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Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers  

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151 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

Walking in Andalucia

A great walking trip with leisurely walks through the beautiful Andalucian countryside. Each walk had different elements with ample time to stop and admire the views. The guide, Alexis, was pleasant, well informed and knowledgeable about the area. He spoke excellent Spanish and liaised with the local people throughout our trip, ensuring that the needs of the group were wholly met. The staff at the cortijo were welcoming and the atmosphere was informal and relaxed – perfect at the end of a days walking. The food was excellent throughout the stay. The swimming pool is quite small but adequate for a refreshing dip at the end of the afternoon. I had a super time with my fellow walkers and have returned with many happy memories.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking along the newly refurbished wooden paths through the Caminito Del Ray was an awesome experience. The geographical scenery was spectacular and crossing the small metal bridge across the gorge felt like a real achievement. The trip to Seville was a fantastic experience - I would definitely like to visit the city again. Learning how to cook a traditional paella was very interesting and the Flamenco dancers were a lovely surprise and fitting end to our week.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alexis was the perfect guide throughout our trip. He was very friendly and accommodating and took time to chat to everyone in the group. His local knowledge was advantageous and he rearranged our timetable to take account of the (slight) rainy weather and slippery ascents/descents, ensuring the safety of walkers. Alexis shared facts about the walks and locations at every opportunity - keeping us well informed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack your waterproofs in Spring as there are occasional showers.

Andalucia moderate to challenging - the first at this level

An excellent week in a beautiful part of Spain. Good range of walks on 5 days, with great views from the peaks and interesting walk to a hidden valley. Most walks about 10 miles with 650 to 950 metres climb during the walk. Comfortable accommodation, a lounge with a log fire in the evening and good catering. Less strenuous day out in Seville, but time to visit places of interest and try out a local bar or two.

Most Inspirational Moment

I would say the walk to summit of el Penon and recognising that the more challenging holiday grade was a good decision. The picnic lunch in the peace and quiet at the convent was an excellent interlude in another walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chris was an excellent leader, with good local knowledge, who had planned interesting walks at the right level of difficulty for the grade of holiday. He walked at a good pace, timed the day well and considered the ability of all in the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A reasonable level of fitness is required and the holiday is graded appropriately. Trust in the Trip Notes.

Andalucian adventure, mod/challenging (recce)

Good walking for 5 days, pastoral and olive groves, with two mountains, the ones seen from the excellent and friendly Cortija. Those were about 10 miles and nearly 3000 ft climbing. The other days were easier but with the interest of a curious village built into an around a gorge, Setinel; a monastery for a brought lunch; a hidden, sunken upland limestone plateau; and El Chorro Gorge, an impressive sight, although that walk has not been fully worked out yet as the gorge walkway is not quite finished. I have no doubt that our leader, Chris Burke, will work out an excellent route as he did for the others.
The grading is accurate. Seville sight seeing is as for the easier trip. The food by the hostesses was varied and superb. Some Flamenco dancing by two local lasses at the Cortija, and the interesting clapping rhythm, was a bonus.

Most Inspirational Moment

The summit of El Penon, the jagged mountain overlooking the Cortija.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good: easy going, sociable, walked at a good pace and had worked out the routes very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The grading is accurate!

Walking in Andalucia

I really enjoyed this, my first walking holiday in quite a while. It was very well planned, starting with a short amble to the nearby village and building up to a longer, slightly more challenging route later in the week. None of the walking was particularly arduous, although there are some hills – including the short steep one up to the finca where we stayed – but our leader Alexis always made sure we were all happy with the pace, which was leisurely, and we took frequent rests to admire the countryside. The area is very peaceful and unspoilt, and the days when we were taken further afield and into the mountains in the minibus gave us a chance to see more of it. The day in Seville was a good contrast to the rural walks, and there is a lot to see there. The beautiful Alcazar is pretty unmissable if people haven’t seen it before. At the finca the accommodation was comfortable and nothing was too much trouble for the staff; the owners came to say hello and were also charming and helpful. The food was good and plentiful too. Having wondered beforehand how I would cope after a long break from walking, I had a really great week, and am now planning my next week away.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think the best moment was probably reaching the top of the crag above the Camino del Rey, where we stopped to have our lunch and saw a lot of vultures circling in the thermals and landing on the cliff face opposite where they had young ones waiting. But then there were the spectacular views of the Guadalhorce Dam and reservoirs. Oh and the beautiful white villages. And the peaceful lunch in the shade at the deserted monastery ...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alexis is a complete gem! He was very good company, and he looked after us so well and with such good humour and professionalism - nothing was too much trouble. He also clearly had a great relationship with the local people who made us so welcome when we stopped for a meal or a beer.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like to sleep with the windows open, bring earplugs because once it's dark all the dogs in the scattered houses up and down the valley start chatting to each other by barking in relays! Not loud, as they are a long way off, but I'm a light sleeper and they woke me up the first night, especially when a donkey joined in. Hey, it's the country, what do we expect?

Excellent walking in rural Spain

This was an excellent week spent in the peace and quiet of rural Andalucia. We were very lucky with the weather with only one stormy night followed by a damp morning, but because the tour was run with some flexibility this day was taken to visit Seville rather than walking. It was a fun and interesting group, and there was plenty of laughter alongside the exercise. The walks were varied and enjoyable although not desperately strenuous.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me I think the highlight was watching vultures flying at and below eye level from the top of the El Chorro gorge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group was led by Alexis and he was very very good; informative, fun and interesting, he was very well organised and helped make the week run smoothly. He always let us know what was in store, kept the group going a steady pace when out walking and always arranged for a drink in a local bar at the end of each walk - an excellent idea!.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some wet weather if you go late in the year; we had one storm that would have been quite unpleasant if it had occurred during the day.

walking in andalucia

excellent leader, excellent food and accommodation, my only minor criticism was that walks one and two were too similar (lots of olive groves!)

Most Inspirational Moment

looking down into El Chorro gorge

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alexis was excellent-laid back but at the same time concerned always as to the welfare of the group. He was also very sociable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

relax and enjoy!

Amazing Andalucia!

A surprisingly wonderful experience shared with a very friendly group of people and fantastic guide. The accommodation was set in a superb location and surrounding. The Farmhouse was very well kept and the food and service of very good standard.

Most Inspirational Moment

We loved visiting Ronda and Seville - great addition to our hiking!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very knowledgeable, professional, enthusiastic, friendly and caring. An example to anyone that wants to become a holiday guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We thoroughly recommend the location if you want to be closed to nature and keep active.

Walking in Andalucia

This is a most enjoyable holiday in beautiful countryside. It was a great pleasure staying at the Cortijo Rosario, a comfortable converted farmhouse set in very attractive grounds and with its own swimming pool. The traditional breakfasts and dinners were excellent, and the sangria and paella demonstrations on the last evening a highlight. It was so good to be off the tourist route and see small villages where people actually live, as well as the stunning countryside.

Most Inspirational Moment

The scenery at El Chorro Gorge (with the magnificent vultures soaring around the cliffs at the top), the very pretty town of Ronda, Grazelema, the day in Seville.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alexis was an excellent group leader. He was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and sensitive to the needs of the group. As few locals in the places we visited speak English, a good guide is essential.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Comfortable walking or hiking boots are essential. One or two tramping poles are very useful too for the hilly areas.

Clive Shaw

This being our first experience with Exodus and having been on two other walking holidays we knew roughly what to expect however this holiday exceeded our expectations ! From pick up at Malaga to departure a week later everything went smoothly. On arrival Chris who was our leader for the week met us and took us to the waiting taxi where the other guests met us as well to take us onward to Cortijo Rosario our home for the week. On route Chris
pointed out various places of interest and had a wealth of historical information to make the journey interesting for us all. We were a small group six in total but this did not matter at all. Once unpacked Chris showed us around the farmhouse and gave us a few house rules which helped us settle in. Each evening Chris told us all we needed to know about the following day’s walks all of which were varied and thoroughly enjoyable whether it was from the Farmhouse or a taxi journey away. Every walk had lots of interest and lots of wild flowers and birds to see and this was backed up with Chris and a vast amount of Andalucian knowledge. Food was excellent,prepared by Maria a local lady and helped by Rocio, giving us all a taste of Andalucia. Breakfast was simple but enough to start our day’s walking,lunch was a picnic and one day a tapas lunch was provided in on of the local villages that we passed through.Evening meal was three courses with wine all very nice.After the meal the group sat in the lounge where a large open fire made us all feel at home, this gave us time to reflect on the days walk .One night Chris did a quiz to see if we had taken on board all that he had to tell us, this was fun. Whilst we were there it was our 33rd wedding anniversary and having spoken to Rocio she managed to get flowers delivered to the Farmhouse for my wife, in the evening Bill and Ann the owners bought out a bottle of Cava for us all to enjoy, a really nice touch.This was followed by two local girls who did Flamenco dancing for us, this was fantastic ,a joy to see. So in general an excellent holiday with a brilliant leader. Thank you Exodus

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the sunrise over the mountains from the terrace in the morning and eating our breakfast there as well.

WALKING IN ANDALUCIA

Our first Exodus holiday – we enjoyed it hugely. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking down into El Chorro gorge and watching the griffon vultures soaring near the cliff opposite was fantastic.  All our walks took us through remarkable scenery, and the wintry weather on occasions added an extra dimension.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - he made sure everyone felt included and kept an eye on anyone who was lagging at all, or who was nervous of free-wandering cattle with huge horns! He knew all the best places to stop for a break, both picnics and cafes, and how he stretched our kitty to cover so much refreshment is a mystery.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Mid winter might seem an odd time to visit Spain, but actually it was very good and we had mainly bright sunny weather (and some frosty mornings).  The temperature was very pleasant.  The dramatic storm overnight on Christmas Eve/Day was quite an experience, along with the power cuts, but it made no difference to our comfort in Cortijo Rosario.