14 independent reviews for Gran Canaria walking tours, Canary Islands
Reviews for Gran Canaria walking tours, Canary Islands
Shawna Turner review 19 Feb 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walk near El Tiede. The landscape was stunning. So dramatic.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend some time hiking and getting in shape before the tour. It’s helpful.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not particularly.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I didn’t feel as if I connected much to the islands or the people. I’m an avid hiker and don’t think I would join a walking tour such as this in the future. May not be for me. I did really enjoy the group though. If possible, a local guide would be beneficial.Read the operator's response here:
We do strive to reduce the amount of single-use plastic being used, by encouraging our tour leaders to remind customers that as the water is drinkable, they should bring a bottle and refill this where possible. In addition, we list a lunch bag/Tupperware in the equipment list for use when taking packed lunches, to prevent the purchase of pre-packed lunches from shops and supermarkets. We stay at family-run accommodation on this trip, directly putting money back into the local economy.
Yvonne Hosker review 5 Jan 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sunshine, grand mountains, being in Spain2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a travel kettle if you like your hot drinks3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Only that we ate out in local restaurants, used local shops and used a service bus once.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Well organised. Good group Guide was only 5 out of 10David Conway review 2 Jan 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The views during the mountain walks2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All that was spent went to local businesses. Everyone took steps to mitigate environmental impact and avoided damage to the environment.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Was very good, but we were unlucky to have three unseasonable wet daysMaureen LeRoi Hegarty review 6 Mar 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
1.Appreciating the nature of the volcanic mountain ranges when driving on narrow switchback roads between the East and West sides of the island .Sometimes devoid of vegetation , but nearer to small hamlets cactus and palm trees with some farming at the lower slopes .Tejeda For example was the centre for Almond trees 2.Witnessing cloud at one side of the road but not the other as it couldnt rise further .A rainbow suspended at a lower level , so we looked down at it .2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
1. Appreciate that the walking is difficult as it can be very stony and rocky underfoot , often with precipitous drops .It can be windy too .Felt the grading should be higher , and older travellers( 70's + ) need to be very sure of their competence in terms of pace, stamina and balance . There is no plan "B" if it proved necessary .3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
1. Yes . The tour operators philosophy using local hotels , choice of smaller towns , and local restaurants was very good . For transport a local driver and company was used, and sometimes the local bus service .4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It proved unsuitable for me as a walking holiday . I did the first day which was a tricky ascent and found to be difficult for a few people, but i was unable to keep up the expected pace , and was advised against some of the other walks .I did the one on the free day , and a short walk ( with luck for me) with everyone on the Thursday which was substituted at the last minute as cloud coveron the summit prevented the climb of them all to the highest peak planned for that day . For the rest of the time i had to just travel withe group(Mon and THurs) and wait for them. STayed inthe hotel tuesday , and visited Las Palmas FridayMichael Segal review 12 Nov 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Excellent walks in stunning countryside.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You need to be moderately fit, the grading of the walks as "moderate" is pretty accurate.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly benefited local restaurants, hotels and bars.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A very good trip. Good walking, good company, good food.Christine Anderson review 5 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Breathtaking scenery, challenging walks and learning so much about the flora/fauna & culture2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you are ok staying in 2 locations and a fair amount of travelling to walk starting points. Sticks recommended!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Boost to local economy, staying in small hotels and eating locally4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A brilliant experience and great memoriesJerry Stuart review 12 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Constant interesting views (occasionally from other members of the group)2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Good knees!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Eating out did.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A good work-out!Graham Pollitt review 5 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hike up to Roque Nublo and a relaxing snack in the cafe/bar in La Culata after. With the beautiful Almond Blossom.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you are fit enough. Distances aren't huge but terrain is rough.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not particularly. Gran Canaria thrives on tourism anyway4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Lovely but fairly expensive. BUT you are paying for it to be stress free and in the main it was. A rest day at a better location may be a good change.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback and we would agree islands as such do thrive on tourism, however that will not stop us making that extra difference. On this in-depth tour of Gran Canaria we stay in a small, locally run hotel well away from the tourist hub to get an authentic feel of life in the Canary Islands. Our main mode of transport is walking, and all other transport is provided by local companies, supporting the local economy, as well as using public transport on some occasions to reduce the need to charter transport specially. We hope to being you along for the journey as we continue to make that extra difference in all destinations.
Sean Elliott review 14 Nov 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Spectacular scenery2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There are many uphill sections which are hard if you are unfit . Hills are 10x harder than flat.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No more than any other holiday. I spent some money.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Exactly what I wanted.Mark Croft review 6 Jan 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking in remoter parts of Gran Canaria.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect lots of up and down on less used paths.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Food was bought in small local shops and restaurants, not big chains4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Challenging walking condotionJoy Withers review 19 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Great walks, great company2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Ensure that youre fit for the described holiday. The holiday was exactly as described. Most had been on many holidays previously with this operator and all said that this was the first one when everyone was able to do the walks. They said that often people 'thought' they'd like to, but weren't able to, so held everyone up.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The guide, Weronika, was amazing. She sorted EVERYTHING. She engaged with the locals and efficiently sorted anything that needed sorting, and usually before we had time to ask.Jane Lucas review 6 Mar 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Fantastic walks in the sunshine with a small group of like-minded people.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I was a bit anxious before the trip as I had never travelled solo before, but it turned out to be a great experience. The group of nine was a good mix of solo and couple travellers; all very friendly. Lunches and evening meals weren't included, but the optional meals organised by the guide were good value: allow less than 5 euros for picnic lunches and 15 euros for three course evening meals. We used public transport where possible; this was generally good but one bus driver was much too fast on hairpin bends and some of the group were travel sick.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We used local buses and stayed in small hotels. Optional meals were organised in good local restaurants.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
ExcellentAlan Thomas review 24 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Good company, good scenery, great weather.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't expect what's on the brochure online. The Guayadeque canyon experience with fabulous rock formations per grand canyon just didn't happen. Instead we had a "lunch break" for two hours in a cave. The museum "interpretation centre" in the canyon that was promised was shut ... surely that was easy to know in advance? Taking a bus up the canyon to a point where the walk would work time wise would have been so easy and would have allowed us to be in the more interesting scenery. The "easy" option we experienced may suit some, but if it's a feature on the web that sets expectation, this was sadly let down. If you post pictures of what will be seen -- then surely the features should be seen.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No, other than tourist money inbound -- bus, restaurants, bars. Conservation support was non-existent.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Iffy, not as advertised. Food not great. Although the group meal ideal is good, the "set menu" approach as an extra cost was a rip off and annoying. We should have adopted a "solo" approach from the start to avoid indifferent and too abundent food. We did later adopt this solo approach. However the hotels provided good accommodation and excellent breakfasts. Both hotels were really good. Overall dissappointed and surprised by the lack of thought. We will not be coming back to this operator.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback. I was sorry to see that the Guayadeque canyon experience was not as you expected. I appreciate both the walk up and down was in poor weather and accounted for the long stay in the cave – as it was dry and warm with a café on site. It’s also a shame the interpretation center was closed. This was an unexpected closure, on the day, due to a maintenance issue – as per the notice on the door.
We use public busses and being a walking trip we do keep our impact on the local environment to a minimum but we don’t have any conservation projects currently ongoing in the area or mention that we will be partaking in any within the itinerary. This trip only has included breakfasts, as such the meal choices are your own. The guide will always suggest options and groups tend to like buffets at the beginning of a trip. This way everyone has a choice at one location and the group can have a social evening while ensuring every palate is catered to. I was pleased to see you had great company and enjoyed the scenery.
Helen Jones review 3 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The varied walking.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Walking reasonably strenuous so need to be used to steep ups and downs. Few places take cards, so go with plenty of cash (there are ATMs).3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Made good use of local buses, and places chosen to eat out were run by local people with locally sourced food.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good. We really enjoyed the scenery on this lovely island. Bert, the leader was excellent in his flexibility. Weather conditions meant it was not possible to get to the summit peak on the allotted day, but he chose a lovely alternative walk. Hotels were adequate. We liked the one in Aguimes, lots of atmosphere but the rooms were very poorly lit so it was difficult to read.Holiday Reviews
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