Sierra De Aitana Trek: Spain Walking Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 40 reviews.

Michael Theelke

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written April 2013
Ideal for a winter break, peaceful and interesting mountain trails in the sun a few miles from the Spanish coast.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Great views across the Sierra to the coast.
Wonderful Spanish home cooking at Benimantell.
What did you think of your group leader?
Good fun, very knowledgable and clearly a local celebrity.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It might just about be a B/C grade, but it's pretty close to a C; there are a couple of longer days, there's the odd short scrambly bit and sometimes because the area is so rarely walked the trail is a bit rough. The trip notes describe the walks very accurately, so read those rather than just go by the grade. This is all good, but it's best to know what to expect. April and May departures are likely to be pretty warm, although there was always a breeze up on the ridges.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Jose Miguel rather undersold the optional visit to Villa Joiosa on the coast on the free day - those that went really enjoyed it.
eve rest

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written April 2013
A great combination of vistas, food and wine in a really wonderful location.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Very difficult to pin point any 'one' thing as everyday had plenty of very fond memories. Scenery is really magical and whilst on the trail you often saw glimpses of valleys or ridges that we had either done previously or were to be challenges in the days ahead .

If pushed then certainly the summit of Puig Campana was indeed a great finale to the week ...a great route to get to the top, and an even better one heading back to our base at Sella.

What did you think of your group leader?
Jose was a real character and makes great packed lunches! His local knowledge was very impressive and love of the area was obvious. He had spent huge amounts of effort in fine tuning the routes to maximise our enjoyment, and was able to give interesting anecdotes about rural village life past and present.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Only a small point but here is not a lot of chances to buy any trail snacks ( or indeed anything) so you might want to take some them out from the UK . On the other hand you might get the chance to sample the odd Orange as you pass by a grove!
Is there anything else you would like to add?

DO NOT be put off this trip just because the region is not that well known as the Picos de europa or Pyanees ….Its equal to either of them, and in many ways better. SO in a nutshell....GO!!! ...and you will feel quite smug for visitng this ‘undiscovered gem’ .
Simon Bath

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written February 2013
A great winter sunshine destination for some energetic hiking in the limestone mountains of the Costa Blanca, with an excellent Spanish local guide and fellow like minded friendly companions.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
First day ( Sunday pm ) of arrival walking around El Castell de Guadalest after tapas, close our first hotel and seeing the landscape of walks ahead, and feeling the warm sun after the wet, wintry and cold of the UK.
Mid week walk from Benimantell guesthouse to next stay at Sella, and walking over Aitana, 1558 m , highest point of the week, and walking through a gap in the rocks from one valley to the other.
Walk up Puig Campana 1408m , mountain that backdrops Benidorm, challenging , would class as the C walk, rest all B, was windy on our day, but dry and sunny, did not quite make the top due to conditions, zig zagging up scree slope challenging but expertly lead.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose Miguel an excellent guide , locally based in Sella, with a great backup team of local drivers, all working in the local community of Sella, your base for second half of week. Spoke excellent English, knows the area very well, excellent mountain guide, discussed topics of interest along the way, regularly checked group for level of happiness, made some warping 3 layered sandwiches for the lunches. Helps with the options for your free day. A TV star as was shown a DVD of him with Cameron McNeish in the area for a BBC TV Adventure programme.
A big plus for this tour, being lead by a local man.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Ideal for regular hikers, anyone who can do Snowdon will find it ok. Definitely bring a walking pole or 2. And drinking water bottles, thirsty work in the warm sun. The almond blossom week went on added some pretty colour to the arid landscape.
Free day options , I went to the coast, beautiful sandy bay of a Spanish resort of La Villa Joyiasa, colourful houses, quieter resort certainly in early Feb; train from here could take you to Alicante , or Benidorm ( if like skyscrapers on a sandy bay), or further up to Altea or Javea if time allows, I was happy just to stay and chill in the sun after the strains of hiking.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Hotels good, good food, comfortable, good views from both. Sella guesthouse run by an English couple, meals at their home, all home cooking, plentiful and yummy.
Only negative, was that the main photo in the Exodus brochure, which partly sold the holiday to me, taken from inside a cave , looking out over a bay, with 2 walkers in, and trailing ivy, you don't actually go here anymore, this is the Bernia ridge, so Exodus need to update their main photograph to reflect a landscape where visited now , I have plenty if they need some .
Enjoy.
Liz Greene

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written December 2012
Challenging trip just as trip notes said!!! good value for money eatable mealsthe sun shone no rain just as the brochure suggested interesting lively guide
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
reaching the top after a push and a shove to go from the dark side to the flat light side of the peak!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose was funny sweet and lots of fun my did he walk FAST A very good sandwichmaker he even pleased the vegetarian of the group when i was cold in one of the stops hotel he made sure the heating was on for me and got me blankets
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get fit lose weight be prepared for challenging uphill walking
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Excellent weather for a week in December lucky or what???
Froniga Lambert

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written November 2012
An excellent trip to a beautiful and perhaps under-explored part of Spain. The walking is quite strenuous, but makes the wonderful dinners at the end of each day all the more welcome.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The feeling of being so close to the crush of Benidorm, yet a million miles away was very special. On some walks we barely saw anyone else from beginning to end, and it really felt as if we were walking ancient trails. On the day we went to the summit of Aitana, having tackled a bit of a scarey scramble and got through a slightly tricky pass, we lunched on a beautiful, sheltered patch of grass, almost a lawn, and Jose (our guide) produced a bottle of red wine he had carried with him to accompany our lunch. It felt so strangely civilised in such a remote place.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose led the group with great local knowledge, unstinting humour, skill and sandwiches. Jose's sandwiches should be the stuff of legend: it became a challenge for anyone in the group to finish them, double-deckered and full of amazing Good Things. Don't be misled when the trip notes say lunches will consist of 'a sandwich', these are sandwiches of epic proportions!!
He also displayed marvellous hospitality, inviting us to his house in Sella - although there was a cost (we had to help with his olive harvest - hardly a chore!). Jose was an absolutely integral part of the week's enjoyment.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take decent kit as the walks are 'proper'. That said, don't be put off by anyone that says the walks are tough - they're not a stroll in the proverbial park, but our group had quite a mixture of ages and fitness levels, and no-one really struggled. I would recommend walking poles - I didn't take them, and could have done with them on some of the 'down's.
The food in the hotels/guests houses is amazing, very local and very hearty. You won't lose any weight on this holiday!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a proper walking holiday, the walks take up pretty much every day, unlike some Exodus walking holidays I've been on that have been more a mixture of walking and site-seeing (and none the worse for that). The countryside is beautiful, Sella is a lovely village to end up and the Hort de Gloria is charming - don't plan to go anywhere on your free day, just sit in the sun at the Gloria and have excellent tapas in Sella.
Helen Polom

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written November 2012
Everything we had hoped for and quite a bit more.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
14.00 Reaching the highest points on each day (up to1400 metres) and having the rare privilege of views across high mountain tops and then down into hidden fertile valleys that the casual visitor to Spain might be completely unaware of.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jose the group leader was undoubtedly the making of this trip, his dedication to the cause was unstinting, always struck the right note, kept us all going and provided prodigious amounts of food and good humour. His communication with us was outstanding and provided a complete education in regional geography and history – with a light personal touch when needed, boring he is not. His vast experience of activity leadership in this region and elsewhere in Europe really shows. He shared his life with us for the whole week, to the extent of inviting us all to his home to pick his olives and drink tea on the veranda afterwards.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be lucky with the weather which at its best is fantastic for walking, but don’t worry if not. Bring a good appetite (good food is in plentiful supply and you may need it!). Make sure you are fairly fit, equipped and ready for regular but not excessively arduous high hill walking. Think Peaks, Lakes or Snowdonia without the mud. If you are going in the warmer months, have plenty of water carrying capacity and sun protection. As a minimum, light walking boots with ankle support are essential (not shoes or trainers) as are walking poles.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We hope you have as much good fortune with your walking companions as we did, and remember it’s what you make of the trip that counts so don’t waste time finding fault with rural Spanish plumbing etc. Enjoy the privilege of being completely involved in your surroundings and with your hosts.
Alison Oldfield

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Written November 2012
An excellent trip. Highly recommended. A great walking week in lovely mountains within easy access of Alicante.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
4 climbs 4 amazing views. An inspirational moment at the top of each.
What did you think of your group leader?
The trip leader is Jose Garcia whose trekking expertise, local knowledge and great sense of humour make him an excellent guide. If anyone is going to get you up the mountain he will!