Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent knowledgeable leader who knew his stuff.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We went on the "strenuous" week which we enjoyed but be prepared to be walking for 9-10 hours on a couple of days!
Reviews
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Reviews
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
An excellent unspoilt part of Spain with stunning scenery and jagged peaks. The Picos mountains provide excellent walking and for the most part you see no one else!
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
A beautiful part of the world for trekking, and wonderfully varied walks through stunning scenery with a real sense of achievement at the end of the day. Great hotel, great leader, so a fantastic package all round! It helped of course that the weather was gorgeous and the group friendly and fun.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the top of the scramble - wobbly legs, but what a view!Cold, cold beer after a hard day's walk
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was amazing; so passionate and knowledgable about the area and a fun guy to have around. He was so encouraging on the hard bits - "the steeper the shorter!" - running up and down like a mountain goat so he could speak to everyone.
Advice for Potential Travellers
For single travellers, maybe check before you book the make-up of the group - how many solo travellers, age range etc. I actually didn't do this but I got lucky with a great mix of people, though it may be easy to end up with people who are all much older or younger or all couples (not that this would necessarily be a bad thing of course, but it may be a consideration for some people)
Suggestions
The one thing that slightly worried me before I left was the fact that most evening meals were taken in the hotel - part of the fun of travelling is getting to know the local cuisine and culture and there's less of a chance to do this if you eat in the same hotel every night, rather than explore the town where you're staying. However, the food at the hotel was lovely as were the staff, but maybe it would be good to have the option? (This is a very minor issue though and I appreciate it may be difficult at a small hotel especially the quiet season)
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
Good day walking from a comfortable and friendly hotel.
The Picos and good company. What more could you want?
Most Inspirational Moment
Messing about in the snow.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Good technical skills combined with enthusiasm for the landscape and an ability to share it. A rare combination.
Suggestions
The 'cooking' option on the free day doesn't appear to exist at all. Why? It appears in your literature. It was a pity, because the rest of the cooking part of the holiday nicely compliments the walking.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
An energetic, but not exhausting, week in a beautiful area of Spain. The new guide, Alvaro, made sure that we were safe and had an enjoyable time
Most Inspirational Moment
Just being outdoors in both the high lush pasture and the craggy limestone with memorable views.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro was very enthusiastic about his patch of Northern Spain. He looked after all members of the group, providing just the right amount of information about The Picos de Europa.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As with all Exodus trips, just be prepared for some itinerary changes - it's part of the fun. On this trip, there was some change to the order of the walks.On at least three of the walks, there were opportunities for those who wished, to shorten or simplify the route. Consider taking a knee support or two if your knees have a combined age of over 100 yrs! ...just in case.The Hotel Torrecerredo is basic, the owners Pilar and Jim will look after you well and the food is good. Some great Riojas on the winelist.....try the "Muriel" one. Had two great evening meals in the village too.
Suggestions
A very mixed group of people and we all seemed to appreciate each others company......lots of laughs and dry humour. Did the 10km down-river (Rio Sella) kayaking on the free day which was a bit more sedate than expected as the water was low. This was good fun and a welcome opportunity to rest the legs and use the arms. I think the river can get busy in July/August.If this review seems a bit "flat" it is because I tend to understate things...... I had a GREAT time.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
Great tour leader, well done Victor! Great group of people and a nice selection of varied trekking days all topped off by a wonderful hotel with enthusiastic and very helpful staff.
Most Inspirational Moment
Scrambling to the top of the twin summits of Mancondiu with its fabulous views
Thoughts on Group Leader
Victor was a top man, great athlete and an inspirational leader for a very varied group with mixed experience and personalities!
Advice for Potential Travellers
For this trip, buy a bottle of whisky in duty free on the way out, it may be Spain but drinks are still extremely expensive! Still getting over my bar bill!!!!!
Suggestions
Nice trip, well put together itinerary so top marks Exodus (now where's my £5 for saying nice things)!
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
Our 4th Exodus holiday and as always it met our expectations and we would highly recommend it. Lovely hotel, small and friendly in a beautiful location with great views. The rooms are simple but very clean and and the food is really great with lots of choice and plentiful. Nobody will go hungry. I do not eat meat and was impressed with the variety of choice of meals that I could eat. We enjoyed sitting on the terrace having a beer after a day walking. The barman is really friendly and provides peanuts or crisps with your drinks. The walking was great not too strenuous but a decent length. We started our walks at 9.00 and were usually picked up in the mini-bus around 4 – 4.30. The people in our group were great, very friendly and chatty which added to the enjoyment of our holiday. The ages of our group were mixed and as usual for an August holiday many were teachers.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved all the walks, unfortunately due to the weather we were only able to do one peak.The Cares Gorge is lovely and it was great dangling my feet in the icy cold, refreshing water in the river in Cain before having lunch and a beer. Seeing a Golden Eagle flying over the valley in Inguanzo.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jim and Pilar the hotel owners were friendly and helpful. They provide the transportation from and to the airport and also do the drop offs and pick-ups for the daily walks. We were never left waiting very long.Victor our mountain guide was great, a local young man, highly qualified and considerate of everyone. He ensured everyone was safe and told us how much water would be required each day. He had a great sense of humour and always had a story to tell.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that changes in weather will alter the programme of walksMake sure you drink enough water and take heed of Victor's advice regarding filling up at different springs.Take time to walk into the village and visit the Cabreles Cheese Museum.We haven't ever used poles but the majority of walkers had poles so you might want to try them before you go.
Suggestions
We did a walk on our free day rather than visit the beach. Jim provided the map and we did a lovely walk visiting the pretty village Inguanzo.A few of the people in our group stopped over at Bilbao at the end of the week which I hadn't thought of but it seemed like a good thing to do. Jim or Pilar dropped them off after they dropped us at the airport. The Guggenheim at Bilbao sounds interesting.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
Had a fantastic time. The scenery is amazing but the weather could have been better (not that anyone is to blame for that). The hotel is small but very friendly and homely, Victor our guide was brilliant. I would thouroughly recommend this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Standing at the tip of a peak and walking along the Cain Gorge.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Victor was brilliant, could not fault him at all. Friendly, polite, helpful, new what he was talking about.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take some decent wet weather gear
Suggestions
Was a fairly cheap and cheerful week's walking, but it was superb.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
The Picos Peaks and Gorges was a great trip. We were picked up by Jim in Bilbao and transferred by private mini-van to the Hotel. Rooms were allocated quickly and the bar was open ready for a much needed refreshing drink. Overall the walks were suitably challenging and and the weather was varied. Our guide, Victor was awesome. The food was very sufficient. The breakfast meals were all you could eat, packed lunches were a large bread roll, fruit and chocolate and the evening meals mostly cooked by Pilar were nothing short of excellent, hearty local food. The rooms were clean, well serviced and there are laundry and drying facilities which I put to use. The local village was worth a visit or two and there are plenty of gift shops. The group I was with was mixed, all ages and all managed to keep up with the moderate pace. I had a fantastic time.
Most Inspirational Moment
The most inspirational moment was a day when Victor took us out on a gloomy day but after quick a long walk and then a good scramble we rose above the clouds and could see all the major peaks. Also the Cares Gorge walk, although 12KM each way had some breathtaking views.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide Victor is a highly skilled, well qualified and knowledgable. Being a local man and 3-4 generations of his family lived and worked in the region he gave us a good account of the local history of the area as well. Victor was a very good leader and left no body behind and respected everyone's abilities. Without any doubt Victor made the holiday a success and he is a credit to Jim, Pilar and Exodus.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a 2 hour 15 min transfer from Bilbao. Santander would be a better choice.
Suggestions
On warm days ensure you take enough water with you. One of the day's was about 25C and a number of the group were getting low on water. I took a Camelbak / hydration bladder and that served the purpose. I used the hotel tap water, no problem.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
A good trip; well organised, with a convenient base for the walks.
Most Inspirational Moment
The scrambling ascent of Mancondiu on the last day; a very enjoyable excursion.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very good; technically very competent, with an in-depth knowledge of the region.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a long-ish drive (2 to 2.5 hours) to and from the airport at Bilbao.Check whether or not you have booked one of the "challenging weeks".
Suggestions
Personally, I would have liked a bit more scrambling, in what was potentially very good terrain.
PICOS PEAKS & GORGES
Beautiful mountainous scenery, but be sure you are fit if you book on the ‘C’ grade holiday as the days are pretty long (7 hrs) and there is a lot of UP…
Most Inspirational Moment
Well standing on the peaks of course
Thoughts on Group Leader
Victor is a very friendly chatty guy, full of stories.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Its a pretty straight forward walking holiday but does require a good level of fitness if you go on the 'C' grade holiday otherwise you may feel you are keeping the group back.