NEW TRIP
From the Serra de Tramuntana Peaks to the Coast
Hiking Mallorca & Menorca
Overview
Explore Spain’s Balearic Islands the WT way, with hikes in Mallorca’s craggy mountains and along Menorca’s spectacular protected coasts. On Mallorca, we’ll hike the clifftop trails of the Serra de Tramuntana as well as the magnificent Archduke’s Path, savoring the sea views all the way. We’ll also explore charming Sóller as well as Pollença, with its lively Sunday market. On Menorca, a tranquil realm due to the island’s designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, we’ll hike the north coast, visit a prehistoric archaeological site, sample the thriving wine scene, and roam the cobbled lanes of Ciutadella and lovely Mahón, the capital, perched high above the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean.
Arrive: Palma, Mallorca
Depart: Mahón, Menorca
Highlights
- Hike the high trails of the Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca’s coast
- Traverse the Archduke’s Path, a stone-built ridge trail high above the sea
- Cross the high Puig de l’Ofre Pass for 360-degree views over Mallorca
- Explore Menorca’s Albufera des Grau Natural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Visit Pollença’s lively Sunday market
- Stay in charming hotels and tranquil agroturismos in rural settings
Itinerary
From Palma, we head to a mountain village for lunch, then hike an ancient stone path directly to our hotel in a village on the rocky coastline of the Tramuntana. Walking right from our hotel the next morning, we descend a trail to the seaside town of Banyalbufar, then go olive-tasting in the hill town of Valldemossa.
A fantastic hike bring us across the Archduke’s Path, one of the most stunning walks on the island, with breathtaking Mediterranean views. For a change of scenery, we’ll head down to the coast at Sóller to kayak in crystal-clear waters.
After hiking over the Puig de l’Ofre Pass (3,300'), with spectacular 360-degree views from the top, we stop in at a local vineyard for wine tasting. Our hotel is in Pollença, a scenic Mallorcan town of honey-colored stone, and we’ll visit the Sunday market.
Ferrying to Menorca, we visit the charming Mediterranean town of Ciutadella, explore a Bronze Age ruin from the Talayotic culture, and enjoy coastal walks from our agriturismo.
In Albufera des Grau Natural Park, a coastal UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, we hike along freshwater lagoons to the beach. Our final day finds us cruising the spectacular harbor in Mahón, Menorca’s capital, by traditional wooden sailboat, with opportunities for snorkeling. Depart on Day 12.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking up to 7 miles a day and being on your feet for 5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
- 5-6 miles
- 4-5 hours 1,500' ascent/descent
Challenge Days
- Day 3: 7 miles, 5 hours, 1,950' ascent / 2,850' descent
- Day 5: 7 miles, 5 hours, 3,000' ascent / 880' descent
On Mallorca, our hikes in the Serra de Tramuntana average about 4-5 hours on rocky terrain with some uneven footing and some steep sections, both uphill and downhill. We will also be hiking through woodlands and along sea cliffs. In Menorca, most of our hikes are on flat coastal terrain, where it can be windy.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercise. Stair climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
The weather in Mallorca and Menorca at the time of our trips should be very pleasant, with daytime temperatures usually in the 70°Fs, dropping at night to the 50°Fs, but there can be spikes up into the high 80°Fs. The mountain mornings can be crisp, but the days are pleasant. This is generally not a rainy region, but cool breezes and showers can occur at any time.
The hotels have been chosen for their comfortable amenities and location, but please note that the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
The majority of our meals are at local restaurants or at our hotels, with a few packed lunches on the trail. Typical dishes in Mallorca and Menorca include hearty fish and vegetable soups, tomato and pepper salads, paella, roast pork, empanadas, sausages, and local cheeses. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:00 pm.
Trip members are always free to skip a day’s hike or activities and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. On most days, a support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack.
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.