Sierra Nevada & Granada

An unspoilt area of Spain with interesting walks and scenery. It was good to have walks starting from the hotel and / or a short transfer to a local village. At the end of the week to have a day and overnight stay in Granada worked well especially as the hotel was very central to the old part of the city. The hotel in Berchules was lovely. The staff very welcoming and accommodating. The food was excellent as was the service.

Our first Exodus trip, but on the strength of this trip, not our last! Every aspect of the holiday exceeded our expectations. A good deal of attention had been paid to the details, and it showed - everything went like clockwork. We felt very well looked-after throughout.

An amazing week of walks and Alpujarran culture. As a non hill walker I was a little nervous about my ability to complete the many ascents involved in the guided walks but the pace was set by the group with plenty of capacity for those of us who live far from the hills! The scenery was continuously breathtaking with a new landscape around every corner. The Hotel Los Berchules is by far the most friendly and hospitable I have stayed in with a real feeling of being at home. The best packed lunches I have ever been given and the evening meal was always tasty and nutritious.

We took this trip in early September, the weather turned out to be very hot (mostly 30-32 degrees) but the walks were still fine for most of the group and were really well selected with varied and interesting walking every day. I would say, though, that a fair rating would be 'moderate to hard' as each walk had some challenging sections, especially in the heat. The scenery of the Alpujarra is glorious, different to any other mountains we have walked in and very beautiful. Our guide Dan was also excellent, really well informed, dryly funny and considerate to all members of the group. Finally a word for the hotel in Berchules - it was absolutely fabulous! Csilla is a wonderful hostess, so friendly and welcoming and Alejandro is a terrific chef, evening meals were a delight and the breakfasts and packed lunches were very generous. The setting of the hotel, at the head of the Berchules valley, is glorious - one of my favourite memories of the trip was just sitting on the terrace before breakfasts and suppers, chatting over drinks with our walking buddies. I thoroughly recommend this trip.

Just returned from a wonderful holiday in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This tour has been part of the Exodus programme for many years, I understand, and deservedly so. The walking itinerary and accommodation are both excellent. We experienced Spring unfolding as our week progressed - the temperatures rising, the leaves and flowers emerging, the warmth of the sun! The walks were varied - 3 ascending from the village, in cool fresh air, following irrigation channels and gorges and one to the snowline, whilst 2 descended to explore the local villages and cultivated slopes with blossoming almond groves, olive trees and vineyards. We saw wild ibex in the remote Berchules valley. We walked through herby scrub with the intoxicating scent of sage, thyme, rosemary and lavender wafting up as you brushed through it. We viewed the snowcapped peaks and Mulhacen. The staff at the hotel were exceptional - Wendy, Alejandro, Csila, Omar - so friendly and good service. Rooms cleaned immaculately daily, and the meals were lovely - hearty and tasty. Amazing breakfast buffet - no stale rolls here! Chat with Wendy and you will catch her enthusiasm for this area - she is the lychpin - so classy to meet us to chat at breakfast and at the end of our walks, with genuine interest to hear of our adventures each day. And well, as for Granada....what can you say - except book your Alhambra tickets well in advance. The Alhambra is a special place indeed - beauty in architecture and the gardens, with peace (if you pause away from the crowds) and spirituality of a bygone age. Dan our guide helpfully took us to a lovely meal in the city, a fantastic flamenco show and gave those who wanted it a guided walking tour.

Great walking in a dramatic and historic landscape which isn't as well known as it deserves to be. This trip has a variety of different walks with lots of different aspects to keep your interest. The scenery is dramatic - lots of crags and gorges with views of the snow topped mountains, but there is also the history and culture of the area. The villages are scenic but not twee, this is a working agricultural landscape after all, and the terraces and ancient moorish irrigation system give the landscape a distinctive character.

A lovely area with good scenery. The hotel is of a high standard run by a very friendly family. Good food. Great views from the room balconies. The walks are excellent with many fine views. Quite steep in places but at a leisurely pace.

I had never been to Spain before and my first impression was that I wouldn't enjoy my week as the area was hot, barren and dry.  By the end of the week I couldn't wait to go back and I am now contemplating living in the area for a year to get to know it better.

The heat and the rough trails made the walks challenging enough for a grade 3. Although some of the days were less of a challenge than others. After a very hot summer in Europe, late September was still very hot and the scenery reflected this. It was cooler down in the valleys shaded by trees with lovely natural streams still full of water.

Lovely walking, friendly hotel, good food and great weather - what more can you want from a holiday?