Hike The Canary Islands

Trip Code: ZMXO

Why we love it

Take time to relax in Tenerife, where mild year-round weather and golden beaches make it easy to slow down and enjoy the coastal landscape between days of exploring., Explore Tenerife’s terrain on carefully selected hikes, all led by an experienced local guide who knows the island inside out., Discover Tenerife’s volcanic terrain on a guided hike along the Samara Trail in Teide National Park. Walk along lava fields and pine forests and take in the scenic views of the well-known Teide Volcano., Connect with local culture at a banana farm and sit down to a homemade meal at a Guachinche – an authentic Canarian dining experience rooted in tradition and family hospitality., Stay near Costa Adeje and enjoy the convenience of unpacking once, with easy daily transfers to and from the region’s best hiking trails.

Is this trip right for me?

This trip involves plenty of walking over varied and sometimes steep terrain and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Good footwear and clothing for all types of weather is recommended. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

You will be passing through remote and undeveloped parts of the island so you must bring a day pack to carry enough water and snacks for each day.

Important information

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please see Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
2. This trip ends on Day 7 after breakfast and you are free to leave at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Picnic lunches will be available to buy before every hike.

What to bring/pack

As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

MAIN LUGGAGE
You need to bring your main piece of luggage as well as a small to medium backpack for day’s walks (20-25 litres). One with waist strap would be most comfortable for all included walks

ESSENTIALS

- Day pack: for carrying essentials during activities
- Trekking clothing: A mixture covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers is recommended. Your activities will take place in the outdoors, where weather may change quickly. Lightweight, comfortable, and quick drying clothes for the activities are best. Laundry facilities may not be available on every day basis, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes.
- Hiking shoes with a good grip, (ankle support optional) and breathable membrane that are comfortable to walk for an entire day. Most of the walking will be on sand surface. Light cross-trainer shoe type runner are also sufficient.
- Hiking sandals that can be used on a hot days and shorter walks
- Few pairs of longer socks to stop the sand and dust coming in to your footware
- Comfortable shoes for evenings spend around accommodation
- Light jacket or fleece and base layers in case of colder weather
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Breathable, non-cotton hiking t-shirts
- Long hiking pants or zip-offs and/or shorts nylon hiking shorts
- Water bottle or bladder: you will need water during activities and it’s best to avoid buying unnecessary plastic. We recommend minimum of 2 litres capacity. If you travel in summer months, it’s better to bring ta least 3 litres capacity
- Sun protection: sunscreen (sunblock), sunglasses, sunhat or bandana
- Swimwear
- Toiletries

RECOMMENDED

- Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, antihistamine tablets and any personal medication you may need
- Walking Poles for support on steep uphill sections and longer descents
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Torch/flashlight/headtorch
- Camera with spare batteries/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items daily
- Travel eco-friendly wipes/hand sanitizer

VALUABLES

Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. It’s also recommended to bring a copy of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list.

WATER BOTTLE

Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.

Physical rating

4

You’re in for a hiking trip and a good level of fitness is essential. We don't ask travellers to complete a physical participation form for this trip however we do ask you read through the trip notes carefully to ensure that this trip is the right trip for you. You must be comfortable hiking up to 8-9 hours a day, with many steep uphill sections, uneven, rocky terrain and in unpredictable weather.

If you’re already a regular exerciser, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, or take few longer walks, ideally with a day pack on your back. If you’re not exercising so regularly (2-3 times a week), it’s important to start in the weeks leading up to your departure (4-6 weeks prior at least). Your best choice would be to start walking regularly 2-3 times a week including at least one longer walk (up to 15 km). It’s important to not only walk on flat surface, so if you cannot access a hilly terrain easily, walking up and down the stairs is a good replacement. Top that up with some general fitness exercises and any other cardio related classes and you will see a huge progress in your fitness levels.

Joining your group

Costa Adeje, , Costa Adeje, SPAIN

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

Finishing your trip

Costa Adeje, , Costa Adeje, SPAIN

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 6

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).

VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.

MEAL TIMES IN SPAIN
Meal times in Spain are later than in many other countries. Dinner is usually served between 8pm and 10pm. While this takes some getting used to it is a great way to observe Spanish food culture.

Tenerife’s food is full of color, flavor, and island tradition. Fresh seafood, papas arrugadas (Canarian wrinkled potatoes) with mojo sauce, and slow-cooked meats are staples you’ll find everywhere. Local cheeses and tropical fruits add a sweet touch, while desserts like bienmesabe (almond cream) showcase the island’s heritage. Paired with volcanic wines or a refreshing barraquito coffee, every meal feels authentic and memorable—simple, hearty, and made to be shared after a day of adventure.

As this is a walking trip, it will be a good idea to stock up on snacks you can fuel on during the day; mixed nuts, energy bars and sweet fruit are usually the best choice for this sort of activity.

Climate & seasonal information

SUMMER
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C/104°F), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

SHOULDER SEASON
In contrast, weather in shoulder season can be unpredictable, and snow is not unheard of at higher altitudes. If you travel at the start or towards the end of the European season please pack accordingly with warm and/or waterproof clothes (preferably layers). The advantage of travelling during this time is that there are less tourists around.

SPANISH SIESTA
Shops, attractions and businesses may be closed for up to 5 hours in the middle of the day. This gives the locals time to escape the heat and spend time with their families, take a long lunch or simply sleep through the warmest time of day. This means that people work later into the evening and dine between 8pm and 10pm. We recommend that you try to do as the locals do - avoid the heat of the day and stay out later at night.

Tenerife offers excellent hiking all year thanks to its mild Canary Islands climate. Along the coast, days are usually warm and sunny, perfect for easy walks by the sea. Higher up in the mountains, especially around Mount Teide, temperatures are cooler and conditions can change quickly, adding variety and drama to the trails. Winter (December–February) can bring snow at the summit while the lower paths stay mild, and summer (June–September) is hot but still comfortable in shaded forests and higher altitudes. No matter the season, Tenerife always has a trail with the right weather for adventure.

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +34 960 25 61 55

Accommodations

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

Transportation

As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.