Mallorca

Book excerpt: Mallorca is not only a primary holiday destination for sun-lovers, but also a true hiking paradise, with lovely valleys, wild, romantic gorges and countless panoramic summits, all in the serene hinterland, tucked away from the seasonally overcrowded coasts. The "other" Mallorca surprises the visitor with a well-developed network of trails, and offers a variety of tours for all demands and levels of difficulty, starting from simple beach walks, to adventurous cliff tours and challenging mountain hikes, up to a spectacular canyon crossing. Rolf Goetz, the author of this Rother hiking guide, is one of the best experts on the Spanish Islands, and, through his various publications, has already made an excellent name for himself. He presents hikers with a wide variety of entertaining tour suggestions, mainly emphasising the wild, chasm-filled Serra de Tramuntana in the Northwest, but also including other island regions. This handy little hiking book, which opens up one of the most popular island hiking destinations in the Mediterranean area, has 77 tour recommendations described in detail, generously illustrated by colour photos and colour map excerpts (scale 1:50,000 and 1:75,000). Thoroughly-researched introductory chapters with tips on interesting sights and a bus schedule complete this excellent guide, which no traveller should do without. Thus, this guide remains a reliable companion on all hikes on this diverse island.