day pack (a must to carry all your essentials)
√ Walking stick if you normally use one
√ Lightweight trousers for comfortable walking in all terrain (some walks can be overgrown with long grasses and thorny bushes so wearing trousers will protect your legs from scratches and unwanted bugs such as ticks)
√ Travel insurance including hill walking (For great value for money and flexible Travel insurance policies, visit Walking holiday travel insurance)
√ European card (for European travellers)

Spring and early autumn

√ Light clothes for warm, sunny days
√ Warm clothes for coold days and cooler evenings (evenings always cool down a lot in the Serranía de Ronda)
√ Lightweight waterproof jacket for the occasional showers

Summer

√ Hat √ Sun cream
√ Swimwear √ Sun glasses for sensitive eyes
√ Sandals for “afterwalking”
√ Light fleece only if you are staying in the Alto Genal Valley as nights can sometime be a little chilly (very refreshing after the heat of the day!)


Late autumn and winter

√ Warm clothes, ie fleece, thermal tops, etc.. (Even though Andalucía is thought to be warm and sunny all year round, it can get very cold in late autumn/winter especially at higher altitudes such as in the Sierra de las Nieves)
√ Warm hat (to use especially at high altitudes such as in the Sierra de las Nieves)
√ Gloves (same as above)
√ Waterproof jacket
√ Waterproof trousers
√ Light clothes for warm, sunny days, such as T-shirts...

Whatever the season you are walking in the Serranía de Ronda, it is best to use the concept of layering clothing, with base layers such as thermal tops or T-shirts, mid-layers such as fleece tops and outer-layers such as waterproof jackets. Here is a link to an interesting article about Learning to layer clothing.

Holiday activities and wellbeing therapies on offer in Ronda

How better to make the most of your holiday in the Serranía de Ronda by enjoying extra activities? 

If you need to unwind and use your holiday to fully relax, there is nothing better than enjoying massage, reflexology or shiatsu sessions in the comfort and privacy of your hotel room after a day's walk in beautiful surroundings or a day's sight-seeing in Ronda.

Well-being treatments do complement very well walking holidays or any holidays as they help you relieve pains and stiffness as well as leaving you relaxed and revitalised. They also help you eliminate any stress accumulated through a hectic lifestyle.

If you are looking for a more active holiday, why not go cycling or mountain biking in the Serranía de Ronda? Another fun and energetic way to discover this beautiful part of Andalucía. 

If you feel adventurous and enjoy strong sensations, why not try paragliding or hang gliding tandem flights? Soaring with the majestic Griffon Vultures or gliding at exhilarating speed above stunning countryside a few kilometers outside of Ronda....

Or if you love bird watching, why not let yourself be driven by a specialist who knows where rare and interesting birds are so you can enjoy great sightings of incredible diverse species. 

Ronda is very fortunate as there are many holiday activities and wellbeing therapies on offer. For a detailed list of qualified and experienced therapists and activity professionals we have found in the Serranía de Ronda, click on Ronda wellbeing therapies and holiday activities.

Special offers on women only walking holidays in Andalucía, Spain

We are pleased to be offering a 10% discount on our Women only Spring Walking Holiday - 25th April to 1st May 2011 to our blog readers. To benefit from this walking holiday special offer, please mention the promotional code EBSO01. This special offer is valid until 28th February 2011.

Based just 5 minutes from Ronda in a beautiful riverside hotel, you will be able to experience the best of Andalucia and enjoy a totally carefree, relaxing walking holiday in Spain. Spring is probably the best time to visit this unspoilt part of andalucia where everywhere is lush and ablaze with colours from hundreds of varieties of wild flowers: Sweet-pea, Lupin, Field gladiolus, Periwinkle, Poppy, Love-in-a-mist, Orchid, Iris...

The wallking holiday prices per person for 6 nights/7 days are now:
Half board double occupancy: 590.40 Euros (approx. £508 / 810 USD)
Half board single occupancy: 719.10 Euros (approx. £619 / 987 USD)

Included in the walking holiday Prices:
- Airport transfers from/to Malaga airport and all transport.
- Welcome drink before settling in in your accommodation.
- 6 or 7 nights in luxurious hotel accommodation, double or single occupancy, half board (breakfast & dinners).
- 4 guided stunning walks at your own pace, in a small friendly group, in a beautiful non touristy area of Andalucía - ideal to get away from it all!
- 1 guided tour of Old Ronda rich in Moorish history.
- The opportunity to treat yourself to relaxing wellbeing therapies on offer for total relaxation

Not included in the walking holiday Prices:
- Flights & Insurances (travel & hiking)
- Lunches
- Fees for other activities
- Hotel bar / mini bar

If you would like to book a place on this holiday and benefit from the 10% discount, do email us now to avoid disappointment, as we have a limited number of places. Remember to mention the promotional code EBSO01. Or click on Women only Spring Walking Holiday to find out more about the holiday.

If you wonder why we are running women only holidays, have a look at our earlier post - Women only walking holidays – sexist?

Women only walking holidays in Spain – sexist?

Running women only walking holidays since 2004, we are often asked why women only? And isn't this sexist and discriminatory? To answer these well founded questions, we need to explain how Butterfly Adventures came about.

Nowadays, women travel more and more but not all of them feel comfortable or safe to travel independently, and this is exactly our philosophy - enabling women to travel safely and in a fun way on their own, but within a group of likeminded women.

So in 2003, my husband Ian and I moved to the white village of Cartajima, just a 20 minute drive from Ronda, Andalucía, Spain. It was the ideal location to develop our ideas for specialised holidays aimed at women travelling on their own. Due to my own interest in the local wildlife, fauna and walking, it seemed natural to start women only walking holidays; holidays where women whether widowed, single, divorced or married travelling on their own, can come and enjoy stunning walks, at their own pace, in a safe, comfortable environment, and take the time to get to know this beautiful part of Andalucía, its culture, its people and its history, not to mention its gastronomy.

Our main focus on the walking holidays is on relaxing. So many women lead stressful, hectic lives that holidays should be relaxing and reenergizing - this is our philosophy! Therefore we offer different levels of walking to suit our guests’ needs. No backpacking - airport transfers and all transport included and accommodation in a lovely charming hotel with swimming pool. No starting walking at the crack of dawn – instead have a swim in the sun before enjoying a lovely breakfast and then get ready without rushing. No rush either while walking - walk at your own pace and take the time to enjoy the varied scenery and chat. Lunches mainly taken in typical local restaurants in white villages we walk to - added comfort and a great opportunity to enjoy delicious Andalucian tapas/meals and talk with the locals. We also have on offer numerous well being therapies for total relaxation after walking, provided if requested in the comfort of your hotel room.

Due to the success of the women only walking holidays, we have now added mixed group walking holidays but our main focus is still on women only holidays. Our guests have been exactly the women I had in mind when designing these holidays the only surprise being having a high number of married women wanting to come and walk in a women only group being able to walk at their own rhythm and not having to keep up with their husbands' faster pace!

Our next available women only walking holiday is 25th April - 1st May 2011. For more information, click on our Spain walking holiday package.

Christmas walking holiday in Andalucia, Spain

Since it is too hot to be doing any walking at present over here in Andalucia, we are planning our next special walking holiday: a Christmas walking holiday in andalucia for those who fancy doing something very different for Xmas this year. We are mainly aiming this Christmas walking holiday to singles or divorced, widowed or recently separated people who enjoy walking in small friendly groups. Christmas can be so stressful but also very sad if you are going to spend it on your own. So, we would like to make it a fun and relaxing time!

We have chosen this time the Altamira apartments for the accommodation of this Christmas walking holiday. The flats are very nicely decorated and cosy with wood burning stoves and central heating. They will make a perfect setting for a fun and friendly holiday. These lovely flats are self-catering, but if you fancy having a fully relaxing holiday, there are 2 bar/restaurants in the village where you can have delicious tapas or meals at very reasonnable prices.

As per usual, the walking will be tailored to the group's need. December is normally nice and dry, so we should be able to enjoy lovely walks in nice weather, in the Genal valley and in the Sierra de las Nieves national park.

An added bonus, for those who are fed up with the Xmas count down and all the commercialism associated to it, Christmas is not a big thing here in Andalucia. They celebrate instead the 3 Wise Men (6 January). So, you can easily get away from it all over here!

For more information on this special walking holiday, click on our Christmas walking holiday.

How about yoga and walking holidays in Andalucia?

A friend of ours, Kate McHardy, is teaching Yoga classes at the Hotel Molino del Santo in Benaojan, Andalucia, Spain, just outside Ronda, and I thought it could be a good thing for me to join this yoga class in order to stay supple. And... I love it! She is such a great teacher and I feel so energised after each yoga sessions. It is a very round practise, which not only gives you a good work out but is also very relaxing and centering.

I am so delighted with these yoga classes, that I thought it could be a good idea to offer a yoga and walking holiday in Andalucia this August to start with... The hotel Bandolero would be a great venue for it since David and Ivan have now a lovely spacious Art gallery / workshop room upstairs with French windows leading onto the terrace, looking over the swimming pool.

So, we are now working on a yoga and walking holiday package with kate and David and Ivan and we should have it advertised on our website shortly.

Let us know what you think about a yoga and walking holiday in Andalucia. Is it a good idea? Is there anything that we should include in particular?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

Relaxing break in andalucia, Spain

It is now getting rather hot in our Genal Valley, Andalucia, and the walking season is winding down now. We have been busy though walking with another delightful guest, Barbara, who joined us for a Relaxing break in Andalucia.

We went walking in the morning to different white villages of the Genal Valley (Alpandeire where we had great views over Morocco, Cartajima and Parauta) and, as Barbara was very fit, we also walked in the stunning Biosphere Reserve of la Sierra de las Nieves where we walked up a steep footpath through the indigenous Pinsapo pines, stopping to take in the views and the flowers still in bloom. After about a 400 m climb, our effors were rewarded by the superb views over Ronda, San Pedro (Costa del Sol), the Genal valley and its white villages and Torrecilla (the highest peak in the National park at over 1900 meters). We then meandered down a wider track and stopped to have a picnic half way down while enjoying the views. We went to see afterwards, the impressive 26 meters high Pinsapo de las Escalateras nearby.

Barbara also enjoyed some of the wellbeing activities on offer and the complementary natural soaps and bath salts which are handmade in Andalucia and sold in Ronda in the Andalucia Soap Campany shop owned by Sara, a friend of ours, situated Calle Sevilla 23. David, actually kindly gave to Barbara these lovely natural products that he has available in the hotel and this made us decide to make it part of our Relaxing Break packages. It will be indeed great for our future guests to enjoy beautiful walks and then relaxing massages or natural face-lifting massages, etc... followed by a lovely bath with natural handmade salts...

Thank you once again Barbara for your kindness and generosity and for the lovely time we had in your company.

We have also decided to have now a minimum number of 2 bookings for our Relaxing breaks so that our guests don't feel too lonely in the evenings in the hotel Bandolero, when it is quiet, as was the case with Barbara.

We are not scheduling any walking holidays now until september but our Relaxing Breaks in Andalucia, Spain are available throughout the Summer. It is in fact an ideal time as you can also make the most of the hotel swimming pool! Click on the following link if you would like to find out more about our Relaxing breaks in Andalucia.

Photos of flowers in Andalucia, Spain - early May

Here are a few photos of flowers we encountered on some of our walks in the Alto Genal, Andalucia, Southern Spain, which were taken by Helen Boyton, early May. She kindly gave us the permision to post them here. The Serrania de Ronda is indeed spectacular in Spring with its incredible variety of wild flowers. This year, early May was exceptionnally great for wild flowers. Contrary to what most people would expect from Andalucia, the Genal valley is very lush in Spring with its forest of Sweet Chestnut trees doning their new fresh green leaves and its wild flowers growing in meadows in more exposed areas or adding some accents of colours under the dapple shade of Oak and Sweet Chestnut woodlands. If you love wild flowers, April and May are the time to visit this non touristic area of Andalucia.













Grey-Leaved Sunrose

White-Leaved Bugloss



Viper's Grass



White Cistus

Gaelic workshop and Ceilihd in Júzcar!

Never in a million years would you imagine a Gaelic language workshop and Ceilihd happening in Júzcar, Southern Andalucia! Well it did happen and we had the pleasure to be involved in it with a late afternoon guided walk starting from above Alpandeire down to Júzcar along the dramatic limestone outcrop of Los Riscos.

This leisurely walk offered the group a very informal way of learning more Gaelic. Fiona MacKenzie and Gillebride MacMillan, prize winners and famed Gaelic singers, organised this event at the Hotel Bandolero which had become Gaelic for the occasion with Scottish flags flapping lightly under the Andalucian sun and little posters stuck everywhere showing the names of everything in Gaelic!

We had a fantastic time with Fiona and Gillebride as well as Christine from the Isle of Lewis, Ian and Mary from the UK and Josepe from Catalonia who did so well mixing Gaelic, English and Spanish! To round up the event, Fiona and Gillebride organised a Ceilihd to which we went with some friends! One of our friends, Kate McHardy, impressed us with an off the cuff Gaelic song she sang beautifully as well as a solo dance! We had the privilege to enjoy Fiona and Gillebride singing and there was plenty a dancing and singing (Gaelic as well as Spanish!), ending fantastically this Gaelic workshop.