Sierra De Aitana Trek: Spain Walking Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 40 reviews.

Sandra Wall

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written February 2011
We knew nothing at all about this area in advance - other than the Exodus write up. If anything, we were a bit apprehensive, because Alicante and Benidorm get a bad press in the UK. Why do we never hear of this unspoilt, fantastic scenery just inland?
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
On the top of Puig Campana on the last day - towering over Benidorm and the Med - warm sun and yet early February - a terrific achievement!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader was ideal - local; passionate about the area; excellent command of English; very good with people; an excellent organiser... what more do we want?
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This is a strenuous week. The mountains are rocky and steep and the distances about 12 miles most days. We managed (and we are in our 70s) but we could not have done much more.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have rarely (if ever) had a holiday with such lovely food. It was all really good country fare, and the dietary requirements of a few of the group were handled well. The three small hotels in different villages were all lovely.
David Hardcastle

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written February 2011
A great week in a beautiful area with fantastic food, characterful accommodation and a great guide.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
This was a good hard week of walking, but the sense of achievement in getting to the tops of the peaks was great and the views were stunning. The area is really unspoilt which was refreshing. All three accommodations were welcoming, comfortable and served excellent food and wine and allowed us to get a taste of the real Spain.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose was knowledgeable, friendly, good company and enthusiastic about his local area. Very good!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bear in mind that although the weather is mostly good (and was great for us for 4 out of 5 days walking) you may encounter adverse weather conditions in winter and need to be prepared for this. On the last day though we were in T-shirts on top of the highest peak in the area and that was early February!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is an excellent week of immersion in Spanish culture, great walking and a bit of winter sunshine.
Gareth Neville

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written March 2010
A very personal and special trek through the highlights of this beautiful corner of Spain. Just a few hours from the UK but a world away from the Costas, Jose took us on a trek which packed in four summits and plenty of great views. With his local knowledge, he was able to help us discover a little of the fascinating past and present of the Aitana region.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Visiting the snow hole where the locals would collect snow to make ice to sell on the coast in the summer - an example of the effort involved in making a living from these hills.
Coming face to face with the wonderful home cooked dinner the Horta de Gloria was also a memorable moment!
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose lives in the area himself, and his passion for the place he lives in came through as we gradually discovered it for ourselves. And as a local, he was particularly keen to make sure we all got the best from our trip to his home area.
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 !