Most Inspirational Moment
All of it! Possibly not some of the muddy conditions, but otherwise everything!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
Reviews
A wonderful walking holiday in Spain.
What a wonderful trip to the Picos in Spain. Hotel and food was excellent. Our guides (Nacho and Jairo) were brilliant. I couldn’t fault anything.
Walking the Picos de Europa
Just returned from a fabulous week in the mountains in Northern Spain. We had 5 exciting walks up to 2000m with optional scrambling to the peak on our last walk. Suited us (mum and 16 year old son) brilliantly for Half term. Wonderful guide, fellow walkers, hotel etc. It was a really relaxing way to holiday as there was zero stress (nothing to organise) but physical challenge each day. The canoeing on the free day was a rest from walking, however 15km of upper body workout…..and lots of fun.
Most Inspirational Moment
Amazing scenery, getting to know fellow travellers, physical challenge and sharing all of this with my youngest son on his 16th birthday.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was great. Nacho is an experienced guide and was able to judge our group and lead us for the week, seeming to know what each person would require from him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do plenty of walking to prepare for the holiday. Being fit enough means you will enjoy the walks more. We went in October which was end of season. I suspect the walks might be very hot in the height of summer so consider whether you can cope with exertion in heat.
Picos de Europa, Spain
A wonderful week walking in the stunning Picos.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being away from all the noise, polution and demands of daily life, and being able to enjoy such beautiful landscapes.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Nacho was really lovely. Very personable, relaxed and friendly, and knowledgable about the area and it's history.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just enjoy your escape, the exercise and the views.
excellent first experience
My first exodus holiday was fantastic.The picos were simply beautiful, the hotel was great, the company (my fellow travellers) were great fun and my experience was much, much better than I had anticipated. If you are nervous of travelling alone ,like I was, then dont be. It is well worth pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Go enjoy!
Most Inspirational Moment
Coming down from Mancondui peak, walking through a beautiful alpine meadow, the trail blazers were well ahead and the chatty ones well behind and I had ten minutes of peaceful blissful solitude just to.......be.
Thoughts on Group Leader
What can I say? Alvaro is one in a million. A really nice guy whose passion and knowledge shines through. The holiday would not have been the same without him.
Picos de Europa
An excellent holiday with a lovely group in beautiful surroundings, and a very friendly hotel.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to mention!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro is an exceptional leader and he clearly knows the area inside out. He was also able to predict the weather with extraordinary accuracy and I'm surprised he hasn't been headhunted by the Spanish Meteorological Agency! Alvaro was also very encouraging and we all enjoyed his mischievous sense of humour: 'if I return with 80% of you, it's not perfect, but it's not bad...'
Advice for Potential Travellers
The weather is unpredictable so if you're wondering what to pack, bring everything just in case! However, I didn't wear a raincoat or fleece all week.
Excellent walks in a stunning location!
The Picos de Europa is an area of outstanding scenery and has well defined walking paths. Every walk during the holiday had it’s own distinct ‘feel’ and all were excellent! The accommodation was relaxed, staff were friendly and the food was very good. Our group got on very well with each other so everything combined to make this an excellent holiday!
Most Inspirational Moment
The short scramble to the summit of one of the mountains was fun and the views were awesome!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro was an excellent leader - he had outstanding local knowledge and this was combined with a genuine desire to make sure everyone in the group was comfortable and enjoying themselves. Top marks!!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bilboa can be easily reached from the airport by a frequent bus service, so if you have time before or after the trip, it's a nice place to visit!
Walking the Picos de Europa - Challenging week
This was my first walking holiday and first trip with Exodus. I would highly recommend it to anyone reasonably fit (Challenging week). Accommodation was great and food amazing – lots of options for veggies and good selection at breakfast. All the staff in the hotel are very helpful – for example the owner, Jim, went out of his way to drop two of us in central Bilbao on the day of the return flight, instead of having to kill time at the airport. Other trip members were very sociable and friendly and made it an incredible week. Our guide, Alvaro, was superb – lots of interesting local knowledge about the wildlife and region. He also ensured that the walks avoided crowded times/cloud. The Picos itself is a beautiful region to visit. Day off allowed a trip to the coast, Llanes, which has good restaurants and lovely beach.
Most Inspirational Moment
The view of the Narnjo de Bulnes in the valley in the last day, between Sotres and Tielve.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Great trip, thoroughly recommended
Exodus for me works on word-of-mouth and recommendations. So mine is, go!
It’s a fabulous location with moderate-to-challenging walking, spring flora and fauna fascinating, and so unexpected: like a slice of Switzerland. Our guide, Alvaro, is one of the best – Exodus I’m sure should be very sorry to lose him – but there is such a commitment to quality from the hotel that the team will always be a good one.
Excellent food, comfortable beds, lashings of hot water… a very homely home base.
Most Inspirational Moment
Many, but I guess Alvaro's love for his home and his understanding o the mountains was pretty inspirational.
I would do it all again...
This holiday was so much more than I expected. More challenging, more fun, more mountainous! I don’t know why but I didn’t equate a mountain region with so much ascending. I am a regular hiker and was surprised to find that I could walk for up to two hours uphill and still maintain a conversation. Alvaro the guide was inspiring and motivational, and the group were encouraging and fun to be with. We really bonded over the tough uphills and the shared experiences of the magnificent scenery. I was sad to leave the group at the airport and I think part of me is still in the mountains.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing around ten vultures flying around the top of a mountain - a bird I'd thought would be ugly, but it's actually quite beautiful. Our group had experts in flora and fauna who brought the whole thing to life for me. I learned so much.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro. What can I say? We all thought he was amazing and were sad to hear that he's leaving Exodus in August. He will be a great loss to the team. He was like a sheepdog taking care of his flock, scampering up and down mountains to make sure we were ok. I can still here him say, "slowly as you like!" as we ascended yet another dizzying height. He imparted so much knowledge about the area from history to wildlife and he was just the right amount of encouraging to all of us, individually.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't go before mid-May because you'll have cows wearing cowbells outside your bedroom window at 1am (lovely as they are). They go up to higher pastures in mid-May. Have the G&Ts in the hotel bar - the fishbowl glasses and the measures are amazing. Take your own hairdryer.
Splendour in the Picos!
This trip was amazing – the hotel is great, food incredible (even for non meat eaters), generous hospitality, excellent location. The walks vary, all are magnificent. The area is so untouched by modern life and tourism, it is a real treat for the senses.
The location of the hotel is lovely, pretty shops, bars and restaurants – all only about 3-4 minutes away.
Most Inspirational Moment
Every day was different - from breathtaking high peaks, stunning meadows, dramatic gorges to unspoilt villages.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alvaro is fabulous and a real credit to Exodus - he is passionate about his homeland, willing to share the history, challenges and beauty of the area, he was well aware of everyones ability, considerate and always ready with a smile and encouragement!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't hesitate - book the trip!