I’d been sent to Tenerife on press trip to see the alternative side of the island. Day three (Tenerife Trekking Part 1 and Trekking in Tenerife – Part 2) were published on TravelWithAMate.com) was a much more relaxed affair with much less trekking but more sight seeing and relaxing in the sun.

Our guide, Christine drove us around the winding mountainous roads before we stopped off for a morning coffee. After a swift cappuccino we were back on the road cruising at a high altitude looking down over some spectacular views towards the coast. I found it hard to believe that it was so peaceful and scenic up in the mountains in comparison to some of the beach side resorts of Tenerife.

Eventually we drove into the Teide National Park and were confronted by strange rock formations and a vast plain resembling a lunar landscape. It is easy to see why films such as Planet of The Apes, Total Recall and Star Wars were filmed around this fantastic scenery. The advantage Tenerife has over many other scenic places is that it really doesn’t take much to reach such scenery which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 29 June 2007. For families and elderly, the park is easily accesible and the roads are in perfect condition for anyone on a self drive holiday.

As for Mount Teide itself, it can be reached by taking a cable car up to a place called Rambleta at 3,555 metres and then a further 200 metres trek will take you to the top. A permit is also required to reach the top of Mount Teide and can be applied for via the administration office of the Teide National Park by email, fax or traditional post.

For the more hardcore trekkers, the ultimate Tenerife trekking route zig zags up over lava fields to the top of the volcano. Be warned the trek its not for the faint hearted as it can take up to seven hours and altitude sickness could be a issue for some. As we were taking a day off from trekking we admired the mountain from a distance while taking in the beauty of the rest of the park. On the drive back to our accommodation we stopped off at a small village for a drink and a stroll in the sunshine.

I had really enjoyed the trip and was actually surprised to see such varying landscapes on all three days of trekking, it was a healthy escape that I’d recommend to others.

If you are interested in trekking on a Tenerife holiday, Lowcostholidays can provide holidays to Tenerife from as little as £199. Chistine provides inspirational walks on Tenerife – www.tenerifewalks.com