Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
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153 Reviews
4.8 out of
5
Reviews
Mary Palfreyman
Reviewed October 2016
Totally amazing week spent in the Picos
The Picos is a fantastic area with wonderful scenery and mountain terrain. To walk in the Picos was a great way to see the area and get up and close to the peaks. The hotel was great with a lovely terrace bar over-looking the valley and peaks and it was a great way to end the day with a beer in hand here (who needs telly). The food at the hotel was amazing and the staff at the hotel went out of their way to ensure that all guests had a memorable experience – I know I did. I am vegetarian and did not struggle at all for food, the hotel caters for vegetarians and there was always a veggie option available – even packed lunches.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cares Gorge - it took my breath away....
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvero was just great, he has a kind, considerate and passionate attitude to everything that he does. He was always there for everyone in the group, from the slowest walker to the fastest walker. He knew the area and plants, animals, birds that lived there and would go into details explaining this.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do this trip, do not hesitate...I had an amazing week and could not find fault in anything. Everything was just perfect.
Rosalind Deer
Reviewed October 2016
Walking the Picos de Europa
A haven for wildlife set in stunning scenery; sheer peaked mountains, deep rocky gorge, green pastures. Exceptional Leader. Well organised walks. One free day. Homely hotel and friendly, helpful staff. First-class evening meals, freshly cooked by proprietors, Jim & Pilar. Generous breakfasts and varied packed lunches, Fantastic shower.
Most Inspirational Moment
From mountainside watching two enormous Griffon Vultures silently riding the thermals. Spotting a Short-toed Eagle flying above us carrying a snake in its beak.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro is an exceptional leader and natural teacher; passionate about the Picos, with a special interest in wildlife, he shared his knowledge appropriately not only with our group but with each individual, making time to get to know each person's interests. Breakfast briefings by Alvaro each day regarding weather, suitable clothing and water quantities to take were very useful. Each walk was carefully planned according to weather and trail conditions and pace managed; Alvaro gently encouraged those 'flagging' and directed those 'eating up kilometres' when necessary, moving quickly along our procession to ensure everyone was happy and had a sense of achievement at the day's end.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Not 'a walk in the park' because, at times, the terrain was challenging. Risk of vertigo at a few points.
Pack for changeable mountain weather.
Penelope Gray
Reviewed September 2016
Picos de europa
Well planned walks. Lovely scenery. First class leader. Comfortable hotel – excellent food
Most Inspirational Moment
All walks were very good. Gorge walk, high level "balcony" walk in particular.
Thoughts on Group Leader
First class. Knowledgeable. Enthusiastic. Put real effort into planning walks according to weather forecasts.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a variety of weather in the mountains. Good quality waterproofs including boots were needed on the week I went.
Anne Taylor Murray
Reviewed September 2016
Walking the Picos de Europa
What is it about a range of mountains that is so inspiring? Their nobility, their grandeur, their immutable timelessness? All this and more is to be found in los Picos de Europa.
Most Inspirational Moment
Just sensing my own insignificance in the face of the enormity of those mountains. One gains a whole new perspective on life.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro is passionate and knowledgeable about his own region of Spain. Amongst his exceptional qualities as a walking guide is human compassion. My 76 year-old body was not always up to the challenge of those magnificent mountains. Alvaro knew exactly when to give me encouragement to go the extra mile. As a consequence I return home with a sense of accomplishment and very, very happy memories of my week
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go for it!
Angela Milne
Reviewed September 2016
Walking in the Picos de Europa
An extremely well organised trip in a delightful hotel on the outskirts of a small but busy village. The trip was fully catered apart from the day off and the standard of cuisine was exceptionally high.Transport was provided to the coast on the day off and advice given on a walk along the coast and where to eat.The bar and outside terrace of the hotel provided an excellent place to end the day and sit outside enjoying drinks and sun.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Carres gorge is a fantastic walk and we did it on the last day as this was forecast to be cooler and less crowded as many of the Spanish visitors were on their way home. The two scrambling summits we did were also highlights.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Alvero was brilliant, he was full of enthusiasm, organised the programme to suit the walks to the weather conditions and even carried 8 litres of water for group use on very hot days.Jim the hotel owner and cheif cook was also extremely helpful and very interesting to talk to.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We spent a couple of days in Bilbao before the trip and one after to enable us to go Easy jet from Manchester. Exodus booked us the flights so we had a package.It is a fantastic compact city and the Guggenheim is an amazing piece of architecture.The town is well worth a visit.
Shortage of plugs for charging devices so if you have a two way charger take it.
Michael Cowling
Reviewed August 2016
Picos de Europa
This was an excellent holiday. The walks were well planned, the scenery was fantastic and the hotel is pleasant and relaxed with outstanding food. The only problem was that it was too hot.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being in the most beautiful scenery but with no one else around most of the time apart from our group.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro is just the best leader. Every day he adjusted the programme according to the weather. His knowledge and love of the mountains is outstanding. He worked so hard going from the front of the group to the back many times on each walk to encourage us and ensure that everyone was OK.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walks are not easy but definitely worth the effort.
Carole-Anne Sims
Reviewed August 2016
Peaks of Europe - B E A utiful!!
My last three Exodus walking trips have been to the Dolomites and I was looking for something similar in respect of challenging walks with spectacular scenery, I wasn’t disappointed! The trip was recommended to me by a few of my fellow travellers last year so I had no problem making the decision to book.
Most Inspirational Moment
No particular moment was inspirational other than repeatedly coming across abandoned dwellings on our walks. In our busy lives it is hard to imagine that people chose to exist in such isolated and difficult to access areas. The simple life?
Thoughts on Group Leader
Oh my goodness! Our group leader, Alvaro. Words to describe Alvaro - enthusiastic, energetic, encouraging, witty, thoughtful, committed and basically an all round nice guy. He had an uncanny knack of providing an accurate daily weather forecast which included advice as to whether 'plastic' trousers would be required. Funny! He often made the group chuckle!
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a fantastic trip and well worth doing. I went on the challenging grade week. If you are relatively fit and enjoy longer days of walking then the challenging week would be for you.
Jennifer Graystone
Reviewed August 2016
Go on this trip!!
I was recommended this trip several years ago, and it did not disappoint! Everything about this holiday was excellent – our guide, Alvaro-top marks, the hotel, comfortable and welcoming with excellent food and a good wine list, and amazing walks with beautiful scenery.
I found some of the days quite tough, but the walking was at a good pace and the encouragement kept me going allowing me to complete all walks. This is a beautiful part of Spain and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Most Inspirational Moment
The amazing scenery and views every day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader, Alvaro was excellent. Kind and caring and passionate about his job and his local area. Made sure that all group members were comfortable and happy and was on hand to provide local knowledge, history, geography and flora and fauna info as well as encouragement and enthusiasm.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go on this trip!
Patrick Taylor
Reviewed July 2016
Walking the Picos de Europa
An excellent walking trip, probably the best Exodus trip I have done.
Most Inspirational Moment
Lots, but probably completing the scramble to the summit of Mancondiu.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent in every way. Not only a really good walk leader who is really knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife but also really caring about the needs and aspirations of his group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You do need to be reasonably fit to get the most out of this trip and it can get very hot in July and august, we were quite lucky to get northerly winds on most days.
Raj Bhamm
Reviewed July 2016
Walking in the Picos de Europa
this was my first walking holiday. Every aspect of the trip was very well planned and highly organised. I felt very welcomed at the airport at Bilbao by our guide Alvaro. He proved to be such a fantastic guide.,.. knowledge, passionate, considerate. Hotel was basic but food was fantastic
I will recommend this trip to anyone.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking in the George
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic... could not fault him in anything. He knew the area and the paths very well. He adapted and catered for every level of group participants. He was passionate about the area and had lots of general knowledge about the area and people.
His English was good.
PERFECT!!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes, this walk has been classified as 3 but it is at least grade 5. So they should be made aware of this
