Exploring the peaks, meadows and valleys of Spain’s highest mountains. 

The Sierra Nevada - “the snowy mountains” - is the highest mountain range in south-west Europe, higher even than the Pyrenees with deep gorges along its limestone flanks. The combination of this great height and the proximity of the Mediterranean has created a diversity of climatic conditions that has lead in turn to an incredible diversity of life.

More than 2000 plant species are found in these mountains, including nearly 100 endemics, species such as the Sempervivum minutum, Viola crassiuscula, Senecio nevadensis and Linaria nevadensis. Most excitingly, one fifth of the snow-tolerant alpines are found nowhere else, the highest level of endemism for any mountain range in Europe. Similarly, many of the dozens of butterfly species are represented by endemic subspecies. These mountains are also home to Spanish ibex, many raptors and a relict population of citril finch. We will certainly enjoy some unique wildlife in these wonderful mountains, with time spent up in the high alpine zone, exploring the scree and alpine meadows, as well as lower down amongst the subalpine and Mediterranean zones.

To the north of the mountains, we will explore the Zenete Plains and the ‘badlands’, a place to search for the special birds of the steppe: calandra lark, rock sparrows and the small remaining population of the elusive black-bellied sandgrouse could all be found amongst the dramatic scenery. To the south, we will travel through the gentler landscape of Las Alpujarras, named from the Arabic ‘Al Busherat’ - the grassland - where the Moors terraced and irrigated the valleys, bringing with them grapes and figs.

£1385. Single Room Supplement £95

Leaders: Carme Dominguez and Jorge Garzon