Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The first walk of the week a wonderful circuit of the mountain overlooking the hotel. And all the meals at the hotel which were truly superb!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vania was truly excellent ensuring all the group felt part of the family. Her expertise and local knowledge were invaluable but more importantly her positive attitude encouragement and sense of humour were undoubtedly what made the holiday so exceptional for us both.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks involve numerous steps and going downhill could be a little tough on the calf muscles so make sure you get a little bit of practice in before the trip.!

Most Inspirational Moment

Agrigento .. we had an excellent local guide. We also had an excellent local guide at piazza armerina.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were very disappointed in the group leader. See above.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspirational moments. Here are a few: 1. the panoramic views on our walks 2. the Duomo (especially the Piccolomini Library) and the Piazza del Campo in Siena 3. the views of Florence from San Miniato al Monte, plus Giotto's Campanile beside the Duomo in the centre of the city 4. the frescoes in the Collegiata church in San Gimignano

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Liz Proctor, was exceptional in every way. Her briefings before each day's outing contained all the information we needed, and her advice was always very sound. She seemed to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the Tuscan roads, tracks and paths we travelled on, as well as restaurants and other places of interest when we arrived at our destination. She was an excellent driver, and we always felt in safe hands. She was very patient with those who walked more slowly than others and concerned for everybody's welfare. Her fitness was such that she was able to retrace her steps with apparent ease at the end of a walk in order to retrieve the minibus (while the rest of us were having lunch and looking round the place we'd arrived at!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Our weather was pretty mixed, so an anorak was an essential piece of clothing, and there were moments on some of the muddier, rockier paths of our walks when we would have been happier wearing walking boots than simply trainers.

Most Inspirational Moment

Angkor temple.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Probably the best guide I’ve had (rit) and I’ve been on a few trips now.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting people I'd never met before who had clearly done this kind of holiday before but didn't mind (on the whole) that we hadn't. Thank you for allowing us into your world. Can't wait to be part of it again!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Serena was young, beautiful, fit, knowledgeable, informative, friendly, caring, patient and just plain fantastic! Thank you. For every single moment!

Advice for Potential Travellers

DO IT. GO. YOU WON'T REGRET A MOMENT!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the highest peak in Tuscany through the snow at the top. Wonderful views and lovely team spirit in our group. relaxed by the pool at Braccicorti on our return before another lovely home cooked supper in the farmhouse.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara Bull is fantastic. She is so thoughtful and makes wonderful home made flapjack and muffins to keep you going however steep the climb. She puts herself out to make the most of your transfer days so we had a lovely half day in Castel Nuovo before returning to Pisa airport to fly home. Her dog Elvis came on most of our walks and keeps an eye on us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it now!! It is fantastic.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many moments to mention.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was excellent - well informed, interesting, patient and good humoured.

Advice for Potential Travellers

At the end of May, it may rain, or be cloudy and misty - it's pot luck. I was very lucky! I'm pretty fit but hadn't done much ascent recently and all the walks were within my capability, with some folk opting for easier sections when available.

Most Inspirational Moment

evening walks through Oritiga, Piazza Amerina, and Erice.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Milena was the most outstanding group leader I have ever had the pleasure to meet in my 20 years of travel, knowledgeable, good natured, caring on a personal level, without overreaching, making everyone happy and comfortable. on the long rides, giving commentary on scenery, history, any topic, but at the same time, letting people rest, sleep, and then introduce us to a new town. taking us out for dinner,as a group or letting people do their own things and helping them to find a suitable restaurant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

must be able to carry your laguage up or down stone steps to the hotel , or inside hotels. walking in towns up and down cobblestone lanes.

Most Inspirational Moment

The two trips that we had to use the van to access were the two most inspirational walks of the week.They were different in character but equally exhillarating. The trip to Pico Serrella takes you up into remote secluded wood shrouded valleys and up across mildly exposed beautiful scree slopes to the magnificent lonely ridge of pico Serrella with it's beautiful dry white marble like rock with views to the coast of Costa Blanca and all around to the Mountains of Aitana.Majestic. From the summit one descends via a scree path to the amazing dry gorge valley of Barranc de la canal for a long scenic descent between towering walls of rock on both sides of the valley and a veritable flower garden of mountain flowers,shrubs and trees each wafting up beautiful scents from their many coloured flowers in the glorious sunshine of a hot Spanish May. The final descent to the little village of Beniarda skirts a steep river gorge diving out of the adjoining mountains,with some welcome shade from the evening heat and if you are lucky you may meet the delightful 92 year old owner of the award winning Beniqueis olive oil in the village of Beniarda. The final trek up the Puig de Campana takes you nearer the commercial heart of the costa Blanca though the initial walk in is along the quieter tracks of the foothill valleys on the aitana side.The final hour is steep and scrambly in sections and there are many more people climbing/descending the trail then we had on our other outings.The view from the summit is spectacular all along the Costa Blanca and right down into Benidorm on one side and over to the beautiful long ridge of the Sierra de Aitana and it's deep adjoining valleys on the other side.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose Miguel Garcia was our group leader and he was truely excellent.He was very helpful,friendly and encouraging with a hilariuos sense of humour and a quick wit expressed in better English than I have myself. It added greatly to the experience of the trip that he was a local guide who knew the history and stories of the area and was generous in the telling of them and he is definitely the king of sandwich makers and we got to sample his creations as packed lunch every day;MMMarvellous!

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need good fitness and stamina for this week.You need well broken in boots and good socks as the walking is mostly over dry hard rock terrain and tough on the feet.i would also recommend at least a two litre camel pack for your sack. I was drinking at least two litres every day in the heat and almost 3 litres on the Puig de Campana day which was probably the hottest day of our week in May.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the iron cross on day 2 - I had not cycled anywhere for years and came along on the recommendation of a friend who convinced me that the trip was attainable and not too difficult - not sure about the “not difficult” bit but getting to the summit convinced me that he was right

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alfonso was five star excellent throughout the trip. Really made its great experience

Advice for Potential Travellers

The consensus in the group was that it was not a moderate journey.