Center based hiking vacations vacations
Tours & vacations in 2019 & 2020

The vacation was excellent, really enjoyed it. Fantastic accommodation, Incredible scenery, Chris’s enthusiasm for all things totally infectious I came away a happier person and would do it all again tomorrow! (more)Martin Cooke

It was excellent in every way. Highly to be recommended to nature lovers, especially if curious to learn the history, economy and ecology of the region. (more)Lesley O

Chris Stewart bringing the landscape to life was the most memorable part of the vacation. (more)Anne Murphy

Great. Class time just flew by and the study was actually fun. I was a novice hiker and found the hikes to be challenging, but worth the effort. I really value the friendships I made with others participating in the program. (more)Mark Hindin

Great. We loved it and rated our time in Panes the best part of our month in Spain and Portugal. We even looked at the price of houses in the region! (more)Diane Norman

It's difficult to choose a favourite (part) as all aspects were brilliant. The course was just right with the right amount of challenge, and Ana organised the transfers, accommodation and treks efficiently. (more)Chandra Kantha

Just what I needed. Restful, easy, a real vacation. (more)Paul Johnson

The most memorable part of the vacation was the wonderful hosts and food (more)Ruth Anderson

Peter and Carolynn source as much as they could locally, especially the wine. (more)Dorothy Penny

Probably the best walking vacation I've ever had - spectacular scenery; the perfect combination of hard physical exercise and pampering that you know you've earned. (more)Alison Sadler

If you are unsure whether this vacation is for you - just do it. The guided walks were a particular highlight. (more)Lesley Hadfield

I do want to say that our stay in the chalet was absolutely 5 *****. We were cared for beautifully in a warm and friendly ambiance with delicious, generous and creative meals, including wine. There was plenty on offer at the chalet....tv, games, hot tub. Our guide, Bruno, was fantastic. (more)Denise Hellier

5* (more)Michaela Brinkhaus

The scenery was the highlight. Especially the views from the peaks over 2000 metres. (more)Linda McDonald

Two days walking, one day wine tasting and one day kayaking (1 week) plus add on (3 nights) of two days walking and one day white water rafting. Walnut Valley walk was our favourite in the first week and white water rafting was our favourite in the add on (more)Malcolm Hill

Hard to choose between seeing the most spectacular sunrises from my terrace with a pot of coffee or standing on a high point on a nearby hill, able to see the sea on the horizon and the lunar landscape and mountains to my left. (more)Briony Turner

The highlight was the spectacular walks offering such amazing views. During our 5 days in Lubrin we did three of the long walks and we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the foothills as well as high in the mountain tops, just stunning. (more)Annette Easton

Excellent....The hiking and the views were first rate the accommodation was charming, clean and convenient. (more)Mak Kubeisy

The walks and the views were memorable, especially the one where we saw Sierra Nevada. Great trip ! (more)Kersti Smith

Great vacation; friendly, relaxed, well planned and led, very flexible too... (more)Chris Watts

a really well planned and varied walk programme, expertly led... It was an excellent vacation. I have travelled with some of the bigger companies before, and really appreciated the more personal approach on this trip. (more)Pamela Park

We had fabulous weather to enjoy the scenery... It was a lovely relaxing vacation. The food was plentiful and good... (more)Catherine Mclaren

Wonderful scenery, great food, best company (more)Michaela Brinkhaus

Having a great variety of walking experiences was wonderful - from full-on snowshoeing to walking over ice and snow with cleats/microspikes on our boots to gazing across from the mountain tops at the Med (more)Angie Polkey

Wonderful walking in the Vesubie valley and Mercantour National Park in stunning mountains with superb views and dazzling lakes. Beautiful wildflowers and countless butterflies, lots of other wildlife to spot. (more)Ian Sheriff

Liz and Mel made us extremely welcome and were excellent hosts. We were given delicious meals and snacks every day and Liz went out of her way to cater for dietary needs, which was a real bonus on a vacation like this. (more)Janet Nelson

Seeing fantastic landscapes & wildlife was memorable. Really great. (more)Ingrid Beveridge

The most exciting part of the vacation was the spectacular landscape and the chance to hike and climb in it. (more)John Roy

It was fantastic, we loved every minute of it, the walks were excellent and well planned using Mel’s extensive local knowledge. The food provided and cooked by Liz was excellent. (more)Rosemary Bard

Extraordinary! One of the best vacations I have every had! (more)Wendy Greenspun

Our guide, Daphnie, was superb, being always willing to adjust the itinerary to suit people and/or weather, the walking and scenery is incredible, the hotels ideally located in small seaside towns, and the restaurants recommended for us throughout the vacation gave us a perfect 'taste of Greece'. (more)Jim Frame

The fact that our excellent Greek guide was able to give us so much information about the islands, and also about Greek life in general. Through her we met a number of locals and felt it was altogether a very Greek experience. (more)Christa Laird

It was an enjoyable experience but we were not expecting the walks were going to be on trails rather than rocky paths. (more)Eric Middleton

The amazing walking , everyday a different walk. The beautiful blossom trees, truly was a Walk in Blossom. Would have been great even without the blossom though! (more)Elaine Carter

The highlight was the daily hikes: the scenery is beautiful and inspiring. (more)Hilary MacKenzie

The beauty of the massed blossom was the most memorable. Dan was a brilliant leader, affable & good natured as well as knowledgeable about the area. (more)Valerie Ghinn

Fantastic coastal walks and beaches, atmospheric villages and ancient ruins, castles and palaces. (more)Tracey Leach

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the Sintra hills at Quinta Colina Flora, enjoying the warm hospitality of James and Aasta and the beauty of the park. Thanks to Rosy Responsible Travel for the recommendation. (more)Valerie Montigny

The most memorable was the beautiful cliff top walks with amazing scenery. It was lovely to explore the local area, and the food and Fado was amazing. Excellent vacation - we have lots of beautiful photos and lovely memories of our stay. (more)Doreen Brett

Memorable parts? Reaching the top of Gros Piton. Tips? Go for it! Local benefits? The whole issue of environmentally friendly tourism is a complex one. In many ways there are benefits in that local people get much needed employment and sometimes improved amenities and infrastructure. But these changes don't always benefit those most in need and fail to filter down to ordinary people. We hiked off the beaten track and saw parts of the island that the 'normal' tourist (whatever... (more)Margaret Gravelle

Grazalema was an excellent center for experiencing the wonderful walking, views, fauna and flora of this stunning reserve. The village itself was delightful and we were made to feel most welcome. (more)John and Meg Tyler

The walking is very well described and on relatively easy paths/ tracks so that we were walking a grade above that we had expected with no real difficulties. Dave and Gill are very helpful in providing other walks if you want something easier/ more difficult. (more)Iain Murray

We especially enjoyed the last day when we walked in sunshine under clear blue skies high into the hills & had wonderful views to even higher hills, some with snow on them. (more)Jenny Speakman

Memorable parts? The food throughout the stay, the choices of hikes (particularly the gorge and the mountain top), and the mix of people. Tips? Be in shape! Be prepared for challenging walks. Local benefits? We left no trace behind on our walks. Food was purchased locally. We visited local markets and went to two local restaurants. Overall rating? This experience exceeded our expectations. We had great food, great guides, interesting and challenging walks and a very... (more)Ken Margraf

The hikes were the main highlights, because that was what attracted me the most of this trip, a personal challenge for me. (more)Fabiana Forni

Excellent, our guide Bert Palmen went out of his way to make sure everyone was happy (more)Anne Higgins

We had an excellent vacation hosted by 2 very knowledgeable and caring people. All aspects of the cooking, walking and sightseeing was made so enjoyable because of their enthusiasm and attention to details. (more)Rod Elliott

The mountain setting is splendid with wonderful views and very quiet. Marla and Fabrizio offer exceptional hospitality and locally produced food prepared to a high standard. Cooking with them in a small group was great fun. (more)Valerie Snowden

The entire vacation was memorable! From the moment we got there and were welcomed by our wonderful hosts at their beautiful B&B in the mountains, to the stunning walk through the Alps, the freshly baked treats each morning, the market tour and all the amazing... (more)Josylin Saunders

I enjoyed every single hike and the fact that most of them included a beach with azure waters for a refreshing dip was very welcome after a hot walk. (more)Sandra Forrester

The trip surpassed my expectations. This vacation offered far more than walking with visit to mining caves and archaeological site and wine tasting. You get a real sense of the island. (more)Joan Lahart

Everything was memorable, from initial contacts, booking, and most importantly the entire trip. We enjoyed it all. (more)Steven Handley

The Pyreness themselves; the stunning scenery , hiking and swimming were out of this world. (more)Hannah Mitchell

This retreat was the best experience I have had as a vacation. Simon & Lucy were the perfect hosts. Nothing was too much trouble. (more)Lesley Goldburn

Fantastic; I enjoyed every minute. (more)ROS LITTLE

Memorable parts? The fantastic scenery and great value for eating out. Tips? The hiking is quite challenging in some places and not for people who our afraid of heights. Local benefits? Not sure. Overall rating? It was a great short break. Poprad Airport was very easy and local, accommodation was in a good location. (more)Nicola Webber

The whole stay was excellent but the very best day was the horse and cart ride with barbecue. We also loved the remote rural position, the peace, the local produce (especially honey, apricot jam and raw milk), and the company of the other guests. (more)Joan Payne

The most knowledgeable guide I have ever had the privilege to meet, the stunning natural beauty, and the complete detachment from my day to day city life. (more)Paul Kearney

It was wonderful. I was able to explore the scenery, the history and even meet some of the local people. The small number of people made the tours feel much more personal and the staff were warm and friendly. (more)Elizabeth Long

Memorable parts? Experiencing the real and unspoilt Spain, sampling the local food and hiking in delightful countryside. No tourists and the rustic charm of the accommodation. Tips? If you want total tranquility, the real Spain with its delicious tapas bars and restaurants and local wine ( all at amazing value!) and totally peaceful accommodation away from it all, but near enough to walk into the village, then this is the place for you. The walks were very enjoyable taking anything... (more)Ellen Common

A walk from Bérchules incorporating the so-called "Moor's last stand", and definitely seeing the Alhambra for the first time was the top two highlights. (more)Alison Sadler

I had a fantastic time, enjoyed the wonderful walks in the beautiful Alpujarras and the relaxed atmosphere in the hotels where we stayed. Not to forget the good food, drinks and laughs! (more)Anonymous