Self-Launched Sierra de Aitana Walking Week, Spain

Fly into Alicante Airport (ALC). Take the ALSA coach from Alicante bus station to Benidorm (~£6, 1.5 hrs), then a local taxi from Benidorm to Benimantell (~£15–18, 20 min). Alternatively, hire a car for the week from Alicante for roughly £120–150 total — very useful for accessing trailheads. Check into El Trestellador Pension in Benimantell, a family-run guesthouse surrounded by olive groves that is the authentic base for this circuit. Spend the afternoon settling in and walking the village lanes. Dinner at the pension or at the village bar — try local spencat (roasted pepper and aubergine salad) and a glass of house wine.

🚌ALSA coach Alicante → Benidorm (~£6); taxi Benidorm → Benimantell (~£16). Or car hire from ALC airport.

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell — family-run guesthouse, ~£35–45/night B&B. Book direct at trestellador.com or via Booking.com. Alternatively try Casa Rural La Solana, Guadalest (~£30–40/night).

• →ALSA coach Alicante → Benidorm (book at alsa.es, ~£6)
• →Taxi Benidorm → Benimantell (~£15–18)
• →Optional: car hire from Alicante Airport (~£120–150 for 7 days via Rentalcars.com)
• →Check-in and orientation walk around Benimantell village
• →Dinner at El Trestellador or village bar — order local spencat and house wine

Your first full walking day eases you into the Sierra. Follow the waymarked PR-CV 147 trail from the village up to the rocky outcrop of Peña del Rastrell, a limestone crag with sweeping views back over the Guadalest Valley. The route passes through almond and cherry terraces and old dry-stone retaining walls. Total walking: ~12 km, ~500 m ascent — moderate. Download the GPX from Wikiloc (search 'Peña del Rastrell Benimantell') before you go. Carry at least 2 litres of water; refill at the roadside springs marked on the Wikiloc track. Packed lunch from the pension or the village shop. Return to Benimantell for a rest before a communal dinner.

🚌On foot from accommodation

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Walk PR-CV 147 to Peña del Rastrell — download GPX from Wikiloc or AllTrails (free)
• →Limestone crag scramble and panoramic views over Guadalest Valley
• →Spot traditional dry-stone terracing and almond groves
• →Refill water at roadside springs (marked on Wikiloc track)
• →Evening tapas at the village bar

Drive or take a taxi (~£10 return) the short distance to the hilltop village of Guadalest, one of the most spectacularly sited settlements in the Valencia region. Arrive early (before 10am) to beat the day-trippers who pour in later from the coast. Explore the castle ramparts, the reservoir viewpoints, and the tiny whitewashed streets. Then lace up for an afternoon walk along the valley floor back towards Benimantell on the GR-330 long-distance path — roughly 7 km one way, very scenic. Entry to Guadalest castle is ~£2.50 per person. Browse the artisan stalls for locally produced honey, almonds, and ceramics.

🚌Taxi or car to Guadalest (~£10 return); walk back via GR-330

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Early-morning visit to Castillo de Guadalest — entry ~£2.50 (book on the door)
• →Explore reservoir mirador and whitewashed village streets
• →Walk GR-330 valley trail Guadalest → Benimantell (~7 km, 2–2.5 hrs)
• →Browse local honey, almond, and ceramics stalls
• →Evening dinner at the pension — try minxos (local small pancakes)

Today's headline walk is the ascent of Serrella peak, a dramatic ridgeline walk with vertiginous views over both the coast and the inland valleys. Drive or taxi to the start point near Confrides (~20 min from Benimantell). The standard route up the south ridge is ~14 km round trip with ~700 m of ascent — challenging but very rewarding for experienced walkers. Trekking poles are strongly recommended. Download the Serrella route from Wikiloc or AllTrails. The exposed ridgeline offers views stretching to Ibiza on clear days. Pack a picnic lunch. Return to Benimantell by late afternoon. Optional: stop at the Confrides bakery for coca bread on the way back.

🚌Car or taxi to Confrides trailhead (~£12–15 return by taxi)

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Ascent of Serrella Peak via south ridge — ~14 km, ~700 m elevation gain (Wikiloc/AllTrails GPX)
• →Ridgeline walk with views towards the coast and Ibiza
• →Picnic lunch on the summit or ridge
• →Stop at Confrides village bakery for coca bread
• →Rest and recovery evening at the pension

A culturally rich day combining a morning factory visit with an afternoon walk. Head to a local olive oil cooperative — the Benimantell/Guadalest area has several small-scale producers; ask your pension host for the current best option or contact Cooperativa Agrícola de Guadalest directly. Tours are informal and often free or ~£5 including a tasting. In the afternoon, set out on the walk from Penya Roc to the Collado Papatxi saddle, a satisfying ridgeline traverse (~10 km, ~450 m ascent) with classic Sierra de Aitana scenery. This is a gentler day after yesterday's Serrella ascent. Use the Wikiloc community tracks for this route.

🚌Short drive or walk to Penya Roc trailhead

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Morning visit to local olive oil cooperative — tasting and tour (~£0–5, book via pension host or direct)
• →Walk from Penya Roc to Collado Papatxi (~10 km, moderate — GPX from Wikiloc)
• →Ridgeline views over the Aitana massif
• →Evening dinner at the pension — try oven-baked rice with local wine

The most dramatic summit of the week: Puig Campana is an iconic, sheer-sided peak at 1,410 m that is visible from all along the Costa Blanca. Drive to Finestrat (30 min) for the start of the standard north-face route. It's a tough ~12 km round trip with ~1,000 m of ascent on steep, sometimes loose terrain — this is the most demanding day of the trip, so save energy, start early (7–8am), and turn back if weather closes in. The summit views are extraordinary, stretching from Benidorm's towers to the sierra interior. Download the Puig Campana GPX from AllTrails (well-reviewed). Poles essential. Return to Finestrat for a cold beer and tapa before the drive back.

🚌Car or taxi to Finestrat (~£18–22 return by taxi, or drive)

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Ascent of Puig Campana (1,410 m) via north-face route from Finestrat (~12 km, ~1,000 m — AllTrails GPX)
• →Summit views over Benidorm, Costa Blanca, and Sierra de Aitana
• →Post-walk beer and tapa in Finestrat village
• →Option to continue to Aitana Peak (see Day 7) for those with energy

Your free day with three great options — mix and match to taste. Option A (walkers): Drive to the Aitana military summit (highest point in the province at 1,558 m); the road goes almost to the top and a short walk reaches the summit cross with 360-degree views. Option B (culture): Head to Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa) on the coast (~40 min drive) to visit the Valor chocolate factory museum — free entry, with chocolate tastings. The factory shop sells excellent locally made chocolate at good prices. Option C (beach): Villajoyosa also has one of the prettiest and least-crowded beaches on the Costa Blanca, with colourful painted fishermen's houses. Have a long lunch at a seafront restaurant — fresh fish and rice dishes are the speciality. Most travellers combine Options B and C for a relaxed day by the sea.

🚌Car or taxi to Villajoyosa (~£25–30 return by taxi); Aitana summit road is best by car

🛏El Trestellador Pension, Benimantell

• →Option A: Drive to Aitana Peak summit (1,558 m) — free, short walk from the road
• →Option B: Valor Chocolate Factory Museum, Villajoyosa — free entry with tastings (valor.es)
• →Option C: Villajoyosa beach — colourful old town, seafront lunch (fresh fish ~£15–20)
• →Browse Villajoyosa market if visiting on a Thursday (weekly market day)

A final short morning walk from the pension through the surrounding olive and almond groves — a gentle 2–3 hour loop to say goodbye to the sierra. Pack up, settle your pension bill, and transfer back to Alicante Airport. If driving: it's ~1 hour 15 min to ALC. If using public transport: taxi from Benimantell to Benidorm (~£16), then ALSA coach to Alicante bus station (~£6), then local bus or taxi to the airport (~£5–12). Allow at least 3 hours from Benimantell to the airport to be comfortable. Pick up local almonds, honey, or olive oil at the pension or a cooperative on the way out as gifts.

🚌Taxi Benimantell → Benidorm (~£16) + ALSA coach → Alicante (~£6) + taxi/bus to ALC (~£8). Or return rental car to ALC.

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning loop walk through olive and almond groves (~2–3 hrs, gentle)
• →Purchase local olive oil, honey, or almonds as gifts from the pension or cooperative
• →Transfer to Alicante Airport via Benidorm ALSA coach or direct taxi/car