The simplest way is to fly into and out of Málaga (AGP). Fast trains also link the city with Madrid, so it's no hardship to fly into or out of the capital either and we can host you for some time there too if you like.

It's absolutely possible to travel by train from London or Paris. If you are coming from the UK, then if you set off at breakfast you can take two trains from London St Pancras and be in Barcelona before dinner time. It's a short hop between stations on arrival in Paris and away you go. After a night in Barcelona, you take the train to Granada and off you go. If you want to do it on the way back, simply flip that on its head.

Of course, we would be very happy to host you in Paris and/or Barcelona if you want to have a look around those great cities - we have lots to see and do even if you have already been.

Finally, it's also possible to travel by sleeper train from Paris to Barcelona. If you would like information, please just ask.

This trip can run March through June and September through to early November.

March can be a little bit unstable in terms of weather, but should generally be quite sunny and getting a bit warmer. Days tend to be around 15°C (59°F) or so, with cold nights. If there is snow on the Sierra Nevada, it will look beautiful.

In spring and autumn, you can expect it to be warm and sunny with average daytime temperatures of around 15-25°C (59-77°F). In July and August, temperatures can rise to 30°C (86°F) and above in the lower valleys which is too hot to enjoy being outside in our humble opinion.

Rainfall remains low outside the winter months, so you should be dry.

Peak season is usually around Easter and in the summer months.

On this trip, you will stay in small family-run hotels. Each offers a warm welcome, a comfy bed, peace and quiet and either a lush garden and pool to enjoy, or a panoramic terrace with great views in the case of your Granada base. We spend a great deal of time regularly visiting the hotels in the area to ensure we always offer the very best available.

There's also great comfort of either eating in, or being within a very short stroll of excellent restaurants and cafes each evening. Once settled, you needn't ever move too far.

Please enquire for full details.

With much to see in Granada and some of the best trail views we've experienced in Spain, this is very much a trip suited to active explorers with a good pair of boots.

But whether you're more of a hiker or a casual stroller, it's you who sets the pace as you go, whether you're with a guide, exploring in the city or following our walking trails independently.

This being Andalucía there's always a sunny café terrace or a shady picnic spot to sit yourself down in, put your feet up and watch the world go by. No one is ever in much of a hurry down here...

You have the opportunity to enjoy two self-guided walks in the Alpujarra. On these, you can expect to spend around three to four hours walking if going at quite a leisurely pace. We have designed the routes to give you ample time to go at your own pace, stop for a picnic lunch or a coffee and to enjoy the landscapes as you go.

There are some stretches where you have to go up and down. Whilst you might have to stop and catch your breath occasionally, usually at a viewpoint at the top, you shouldn't have any trouble if you are walking fit.

Underfoot there is a mix of paths, some are flat livestock or olive harvest tracks, others are narrow cobbled or stony paths. It's very important to bring waterproof walking boots though. As you will find, water flows freely in the Alpujarra, despite it not having rained for months. Trails can be momentarily lost below streams of water for short stretches. Although they are easy to navigate, you absolutely need to come equipped with boots which will keep your socks nice and dry.

The roads are all paved and in a good to excellent state of repair. Given how quiet the roads are, how close everything is and how beautiful the landscapes are, driving is a pleasurable pursuit in these parts. It's not a price to pay to win your freedom, it's very much part of the experience.

During your time in Granada, your host usually parks up your car in their secure underground parking area and so you're free of it for a couple of days.

For two people travelling to Spain you can expect a medium-sized vehicle such as a VW Golf.

For any clients not based in Europe, an international driving licence is officially required, but we don't know of any local office in Spain or Portugal that has requested to see it. But it is officially a requirement. If you are in the US, visit https://www.usa.gov/international-drivers-license for more information and details of how to apply.

No, invariably your hosts speak English perfectly well. In busier areas of the main tourist centres like Granada, English will be widely spoken. In smaller restaurants and in villages and the countryside, it is spoken infrequently but don't sweat it, you'll get along just fine.

For sure! As well as the time you spend with your guides and hosts, locals themselves of course, this trip gives you lots of opportunity to observe and interact with locals as much as you'd like to.

In the Alpujarra you will see how medieval farmers brought the miracle of water to the dry slopes, with thousands of acequia channels irrigating the monumental terracing. Thanks to the farmers of today, they continue to flow centuries later.

Even in Granada, you will discover how some bohemian locals are still, quite literally, carving out homes for themselves, living on the margins of society just outside the city walls like the original cave dwellers did centuries ago.

Absolutely, yes. Keeping your hire vehicle, this trip combines particularly well with our 6-night Andalucía Farmhouse B&B Stay and Ronda & Cádiz Coast by Car.

Yes, as long as we retain the essence of this trip through the pacing and content. Many choose to add a guide to the Alhambra visit for example. It's also possible to cut a day from the itinerary if you need to, as much as we'd love you to see and do it all!

As part of the trip, you have a great degree of flexibility to adapt things as you go. You can choose to have a day of hiking or a day of relaxed driving. You can ask your guide to make your walk easier or more challenging. You can slow things down when you want, and up the ante at other times.

If you have more time, we'd love to share other parts of Andalucía with you, such as Ronda, Seville or the coast. We can also connect it with other major cities via the train network, as mentioned above.