Walking in the Pyrenees

Walks were varied & were done in a logical manner with easier ones first gradually increasing in length & severity. All the walks were capable of being done by an experienced walker. Our guide, Bert, was very knowledgeable & also ensured that all the guests were comfortable going at their own pace.

Our tour leader Lucas was fantastic, he was very knowledgeable about the country and tailored the walks to every member of the group, he also provided us all relevant information on the local area and took us to personaI restaurants he recommended all of which were fantastic. I cannot emphasise enough how enjoyable he made the trip. The walks themselves took place all over Andorra really giving you a feel for the landscape with some absolutely stunning views. The accommodation was clean and comfy and the staff friendly, the safe in the rooms was complicated to try and work however that is my only criticism of the accommodation. The optional rest day provided a great opportunity to do some shopping in the local towns. While the group was large (the full 16 people) it didnt stop a good sense of friendship among the group. The first week of September provided a good mix of warmth while also keeping cool in the mountains. I would book with Explore again!

Wonderful scenery & an excellent tour leader who was friendly & approachable, with a variety of ideas on options to take on the rest day. Good variety of food options too.

Outstanding Guide and great walking routes with things to see. La Calela tapas bar near the hotel in Soldeu has excellent food for a very good price and is the only eating venue we ate at that I would recommend. The hotel is quite basic with almost no hanging space in the rooms, and nothing suitable for drying wet clothes - a shortcoming for walkers and skiers alike. Don’t request a double bed room - they are all tiny! The twin beds can be put together in larger rooms however. Very good shower pressure and room make up service. If you are expecting interesting bread, fruits and locally made yogurt for breakfast in the hotel restaurant (typical of other mountain venues) you will be disappointed. But at least you can order eggs. I was disappointed that the owner showed off baskets of porcini mushrooms he had picked locally, but failed to add them to the hotel menu: He said he would eat them himself! Some foreign members of hotel staff were smiling and charming, but the locals less so. There is a convenient supermarket across the road (where you can even buy hangers!). We joined a very good group which made it fun. Excellent local swimming pool in Canillo.

It would have been better to have the hotel in La Valla. We were in a very small town with very limited and expensive restaurants around. The surrounding were beautiful but being in a bigger town would have been wonderful in the evenings. The hikes were hard, but manageable. The scenery was stunning. Altogether it was a pleasant and beautiful week in the mountains that I would recommend to every nature lover.

A very enjoyable holiday in Andorra. The whole holiday was extremely well organised allowing we to me to relax and make the most of the holiday. The organised walks were superb and allowed us to experience the beautiful scenery of the Pyrenees. Our tour leader was excellent and arranged meals at a variety of restaurants during the week. The hotel was comfortable and friendly.

Jessica was a fantastic tour guide and leader! Extremely personal, knowledgable and made me feel so comfortable the entire trip! She truly made this trip the best experience of my life! Would love to go on another trip with her as my leader!

The whole trip was excellent

Andorra is a real gem! We enjoyed stunning walks and a memorable time together. A great group of Explorers! Walks were a bit challenging at times for me but worth it for the views and the flora on the trails. A comfortable, homely hotel, the staff made us feel hugely welcome and the rooms were kept very clean. We were lucky with the weather, it was just the perfect climate for alpine walking in summer. Andorra is a surprising destination and was well worth the effort to get to! This Explore trip showcases the beauty of this hidden country.

Excellent trip, The leader, Pasta was superb and the wild flowers were amazing

On the first walk I fell heavily and had to be transported to hospital. The Group Leader Spaska performed admirably in this situation and her leadership throughout the week

The food, especially the two evening meals served in the hotel Soldeu de Maistre were awful. For example, the pizza comprised a soggy pastry type base with mostly cheese on top. I also opted for roast chicken which was dry and overcooked plus vegetables that didn't taste fresh and more like from a tin. All the staff were very helpful and friendly and we were very grateful for our parking place after our long drive. Spaska our leader for the week was excellent throughout. Our room was rather small for two people. For example, the TV was on the dressing table in front of the mirror because there was nowhere else to put it in the limited space available! This meant taking the TV off every time we needed to use the mirror and putting it back again. Very annoying and not what you expect from, I quote "a comfortable hotel".

Excellent leader with some great walks.

Was more difficult than "walking" - more like trekking. However, group and leader were great and enjoyed it very much.

Wonderful location with beautiful scenery. Swathes of wild flowers covered the mountainsides. Tracks were easy climbs that led to fantastic lakes. A very rewarding holiday.

The Andorra hiking was a great experience. The trip leader Spaska made the whole experience easier with all the planning and coordination taken care of, we just had to show up and hike. She was a brilliant leader and I highly recommend her and this trip.

Great trip, with appreciation for our wonderful leader Spaska who prepared a great itinerary of hikes with modifications due to rapidly changing weather conditions. Nice group of primarily UK participants plus 3 Americans. Challenging but not overwhelming, gorgeous scenery, Andorra is beautiful and this was a really nice way to enjoy a memorable week. Most in the group had done several Explore trips, and we would certainly book a trip again ( this was our first).

Diverse itinerary; knowledgeable, thoughtful leader who successfully adjusted daily walks to avoid forecasted rain/thunderstorms; great hotel in lovely Soldeu; comfortable buses; efficient logistics of getting from one place to another; enjoyed free day spent in the capital

I have been on many Explore trips but was particularly looking forward to this one because I had been in Andorra once before, 60 years ago! It was lovely to see it again and the tour leader Spaska was excellent.

Fantastic week. Beautiful location and great walks. Comfortable hotel and good places to eat.

The scenery was amazing as were the walks. Our guide Donal was fantastic, making sure we were all happy and even gave up his day off for some of us that wanted an extra hike.

Fabulous trip, tweaked perfectly by Donal, who knows the area like the back of his hand. The accommodation was great, and having the trip be center based in the one convenient hotel was excellent. In early June, the wildflowers were in profusion, an added bonus to incredible mountain scenery. Uphill parts of walk manageable given a lot of tge mileawas contouring. Highly recommended!