The Tabernas desert is a natural place worth visiting if you go to Almeria. It is also a good place for hiking trails because it has several levels of difficulty and a lot of charm.
It is an environment where many films have been shot, such as“Lawrence of Arabia“,“Cleopatra” or“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly“.
For all these reasons, in this post we are going to indicate which are the best hiking trails in the Tabernas desert and what is so special about each one of them.
What is the Tabernas Desert?
The Tabernas Desert has been considered a Protected Natural Area since 1989.
It has a subarid Mediterranean climate, which translates into low rainfall, many hours of sunshine per day and average temperatures of over 17 ºC. It is perfect for lovers of geology and landscapes, since its geological formations are very special with slopes, streams, wadis, etc…
It is also a Special Protection Area for Birds. We will be able to see, if we are lucky, king swifts, solitary rock thrushes, jackdaws, trumpeter bullfinches and many other interesting species.
Western Leone Route
Almost all hiking enthusiasts agree that the best hiking route through the Tabernas desert is the Western Leone Circular Route.
The Western Leone is a theme park set in the old west, where visitors can see the original sets of several western themed movies and enjoy various shows performed by professional actors.
This circular route through its surroundings is moderate and its duration is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. It is a very frequented route, so you will be able to meet other hikers.
You will be able to see the oasis of palm trees from the movie“Lawrence of Arabia” and you can do this route whenever you want, as it is always open. Just bring plenty of water with you and a hat or cap, as there is little shade along the way.
Route from Gador to the desert of Tabernas
If you want a route that requires more physical effort and at the same time, is more fun and with less people on the road, I recommend you do the route from Gador to the Tabernas desert.
It is a hilly route that starts in the town of Gador and continues crossing the Andarax River. At this point, if you have time or want to spend the night somewhere, I recommend that you detour to visit the village of Laujar de Andarax. It is one of the most beautiful and charming villages in the region.
When you reach the Meandro de la Calderona the ascent begins, so this is one of the complicated parts of the route. You will visit Santa Fé de Mondújar, and then you will enter the Ramblas del Gergal.
Continue to the Apeadero de Fuente Santa and continue climbing until you find a beautiful panoramic view of the Tabernas desert. The route is 35.6 km in total.
Other panoramic views that you must enjoy in Andalucia if you are an adventurer are those of the Caminito del Rey. You can take our excursion to the Caminito del Rey from the Costa del Sol from 59€.
Los Bardinales-Serra del Marchante-El Chortal
If you want your route to be moderate but longer in duration, this is your route. It is a circular route in which you will find few people. It is the longest route through the Tabernas desert, covering a total of 46.2 km.
It is also a route rich in scenery and if you do it you will be able to see the surroundings of the western style theme parks found in the Tabernas desert.
It is perfect for hikers who want to get to know the desert landscape in more depth and take photos in which tourists do not appear.
