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Average daily distance: 3-18km
Average Ascent/Descent: 150 – 1000 m
Group size: 5 – 12 persons
Language: Spanish, English, Dutch
Price: From 950 €
DESCRIPTION
The mountains northwest of Madrid do not only offer a nature experience, they are also rich in culture and history. King Philip II built here his most important palace El Escorial, which is now still being used as monastery. But also at the side of Segovia we do find an impressive palace, La Granja de San Ildefonso, of which the architecture was inspired by Versailles in France. In the beautiful gardens you will sense the French influences brought to Spain by the Bourbons. The walking tours will be guided by English speaking, certified mountain guides; in Madrid and in the palaces we will be guided by English speaking culture-historical guides, resulting in a varied journey full of nature and culture!
Walking in the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama is an outstanding opportunity to discover virtually unknown mountain areas in the centre of Spain, only 40 km north of the capital Madrid. The Guadarrama mountain range (Sistema Central) covers a large area with impressive peaks of almost 2500m. The valleys and slopes are covered with oak forests and pine trees, a perfect combination of Mediterranean and high mountain vegetation with an extreme rich flora and fauna. It is therefore not surprising that, after a lot of negotiations, this area was declared a National Park in June 2013.
PROGRAM
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND VISIT CITY OF MADRID
Arrival at the airport of Madrid and transfer to the centre by public transport. Walking in Madrid, visits to la Plaza Mayor, Plaza España, the Royal palace and streets full of typical Spanish tabernas and shops in the “Habsburger district”. Evening supper in a Spanish restaurant in the capital.
Accommodation: Hostal Santa Isabel, Madrid
DAGY 2: CYCLE TOUR MADRID AND MUSEUM VISIT
Breakfast in one of the many bars in Madrid. Then a guided bicycle tour through the historical centre, followed by a delicious tapas lunch on one of the many terraces. A museum visit is also included to one of the two most famous museums of Madrid, the El Prado or the Reina Sofia. El Prado has the greatest collection of the most important painters from the XVIth till the XIXth century, among them Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Hieronimus Bosch, Goya, Tiziano, too many to mention. If you prefer modern art, the Reina Sofia museum is a must. These museums are nearby.
Accommodation: Hostal Santa Isabel, Madrid
DAY 3: GRANITE LABYRINT OF LA PEDRIZA
In the morning we leave for The Sierra de Guadarrama, where we drop our luggage in our next hotel. We will then make a walk to the greatest granite rock of the Sierra de Guadarrama, “El Yelmo” (translated: the helmet), in the nature park La Pedriza, with beautiful views on the artificial lake and on the iconic towers of the Spanish capital on the horizon. During our walk we can admire the mountain goats and high up in the sky the griffon vultures will accompany us. We return in the shadow of the pine trees along paths winding between the rocks.
Length: 12 km; climb/descent: 650m; duration: 6 hrs.
Accommodation: El Mirador de la Maliciosa hotel, Manzanare el Real
DAY 4: MONASTERY OF EL ESCORIAL
We leave early for a short trip to the nearby San Lorenzo de El Escorial for a guided visit to the old palace of the famous Spanish king Philip II. This impressive building, the biggest in Spain, has been totally constructed with granite blocks from the Sierra de Guadarrama. After a nice lunch on one of the terraces we leave for an afternoon walk through an oak forest to the ‘chair of Philip II’, a wonderful viewpoint, from where the king could watch the surroundings to monitor the building of his monastery/palace. At the end of the day we return to our hotel in Manzanares el Real.
Length: 12km, climb: 150m, descent: 150m, duration: 3 hrs.
Accommodation: El Mirador de la Maliciosa hotel, Manzanare el Real
DAY 5. PINE FORESTS OF VALSAÍN AND LA GRANJA PALACE
Today we leave with our minibus for the north side of the mountains, that are covered here with the vast pine tree forests of Valsaín. When reaching the medieval bridge we enter the forest deeply and descend along the mountain river Eresma, via the old kings pathway until La Granja de San Ildefonso. This path was constructed in the 18th century by Carlos III, allowing him to ride with his carriage along the refreshing stream to go fishing here and there. At some places you can still see what the original paved path looked like. In the afternoon, we visit the palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso and the wonderful gardens. We stay for the night in a real Parador, housed in a historical building.
Length: 14km, climb: 100m, descent: 600m, duration: 5 hrs.
Accommodation: Parador de La Granja, La Granja de San Ildefonso
DAY 6: PEÑALARA MASSIVE AND LOZOYA VALLEY
Today we will cross one of the highest passes of the Sierra de Guadarrama, just along the highest mountain of the massive, the Peñalara (2442 m), it is a long, steep climbing road, first through dense pine forests, but finally on the plateau, full of broom and gorse. The wind can be strong up here. We follow the ridge for a while and descend eventually to Rascafría, which is situated in the valley of Lozoya, the valley slopes are covered by oak forests and pine trees. The timber industry has flourished here for a long time and was initiated by Belgian travellers, both in Valsaín, the forest area at the side of Segovia, and in Rascafría. Inscriptions at the entrance can still be found, Pinares de el Paular Sociedad Anónima Belga, founded by a group of Belgians who travelled in Spain in 1840.
Length: 18km, climb: 1050m, descent: 1030m, duration: 7 hrs.
Accommodation: Hotel Posada El Campanario, Rascafria
DAY 7: WATERFALLS OF PURGATORIO AND MONASTERY OF EL PAULAR
We will walk together along rivers and oak forests to enjoy the green valley of Rascafría. We ascend a little towards the waterfall of El Purgatorio, and offer the opportunity to visit the monastery El Paular, a Benedictine abbey, early in the evening. Then we will be well looked after by the Italian cook in the cosy family restaurant of the El Posada El Campanario hotel.
Length: 14km, climb/descent: 300m, duration: 5 hrs.
Accommodation: Hotel Posada El Campanario, Rascafria
DAG 8: BACK HOME
Return to the airport in Madrid with the minibus and flight back home.
WHAT´S INCLUDED?
• Guide EspírituNATURE (UIMLA), English speaking
• English speaking city guide in Madrid
• Entrance + English speaking guide to monastery El Escorial
• Entrance + English speaking guide to La Granja Palace
• Entrance + English speaking guide to monastery El Paular
• All transfers during program
• Full room and board
• Walking map of the Sierra de Guadarrama
• Accident insurance
WHAT´S NOT INCLUDED?
• Personal costs
• Flight or other transport to and from Madrid
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