SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

8 days from GBP829 to GBP899 including flights
Tripcode: TSA

Countries Visited: Spain

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 14 reviews.

RICHARD TOOMBS

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written December 2009
This is a little gem of a holiday which exceeded my expectations at every turn. So close to the ghastly Costas, the Sierra de Aitana is a magnificently rugged area providing challenging walks, fantastic views and scenery, a piece of the real Spain, and, in December, fabulous warm sunny weather. Very well chosen accommodation made the end of each day a pleasure, with the excellent food and "reasonable amounts of good local wine" enjoyed to the full, and beyond.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top of each of the huge climbs, and realising I hadn't died on the way up !
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose Miguel Garcia was an outstanding guide. His wealth of local knowledge and obvious love and concern for the ecology of the area was a bonus. His friendliness and openness coupled with his experience and sense of humour added greatly to the enjoyment of the week for all of us. The tangerines from his garden were delicious as well !
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The mid-week massage at the second hotel, provided by Tania, an excellent sports masseuse, was a great optional extra, but those of us who had it felt it the next morning because she had honed in and worked very effectively on muscles which wanted to be left alone !
Unless you have an iron will you won't lose weight on this holiday ! The food is uniformly excellent, homely authentic and plentiful. I have already googled Gazpacho Manchego amongst other things.
The walking is at the top end of the Moderate range. Some of it is definitely Challenging. Some certainly felt Strenuous (there are some big ups and equally big downs). Some of the descents, in particular, are on quite difficult terrain - loose scree/rocks/stones for example. A fair bit of the walking is through gorse or thorns so be prepared for some scratches, even if wearing long trousers. I would also wear boots every day - even though on the Thursday walk Jose said trainers would be OK.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a fabulous week, reasonably close to home, run at times of the year when options elsewhere are limited. We were very fortunate with a week of great weather and visibility, save for the last day, when mist curtailed things a bit. The scenery is stunning, and the walks well planned so that you feel you achieve something every day (and thus deserve the food and wine in the evenings !). As an experienced participator in this type of holiday, this one is slightly unexpectedly in my top five. Go for it !
Judith Horsnell

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written December 2009
A brilliant week away - great walking, lovely accommodation, superb food. An excellent mixture of exercise and relaxation in stunning surroundings. Everthing was superbly organised.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole holiday was fantastic, with a real feel-good factor. The walking was superb - rugged terrain, amazing scenery, many points of interest and history explained by our leader. Walking from place to place gave you a good feel of the area, and we did not encounter many other walkers. The level of exercise meant that you felt you could really tuck in to the amazing food offered each day. The food at the last accommodation in Sella was particularly delicious, with a wide range. We were very lucky in that we had the most beautiful weather for all but the last day.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose Miguel was an outstanding leader. He worked so hard to ensure that everyone enjoyed the week, and was a mine of information about the area, where he lives, and which he so obviously loves. His approach, enthusiasm and knowledge was key to the holiday being so enjoyable. There were lots of thoughtful touches to the holiday - Jose brought us oranges from his garden, invited us to his home for coffee and to see the renovation work that he had carried out, arranged a guided tour of a village olive pressing factory and went to a lot of trouble to ensure that we were all able to do different things on the free day.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do take up the option of a massge during the week - it was a great experience, and Tania certainly knew the areas of my legs that were feeling the impact of the steep acents and descents! There are many options for the free day. Jose put us in touch with a locally based guide and we did a via ferrata about 45 minutes away from Sella, complete with 2 long abseils. It was the icing on the cake of a great holiday.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would highly recommend this holiday for a great week's walking in fantasic surroundings, especially at a time when the weather at home can be really miserable. It's so easy to get there, yet felt a world away. Go for it - you won't be disappointed!
Catherine James

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written November 2009
This was a superb trip in every way: well organised with marvellous food, especially at the final hotel, wonderful walks in stunning scenery and a friendly group.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The final day's walk was tough but very varied and rewarded us with fantastic views. The musicians organised for the last night were excellent and we all had a good dance!
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose Miguel Garcia is a first-class guide, with a relaxed approach and a great sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go on the trip! You won't be disappointed. There aren't many other tourists in the area and the weather is more likely than not to be good.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We'll be going back there for sure.
Paul McCormack

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written November 2009
This was a gem of a holiday. Rugged walking in majestic mountains, sunshine, spectacular scenery, tranquil terraces, almond and olive trees- rural Spain at its very best.Our local guide Jose Miguel was hardworking, charming and courteous with a profound knowledge of and passion for his home area. His magical rucksack produced home grown olives and many treats for hungry walkers to supplement the plentiful packed lunches.The little extras were great too - the Spa and local museum in Castells, the rock climbing or shopping trip on the free day , the local spanish band on the final night with Jose on drums !
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The stunning views overlooking the skyscapers of Benidorm from the tranquility of the mountains
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose was absolutely excellent, he has a really good sense of humour , imparts willingly knowlege of his local area, and was kind and courteous throughout our trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Have plenty of memory for your camera !
Roger Sainbury

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written November 2009
Great food, weather, scenery and people! One of my best Exodus trips.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Jose is an outstanding group leader.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you have previously tended towards higher graded trips, you would still enjoy this one. The scenary is really rugged, with interesting, varied walking; and satisfyingly challenging summits on 4 days out of 5. To my mind the landscape is just as appealing as anything I've encountered on a grade C trek, it's just that on this trip you get stay in much better accommodation, and there's no need to get up quite so early.
Claire Charleton

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written November 2009
Blessed with exceptional weather, this was one of the best walking trips I've been on, anywhere. Some terrific contrasting routes, fantastic accomodation and a truly outstanding guide.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Each day had it's own little treat, but there was one day that stood out - the hidden gems of Aitana, so many little suprises all the way up, and down, the mountain from snow holes to the limestone crevasse (not forgetting the mini-epcot on top!).
What did you think of your group leader?
Inspirational and a truly top-notch guide. Full of local (interesting) knowledge about little villages, a rucksack full of food, a sense of humour and someone unbelievably laid-back and very forgiving! Amazing to think he has been leading walks in his local area for over 10yrs and seems unfazed by anything. Also an amazing musician, ask him to drum at the last accomodation...
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for the biggest suprise. I went thinking it would be a nice week away with some good walking, views to the sea, some good weather (shorts under trousers words very well) and generally an "easy week". I've come back truly inspired by the Spain we saw, the guide we had and the views/features we saw. Who says the mountains need to be big and famous - go with an open mind!
Some of the walks took me by suprise (puig campana), just make sure you enjoy all of it with a smile on your face. If you enjoy climbing, go on your free day - it's the way climbing should be.
simon w

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK
Written April 2009
A tough week of walking and every weather condition imaginable but well worth it for the views.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The ridge walk along Aitana giving spectacular views of all the weeks walks.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose was an excellent guide. Very enthusiastic and entertaining and always had a little treat in has bag, fresh olives, toasted almonds, chocolate...
He sets a good pace for all the walks and is full of local knowledge (one of the guest houses is within shouting distance of his own house!).
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for long walks and all weathers (at Easter we had sunburn on day one and snow on day six). Some of the downhills were hard but everyone in our group survived.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food at all 3 guest houses was superb and the packed lunches huge. We stuffed ourselves every morning, lunchtime and evening.