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

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

Following the ancient waterways-Acequias walking in the snow and sun and wandering through the white towns were the most memorable parts our vacation. (more)nikki moss

The Alpujarras are a striking area of Spain, full of history and remnants of the Moorish culture. Certainly the comraderie of our group of 12 was a daily joy...We would rate this vacation highly, being one of our most memorable. (more)Bob Mack

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

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

Fantastic vacation. Amazing place and lovely people! There are some lovely walks, a chance to see and sample the local culture and the incredibly diverse flora and fauna. Plus abundant opportunities to swim! (more)Rosie Smith

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

It was a perfect vacation... The lodging was excellent nestled in greens with lots of hiking and biking trails to choose from, all meticulously planned out by the owner Peter. Food was superb, prepared by Carolyn, Peter’s wife who ran the place immaculately. This place is actually perfect or simply lazing around for a few days, sipping on limitless wine and taking a dip in the pool. (more)Ricky Yeung

Top drawer! (more)Esther Quinlan

One of the best breaks I have ever had. Carolyn and Peter look after you so well. I am a solo traveler and sometimes you can feel isolated but not this time!!! (more)Margaret Parker

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

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 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

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

I had a fantastic time, enjoyed the wonderful walks, the natural environment and the great company! (more)Alex Pooley

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

The trip exceeded expectations in every way and we can't recommend this highly enough. Liz and Mel are splendid hosts and made us truly welcome in their home. They are hugely knowledgeable about the area, routes, flora and fauna, and local conditions. (more)Elaine Higgleton

It exceeded our expectations....Walking in the high Alpine valleys with the stunning flora and butterflies, seeing ibex, chamois and marmot up close and experiencing the drama of the huge Mercantour peaks all around. (more)Peter Tilbrook

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 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

Memorable parts? 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 cheese, the cooking class using local or homegrown ingredients, the local tour, the passion of our hosts in sustainably revitalising their area and showing us how they were trying to achieve that, the pizza party. All... (more)Josylin Saunders

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

The beautiful island of Kythnos and the interesting walks were the most memorable parts our vacation. We enjoyed it. (more)Julia Morris

Unspoilt island with few if any foreign tourists seen. Local people friendly and helpful. Beautiful whitewashed villages and churches against blue sky and even deeper blue sea. (more)Richard Martin

I can't thank Nigel enough for his care and concern for us, his knowledge and expertise, his flexibility in working the programme to our abilities and to what we wanted from the vacation. (more)Christine Preston

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

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

The mountain walks are amazing with the views of the Griffin Vultures being a huge highlight. Clive, who runs the tourist office for Grazalema was also a genuine highlight. He took real interest in our stay there and was brilliant at directing me to the veggie friendly restaurants. (more)Michelle White

It was great...The views were fantastic and the walking very pleasant. The walks were well organised. (more)Rachel Lawson

The walks were very interesting and varied. The staff based in Torrox were very helpful when we had issues. (more)Ian Macpherson

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

Memorable parts? The great organisation that appeared effortless but I'm sure reflected much planning and forethought. Every day the walks were 'just right' for the weather, our legs and our mood without us having to think about it. The food was superb, varied and appeared as if by miracle in the right amounts at the perfect time. Tips? Do what preparation you can but don't worry as there are so many walks requiring so many different levels of fitness that you will love it regardless... (more)anne webb