With Matkasuvila in Spain

Our annual spring break destination is the eastern edge of Spain. This was the case even before we bought the chalet, and it will probably often remain so in the future.

After all, Spain may seem a bit far to travel by car at first, but if you have enough time, it's definitely worth the drive.

Our Spanish adventure starts with a drive from home - we'll load up on Helgi Erilaiu's stories of Spanish history and places, or Spanish music and kulgeme. Hiking is not a rush through Europe, but an enjoyable way to move at your own pace. Usually we split our trip to Spain in half - stopping off in the Alps for a few days of skiing. The beautiful snow-covered Zillertal valley and quiet mountain villages are a nice introduction to the holiday season.

From there it's another 2,000 km to our destination, which we'll split into two days. Driving in France and Spain, we try to avoid motorways due to the rather high tolls, but in certain places it is wiser to pay to save energy and time. With experience, we've already got a pretty good feel for when to use the motorways and when to enjoy cruising at a more leisurely pace through small villages and stopping off at a particularly nice smelling boulangerie to buy a fresh croissant for breakfast from a friendly saleswoman. Overnight wherever the appetite for a ride runs out.

Spain is our destination because of its mighty mountains and early spring warmth. We go there every spring for 3-4 weeks to cycle and get fit. We've found the perfect spot for our camping chalet on the outskirts of Benidorm. The hills around Alteat, Calpe and Alicante are some of the best places for cycling in spring in Spain. Temperatures are warm early in the season, and the surrounding roads offer both calmer terrain and the steeper climbs of the Vuelta d'Espana. The roads are lightly trafficked, and in the meantime you can relax with a cup of coffee and a chat with friends in the quiet Spanish mountain villages, where time has stood still and not much has changed in the last century.

After a couple of weeks of cycling with friends, it's time to give your legs a rest and enjoy a bit of culture. On the way home, we'll take a detour inland, away from the beach resorts that are starting to fill up with tourists, and visit some forgotten historic monasteries, villages and small towns. There are still few tourists in early spring, and it's nice to enjoy this awakening nature and birdsong.

Much of Spain lies on a slope at an altitude of more than 600 m, and the roads from the sea coast wind between the mountains that surround the slope, following the paths laid out by nature. Often, the narrow carriageway follows the same path, zig-zagging up the hill as the adjacent mountain stream flows merrily down to the sea, bouncing between the rocks. And when you finally reach a small historic town or village along the way, you'll be amazed! The villages are often hidden in very difficult to see and reach places, and built between cliffs in such a way that it is hard to understand how these houses still cling to the cliffs on the edge of the gorge to this day.

One day, our dream is to take our hiking souvenirs back from over 2000 m to the Tajo River headwaters, where hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails begin. This wonderful combination of nature and history is our beloved Spain. Not to mention the friendly people and delicious Mediterranean cuisine!

Spain is a good destination for hikers, as accommodation is easy to find both for those who prefer a wilder life and for those who are looking for a suitable campground. The roads are wide enough to drive on and traffic is moderate. The sun shines for most of the year and privacy-lovers with solar panels can get by in the wilderness without the need for extra electricity. Hikers are well received and often have special parking spaces near smaller towns and places of natural beauty, where they can stay overnight at no extra charge.