We had a spectacular trip. We did a self-guided trip in Piemonte and Tuscany/Umbria. The hotels were much nicer than we expected. Very comfortable and the owners/proprietors were so helpful. The transfer of luggage each day was seamless!
The routes were generally well marked and the app was very good. We didn't need anything more than the app. Only got lost twice which I'd say is pretty good. The routes were a bit more challenging than we expected. We choose two hikes which were marked as 'Introductory - Moderate' which were tougher than we expected. So just pay attention to this. At home, we would consider ourselves quite capable of moderate+ trails, but the classification in Italy is a bit more demanding.
Glad we wore hiking pants as we went through a lot of grasses so never had a concern about tics. Also were very happy we had hiking sticks with us. Invaluable on many of the trails.
I would definitely recommend them to anyone considering a hiking trip. And absolutely no problem doing the self-guided version.
Thank you!!
Griffy and Marg
We loved our walking trip the land of Barolo and Barbera. We learnt an enormous amount about the Piedmont and experienced firsthand the vineyards and wineries of the area. The scenery was amazing. The walk was easy to intermediate but we had some extremely hot weather which was unexpected, making the walk more challenging, but without the heat it would’ve been a very pleasant and manageable walk. Accommodation along the way was terrific. The transfers and other administrative aspects of the walk went incredibly smoothly. The last hotel was amazing with Carlo the owner of the restaurant and hotel being an amazing chef and host. But many others were wonderful as well. The accomodation and restaurant in Cissone was also worthy of special comment. The trip notes said it may be possible to buy lunch along the way but it is generally best to be prepared with your own food. Sometimes there is nothing available or open. We would highly recommend the trip. We went back over the route by car two weeks later which expanded our knowledge and understanding and love of the area.
This trip was bloody amazing woohoo!!!
We hired one normal bike and one ebike. Both bikes were adequate. Our bikes didn’t have water bottle holders which would have been nice and the phone holders don’t allow you to swipe the phone map app easily. Bring your own phone holder if possible because you do need to refer to the mapping app quite frequently. We get lost easily and we survived so I think most people could operate the map app. The hotel accomodation was mixed which we liked. Sometimes an old place, sometimes luxury, sometimes modern. Our luggage was taken from place to place without a hitch. The trail was tiring for my wife but the ebike made it doable and the majority of the trail is on dedicated cycle paths with spectacular scenery. A wonderful experience for two Australians in their 60’s.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Mostar, Budapest, Vienna, Tirana
Mostar, Budapest, Vienna, Tirana, Bratislava, Kotor, Belgrade, Shkoder, Sarajevo, Novi Sad, Kruje, Berat, Ioannina, Prizren, Ohrid, Meteora, Gjirokaster, Subotica, Athens
Good set of highlights, with time for your own activities.
Sintra is beautiful but pick one thing as its bigger than you think.
Lots to see in Lisbon and the transport is easy to use.
Choose a tram ride , Porto is a good one so you can reach Sevales in style
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
The Way of St. James, Southern F
The Way of St. James, Southern France, Le Puy-en-Velay, Pau , Saugues, Laguiole, Conques, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac, Montréal-du-Gers, St Jean Pied De Port
Fantastic trip! Well organised and everything went smoothly. Would probably split the two big 30+ days if I were to have my time again. The heat adds another level of difficulty. Accommodations were all different but all clean and welcoming. Meals were varied as we walked into different regions the food changed to what was local. We never had a bad meal or a bad stay anywhere. Highly recommend this trip through France. A nice quiet Camino compared to the Frances but far more challenging. Very enjoyable.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, The Way of St. James, Le Puy-en-Velay, Golinhac, Conques, Livinhac Le Haut, Figeac, Cajarc, Limogne En Quercy, Lalbenque, Cahors, St-Privat-d'Allier, Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Moissac, Auvillar, Flamarens, Lectoure, La Romieu, Armagnac, Montréal Du Gers, Eauze, Saugues, Nogaro, Aire Sur L'adour, Miramont-Sensacq, Fichous-Riumayou, Sauvelade, Aroue, Saint Palais, Ostabat-Asme, St Jean Pied De Port, Les Faux, Aumont-Aubrac, Nasbinals, St-Chely-d'Aubrac, Espalion, Estaing
French Camino went smoothly. The baggage transport and accommodation could not be faulted. The owners of each house we stayed in were great hosts, not to mention excellent chefs. The walk itself was well marked and the app that they provided was very accurate. Would use them again!!!!
> Internal Flight tickets, Airport transfers, 3-night accommodation in a cave hotel, Lunch at tours provided >Discover UNESCO Sites of Turkey with a customized 4 days tour by plane from/to Istanbul. Explore Istanbul; where Asia Meets Europe and was the capital of 3 different Empires, visit historical monuments such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar. Discover Cappadocia; The land of beautiful horses and the home of fairy chimneys. Walk in the ancient corridors and see rock churches, witness home of early Christians. Take photos of magnificent fairy chimneys from the best photo points. Experience how to make pottery, enjoy typical Turkish foods in local restaurants
Based in two centres, starting in Padstow then spending the second half of the week in Charlestown on the South coast. Our tour leader, Will, and his colleague Gaby, were prepared to go to any lengths to make sure we were fully supported. The walking required a decent level of fitness, the rating of 3 (moderate) is an accurate assessment, and my phone recorded 51 miles during the five days of walks (and 137,700 steps!).
The hotels were both good, although don't expect a sea view, and Will was always able to find us somewhere to eat despite COVID meaning there were a lot more tourists there than usual, and staffing was challenging for many of the restaurants.
The scenery is really lovely, both on the coast and inland, and lots of photos were taken and shared.
Spend a week exploring some of the best bits of northwestern Europe, from Paris to Berlin. With plenty of free time to explore at your own pace and a local leader on hand with insider information, it’s easy to make the most of your days. Walk the streets of romantic Paris, have a beer in Brussels and explore a fairytale castle in Antwerp. From the City of Lights to the cobbled alleys of Belgium, you’ll be cycling along the canals of Amsterdam if the weather’s good and exploring the nightlife of Berlin. Tick iconic landmarks off your bucket list and discover hidden gems in Bruges, all with like-minded travellers. What are you waiting for? Europe is calling!
