Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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As an Exodus employee, I was lucky enough to experience Walking in Andalucia and absolutely loved it. Every day felt different, with great walks at a good pace and constantly changing scenery, from mountains and olive groves to time in towns and cities. A lot of the walking felt really off the beaten track, which made it even more special. We had a brilliant group, a fantastic guide and wonderful hosts at the traditional cortijo, with amazing views to wake up to each day.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to choose from! The Caminito del Rey is an absolute must-do experience, but I also loved the optional morning trip to Ronda and our day in Seville. There were so many different highlights throughout the week.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teresa was fantastic. She had only recently started leading this trip, but you would honestly have thought she'd been doing it for years. She paced the walks perfectly, was incredibly organised and took the time to have great conversations with everyone. She genuinely made the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Even in October it was hot, so I'd recommend taking two water bottles or a water bladder. Cash is definitely king in Andalucia, particularly smaller denominations for the "bar breaks" (morning coffees!). I'd also recommend good, sturdy walking boots, as some days involve a fair amount of ascent and descent. Also take time to really take in the views on your walks!
Great trip in Andalucía! As an Exodus employee, I really enjoyed this itinerary. It offered a wonderful balance of walking through quiet olive groves and exploring some of the region’s more vibrant, well-known cities.
The food was excellent every evening, and the accommodations were comfortable and welcoming. Having access to a pool at the end of each day’s walk was especially relaxing and made the experience even more enjoyable.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hiking in the Grazalema Natural Park , we got to see an Ibex.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was excellent—very accommodating and always attentive to the group's needs. He made our safety a priority throughout the trip. Since I traveled during the hot summer months, he ensured we started our walks early each day to stay ahead of the heat, which made the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring lots of water bottles to refill, it gets hot as the day goes on, Bring hiking boots and hiking poles if you use them.
Each day the hikes were different in nature, and each hike was beautiful. The Cortijo was in a beautiful setting and the pool was great after a day of hiking. The guide was excellent. He adjusted the pace for the various abilities of the hikers. He knew a lot about flora and fauna and taught us a great deal.
Most Inspirational Moment
The views and scenery of each hike
Thoughts on Group Leader
He is very knowledgeable about the culture, places to visit, and flora and fauna. He was pleasant, waited for slower people, gave us options of things to do and see in Seville, Malaga and Ronda. There were days he was a little more cheery and social than others, but I think it was a stressful week given the cook changes etc.
It was a great week. To have accommodation in an amazing spot solely for the group made it a very relaxing base. The walks were tailored to suit the abilities of the whole group. There were always get out options so nobody was under pressure. The walks were also chosen to highlight the diverse landscapes of the region. Our guide, Michael Newcomb, was organised, interesting and passionate about the area. He looked after us extremely well. I had a wonderful time.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Caminito del Rey, Ronda, Grazalema National Park, and the wildflowers and birds.
Great Guide (experienced, knowledgeable and a great sense of humour), Food and accommodation were good
Most Inspirational Moment
The hikes and the scenery
Thoughts on Group Leader
We very much appreciated the professionalism of Peter, obviously a very experienced and knowledgeable guide. He kept us safe, was helpful at all times, had obviously reseached and had a wealth of local knowledge and spanish history, and local flora and fauna. Peter had a great sense of humour and interacted well with the group
Very enjoyable and relaxing level 4 walking trip, spring a good time to go
I really enjoyed this week, Activity level 4 in Early May.
Cortijo Rosario, where we stayed is in a lovely position, perched above Algámitas/ looking across to two large peaks, with a pool (which was warm enough for me to swim later in the week), nice flowers at this time of year and swallows nesting on the way in chittering and swooping around the way in.
I was in room 5, very comfortable as a single person in a twin; facing east-ish so nice for sunrise. Bed was comfortable for me, en-suite with shower, shutters worked, small safe, clean.
Information in room has little in apart from a nice history and safe place instructions. Needs more work; add emergency night time contact (no staff at nighttime which works well, though I wondered what to do if emergency lighting which came to the on once stayed on longer) for instance. Everything else was clearly gone through and the next days info on a whiteboard. Selection of teas, coffees and biscuits were perfect for my needs in the bar area. Dinner inside some nights, outside on others (sometimes need extra layers for those nights). All staff friendly, made us feel welcome.
Activity level 4 has a busy schedule which I liked, lots to do and see; I didn’t use much of the other downstairs communal facilities, though noted games, books, and spare poles for instance. I enjoyed every day, even rain pouring out of first floor pipes in town the first day (Nb unfortunately lots of rain damage to the roads from the past few months storms; did make for a lush green landscape).
Each day is different, a variety of walks/ activities, the two local peaks the first two days, both worth doing, even in some fog on day 2, I still enjoyed the wide variety of wildflowers in early May (spotted more than 30 different ones), bird calls, and butterflies (spotted around 9 different ones). Then we did a meadows, monastery, valley, and the lovely Setinel destination walk, seeing eagles, vultures, mulberries, croaking frogs/ toads, and what looked like it could have been a nightingale perched in front of me briefly.
Worth the 3 hours travel going to/ from Seville on the day off; I liked getting lost in the numerous narrow winding streets, the view of the round tower from a bridge, and the Alcazar that was a nice peaceful end to the day ( Nb buy tickets well in advance if you can navigate the online payments system); I ran out of time for the cathedral and to try out at the recommended restaurant. Also if day 5 gorge tickets are early enough, I can also recommend the 3 hours in Ronda extra; I enjoyed an online trail I found, my favourite was the steep walk down and back up to see the new bridge from a ruined house just above the waterfalls, below the sheer cliffs, which is free ( you also get a good view of what looks like cliff arch); there are many paid for alternatives to what I did; and again I ran out of time.
The gorge wall walk is fun and not scary for me, though busy at times; nb I have a fear of edges with long sheer drops and this didn’t at all trigger me. The last walk is a crags and meadows walk around an hour away; again eagles and vultures, some closer this time; also wild black pigs and a couple of black shapes gliding down in front of me escaping an eagle, and some apricot shaped almonds near the town.
I was really happy with each day and wouldn’t have changed anything except the fog on the top of Pennon crag.
It was a group of 10; all nice, friendly people.
In comparison with the Sierra de Aitana walk I did last fall, this was easier, walked at a comfortable pace for me, with plenty of time for me to look at the things that caught my eye, though each day was further/ longer time out, about 25% more steps, though less difficult climbs/ descents and a lot less slippy. There was much more driving this time. There was less flexibility, using hired mini-buses mostly, not their own, therefore need to stick to the advertised schedule. Food much more refined, veggie meals looked much better/ more varied , though probably food much less authentic. Overall I enjoyed them equally and recommend doing both as different enough from each other.
And I managed to navigate the new EU system, though needed to register again going back home, in plenty of time for the flight.
Most Inspirational Moment
I really enjoyed all the locality, the activities, the wildlife/ fauna, and the hotel, there wasn't one outstanding moment for me however.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Peter was an informative and relaxed guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Didn’t read any of the book I brought with me in case of time to fill.
Even if the walking was easier I still wore my walking boots each day.
If you have lots of energy like me, do all the trips offered, including Seville and Ronda, and have some swims if warm enough.
Spend time pausing and looking around, there's lots to see.
If flying with Jet2, unless you pay more, you get random seats, their planes did seem even slightly more cramped than even Easyjet.
I was met at Malaga Airport by your Exodus Rep and we were immediately taken to a comfortable transfer small bus which was very comfortable with an excellent driver
Most Inspirational Moment
The Tapas lunch on our first day of walking, and the trip to the Sierra del Grazalema, as well as the amazing meals at our Cortijo. However our Guide Peter was excellent and every day was a highlight with him leading.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was very sociable and imparted on us a lot of local knowledge, including history, local customs, advice re what to do and see on our day off, was very aware of anyone who was slightly slower and accommodated the pace to help them, and basically a lovely man.
Loved the area and the guide was exceptional. He organised coffee in the village twice and a super tapas lunch at another village on our route. His knowledge was remarkable and he was extremely helpful.
Most Inspirational Moment
Difficult to chose one in particular but loved being in the local community for coffees and lunch. All of the walks were lovely and at the level described.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was an excellent leader. He worked out very early in who needed rests and always ensured that they had they had ample time for these. He set the pace to suit the group he was working with. His extraordinary knowledge of history, geography, flora and fauna of the area, the area geology, climate change effects, local communities, products grown locally, the walks were always described accurately each evening, what was needed, temperatures to expect, water stops, timings always spot on.
Exodus is well organised, explores fabulous places, great guides, comfortable, sometimes quirky and interesting accommodation, comfortable transport, is informative, efficient, and, in our experience, attracts sociable, interesting and fun groups.
Most Inspirational Moment
The variety of walks, our comfortable and interesting Cortijo, a day in Seville and the great group of fellow travellers.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was organised and super-efficient, booking ahead, absolutely planned on all walks and activities, recommending sights, bars, restaurants, entertainment in places where we were 'free', being fully aware of the need for health and safety, and amazing us all with his enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge in so many areas, especially flora and fauna, and real passion for everything we saw.
