Walking The Picos De Europa

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...

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  Michael Budd

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written September 2008

  this was our first exodus trip and quite simply we had a wonderful time. we'd never stayed in a hotel quite as laid back and friendly as this one. the scenery is beautiful and the walks were an ideal length for us. we also got lucky with the weather! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  the scramble to the top of Mancandui. for the final ascent you can leave your rucksack and collect it on the way back. (not everyone in our group wanted to climb to the top) we were in cloud but it cleared for 30 seconds or so just to give us decent view.

  seeing griffin vultures soaring on the thermals.

  the urdon to tresviso path. once you've climbed it you'll have to buy the photo.

  cares gorge.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  victor was excellent. a local lad with good knowledge of the area and also good company on the trails. he was enthusiastic about the walks all week and managed to wind me up a couple of times regarding their difficulty. he certainly added to the enjoyment of the holiday.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  i would say that the trip notes cover everything you need to know. apart from no yoga at the hotel which i was looking forward to.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  i would be surprised if anyone booked this trip and didn't enjoy it. on our free day we all went to the beach, so it's not all walking!

   
• 

  David Male

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written June 2008

  Wonderful holiday highlighted by a superb walking guide and hotel owners/staff. Great hotel food which always offered a vegetarian option. Weather mixed. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walk up to Tresviso culminating in free cheese and bread at at bar in the village. Buying a poster showing the walk.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Victor was exceptional in every way.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Bring walking poles, waterproofs, gaiters and an umbrella. Or buy them on the first day in the village as they are cheaper there than in the UK. This area is called "Green Spain" because it frequently rains!

  Take the Stansted - Santander Ryanair flight. It arrived at a sensible time (18:00), only cost me £50 and the hotel collected/delivered me for free! Otherwise it's a change of planes at Madrid and a 00:30 arrival time at the hotel.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  A box for suggested improvements to the trip!

  The main negative was an overpriced (37 Euros for 2 courses with wine), uninspired and touristy meal on our rest day which was recommended to us by the leader as a "flash restaurant". The owner was surly too.

  No fish course provided at the hotel. Rooms could do with more drawers/shelves/coathangers.

  Allowing this review to be published anonymously - or at least just showing the reviewer's initials.

   
• 

  Susan Sherwood

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written June 2008

  This was my first trip with Exodus but I shall certainly be going again. The staff in Spain bent over backwards to make our holiday as good as it could be despite the wet weather. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were so many ! Walking through meadows full of wild flowers that would be considered rare in England. Reaching the top of a 2000 meter peak with snow still lying on the ground. Seeing the beautiful blue of the gentians growing on the slopes.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Victor is great, he has a wicked sense of humour and bags of interesting local knowledge. He also showed great maturity when he carried on taking our group out after his friend was killed in a canyoning accident.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't hesitate, just get on and book now. The Hotel is basic but comfortable with plenty of hot water for showers and lots of good filling food.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We had a great visit to the Guggenheim in Bilbao on the way home which I thought was fantastic, not everyones cup of tea though but there was time to look round the city before catching our flight.

   
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  Allan Grady

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written January 2008

  The terrain was far more exciting than I was expecting.The young guide, Victor, was enthisiastic and excellent.It is an area i would want to return to. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The Camino de Treviso was really quite something.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group leader, Victor, was very good indeed. i hope exodus can hang on to him as he has such a lot to offer.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Make sure your boots are waterproof and take gaiters for the mud.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Good walking, good accommodation and good food.

   
• 

  Conor Montague

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written January 2008

  Some fantastic walks in a quiet, beautiful region of Spain.  Good company, a great guide, and a wonderful part of the world. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Crossing the river in our socks, or sitting, eating our packed lunch, gazing at the stunning scenery - day after day!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Victor was fantastic.  He led the group with ease, good humour, and always with an eye to keeping the group safe and together.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I'd advise to travel over as late as possible in the year.  Apparently, there can be literally thousands of walkers on some of the trails during the high season.  In early November 2007, the temperature was still reasonable (up to about 16ish degrees each day).  Don't worry if you've never 'walked' before.  If Victor is leading the group, you'll be well looked after.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Do visit the village - there are plenty of bars and restaurants, and the locals are only too eager to have a chat!  The food in the Sidreria is gorgeous! 

   
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  Temitope Gay

  PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

  

  Written January 2008

  This region is beautiful, the weather was great (cold and dry for most part) over Christmas. The walks were well appointed and overall a very enjoyable experience. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  THe beauty of snow-capped mountain always excites me. All the walks were of appropriate level and enjoyed all of them. The gorge was absolutely gorgeous though.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent local knowledge. Very pleasant to all members of the group.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I recommend Exodus - I had a very relaxed and enjoyable holiday. I'm sure anyone who enjoys adventure holidays will have a great time with the company. The group I was in had a mixed age range which was good and everyone was able to readily relate to one another.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I had a great holiday, thank you. See you again soon!

   
• 

  Robert Barnes

  amazing scenery!

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Climbing so high that we saw vultures gliding on thermals below us. Excellent dinner in local restaurant. Very friendly and willing local staff in hotel

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent - very well-informed, enthusiastic, intelligent, brilliant conversation - a shame he was messed around by those managing him, which meant we missed out on him for two days.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Hotel is distinctly 1 star - more of a basic bed and breakfast with evening meal than hotel. No communal sitting area, no drying room (other than boiler room full of hotel's washing)

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Whilst the welcome was warm, concerned about comfort and health & safety. Ground floor rooms filled with noise and diesel fumes from early morning (6.55am) deliveries; upstairs rooms served by exceptionally narrow corridor; no emergency instructions or certification in rooms or anywhere else. Lunch very basic and supper puddings featured tinned peach halves, canned cream, tinned rice pudding, watery chocolate stuff - like going camping in the 1950s. Beautiful part of the world, but walking tougher than expected: first day was 24km up and down a gorge, second climbing 1000m mountain, third 800m ascent in driving rain, fourth walked for 8 hours, fifth up to a refuge in dense cloud.

   

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