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Gran Canaria trail running 2024
Winter sun trail running on sections of the Trans Gran Canaria route
Mountain village of Tejada in central Gran Canaria
Course overview

Usually more associated with beach holidays, Gran Canaria is a great choice for winter trail running as you can escape the UK rain or Alpine snow during the winter months. With average annual temperatures ranging from 18 to 25 C, Gran Canaria has a mild climate for the majority of the year, making it perfect for running.
Our Gran Canaria running week is based in the beautiful and peaceful coastal resort of Agaete on the west side of the island which gives you the perfect combination of being able to easily access hundreds of kilometres of trails, whilst also being able to enjoy the famous Playa de Las Nieves beach to relax on afterwards.

These training camps are open to anyone, but we suggest that you will get the most out of them if you are happy running up to 10km, or even a half marathon. We try to offer a great balance of running, coaching, and trail running advice, preparation and top tips.

The comfortable hotel is just 200 yards from the beach which is the start line for the famous Ultra Trail Transgrancanaria. The hotel features a large terrace with loungers and views of the surrounding mountains, and there are beautiful volcanic rock pools in the nearby quaint fishing village of Puerto de las Nieves.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, a receipt, trip dossier, and a course specific kit list.
Trail running on steeper ground. Gran Canaria trail running
Trail running and coaching

Don't worry if you have never run on trails before, as you will pick up the skills quickly with expert coaching and guidance. All you need is to be fit for regular running, to have a sense of humour, and to love the outdoors. We will teach you the rest, and our aim is for you to have great holiday that you will remember.
You are led and coached by a finisher of the Trans Gran Canaria (or other major ultra race) with a wealth of previous running experience. Most importantly they will be a passionate trail runner who has competed in plenty of ultra running races. You are led by a genuine expert in ultra-trail running.
Gran Canaria is a continent in miniature, with a dramatic variation of terrain ranging from the green and leafy North, the volcanic mountainous interior, and the desert South. This variety of terrain offers unique training opportunities for all trail runners.
This trail running week will give you an excellent fitness boost and platform in which to prepare for the forth coming months if you have races booked, or should you be looking to take that step to book your first one.
Ultra Trail - Trans Gran Canaria (TGC) events

If you book on our March running week of early March, you have the amazing opportunity to watch the start of the Ultra Trail Trangrancanaria running race which is 125km long around the island. The event is usually run over the first weekend in March, with the main TGC set off on the Friday evening.
The atmosphere in Agaete this week is electric! We always try and ensure that this week you are led by a TGC finisher, so they can give you all the race gossip. Click on the race website link for details.

Trail running route near Tejada. Gran Canaria trail running

Brief Course Itinerary
Gran Canaria is blessed with hundreds of kilometers of trails over all types of terrain, from forest or coastal tracks to rocky mountain trails in the centre of the island. The itinerary is flexible throughout the week to take account of the weather and conditions, to ensure that you sample the best trails on offer. The itinerary below is to provide you with a taster of what you could achieve, and isn't fixed in stone. As far as the distances run each day, we advertise c. 15 - 20km each day. We just want you to join the trip with a spirit of loving running in the mountains, and wanting to give anything a go. Speed is nothing. Enjoyment is everything!
Sunday
Travel to Las Palmas airport to arrive for the 17.30 airport transfer to the hotel in Agaete. The transfer takes c.50 minutes. At 19.00 there is a group meeting and itinerary briefing with your guide at the hotel. Here you can discuss kit and previous experience, and also your aspirations for training and route choices during the week. Briefings are over by 20:00 and the group usually goes out for drinks and dinner to explore the town. Night in Agaete.
Monday
After the long day travelling yesterday, you start off with a classic warm up trail, usually along the mountainous coastline. It will stretch your legs, and develop your trail skills. You can even start from the hotel door, just 200m from the beach where the Trans Gran Canaria Ultra Trail actually starts, and run along the famous black sands, before heading south along the remote and rugged coastline. Night in Agaete.
Tuesday
Today a longer day to focus on key skills for trail running, with a focus on navigation techniques. In the region of Tamadaba, you pass lakes and huts through the Llanos di Mimbre, so there are plenty of opportunities for a brief refreshment on route. After each day of running you return to Agaete, and can take the opportunity for a visit to the beach for a cooling dip in the sea to soothe and relax your muscles. Night in Agaete.
Wednesday
The aim for today is typically a great circular run with the focus to develop different running techniques for varied terrain types. Leaving the Crus de Arjaeda today is a circular run at roughly 1400m altitude. Largely on trails you pass through the dense forests of the Montana de Artenara, over the rough Barranco Hondo de Arriba, and over the Montana de Capitan. The steep sides of the barranco walls create stunning scenery. Night in Agaete.
Thursday
Often a day running in the Pico de la Nieves area, where you run through the Hoya del Gamonal to reach the summit, before descending via Campanario anf Llanos de la Pez to complete the circuit to return to the roadhead. During the days you can also focus on learning extra skills including route planning, using poles for train running, pacing and navigation. The week is very deliberately flexible to meet your needs . Night in Agaete.
Friday
A longer trail run, to really put all the elements together that you have learnt over the week. Typically the route taken would make the circuit of the iconic rock tower of Roque Nublo, and you spend the day running in the national park above the stunning village of Tejeda which clings to the mountainside. This route really is a great climax to the week, and all your efforts are rewarded with great views at every turn. Night in Agaete.
Saturday
Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. The arranged airport transfer departs for the airport at 09.00. This is scheduled for flights departing Las Palmas airport that leave after midday (although there are other airlines that also offer flights departing c.21:00 if you want to take advantage of an extra day in the sun, and additional airport transfers can be arranged and paid for direct in resort). Depart for home.

ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionally we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternative itineraries are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Sunset over Roque Nublo on Gran Canaria
Course Prices
Standard course
5 full days running guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday
£899
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Inclusions: 1) Experienced running guide for five days, 2) Six nights B&B accommodation in central Agaete (two people sharing, inc. buffet breakfast, bedding & towels), 3) Icicle pre-trip information dossier, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shop, 5) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 6) Private group road transport around Gran Canaria during the five guided days, 6) One scheduled group airport transfer to and from hotel on arrival and departure days, 7) Logistics support from our UK office with 24 hour support number.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Las Palmas airport in Gran Canaria, 2) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals, & any purchases in mountain or valley huts / hotels / restaurants, 3) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.

Notes: As well as our scheduled dates, we can operate bespoke trips for private groups, either following our itinerary, or for shorter breaks. There are upgrade options of single rooms, or for a more luxury hotel. Just let us know your requirements, and we will quote for you. Our scheduled course requires a minimum number of 2 people to operate without a suppliment, and there are a maximum of 6 people on the trip.

Looking across to Mt Teide on Tenerife from Tejada on Gran Canaria
Current course availability

Course Dates
Gran Canaria trail run
  • No Dates Available
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Price: £899 Book online

Alternative courses
Alpine Skyrunning week
Alps winter trail running
UK fell running weekend
Personal training sessions

Our trail running trips have been previously featured in
the Sunday Times

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Trail running descent skills. Gran Canaria trail running
Location data for this trip
This trip is based in Agaete which is the coastal town of Gran Canaria, the largest of the Spanish Canary Islands located off the coast of Morocco. This region of Gran Canaria offers great coastal running from the door, or within an hours drive you can access trails in the more mountainous central part of the island. There is a great choice of trail running venues in all the diverse regions of Gran Canaria.
Time Difference
GMT +0hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
4h30 flight
Trail running on rough ground. Gran Canaria trail running
Free resources


FREE Podcast
Getting into trail running...

Trail running is a fastgrowing sport, and this podcast explains what it involves, how to get into it, and also goes through all of the equipment that is required
.
Download podcast (3.76 MB)
See all the Icicle podcasts


FREE Resource
Alps trail running kit list...
If you are planning on attending one of our trail running courses, you can see a kit check list of the clothing and equipment that we recommend you take.
Trail running kit advice page
Download the kit list here
Trail running mountain skills. Gran Canaria trail running
Travel notes for this trip
Budget airline flights from London Stansted to Las Palmas are available on a Sunday through Ryanair to Las Palmas airport. The flights take c. 4hrs 30 mins (including time difference). Most flights land around 16.45 so there is time to collect bags before catching the airport transfer at 17.30 to the hotel (c. 45 minutes) and time to unpack before the 19.00 briefing.
The airport transfer is included in the trip price at 17.30 on the arrival day from Las Palmas airport, and it leaves the hotel at 09.00 on the departure Saturday (in time for check-in for the Ryanair flights departing after midday). Other times or days (as the Easyjet flight from London Gatwick arrives on a Saturday) for the transfer can be arranged to be paid in resort please ask for quote / availability. Extra nights in the hotel can be booked and added to your invoice on request.
Roof terrace of our main hotel in Agaete
Suggested reading and kit
Why choose our trips?
The photo above sums it up. All of these finisher jackets of the UTMB race series belong to our head running leader. We genuinely think that there is no other operator out there who is more credible!
There are several other operators who also offer trail running camps, and we aren't afraid to advertise that fact. Please look at their itineraries to see how they differ from ours.
We don't offer talks from 'celebrity' runners, or go in for the chardonnay in a hot tub 'lifestyle', or quasi-scientific courses. Ours are run by people who do it, not talk the talk.
The effect on our prices is that we can offer you great value. We genuinely believe that you'll spend more time actually running than with anyone else.
Anyone who is leading you will be a finisher of one of the iconic trail races, such as the Trans Gran Canaria, UTMB Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, or the Tor du Geants.
Author signed!
'Trail Running Chamonix &
the Mont Blanc region'
link
...or the NEW book...
'Trail and Fell Running in
the Lake District'
buy a copy
by Kingsley Jones. Cicerone Press

£14.95 each
Each book has 40 trail running
routes, each with height profiles,
and full colour mapping

Features how to adapt your
running in the mountains, and
an index of where to stay

Includes famous races in each
region, e.g. UTMB, Langdale
Horseshoe and Chamonix VKM

To purchase a copy, click here


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