Balkans Mountains Trips

The tour leader Juan Jo looked after us well and changed some of the itinerary days around because of wet weather the first few days, In fact we had the first snow of the season on the Sunday. This worked out fine and we enjoyed the first few days walks until the sun came out. Then having the toughest day last up to the Naranco de Bulnes was great as it was the best day and we had all gained a good level of fitness. As a vegetarian I was delighted with the meals the cook at Casa Cipriano served up. It was a really nice hotel and quiet base to stay at. It was my second visit to Sotres on an Explore trip. I had done my first guided walking trip there back in 1997 and always wanted to go back. I was very happy to see Juan Jo was still the guide and enjoyed the slightly different itinerary with another lovely group of people.

A great 5 days hiking in the Transylvanian Alps! Beautiful scenery and excellent views from the tops. Our guide Robin was excellent - very knowledgeable and did a great job looking after the group. Also really enjoyed our trips to Peles and Bran Castles and the National Village Museum in Bucharest.

An incredible holiday. We were lucky with the weather, but leader swapped days around so that we had best views on clear days. Hotel was family run and staff were friendly and attentive. All meals were included and they were delicious with huge portions. But best of all was our leader/ guide. He never stopped working, and nothing was too much trouble.

A fantastic tour. Both Armenia and Georgia were superb destinations. They each had fascinating histories, outstanding food and wine and the most beautiful churches and landscapes. Both legs of the tour were really enhanced by the encyclopaedic knowledge of the guides, Armine in Armenia and Alex in Georgia. We would strongly recommend this tour.

Loved this trip! The only thing I would change was to skip the trip to St. Andrews and spend more time on the Isle of Sky and at Culloden. The bus driver and tour guide were phenomenal! My favorite part was the stop at Craufard Castle. The hosts were some welcoming and open to answering all questions and sharing the history of their family. The food was also excellent. What a great trip! I definitely would recommend.

The guide Jaun Jo is excellent, and paced the hikes well. Be prepared for miles of both uphill and downhill, it was quite challenging at times. The accommodations in Sotres were lovely, and quite comfortable. Meals were wonderful. WiFi is not accessible in all areas, so if that’s a need be sure to have a good data plan.