Reviews

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.

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137 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Sue S

Reviewed May 2023

Walking in Andalucia

I very much enjoyed the holiday – the hotel was comfortable with good food, the walks were varied (in length, difficulty and scenery), and the day in Seville exceeded my expectations. It was a very well thought out itinerary, and all the staff we encountered were very helpful, especially our guide, Michael. We had a fairly large group of 14, but we all got on very well, helped by the friendliness of the local staff. We were lucky to get very good weather at the end of April (as hot as summer!), so we could make good use of the hotel pool, and eat our evening meals outside on the terrace.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all the walks, but I think the most spectacular was the Camino del Rey along El Chorro gorge. The views were fantastic, and walking along the walkway strung up high on the side of the gorge was a real experience! The gardens of the Alcazar palace in Seville were very beautiful, and highly recommended.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was great, he was enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area, as well as the history and geography. He knows the area very well, and is obviously well known and liked by the villagers, which made it much easier for the group to feel at home when visiting local bars and restaurants. Information about each day’s schedule was clear, we were always advised exactly what to take and what time to leave and a guide time for return.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Michael was able to organise several things which are listed as optional - the tapas lunch, a suggested itinerary in Seville and a trip to Ronda. I’d advise taking him up on these options, the tapas lunch was fabulous, and the visits and meal in Seville were made so much easier by the advance bookings. I’ve found previously that it can be very difficult to find a decent meal for yourself in a new city, and it can waste a lot of time deciding for yourself where to go and what to do.

Chris Warren

Reviewed May 2023

Fabulous holiday

We very much enjoyed this holiday, due to the perfect combination of good walks, great company from our sociable group, an excellent leader and the lovely Cortijo to stay in (exclusive to Exodus). Highlights included the Sierra de Grazalema scenery, the white village of Sentenil with its cliff houses and kestrels, and the Caminito del Rey. After the walks we usually stopped at a bar with view for refreshment, and could swim in the pool, or sit comfortably outside in the shade, once returning to the Cortijo, which was very homely. It was nice to have an honesty bar and to be able to make our own hot and cold drinks at any time. The Cortijo catered well for our dieteryneeds.

Most Inspirational Moment

The mountain views, the village of Sentenil, dinner on the lodge's patio with the views, learning from our expert guide, chatting and laughing with our fellow travellers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was a wonderful leader, being extremely knowledgable and passionate about Andalucia and the environment. He frequently stopped on the walks to point out plants and flowers and explained how they were used for food, medicine and farming. He was also an expert birdwatcher - we saw Griffin vultures, glimpses of eagles, bee-eaters and others. Michael's background from living extensively in both England and Spain meant he was able to explain the culture and differences from our perspective, and also to join in with our sense of humour. He was very proactive in organising walks and trips, and looked after us very well.

Anne-Marie Hellewell

Reviewed April 2023

Walking in Andalucia

We have just returned from this excellent trip and can highly recommend it. It is good value for money and provides an excellent insight into the region. There are opportunities to explore the region away from the touristy areas as well as a chance to see Seville, Setenil and Ronda. We were part of a lovely group that bonded well and made the whole experience even more worthwhile.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was lovely to walk in such an unspoilt region serenaded by nightingales and hoopoes calling in the woodlands. Watching griffon vultures effortlessly circling in cloudless, blue skies was magnificent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael is an excellent leader with encyclopaedic knowledge of the history, geography, flora and fauna of the region. His enthusiasm is infectious. He has a great sense of humour and he is thoroughly entertaining. Michael is also attentive and caring of the group and keen to provide information and advice. He is clearly proud of his Spanish heritage but has the added advantage of having an English background as well. Michael is a real asset to Exodus and I will most definitely be voting for him in the annual leader awards.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the opportunity to visit Ronda if at all possible. If you usually use walking poles, these are a good idea, though not essential.

Jim Hiles

Reviewed October 2022

Great memories of an epic trip

Three generations of Yanks walked through Spanish landscape and culture and made some history of their own with a unique group of walkers lead by a great guide

Most Inspirational Moment

Bagpipes on the penon ledge Talent show Friday night at cortijo Gorge At del Rey Sevilla alcazar.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was fantastic, experienced interesting patient and knowledgeable. Best guide I have seen. He did a great job of making people feel welcome and delivered a great experience,

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a full experience of history food and culture, well balanced and walks for enough for all.

Marilyn Davey

Reviewed October 2022

Walking in andalsia

Everyday had something different to offer, the walks were varied from gentle strolls along wide paths to much more challenging terrain. Magnificent views of olive groves and mountains, plenty of wild life and interesting fauna despite the dry conditions at this time of year, would love to see the wild flowers in spring. The accommodation was not luxury but very comfortable and very welcoming, the staff are lovely, food was homemade and tasty.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to choose! Walking in the Sierra de Grazalma was absolutely beautiful, wild and felt very remote.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was an inspirational leader with a wide knowledge of the area and what it had to offer. His enthusiasm was infectious and made this trip very special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If offered the chance to visit Ronda take it! It’s a little jewel.

Elizabeth McCoy

Reviewed September 2022

Great Week's Hiking in Andalucia

I loved everything about this trip: the blue skies, the heat, the fabulous scenery, the lovely Cortijo Rosario and the wide variety of interesting trails. The leader Michael was top class all round: attentive to everyone’s individual needs, knowledgeable and passionate in telling us all there was to know about the landscapes we walked through and super conscious on safety. The itinerary succeeded brilliantly in showing the charms of the local environment as well as the more spectacular highlights such as the Caminito del Rey through the El Chorro Gorge. Evening meals were exceptionally tasty and varied and all eaten outdoors on a patio overlooking the olive groves. Everyone got on happily with Michael and with one another. I would strongly recommend this trip to other Exodus fans.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to single one out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great leadership qualities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect plenty of heat in September.

Martin Samuels

Reviewed June 2022

A Wonderful Walking Holiday

This was a wonderful walking holiday, staying the week in a homely villa set on the hillside above Algamitas, used just by our group. The owners were friendly, and the chef served delightful meals every evening on the terrace overlooking the surrounding countryside. The area is varied, so the walks are different and generally easy going terrains, and provide great views and interest. Three of them started from the villa and three needed minibus trips. It was lovely to have the pool at the end of the day. The day trip to Seville was an interesting change where we were able to have a restaurant meal, experience flamenco, see the Alcazar and other sights, and sup the occasional beer. Our group was friendly and sociable and Michael, our guide provided the perfect amount of guidance, with superb local knowledge, a real polymath. Nothing seemed too much for Michael to ensure we felt safe, at home and well-provided for. I have done a number of Exodus walking holidays and would thoroughly recommend this one. I extended my trip to visit Granada, which was well worth it (but pre-book the Alhambra).

Most Inspirational Moment

Caminito del Rey walk, the national park, tapas at midday on the first day walk, the Alcazar and flamenco in Seville, dips in the pool, evening drinks and dinner on the sun-drenched terrace, learning from the guide and other holiday makers, and many other moments...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb - extremely knowledgeable about so many topics, including the history, geography, fauna and flora, geology, culture and arts. He provided a well-chosen list of recommendations of options for visits, activities, restaurants, view points and so on. He was friendly, supportive and professional, and not too intrusive.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Consider adding to your trip to visit another city or area. In the really hot weather, closed toe walking sandals might have been more comfortable than hiking boots.

John Davies

Reviewed May 2022

EXCELLENT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Trip walking in Andalusia. Accommodation very good and swimming pool a great relax after the walks.
As a vegetarian I was very well catered for bye the hotel staff who went to the trouble of preparing individual meals.
Hotel staff very friendly and very helpful.
Our guide Michael was excellent.The walks at level 2 were pitched very well in terms of distance, difficulty and especially gave a very wide range of differing terrain types in the area. Michael has a VERY great knowledge of the area and very well considered, but never intrusive, health and safety precautions due to possible heat.
His arrangements for our “free day” in Seville option were very well planned and his care pre-booking entrance to the
Real and for our evening meal made the day.
Michael took similar extra care to facilitate our group walk through the Canyon Del Ray, a stunning walk.

A highly recommended trip for the accommodation, scenery, walks and our guide

Most Inspirational Moment

Relevant and detailed information from our guide and the walk through he Canyon

Thoughts on Group Leader

As above. As a guide highly recommended and sets a very high standard.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check you have Michael as your guide !

Alec Morrow

Reviewed May 2022

Fabulous trip in a great location

Cortijo Rosario is a lovely place to stay, just outside the village of Algamitas in a beautiful part of Andalucia. Our room was fairly spacious with a comfortable bed and en-suite. The public areas had been fully refurbished with a small bar, lounge and dining room. There is also a reasonable sized pool which we used every day after the walks to cool down. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it; the Paella on the last night was superb. We ate all our dinners outside on the terrace with the added attraction of a wonderful view.
The walking was enjoyable without being too challenging with a fair variety through the week from easy tracks to mountainous limestone scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlight of the trip was probably the Caminito del Rey gorge walk which was very impressive. Other highlights included the Tapas lunch, the Sierra Grazalema walk, the picnic lunch at the monastery, the visit to Seville and the Penon Crag walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael is quite simply one of the best Exodus leaders we've had. Everything was well organised and everyone knew what was happening and when. His knowledge of the local area was superb and he speaks fluent Spanish. His knowledge of the local Flora and Fauna was truly remarkable, a mine of information on all sorts of topics. A really nice bloke too, always helpful and willing to go the extra mile which he did on many occasions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go, you should enjoy it!

Karen Morrow

Reviewed May 2022

Brilliant trip with a superb leader!

My husband and I loved this trip! The walking is varied, in quite different but equally stunning areas. It is correctly labelled as leisurely/ moderate, as the walks are not technically difficult at all and are not too long for most reasonably fit people – but are long enough for the heat, and leisurely enough to give us plenty of time to look at the rich variety of flora and fauna and to observe the huge number of birds that live here or pass through, which included large birds of prey such as eagles and flocks of vultures.. Michael, our guide, is simply superb. His knowledge of nature is second to none and he was well -organised and kind too. The base, a coverted farmhouse which we had sole use of, is not ‘luxurious’ but is homely and very welcoming. The owners are lovely! Our room was clean and comfortable and the shower was very good, although the hot water took a bit of time to arrive! The views from our balcony were stupendous. The food was plentiful. The breakfasts were a bit limited in choice but the lunches were very good and the evening meals – taken on a terrace with stunning views in every direction! – were massive and delicious (Ref a previous review: They definitely did NOT lack piquancy!). Our group were friendly with a lot of solo travellers, nice people to spend time with!

Most Inspirational Moment

This is very hard to say and I could list dozens! I was amazed at the flocks of vultures - once around 50 of them - who came across our hotel pool in the evening. I loved the dramatic scenery of the Sierra de Grazalema and of the Caminito del Rey, but also equally loved the flower -strewn meadows we passed as we walked through Algamitas farmland... Our day in Seville was another highlight, as we'd never been before. It is a stunning city, especially the palace and the narrow, mediaeval streets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was superb in every way, certainly one of the best guides we've encountered over our many years of travelling with Exodus. He is lively and fun, but also very solicitous about his group. His knowledge of nature in every respect is quite unbelievable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The hotel offers massages with a local lady, who had moved there decades ago from England. She is SO nice and kind, and very good at massage. The price is cheap, compared with UK prices, and it was wonderfully relaxing at the end of the week. I would wholeheartedly recommend it! (Others did yoga with a local lady, which they also really enjoyed I was told.) In Seville, don't miss visiting the palace, which is stunning. We also loved walking down by the river. Otherwise, I'd just say to take a good hat, clothes to cover your shoulders, lots of sun-screen, and enough containers to carry at least 1.5 litres of water, maybe more. (On some days there were places to refill the containers, but not always.)

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