Love autumn colours, but find rain and grey skies a nuisance when hiking? Time for a change of scene. Without travelling far, you can easily reach several islands offering hiking in a particularly pleasant environment and climate.
Rayonrando opens its travel journals to reveal these little paradises for autumn hikers. To help you choose your next sunny autumn destination, here is a selection of islands based on a few criteria:
- A trip suited to one week.
- A flight of no more than 4 h from Paris.
- Pleasant weather conditions.
- A natural environment suited to hiking.
- A trip you can arrange independently, without an agency.
Islands explored by the team
Madeira
Why go?
- For its hikes: some vertiginous, others unusual and accessible.
- For its levadas, ancient irrigation channels now used to cross the mountains on foot.
- For magnificent lush gardens reflecting a mild, sometimes humid, sunny climate.
- For Fanal's laurel forest: a distinctive atmosphere, especially in mist, with unusually shaped centuries-old trees.
What type of hiking or stay?
Madeira is ideal for day hikes. A multi-day route can also cross the island via its summits.
Hiking difficulty varies greatly, with something for everyone.
Rayonrando's favourite:
Hiking between the island's summits at sunrise above the clouds: unforgettable!
The Canaries: Tenerife
Why go?
- For incredible volcanic scenery: a vast arid expanse surrounded by a caldera rising to 2,500 m, with Teide, the island's summit, at 3,715 m in the centre. An instant change of scene!
- For unusual little mountain villages such as Masca.
- For La Laguna, with its pastel-coloured colonial architecture and countless historic buildings.
- For Anaga rural park, the island's very green area, contrasting with volcanic regions.
- For wild black-sand beaches after hiking. Friendly locals may show you access to unusual beaches. Do not go in flip-flops: some take effort to reach!
What type of hiking or stay?
Tenerife is around 3 times larger than Madeira. Multi-day hikes are easy to arrange. For a week, concentrate on one area with a through-hike or discover several places through day hikes.
The west and north also offer fine coastal hikes while remaining high up.
There are hikes for all levels. Just consider altitude changes: avoid an afternoon on the beach followed by a Teide ascent next morning.
Rayonrando's favourite:
Teide summit and neighbouring craters, including Pico Viejo. A lunar atmosphere very different from French landscapes.
Mallorca
Why go?
- Mountains above the sea, turquoise coves, superb towns and villages, works by artists of the 20th century and today. Plenty to do!
- The island suits a mixed stay, half hiking, half sightseeing and wandering.
- The beautiful Serra Tramuntana only reaches 1,400 m, but starting at sea level still means good climbs and superb coastal views.
- Palma de Mallorca is a destination in itself, charming and full of historic and artistic sites. There are also Pollença and fortified Alcudia.
- The food is good: fish, seafood and tapas, with plenty of choice.
What type of hiking or stay?
Day hikes are possible even without a car, thanks to a fairly good bus network. We completed a multi-day hike along the entire western side, wild coast and Serra Tramuntana. No wild camping, but affordable accommodation including picturesque Lluc Monastery.
RayonRando's favourite:
Around Soller, especially beautiful Fornalutx village, followed by a mountain climb with sumptuous panoramas.
Menorca
Why go?
- Like Mallorca, its north-east has a wild coast escaping concrete development, alternating coves, coastline and rocky moorland, enhanced by Mediterranean light.
- The mysterious Talayotic civilisation scatters prehistoric remains across the island and your hikes: stone sanctuaries and totems, mysterious talayot towers, and coastal rock-cut necropolises.
- Port Mahon and Ciutadella are 2 charming historic towns that can start and finish your route.
What type of hiking or stay?
We walked the entire north-east coast from near Port Mahon to Ciutadella in 3 days, with 2 coastal wild camps. Day hikes require a vehicle to explore the island fully within a few days.
RayonRando's favourite:
The hike between Cala Morel necropolis and Punta Nati lighthouse: besides the necropolis, discover wave-battered rocky coast, stony moorland crossed by dry-stone walls, mysterious talayots and superb views…
Crete
Why go?
- Combine sea and mountains: a summit at midday need not prevent a sea swim at day's end, with spectacular gorges along the way.
- Combine nature and culture before and during hikes: a Venetian fort on a ridge, a Byzantine church on a beach or an abandoned village may lie along your route.
- Combine sunshine, exercise and the Cretan diet!
- Remarkable towns and sites such as Knossos and the preserved old towns of Hania (Chania) and Rethimnon.
- It is an affordable destination outside the peak season.
What type of hiking/holiday:
We walked from place to place, mainly staying in budget hotels (with a few nights sleeping under the stars on the beach). For day hikes, it is better to have a vehicle so you are less restricted by bus services. Bring enough water, as you may not find any along the route and you will drink a lot.
RayonRando's favourite:
Even more than the Samaria Gorge, we loved the Aradena Gorge: wild, deserted and impressive, with the ghost village of Aradena at the top.
Other islands to explore:
Sicily
Around a 2-hour 30-minute flight away, this is an appealing destination for hikers. Watch active volcanoes, take day hikes or walk from place to place through the regional parks.
From coastal paths alongside turquoise waters to technical trails in the island's heights, via a UNESCO-listed archaeological site, Sicily offers plenty of reasons to spend a week there.
The Azores
In early autumn, this is still an option for hikers seeking wild landscapes. The climate is mild and the weather mostly sunny, although showers are not uncommon. The landscape is distinctive, with high-altitude crater lakes and lush vegetation thanks to periods of heavy rain, particularly in winter. This archipelago also seems to remain unspoilt by mass tourism.
Malta (and Gozo)
Sunshine and mild temperatures in early autumn give this archipelago an ideal climate for hiking. Cliffs, caves and turquoise waters will fill your days. You can also explore historic remains, wild coves (particularly on Gozo) and distinctive fishing villages. A fine mix of nature and culture, all in the sunshine.
Cyprus
Around a 4-hour flight away, this island lies south of Turkey. Very accessible hikes await on an island with idyllic coastlines. Follow in the footsteps of the gods of Greek mythology, with exceptional views, particularly in the Troodos Mountains and on the Akamas Peninsula. Hikers most eager for elevation gain may be interested in Mount Olympos, which reaches 1,952 m.
We have not included Corsica or Sardinia here, where autumn weather becomes more unpredictable as soon as you gain altitude.
Conclusion:
Choosing these islands, not too far from our shores, guarantees a change of scenery, lovely hikes and generally good weather.
Of course, this article is not exhaustive and only reflects our personal experiences. Islands are not the only places for sunny autumn hikes. The Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, Portugal and North Africa also offer great, fairly accessible possibilities.