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This is a wonderful trip with some excellent and varied walks. The hotel where we stayed was run by Jim and Pilar and you really feel you are part of the family. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The food is wonderful. We are vegetarian, which usually means that you are a bit of an after thought. Not here, the kitchen tries to cater for every diet and we had some lovely dishes and great (and generous) packed lunches. The weather was a bit iffy when we were there, but the tour leader Alvaro has years of experience and knows the area backwards, so he would know what the best walks were for the cloudier or dodgier days. The walking was very varied and the scenery is spectacular. When we were there we saw lots of birds and the wild flowers were wonderful. Also we had an especially nice group which added greatly to the enjoyment of the week.
Reaching the final summit on the last day.
What can I say. Alvaro was just a treat to be with. He has so much experience and knowledge and is a lovely person. Very encouraging and helpful.
The walking is graded Moderate, but I would advise you to get a little training in beforehand to really enjoy it.
This was my first experience of Exodus and was supposed to be with a friend who had to cancel through health issues. I found the group all good company and being a lone traveler was not an issue. The hotel, while small and simple, was comfortable and the hospitality outstanding. No opportunity to cater for every need was missed and the quality of food and service was exceptional. The weather was unseasonable and there were frequent storms but the knowledge and concern of the leader ensured every day was productive, enjoyable and safe as he assessed the likely weather in changeable circumstances and adapted the plan accordingly so not one day was wasted.
Walking the Cares Gorge and seeing at close hand the engineering involved in building the canal/aqueduct to deliver water to the hydroelectric power plant. Walking the Roman mining trail to the isolated village of Bulnes and beyond to the col for lunch.
Alvaro was outstanding. Not only knowledge of every track and trail in the region, which gave him the ability to vary the daily program to make the most of the weather and ensure we were not left exposed in the electrical storms prevailing at the time but also of all the flora and fauna, thus adding another dimension to the treks.
Do not assume Spain in summer means sun and dry conditions. Take a light waterproof and over trousers and a fleece or sweater as just walking in cloud can be cool and wet. If you want to do the canoeing option (something of a highlight for me) on the free day take a swimming costume and shoes you are happy to get wet. Make sure you are protected against the sun, especially the tops of your feet. I found the waterproof product P20 excellent and it only has to be applied once per day. I noticed P30 and 50 are now available.
A wonderful week in fabulous, varied scenery with walks that always exceeded expectations, with plenty of laughs with a great group of fellow walkers, made all the better by having great weather and an exceptional leader.
The whole of the twin summits of Mancondiu walk, a great scramble up a gully to the first peak, a knee trembling ridge walk to the second peak, and a bonus peak later in the day up to San Carlos at 2212m, where we had a amazing 360degree vista, including watching two vultures gliding beneath us.
Alvaro was a real star, very knowledgable and with a great love of the area. Nothing was too much trouble, this was a challenging week and Alvaro managed to guide us up some tricky routes in a manner that empowered all of us. He managed to engage on a personal level with everyone from day one. Probably the best group leader I've ever walked with.
Just go, the first big reveal of the amazing scenery from the top of our first ridge just carried on getting better each day. Our experience was greatly enhanced by having a group where all the members were physically up to the challenging walks, some of the days were in excess of 9 hours, but the effort to get fit is so worth it.
A fantastic week filled with great walking, beautiful views, great food and excellent company. The walking was strenuous enough to almost work off the wonderful food without being too full on. October seemed to be the perfect time of year for warm and sunny weather in this beautiful area of ‘green Spain’
It's always pot luck as to who your fellow group members are, but it is always fantastic when you get on with everyone despite the mix of personalities and backgrounds. Great moments included the wonderful views as our daily climbs got a little higher, the siesta in the field on the way down from one walk wtih the cow bells tinkling in the background, the magnificence of the Carres Gorge, the cameraderie and chat over the post walk/pre dinner beer and the sampling of the local delicacy of percebes at the well recommended fish restaurant in Llanes.
Alvarro was the perfect guide, his local knowledge of flora and fauna was excellent. He was enhtusiastic and keen and more than willing to answer the many questions our group had for him on the local area and the history of his country. His knowledge and insight into the history of his country would put most of us to shame. His English was excellent and he was extremely patient with those of the group who found one particular part of one walk a little tricky - he even picked one of the ladies up and carried her down - to the accompaniment of some rather loud screams. When Alvarro said 'you will love it' we invariably did!!!
If you think you want to lose a couple of pounds on a walking holiday don't pick this one!! The food was excellent, from the breakfast through to the packed lunch and the wonderful evening meals. The countryside was beautiful and in early October we hardly met another soul (apart from Carres Gorge).
The perfect mix of good walking companions, an excellent leader, fantastic scenery and a friendly hotel with excellent food. The walks were varied in length and pace and were well designed to take in the variety of scenery from deep gorges, spectacular mountain views, wildlife as well as a few village bars!
Every day had at least one WOW moment. The (slightly scarey) view looking deep down into the Carres Gorge. Sharing the exhileration of climbing a 2000m summit with the rest of the group. Falling asleep in a sunny meadow after lunch. A cup of coffee bought from a mountain refuge on a chilly morning.
Alvaro was fantastic. He made us all feel welcome right from meeting us at the airport with a big smile. He was excellent at preparing us for each walk - what to expect in terms of difficulty and what weather to expect. He was very good at judging the pace of the group, supporting members when needed to acheive that final scramble to the summit. He was very knowledgeable about his country's history, heritage and wildlife and was also interested in finding out about each person in the group. He had a good sense of humour and a charmingly creative use of English. Now, if he was only to get a decent hair cut.....
If you like walking in mountains but without the extremes of too much scrambling or difficult descents then this is the perfect trip. We were lucky with the weather in early October but be prepared for wet or cold weather particularly up high.
This was a great holiday, made special by the great group leader and a lovely group of people.
Creeping up on the Gryphon vultures perched on top of a hill.
The group leader is one of the best I have ever had. Very enthusiastic and knowledgable about all the flora and fauna, geography and geology of the Picos.
Yes, book this trip.
This was a brilliant trip, with amazing surroundings, a great group and an excellent leader. The inclusion of "options" worked well (i.e. additional peaks within a walk, which you could either climb or alternatively relax in the sunshine at a refuge or coll while others climbed them!) N.B. I did grade C.
Visiting the refuge with the "postcard" views, a family with 3 young children running it, and donkeys, a cat etc.
Alvaro was very considerate, sweet and keen. There is nothing negative to say.
Take a very sturdy/strong pair of walking boots with you as the paths are very rocky in Picos.
One of the best holidays I have ever been on….go do it now!
I went on the Challenging itinerary and the views from the summits we reached were incredible. The walking was varied and well suited to everybody in the group and I loved every minute of it!
Alvaro was one of the very best guides I have been on a trip with. Highly competent, great with people and always ready with a joke or two. Fantastic organiser and a top man.
Do the challenging itinerary.....you won't regret it!
My holiday in de Picos de Europe has been the best I’ve had in the last ten years! Everything was perfect!Work has been miles away, thoughts were vanished. It is also always a pleasure to be among englisch.Go to the Picos! It’s lovely. Greetings, Monica Wesseling, Holland
There is not one special. Every moment was fine
Perfect!
Go!
This was a really good trip, scenery, people and activities all great, but too short! It would work really well as a 10 day trip
gryphon vultures swooping over us as we walked up into the hills, waking up on the first day to see the mountains in front of the hotel after we had arrived pretty late the first day, and our very good guide Alvaro, who was very knowledgeable and good fun!
Alvaro was very knowledgeable about the area and informative about life in the area. He was fun company and always ensured that the mixed abilities of the group were taken into account.Jim and Pilar at the hotel were also very good hosts, friendly and keen to ensure we all had a good time.
Be prepared to be flexible. We had to have some changes to our activities due to the heat, and apparently the trip before us had changes due to the rain. Mountains are un-predictable. Also make sure you have good boots, some of the walking can be quite difficult