The Alpujarras region

Idyllic and full of traditional whitewashed villages

Spectacular valleys, gorges, and little whitewashed villages await in the shire of Las Alpujarras, 50 kilometres (30 miles) outside Granada on the south slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have the time, we'd highly recommend hiring a car for an excursion to places like the town of Trevélez, a hill town famous for its cured ham and spectacular sunsets, as well as Yegen, Valor, and Cadiar, small towns which have managed to balance modernisation with cherishing their customs and traditions. Also in this region is the Gran Cehel route, which passes through the quiet, simple village of Jorairátar; Murtas, surrounded by almond trees; and Turón, whose landmarks include the Holy Cross Church and the San Marcos Hermitage. A little farther afield from these, Órgiva is also worth a visit for its Moorish ruins and pretty 16th-century church.