Walking Mallorca (Majorca)

This week in January is a magical Mallorcan experience, and combines an insight into the local production of olives and olive oil, and 2 of the island's favourite "fiestas", San Antonio (17th January) and San Sebastian (20th January). These fiestas are enthusiastically celebrated with music and street antics, bonfires and barbecues, fireworks and processions.... This is a fantastic time to be on the island, as these exuberant celebrations involve ancient and very traditional customs (as well as a lot of fun!), and we see the island in a very special light...

Fornalutx

Fornalutx is just outside Sóller and it is one of the prettiest villages on the island. It has a small central square, and narrow cobbled streets, full of character and charm - it has even won awards for Mallorca's "best kept" village. It is within easy walking distance of central Sóller, and also has a few cafes and restaurants of its own, a bank, post office and other essentials.

The village is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks and is a truly spectacular location for a walking holiday.

Walking Itinerary

Graded: Red Boot

Your walking itinerary includes 5 days’ guided walking.

You'll start your holiday with an opportunity to participate in something really special - the traditional Mallorcan methods of olive oil production. After breakfast on your first day, we'll walk to the neighbouring village of Biniaraix, where we visit the 600 year old olive farm of Ca'n Det. Here we'll pick our own olives and then take them to the local 15thC press. While our olives are being processed, we enjoy a deliciously typical Mallorcan lunch of Pamb Oli (featuring plenty of olive oil, of course!) before collecting our own individually labelled bottles of oil made from the olives we picked earlier!

In the afternoon, we'll walk back to your hotel via some of the pretty villages in the area, before getting ready for a gastronomic evening in Palma (30 minutes by car). Michelin star chef, Marc Fosh and his team, will demonstrate the art of Cooking with Olive Oil... to include recipes such as chocolate olive oil mousse! We get to sample and enjoy all their delicious and creative dishes, while sipping some Mallorcan wine to accompany them... This is a real treat!

On Sunday, after a leisurely start, we'll set off from your hotel on today's walk - a one and half hour walk downhill through some of the most ancient and spectacular olive trees in the valley. We'll lunch with Maria and Guillermo at their 17th century farmhouse, Balitx d'Avall. The menu will be either roast home grown goat, or another Mallorquin speciality, rabbit with onion. We'll have time to relax or explore their 13thC tower, the chapel, the ancient olive press and Guillermo's eccentric art collection before walking back to Fornalutx and your hotel.

Sunday evening (the eve of the fiesta of San Antonio - the patron saint of animals), sees the start of the celebrations. A huge fire and barbecue is set up in the main square of Soller, where we barbecue local sausages, sobrasada and other meats, accompanied by the music of the Ximbomba!

The next day after breakfast we'll walk into Soller, where the town celebrates the fiesta of San Antonio with a charming ceremony of blessing the local animals. From here, we'll set off on our walk down to the port of Soller and the Muleta lighthouse and then on to Deia, a delightfully pretty village further along the coast - see W-NW11 for more details.

During the course of the rest of the week, we'll do another excellent walk in the Sóller area (see W-NW12), and then we'll go a bit further afield to visit one of the island's most historic sites - the ruined Castle of Alaro, from where we experience some of the island's history, and get sweeping views of Palma and much of the rest of the island (see W-NW03). We'll also visit Valldemossa and walk the so-called "Archduke's Bridleway" - a classic Mallorcan hike and an insight into one of the island's historical figures W-NW10. On each walking day we'll have a picnic lunch at a good spot along the way.

Thursday 20th January is the fiesta of San Sebastian, which is celebrated with spectacular fireworks in Palma. This is well worth a visit and a stroll around the beautiful old town.

Hotel

We have chosen a delightful, 8-bedroom hotel in the centre of Fornalutx as your base for the week (see Ref. A-NW04 for details). This is a perfect base for your walking holiday and you will be very well looked after by your hosts - their breakfasts are legendary and so are their evening meals (3 of which are included in the price of your holiday).

The hotel is centrally heated and at this time of year there is always a fire roaring in the grate of the sitting room. This is a warm, friendly, cosy and exceptionally hospitable place to stay.

The price

If you would like to use this itinerary as the basis for a tailor-made holiday for you and your party, please contact us. The price will depend on the number of people in your party, and other factors.

If you would like to join one of our group holidays scheduled for the dates below, the price per person is 1,499 euros.

This includes

• Airport transfers
• Bed and full english breakfast – 7 nights
• 3-course dinner menu incl. house wine and water - 3 evenings
• Gastronomic cooking demonstration by Marc Fosh's team
• 2 lunches - Saturday's Pamb Oli and Sunday roast at Balitx d'Avall
• Picnic lunches for 4 walking days
• Guided walking – 5 days
• Transport to and from the start of your walks, where required
• Transport to and from Palma - Saturday night

The price does not include

• Travel to Mallorca
• Insurance – travel and health
• Dinner on 3 evenings
• Drinks and incidental refreshments
• Transport to / from Palma for San Sebastian fireworks