Meet at Tenerife South Airport for the group transfer (30mins) to Los Cristianos. There may be time for a stroll around the resort before boarding the ferry for the crossing (45mins) to San Sebastian on La Gomera. The ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera is popular with tourists and locals alike. The islands are surrounded by wonderful marine life and if we're lucky we may see some dolphins. Six species are residents of La Gomera with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin being frequently spotted. This area is also home to a large group of long-finned pilot whales. Around 300 whales live around the islands and pilot whales can be identified by their round dorsal fin, and spout which erupts like a high-pressure fountain. On reaching the harbour at San Sebastian it's only a brief 10mins walk to our hotel. Our luggage is transferred separately, so we can just enjoy the walk. After checking in there may be some free time to explore before dinner and briefing from the leader.

Today starts with a brief transfer up into the hills above San Sebastian. Roads are few and far between, which makes the whole La Gomera walking experience very special and as we ascend it's easy to see why the island is known as a land that time forgot. Today is spent in the Garajonay National Park, called the green heart of La Gomera and home to patches of prehistoric forest. The park covers over 10% of the island and is an important water source with a labyrinth of streams and a fantastic diversity of plant species. Often covered in light mist, the cloud forest has an enchanted feel about it. As we hike to the summit of Garajonay (1484m), the highest point in the park, we pass twisted trunks of laurels, ferns, moss and lichens. The views here are spectacular and if the air is clear we'll see the neighbouring islands of El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. This enchanting forest is also home to fascinating fauna including invertebrates, birds, bats, Gomeran Lizard and Stripe-less Tree Frog. If we are lucky we'll also spot two endemic pigeons - the laurel and Bolle's pigeon. Our first fantastic day of walking ends with a short descent to the mountain village of Chipude, considered to be the oldest settlement on La Gomera. We finish surrounded by fields of terracing which is quintessential La Gomera. *Food for thought: Be sure to try golfio con meil - goat's cheese, honey and almonds which is made into bread and cut into slices. The local speciality of Almogrote is traditionally made using a pestle and mortar and combines a hard cheese, garlic, pepper, chillies, ripe tomatoes olive oil. It's claimed that it originates from the Berbers of North Africa and can be described as packing a punch. Across the Canary Islands you'll find gofio. A popular mixture of roasted corn flour and barley which is not only served as an accompaniment to most dishes, but also sprinkled into coffee and wine!

After breakfast we leave our accommodation and prepare for a lovely day traversing two impressive valleys. Locally called barrancos, these impressive ravines were formed by the erosive nature of water which flowed from the forests down to the sea. Today the majority are dry which makes them an extremely dramatic area for walking. Along the way we pass the pottery-making village of El Cercado nestled in a beautifully terraced landscape. Here you'll find typical stone houses and three workshops which keep the traditional art of pottery alive. Even today the potters make the ceramic art using traditional methods, handed down from generation to generation. After El Cerado we reach one of the prettiest valleys on the island, the Valle Gran Rey. This absolutely stunning gorge runs to the south west coast and is dotted with terraced fields and palm groves. Next we make our way down into the Valley of Los Loros passing sections of palms, juniper, heather and laurel. Towards the end of the walk we can enjoy a birds-eye view before reaching Vallehermoso in the north of the island. A dramatic 400m tall volcanic vent called Roque Cano towers over the town which is surrounded by banana plantations, small vineyards and potato fields. Vallehermoso was once the economic and cultural centre of La Gomera and today you'll see decorated houses, fountains, a town hall and lively square. After checking in at the hotel there will be time to explore before dinner. *Food for thought: Food on La Gomera is simple and very tasty. Papas arrugadas con mojo are a Canary Islands institution and delicious when served with mojo (traditional sauce). Papas arrugadas are tiny local potatoes served with their skins on. What's unique about the potatoes of the Canary Islands is their salted crust. These tasty little treats are boiled in sea water, until the salt crystals stick to the skins and served with a local sauce. You'll find two types of sauce - one which is red and spicy using local peppers and chili, whilst the other is green and includes a variety of local herbs. Served alongside fish and wrinkly potatoes this is a winning combination.

After the lushness of the past two days, today we experience a starker landscape, which is typical of the other Canary Islands. Our trail starts with a gradual climb to the Chapel of Santa Clara which sits perched on a ridge. This simple but beautiful building dates as far back as 1888 according to the inscriptions on the wall. However, historical records date a previous building as far back as the seventeenth century. Amongst the residents of Vallehermoso, it is said that Santa Clara was the patron saint of good weather and was worshipped by farmers. Once here we are rewarded with breath-taking views, as the sea sits 700m below us. From this tiny isolated chapel we follow a ridge, and we should hopefully be able to see as far as Tenerife. The stunning volcano of Pico Teide, the highest point in the Canary Islands towers above Tenerife and looks magnificent. In the afternoon our path snakes down to a beach and we walk onto a tiny cove on the coast. We'll finish by heading back to our accommodation via the botanical gardens of Vallehermoso. *Food for thought: Sancocho canario is a local specialty which beautifully combines a number of dishes of the Canarian archipelago. A whole salted fish is served alongside sweet potato, gofio, the famed salty potatoes and mojo. It's a very simple but traditional dish and adding mojo sauce is a must to taste the wonderful contrast of sweetness, spiciness and saltiness. For dessert Bienmesabe simply translates as "tastes good to me" and is an indulgent paste of almonds, honey and sugar often served with ice cream or cream - not for the calorie conscious!

Towering over Vallehermoso is the dramatic rocky outcrop of Roque Cano, which we'll walk up to today. Hiking up and out of the valley, we make a short and steep ascent up to Roque El Cano, which is featured on the town's coat of arms. Surrounded by protected nature, this incredible formation offers superb views over Vallehermoso and the valley. After enjoying the views we continue whilst surrounded by stunning scenery to Las Rosas and the National Park Visitors' Centre at Juego de Bolas. Here we'll see a model of the island alongside information on the native flora and geography. The centre has a small café too which is ideal as a refreshment stop. In the afternoon we head into Barranco Sobre Argoto before making our way up to the viewpoint of El Chorillo. Once here the views over the Hermigua Valley are sensational. Towards the end of the day we descend on a path which winds down to Agulo. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Agulo is a charming town with cobbled streets, pretty houses, a small church and views of Tenerife. Depending on time and weather we may walk to Hermigua or catch a local bus for the final 4 or 5kms. Hermigua is located between two high mountain ranges and is known for its temperate climate. The town has terraced fields on one side and the coast on the other, whilst water-filled ravines provide year-round moisture and give the region one of the largest banana harvests of the island. *Food for thought: Wine has been produced on La Gomera for hundreds of years and because of the volcanic soil and old vines some excellent wines have been produced. The island's rugged landscape sees vineyards cultivated on steeply terraced hillsides. The steeper the slopes, the smaller the terraces and some are as high as 1500m above sea level. Here most of the work is still done by hand. Most of the wine is produced from white grapes and look out for the Forastera Gomera which has been grown on the island for over 400 years.

Today we'll enjoy the amazing landscape of the Hermigua Ridge, which offers fabulous views over the coast. Romantically located between two high mountain ranges, this beautiful wide valley and stunning ridge is known for its temperate climate and unique nature. Water-filled ravines provide year-round moisture to Hermigua which secures its place as one of the largest banana growing areas on the island. This whole area is a paradise for nature lovers and offers an insight into traditional Canarian life. The emblem of the municipality is the characteristic twin cliffs of Roques de San Pedro whilst the coastline is home to beautiful beaches. After the Hermigua Ridge we head towards La Caleta described as the prettiest beach on the northern coast. This whole region was first inhabited by the Gomeros or Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands. We'll follow the coastline through lush scenery and hike along volcanic paths all the way to La Caleta beach. In the afternoon we'll take a different route back to our accommodation after a lovely day of walking. *Food for thought: If you want to try very traditional long established dishes then Garbanzada a lo Canario is a wonderful Canarian Chickpea Stew which varies from kitchen to kitchen. The staples of the dish are vegetables, tomatoes and chickpeas. Potaje de berros is a Spanish soup made with watercress and potatoes, beans, carrots, corn, pork and saffron. It is then sprinkled with freshly chopped raw onion and a tablespoon of gofio is added. Ropa vieja translates to Old Clothes and is a delicious stew that uses up leftovers. Today it's an incredible important dish to local people and includes shredded beef and chicken plus beans, tomato and boiled potatoes.

For our final day on La Gomera, the GR131 offers a variety of walking options so the leader will decide on the best route for the day. The newly established GR131 long-distance route covers all seven of the Canary Islands. The entire path is 651km in length and includes 20,000m of ascent which includes a fantastic variety of dramatic volcanic landscapes. The La Gomera section stretches for 38km. After a final fantastic day of walking we'll return to San Sebastian where after freshening up we'll head out for our final dinner together and look back on a great week.

After an early breakfast we catch the first ferry back to Los Cristianos on Tenerife, from where there will be a single timed transfer back to Tenerife South Airport.