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.

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.
Kevin Wallace

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written April 2008
A good and interesting trip to the hills just inland from the Costa Blanca. But in"real Spain".
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Best day was the ascent of the Puig Compana. Sunny and pleasant temperature. From the summit you were looking right down on the tower blocks of Benidorm and up the coast to Calpe. A bizarre experience. You could almost smell the bacon and eggs frying!
What did you think of your group leader?
Very good. Jose Miguel Garcia is a local man living in Sella. His devotion to the area and its inhabitants was evident.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Accomodation and food were excellent.
Helen Janecek

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written March 2008
I would recommend this lovely holiday to anyone who loves 'real' Spain and who is prepared to walk up and down steep, stony paths for eight or so hours a day with fabulous views and a lot of fun as the reward.
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What did you think of your group leader?
José was an exceptional group leader, enabling all of us to have a wonderful time. He had created the holiday as part of his commitment to the sustainability of his village and the region and took immense pride in sharing with us the beauties of the landscape and knowledge about the area. Each day he brought a new local delicacy for us to try - the local chorizo and morcilla (white and black) were particularly good.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes did not underestimate the 'challenging' aspects of the trek (I was always at the end) but I found the walking even more rewarding than I had hoped.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Our group of 10 was extremely lucky with the perfect weather and the heady scent of almond blossom (it rained the following week). I hadn't expected so many wild flowers to be out already. The two hotels and the guest house where we stayed were all comfortable, the owners charming and the food excellent. It was very nice to be given the choice of spending the free day on the coast and for transport there and back to be provided (3 of us remained behind and had an excellent lunch at the local bar/restaurant).
Nina Carlisle

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written March 2008
The views from the mountain peaks were really stunning - much better than expected. Friendly, knowledgeable local guide who obviously loves this region of Spain. Excellent accommodation, food and wine. This comes close to the top of our ten previous Exodus shorter breaks for all round enjoyment. Just a short flight away, accessible from regional airports, good weather guaranteed (almost) for late Winter, full day walks to work up an appetite for supper - perfect.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The almond blossom put on a wonderful, fluffy, pink and white display which filled the air with perfume. Even in early February the mountains had much in the way of flowering plants to offer - broom, rosemary, early cistus and lots more - I even saw a bee orchid.
What did you think of your group leader?
Friendly, knowledgeable with an obvious love of his home region. Jose invited us all for lunch on the final day where we planted an apple tree in his garden - a gift from the group to show our appreciation.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take note of the grading - it really is a B/C as stated in the brochure with quite long, moderately strenuous walks / climbs and some steep descents.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Brilliant value - go for it!
Sarah Naish

Spanish chocolate has never tasted so good!

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Looking back over the valley and mountains to see how far we had walked that day.
The first beer after each walk, drunk on the patio overlooking a scenic valley.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Very good. The most popular guy on the mountain when he produced bars of chocolate from his rucksack!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take notice of the B/C grading. A number of the ascents and descents had loose stones and rocks to negotiate. You should be hill walking fit to enjoy the first two days of climbs. The last two days were great, because by then we were much fitter.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Fantastic food throughout and seemingly endless amounts available.