Travelling to the Pyrenees in Summer

First time I’d used this type of holiday and was not disappointed. Everything ran on rails from start to finish. The walking was spectacular and the views amazing, even in the snow! Accommodation was spot on with great food and comfortable sleeping arrangements.

The maps and route guides made things very easy and still gave you enough latitude to do your own thing at times.

As an introduction to using mountain huts and getting up to 3000 metres this adventure was just right. If you wanted to exert yourself a bit more and cover more distance then you would find it rather too easy.

Having said that for my daughter and I it gave us time to enjoy the experience of mountain walking and get to know one another a lot more.

Already planning our next adventure.

My third walking holiday, been ski ing with the family with colletts out of Arraba many times, the formula is just right, going to Corvara for christmas, we know what to expect and as important don’t have to organise athing

Booked with you before and always had a good time previously. I don't know where you manage to get your staff from but they are the friendliest, funniest, most helpful and relaxed group of people we've ever walked with. Thank you Ollie, Jo, Sandy and Flee for an amazing holiday.

Many things make this trip outstanding. The tricky but enjoyable central sections of the GR11, the mountains, the lakes, the marmots, the accommodation, food & wine. The group size of eight clients and four Collett's staff (I understand this is normally three) was also perfect. However the biggest single factor that made this trip outstanding was the Collett's staff - Flee, Jo, Olly & Sandy were not only terrific in terms of performing their duties but every day they each went above & beyond and provided exceptional customer service, were very friendly & attentive and they were so considerate towards any member of the group who was struggling on any particular day. I spent my last day trying to figure out how to stay an extra week to repeat the routes... which is an indication of how much I enjoyed this trip.

I wholeheartedly recommend this trip. The walks were varied & were challenging without being overwhelming. The scenery was breathtaking. Hotel Sabacos was comfortable & friendly & the evening meals were excellent, often local specialities & all made from scratch. It was a pleasure & delight to be looked after by Sandy, Jo & Ollie who worked so hard to ensure our group got the most from our stay. Thank you to them, Sabacos staff & my fellow walkers for a wonderful week!

Just returned from a fantastic stay with Collett's in the Pyrenees. The hotel was brilliant and the hotel staff so helpful, friendly and professional. Panticosa and the Pyrenees is fantastic. We did the self-guided option and the staff at Collett's - Jo, Olly and Sandy - were great hosts and gave us detailed advice which enabled us to do some really dramatic and challenging hikes. They also went out of their way to give us lifts and show us Panticosa. I have hiked across the mountains of Europe and this was one of the best trips I have been on.

I stayed with you in the Dolomites last year and the hospitality of your "non-guides" was as outstanding as a remembered. Knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating and just always eager to help...but none of it forced. A great combination with excellent non-guides. choice of hotel was also excellent with equally friendly and accommodating staff. Why Collett's? I travelled with you last year and had an excellent time, so once i decided to go hiking there was no other choice.

Value for money? Very much so. Excellent accommodation, well organised transfers not only to/from the airport, but also to/from hiking locations, and when I looked into the UK it was more expensive staying at home!

Previous year’s wonderful experience in the Dolomites. The customer service of your staff is what makes the hiking experience outstanding!

Just enjoyed a fabulous week walking the Collett's classics. This is the 2nd time we have holidayed with Collett's (Dolomites in 2018). Great location, lovely hotel and excellent food. No trouble catering for one of our friends (Ray) in the party who was 100% gluten free.
The walking was fabulous and even on the one rainy day Collett's arranged a magical ride up into the mountains on a little train pulled by a tractor - fabulous!
The Collett's crew of Sandy, Ollie and Jo were such good hosts. Not only did they organise practically everything for us but they were also great fun (we did have some laughs) and very knowledgeable. We will never forget the amazing evening in the village hall where we watched a Charlie Chaplin film 'The Gold Rush' with the music being played live and in perfect sync by a local pianist - wasn't expecting that! Some more great memories made!!

We wanted an 'easy' holiday with transfers, hotels and varied walking. We certainly got this and more with great and attentive Collett's staff, a really good hotel and stunning walks in the central, highest part of the Pyrenees. The Colletts staff were excellent with their attention to detail, great humour and calm approach. A really good holiday and many thanks to all concerned.

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed my recent holiday with Collett's - the walk organisers Jo, Ollie and Sandy went out of their way to help guests and were fun to walk with. The Hotel Sabocos was of a very high standard and the staff there were very accommodating, even serving gazpacho on the last meal! Many thanks for making this week really enjoyable; I will be back.

Outstanding time in the Pyrenees! Our holiday in the Austrian Tyrol with Collett's last year was so successful we wanted to book a different location for a week's walking this year. Apart from the Austrian Tyrol which we visited last year, we have heard other guests speak very highly of the Dolomites as a Collett's destination.

Quite simply the best holiday we have ever had with Collett's!

This is one of the best walking holidays I've had, the Pyrenees are a very striking mountain range a d not to be missed.
The selection of walking route's were superb and a full day out in the fabulous mountain scenery. On our walks the companions were considerate to everyone's needs and very knowledgeable superb company as well. The office hours really set you up to understand the next days walk.
Overall great value for money ( food was excellent) and excellent challenging walks in a beautiful part of Europe.

This is one of the best walking holidays I've had, the Pyrenees are a very striking mountain range and not to be missed.
The selection of walking routes were superb and a full day out in the fabulous mountain scenery. On our walks the companions were considerate to everyone's needs and very knowledgeable superb company as well. The office hours really set you up to understand the next days walk.
Overall great value for money (food was excellent) and excellent challenging walks in a beautiful part of Europe.

Words cannot fully describe what an amazing time both myself and my wife had with our recent holiday with Collett's.

We loved the mountains, Panticosa, Hotel Sabocos (wonderful team!), The exceptional guides Sandy, Ollie and Jo, the tractor train, the food, the cable car and our marvellous fellow guests/team Mark and Katie from Macclesfield. Many thanks for making this week memorable. We loved it!!!

Ray & Jo

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed my recent holiday with Collett's - the walk organisers Jo, Ollie and Sandy went out of their way to help guests and were fun to walk with. The hotel Sabocos was of a very high standard and the staff there were very accommodating, even serving gazpacho on the last meal! Many thanks for making this week really enjoyable; I will be back.

I had a lovely time with 3 great hosts.

We had quite a small group of about 6 of us stayed in a lovely hotel, full of character called Hotel Sabocos in Panticosa.

We did different types of walks every day and it was just simply fab! I would be back here again next year to do another Collett's holidays.

Another fantastic holiday great hotel great food. Joe sandy and ollie were a credit to Collett’s thank you once again.

I had a great week in the Pyrenees with Colletts. The staff were totally amazing and great company. There were plenty of flowers to be found at each site that had been carefully chosen to provide the enthusiast with different varieties.

We have had the most wonderful holiday walking the Pyrenean Peaks.
Cat and her team were all terrific and enthusiastic and keen to help us enjoy the Pyrenees as much as they do.
We certainly benefitted from their knowledge of the walks. It is impressive that they go and explore other walks/peaks on their day off.
Thank you very much indeed!

This was our 6th trip with Colletts and we were not disappointed. The Pyrenees were amazing and the organisation was up to their normal high standard. If your looking for a challenge then this is it.

Very good holiday overall.
The walk leaders were very competent, friendly and professional. I couldn't fault them.
We were also very happy with the Hotel Sabocos.
Some of the walks were more strenuous than I had anticipated. I personally would have appreciated a greater choice of walks that were less demanding. Even the easiest of walks seemed to include challenging terrain/steep climbs and descents.

As ever with a Collett’s holiday the staff were superb and the whole experience was fantastic. Lovely hotel (loved the menu translation each night) and really lovely walking made extra good by the friendly and helpful Cat, Monty, Cam and Abi. Beetroot sandwiches rule!

Fantastic holiday, with some of best high Pyrenees walking one could wish for. Daily walks gave plenty of options for extensions and deviations with detailed local knowledge of conditions, exposure and difficulty. Took the guess work out of route finding and made sure we had a great day on the mountain everyday, getting the very best out of the location.

What a fantastic first experience with Collett's. Just back from an excellent week walking the High Pyrenees. Cat and her team were great, very professional, choosing the right routes on the right days to take best advantage of the weather. Hotel Sabocos exceeded expectations; very friendly. Being able to relax with a beer at the end of a long walk with new friends in comfortable surroundings was a treat. Lots of choice for the evening meal; the chef should be commended.
The final meal in Zaragoza was a lovely touch and made a very special ending to a wonderful holiday.
I’m sure more holidays with Collett's will follow.

Have recently returned from a wonderful 8 days in the Pyrenees with Collett's. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the organisation of the walks in those beautiful mountains was exceptional. Not only do they look after everyone and plan each walk well, they also managed to keep everyone amused maintaining great humour throughout some quite arduous walks whilst carrying packs containing several litres of extra water and other kit for potential emergencies.
Well done to all at Panticosa for making me wish I had booked another week!!!

Excellent holiday. Great apartment. Lovely walks. Friendly and helpful guides.

We really enjoyed our week in the Hotel Sabocos. Particularly early in the season, with little open in the village and no lifts or public transport, it was good to have such a welcoming base with good meals and the access to walking information in the folders as well as the advice of the Collett's staff.

The Pyrenees were stunning. Everything was well organised and thought out. The hotels were great. The Colletts staff were wonderful especially Jack. We've already booked another Colletts holiday for next year.

We have walked with Collett's before in the Dolomites and thoroughly enjoyed that holiday and were attracted to the idea of the Collett's GR11 holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees too, as we'd never been there. It was fab!

Value for money? Definitely.

We were particularly taken with the care of us by the staff. On our last day, everyone's flights back to the UK were put back very late to 9pm (Ryan Air again), but Colletts' and the staff gave us a great final day by driving us into Zaragossa and treating us to a delicious and inclusive lunch at the a local restaurant. There was then even time for a couple of hours to explore the city before departure to the airport. Instead of a day that could have been wasted, it was another great Collett's experience - well done,

We liked the flexibility of group or non group walks and how many days you could book plus the location. Staff went out of their way to indicate if the trail had any unusual terrain that might make people uncomfortable. Guides were so personable at dinner. So interesting to talk with both at dinner and walks. We only went on one walk on our own. We thought the route could have used some more detail but part of that is probably because we 're used to US trails which tend to have a lot of markers. We heard quite about about the Dolomites and it will be on our list for the next time we book with Collett's.

The GR11 Hike was challenging, as I wanted, and was truly amazing. Joe and Rachel looked after us in a very relaxed way, became part of the team, but did everything needed.
I'll be looking for my next Collett's walk soon
Thank you

We're repeat customers and enjoy the holidays Collett's offer. Office Hour is one of the key strengths of Colletts. It works well and always addresses our needs. Your staff are always excellent, friendly and attentive. They seem to enjoy the work they do and it shows. They take an avid interest in their guests and consequently guests have a fabulous time. Delightful company and a very convivial atmosphere throughout.

Your Collett's hosts were great as always - very knowledgeable and helpful and good fun. Dominic was mature and measured beyond his years and his brother was great company.

An excellent stay at El Fondon Appartment - Collett's staff were friendly and welcoming. Their advice for walking was informative and useful for our needs.

Our second great holiday with Collett's (Pyrenees). Lots of positives - great hotel, great food, superb walks - but most praise is due to the fantastic hosts. They did a great job showing us the way on walks but also brilliant at entertaining our 14 year old son. Jack in particular stood out but all the hosts were lovely. We are already planning our next Collett's holiday.

Family connection but really impressed with the set up - Office hour a great idea - Reps really welcoming and professional. Went above and beyond, even giving up day off to entertain other guests one evening.

Collett's have Flexibility and opportunity to have guided walking in our chosen area. We were well looked after and felt the staff were interested to share their knowledge and opinions with us.

"That was a cracking week, wasn't it? Can we go back next year?" - Pretty amazing praise from our 15 year old lad?!

This was our first walking holiday and we couldn't have picked a better destination! The Hotel Sabocos is very comfortable and Panticosa is a great base for walking in the Pyrenees. Jack and the team were extremely welcoming and took the time to answer everyone's questions and make recommendations for hikes suited more to our level. We found some of the walks a bit challenging but the views were spectacular and well worth the effort. We had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer!

Thank you yet again - great, enthusiastic and friendly staff
Panticosa - beautiful. Fab view from our appartment
We did 4 great long walks in 5 days - all different, our teenagers enjoyed the zip wire recommendation and a lovely spot reading books by a waterfall - thanks Jack for that

We have been to the two centres in Austria, and the old Arraba centre in the Dolomites in the last few years. Many thanks to the team at Panticosa (Jack, Rachel, Jo and Rebecca) for helping us to have a very enjoyable holiday. Nothing was too much trouble, and Jack was very welcoming even though we arrived at nearly midnight after a delayed fight from Stansted.

The Collett's staff are always delightful young people, efficient, friendly and helpful and who have a genuine love of the mountains, which is transmitted to the guests. In addition to the stunning mountain scenery, the staff are what makes Collett's holidays so special.

We enjoyed the wide open spaces of the Pyrenees and the relative lack of other walkers compared to the Dolomites. However, given our level of fitness, the Dolomites was probably more suited to us and remains our favourite destination.

We were greeted at the resort by the Collett's team, who were very friendly and welcoming. Arrangements at Hotel Sabocos were all fine.David led the flower walks really well and he was very enthusiastic and encouraging - nothing seemed too much trouble - Some good friends of ours recommended Collett's to us. We were looking for flower walks and also some moderate to hard walking in the mountains, apart from in the Alps (where we had been on a similar holiday 3 years ago with Inntravel).

My friend and I had a great time hiking in the Pyrenees with walk hosts provided by Collett's and other guests. The location was good and the hiking options were plentiful.

A really lovely week in which to celebrate our anniversary. Our second holiday with Collett's and we are currently planning our third. Special thanks to Henry, Becky and Keith for their care and professionalism. Like MacArthur...We shall return !

We had previously found out about the Dolomites holidays and suggested this type of holiday for our friends who were convening from different countries. Spain was the location of their choice. We and our friends had a great holiday in a spectacular location and we learned a lot about Alpine flora.

We enjoyed interacting with other guests and got to learn their names. On the last day, another car broke our wing mirror on the track at Ordessa, and the hotel were really helpful lliaising with the local garage at Formigal. Could such information be providec to guests re such local facilities. We enjoyed visiting the monastery at St. Juan and wonder if the 10 km walk there might be included in the future for guests- wild flowers or a moderate walk? Wild flower walks were really interesting and also the evening talks- our whole group really enjoyed these! It was a finale to locate one blooming alpine lily!! The Collett's and hotel teams were approachable, attentive and responsive throughout and contributed to an atmosphere of cheery conviviality. We were helped enormously at the end of our visit regarding a broken wing mirror repair, which we needed urgently since we were self driving through France on departure.

A week with like minded people, in the care of Collett's excellent staff and organisation, in the Pyrenees. What could be better?

A cracking 2 weeks in the Pyrenees staying at the Sabocos Hotel, there is very little that can be faulted. The hotel was very comfortable and well located for all the walks in the region, the staff were friendly and the rooms cleaned daily and the food was excellent,plenty of breakfast to keep us going in the morning and not one duff meal from the 3 courses in the evening which were introduced by Davide every evening, with the meal came plenty of wine.

The Collett's staff were excellent from start to end, with the daily office hour which were very informative about the choices of walks and the local knowledge, they were always going out of their way to try to arrange a walk that would suit everyone. Even on their day off they were still willing to help us to go on a horse ride as they could speak the language, unfortunately the ride got cancelled because of recent rain, but it's the thought that counts. The walks themselves were very pleasant not just because of the 'spectacular' views, but thanks to the liveliness and the chats with the staff and the other clients. We were also blessed with the Vuelta cycling race passing by the town. Overall the holiday was a very pleasant experience making it all the harder to return to normal life. A special thanks to Catlin,Dan,Flee and Beth who accompanied us on our walks and always managed to lead us home safely.

The week on the GR11 in the Pyrenees was one of the best walking I have had recently. The two leaders - Rick & Caitlin ensured
that everything ran smoothly & that the whole group enjoyed their walking.

We needed to be warned about a closed road (the round Spain bike race was in the valley) and Rick succeeded in contacting us in time.

We like the flexibility of the holiday dates, the ethos of the company and the way the staff are so enthusiastic, helpful and informative. The Picos de Europa holiday was excellent last year. Friends who recommended Collett's stayed at the Dolomites centre.

Just back from a 10 day stay at Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa after our best Collett's holiday yet, having previously been to The Dolomites and Picos. The hotel accommodation, food and staff were excellent, especially David who made dinner times a delight.

The Collett's staff, as always, were brilliant and it was nice to be greeted on arrival by Ric who remembered us from 3 years ago. We did most of our walks with Caitlin, Flee and Dan who non-guided us on walks that we would not have done otherwise. They were marvelous hosts and great for conversation and information on the walks.

The Pyrenees is an outstanding area of natural beauty and we managed to see chamois, marmots, eagles and vultures as well. The whole experience was enhanced by other guests who made the walks, office hour and dinner entertaining. Must be Austria next.

Although we were in self catering we took considerable advantage of the Dinner option and thoroughly enjoyed both the quality and variety of the food.

My family and I went on a Collett's Holiday in 2012 and always considered it one of their standout holidays.

Fabulous holiday. We were able to do a number of proper mountain walks with a real sense of seclusion, altitude and spectacular views. Saw a good variety of flowers and animals despite it being late August, the Pyrenees demand further exploration. The walk leaders were great company and making sure everyone was looked after and entertained!
Thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with the other guests and hosts, Hotel Sabocos is probably the best hotel we have stayed at for this style of holiday.

Another fantastic trip with Colletts walking GR11 in The Pyrenees. Our guides were Cam and Beth who were both very professional and informative. The five days walking consisted of hard, long treks but were just what we expected. Both hotels we stayed in were very comfortable and the food was really good. The night in the refuge was also a great experience.
Thanks guys for a most enjoyable week!

Best food ever. And David (waiter) lovely. The Hotel Sabocos owners incredibly kind. The routes are not as well marked here (vs. Dolomites, for example), so we did not feel as comfortable branching out on our own. The laminates are helpful but one can still take the wrong path - often many - and cairns may have blown over.

Mountains were outstanding, everything we'd hoped for. Other participants were lovely, we miss them already. Staff leaders - not guides! - were wonderful, particularly those with experience of a few years. More experienced leaders know that it is not the goal (getting somewhere) that is key, but the journey, which includes looking at plants, taking pictures, and absorbing the views along the way. Staff who have not had a prior summer may focus only on the goal. Specifically, Ric, Flee (Felicity) and Dan were amazing people and wonderful leaders.

We went to Corvara, Dolomites last year and had a wonderful time. Thus we wanted to go with Colletts again. Being from the US, it saves enormous research/effort time to go with a group. Plus we meet interesting, fun people.

Thanks for a wonderful holiday. Hotel Sabocos, staff leaders, and admn. staff (Viv, Kelly) were all absolutely terrific.

We know that if Collett's have a base somewhere, it will be outstandingly beautiful, with top notch accommodation. Your staff are always very welcoming, extremely enthusiastic and interested in people. By the end of the week, we felt that we were walking with friends. Sam, Amanda and Caitlin were very helpful and were good at encouraging the less adventurous members of our party without making them feel that they were holding the others up I did not have any trips with Ric but he too was very friendly during office hour. The team went out of their way to organise horse riding for us as well as a trip to the high ropes park and advised us about other, unaccompanied walks we might lie to tackle.

We had a lovely week with an excellent team of Rick, Amanda, Sam and Caitlin. The Collett's team went out of their way to make sure everyone enjoyed their walking and got the most out of the holiday. Their friendly professionalism and sociability really helped. Magnificent scenery and weather thank you!!

Panticosa is fantastic and the Valle de Tena is so beautiful. the welcome at the hotel was warm and office hour was informative and interesting. the staff in the hotel couldn't have been more accommodating and friendly The walks we did were well guided and just super. We would love to come again for longer. One tiny negative about the hotel was that one of our rooms, on the top floor in the eves and on the south west side, was very hot. An electric fan would be an excellent addition.

I very much enjoyed my stay in Panticosa. Rick and his team tried very hard to meet the needs of the whole group (which was very mixed in terms of age, ability and character) and to make everybody feel welcome. The hotel and food were excellent.

The four staff at Panticosa are a terrific advertisement for everything that is good about Colletts. Ric, Sam, Caitlin and Amanda were great value - professional, knowledgeable and patient (very important since none of us were in the first flush of youth.) They're a good team and made the holiday that little bit special.

The four staff at Panticosa were wonderful, and we greatly appreciated their support, advice and hospitality. They are an excellent young team, and a real credit to the organisation. They were great company, but also knowledgeable, caring and sensitive and they worked very hard to make sure the walks were suitable for everyone.

We had an excellent holiday and feel very satisfied with the experience.

We have had good holidays on previous trips. The flexibility of dates and types of walks suits us.

This was our fourth Collett's holiday, and easily equaled our stay in the Dolomites, which I had thought the best walking holiday we'd had. The accommodation and meals were excellent, and the hotel staff were wonderful, even meeting us at our 3am arrival. What really made the difference though were Ric, Mandy, Sam and Caitlin. Although a diverse group they perfectly complemented each other. They were unfailingly cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable, and were easy and entertaining company. We're already planning our next trip.

Collett's was a recommendation from a colleague who had visited both Panticosa and Picos. In resort staff member (Ric) greeted us and made sure we had everything we needed. He was friendly, helpful and professional as well as being very knowledgeable.

Thank you to the great staff that made our week brilliant - Ric, Sam, Amanda and Caitlin - and of course the closely David at dinner!!

Arrival Comments: Despite arriving later than expected, we were immediately greeted, shown to our rooms, and invited to join the other guests,(already at dinner) as soon as we were able to do so. Your staff were so friendly and helpful, tailoring our needs to various route possibilities. They are very impressive young people. Entirely comfortable and happy with being "at your own risk", hopefully this means that all of the party have mountain walking experience and are self-sufficient and competent.

Flexibility of walking options as one of us is a stronger walker and it was good to know that we could both do suitable walks without limiting the other.

Excellent value for money.

The staff couldn't do more for us. They were excellent

As a long standing customer and previous visitor to the Pyrenees, the brochure and website were not important in our planning of the trip. Weather forecasting for the Pyrenees is not the best, but this is not the fault of the staff, they found the most accurate forecasts that they could. Given that the route marking in the Pyrenees is not to the same standard of the Dolomites, we thought the route laminates could be a bit more detailed.

We seemed to find ourselves out with Rémy on most of our walks (it just worked out that way) what a top chap! Perfect pacing for the group and just good fun to be with. We've been travelling with you since 2007, we like the freedom to travel when we like and for how long. Also the ability to either 'do your thing' or just relax and join a group suits us perfectly.

1. Ric, Amanda, Sam and Caitlin were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, nothing was too much trouble. On one particular day I was the only client who wanted to do the organised walk, for safety reasons Ric organised Amanda to join us, as three is the minimum number for a walk. I had been prepared to do a walk on my own that day but Ric and Amanda we more than happy to ensure that the planned walk went ahead. On a couple of sections I struggled with some very steep downhill scrambling, they ensured I descended safely, this was all done in a tactful manner. At the end of the walk I was tired but very happy, I enjoyed my beer when I got back to the hotel. The attitude of all the Collett's staff in particular Ric reinforces my high opinion of the Collet's staff and is one of the reasons why we are repeat customers.
2.The Hotel Sabocos is very clean and well run in particular the restaurant and reception staff are very friendly and helpful. The multiple choices on the menu suited all tastes and was wholesome as required after a day in the mountains. The noise from the stream outside the hotel can on occasions seem a bit loud, but it never stopped us sleeping at night.
3.The scenery is absolutely stunning, some walks start from the hotel the majority of the remainder required short journeys on good access roads. We will return to Collett's/Hotel Sabocos.

We are in the Pyrenees having a super time and just had a very special picnic ramble organised by Caitlin and aided by Rick.

We were welcomed extremely warmly by Will – who couldn't have been more helpful. All 4 Members of staff (Will, Claire, Clare and Remy) were friendly, enthusiastic, helpful, careful and professional at all times. They were superb and we would like to thank them

The hotel staff and the four young people representing Colletts were very welcoming and made us feel at home. My friends invited me to join them and they had already used the company and venue before.

I really enjoyed this holiday and it was a great way to discover the area.

The Collett's team were fantastic - very confident, considerate and helpful. A really good flag to be waving for employing your people.

I understand that walking to the slowest pace is important but when some members of the group have another agenda - ie flower spotting, they perhaps needed a bit of chivying along for the sake of the rest of the group.

We both enjoyed an excellent holiday at Panticosa. The hotel was comfortable and the food was excellent. The staff - Rich, Sam, Caitlin, Amanda and Cam - were all welcoming, considerate and great company.

Inevitably, I compared Panticosa with my previous experience at Haus Valentin. As I expected, this area of the Pyrenees does not offer quite the range of walking as the Dolomites. Probably as a result, this meant that the two walks on offer were of a similar standard. I think that snow, which cut out some of the harder trails, probably also contributed to this. The flexibility to extend some of the walks was helpful.

Hotel staff/owners wonderful. Improved English translations of evening menu would help! Tuna in what appeared to be a vegetarian option would not suit a lot of people(personally not a problem). Staff extremely good, knowledgeable and helpful all round except for the following comment: A number of routes had not been walked by any of staff in resort and none of the staff had been there before.

Internet search for organised walking in Pyrenees with flexibility and especially two levels of walks. Impressed with website and prices.

Our thanks to Ric, Cam, Sam & Caitlin & the owners & staff at the Sabocos...for all being fantastic. This was our first experience of Colletts and we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, the company of the other guests and staff and the walking was wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the flexibility and informal but professional approach to it all..suited us perfectly. We will be off to try other destinations!

We find your knowledge about the accommodation and local area invaluable and the flexibility offered to put accommodation on hold whilst we organise other holiday arrangements extremely helpful.

We received a warm welcome and the added bonus for us was that we met Will, Claire and Remy whilst we were at Haus Valentin earlier in the season and it was great to see them again.

The room for office hour was really pleasant. We found the Collett's team knowledge of walks and weather conditions extremely helpful and accurate which enabled us to make the best choice of walk linked with our personal preferences in hot weather conditions to which we were unaccustomed. The advice to have your own transport for the Pyrenees we felt was essential.

All our holidays with Collett's, summer and winter, have been pleasurable. You have the right ingredients for us!

Thank you to Collett's for yet another fabulous holiday, this time in the spectacular Pyrenees. Our time in the Pyrenees was made more special to be welcomed by Will, Claire, Remy whom we had previously met in the Dolomites and Clare. Thank you to each of them who in their own individual way enhanced our holiday with their friendliness, help, knowledge and practical skills. As a team they were excellent in dealing with all the day to day arrangements and we thoroughly enjoyed the walking programme and scrummy lunches. Thank you.

All four staff were really great – well informed, good company, and able to motivate two normally less than enthusiastic teenagers! Been with you to the Dolomites and had a great time! We all had a fantastic time - please pass on our thanks to Will, Remy, Claire and Clare for being such lovely hosts!

I walked with you last year in Andalucia and was impressed by by the service and the set up.

I was surprised that none of the 4 staff had been in Panticosa before - and hence were walking the walks with us for the first time too. Having said that, they were all very good.

You offered something that was different, at a good value. We liked the idea of there being 2 different walks per day, coupled with a decent size group of like-minded people.

A good holiday, and we will certainly do it again with you in the fututre.

We left the hotel at 10am which meant we were at the airport at midday. Our flight did not leave until 5pm. We were the only people in the airport for a couple of hours! Perhaps leaving the hotel could be made a bit later for later flight times if it were possible or at least giving warning that this would happen at the time of booking.

Your resort staff are the icing on the cake! Fantastic young people with the right attitude to customer service. Friendly, helpful, nothing too much trouble, knowledgeable – I can't think of enough kind things to say about them.

We were reminded every day before the start of the walk and during office hour the risky elements of each walk were fully explained. There was no room left for doubt. You had been recommended by close friends who happened to choose to spot your website for one summer walking holiday some years ago.

Value for money? Yes I think so when you add up all that was on offer. Even if you did not choose to walk in a group, the staff were still on hand to advise on other walks or trips.

The flexible start & finish dates meant we could combine a walking holiday with some time elsewhere in the region. Having never been on a walking holiday we liked the fact that we could choose the level of walk to suit our capabilities.

We arrived just after office hour had started. We were met by a staff member, shown to our room, left our cases and immediately proceeded to join office hour. Well under way by then. Routes for next day explained etc. However we did not receive an actual briefing re the hotel amenities and Collett's initial intro. We did ask lots of subsequent questions and did eventually have all the info we needed. This is not a reflection on Collett's staff but more to do with our late arrival. Definitely looking forward to our first walk.

All in all accommodation and meals were first class. However the hotel website indicated there was a minibar. There was none in our room. The fridge element would have been an asset in the extreme heat. That and a room safe would have been helpful. Didn't ruin our holiday in any way though. When booking, albeit a bit late in the season we asked for a room with a balcony. Advised in advance that this may not be possible. Imagine our surprise to have a room with a terrace. Well done Hotel Sabocos and Collett's! Only problem was it was so hot we couldn't make full use of it. Some folk are never satisfied.

No pressure for anyone to go on the organised routes of the day. Alternatives readily suggested. We were looking for a walking holiday in the Pyrenees esp one that covered the Ordesa Valley and the surrounding area. My wife and I Were last in the area 36 years ago. The Ordesa valley did not disappoint!

All in all we had a very enjoyable week both walking and socially. I must congratulate Collett's' staff for the interaction they had with the guests. It must be hard to always be chatting to different people each week, not knowing how they would be accepted or what was expected of them over and above the walking side of things. Our thanks to Will, Remy, Claire and Kiwi Clare for a very enjoyable week and wish them all well wherever they decide to go in the future.

The staff were fantastic and made the holiday. The fact that you could decide your own degree of involvement in group activities and doing your own thing, with advice from the team, was great. We would love to come with you again but unfortunately we have been to all your other destinations so may have to wait until you have new destinations before we come again. We'll definitely recommend you to our friends.

We wanted a holiday in the mountains at a time of year when there would be a good range of flowers in bloom. We liked the idea of moderate walking in view of our ages and levels of fitness. The hotel was very good and the owners were friendly and helpful. Your team of "guides" were excellent, although we walked only with the two Claires.

Outstanding service over email and phone. Extremely helpful with choosing an alternative location once we realised that our available dates were fully booked for the Dolomites.

Reps were fantastic – really friendly and professional.

One of the route laminates we used lacked a bit of detail but this was because the current cohort of reps had not had a chance to walk the route completely and update them. However their advice about the walk up to the point they had walked was spot on. We really cannot praise the reps at Panticosa enough – they were fantastic and good fun. It was great to be able to easily chat with them and the rest of the group while walking as a group. It really felt like a group of friends rather than a "leader" and a group. The reps really were the icing on the cake of a fantastic holiday :)

Combination of the mountain areas we wanted to visit, excellent online reviews, excellent independent ratings for the accommodation you use and sensible prices for the holidays.

Thank you for an excellent holiday. Whether walking with the group or self-guiding the friendliness and professionalism of the reps was outstanding and the hotel and food was fantastic. We look forward to our next holiday with you!

Great vacation at the Picos and the Pyrenees! We really enjoyed ourselves and the company.

Will, Claire, Clare and Remy all did a great job of describing the routes on offer each day, and how to get to the start, water sources, refreshments etc. It was "beastly" hot and they were great on details of shade vs sun exposure as well.

You have a great bunch of young people! I had met Will and Claire before, but they were all great, interesting to talk to, well informed, pleasant and helpful. We had some big groups with varying paces , but this was not a major issue.

The walks I did were well designed and risks (apart from the heat!) were modest, and well-described at Office Hour. Our reciprocal duty of care was always well described.

Previous (wonderful) experience in the Dolomites. Great for the solo traveller, finding a ready-made group of generally like-minded walking companions, in some outstanding scenery.

Thanks for the welcome pack, arriving to find milk, teabags and a teapot was really nice after a long journey. Online handbook was good, really helped us with our walks. The driving map we used was a bit out of date as they have built a motorway and changed some of the signs. Sometimes the walking maps could have done with a few landmarks especially walking across pasture but if you use the larger map in conjunction its fine.

As a lot of guests had small hire cars and we we had our own car whilst were happy to drive there did seem to be a reliance on us to transport guests. so did not get a break from driving and some of them were quite a distance. Not sure there is much alternative but we did note at the end Colletts had a mini bus which took some guests out the day we didnt drive. Only an observation, not a complaint.

It was made clear time and again we were responsible for our own safety which we understood. However they were very good at making sure they had our phone numbers, first aid kit etc as both were needed on two of our walks so was very happy with arrangements.

We had been with you before and like the concept of being able to walk in a group for social and safety and also so we can split up as a couple and husband can do harder walks and get a challenge and I can still have a lovely walk which is not so taxing.

Book again? Yes definitely. We find Colletts very good value for money.

An excellent company, very friendly and personal service with mountain friends (reps) who do an excellent job of ensuring you get the maximum enjoyment from your stay.

It was great being welcomed by the staff and shown the hotel. I think it is just fine to make all of us responsible for ourselves. I did have a minor accident–fell and cut a finger–and it was all handled just fine. I was looking for walking holiday in the area and found excellent reviews on the web. Overall, this was a fantastic holiday! Thanks so much for making it happen.

Our first walking holiday and was concerned we were fit enough Person on phone very helpful. Our four mountain friends were excellent! First holiday of walking and intend to do it again. Flexibility as could arrive and depart when we wanted to... Really enjoyed the company of your young staff and the general camaraderie of the group was great fun

We were the youngest in the group, 39 and 40. This average age was 50, not that this was a problem - we quite liked this as the company and conversations were entertaining and insightful. As a young couple it gave us something to aim for in life. We did two hikes, I made a video of our first hike https://animoto.com/play/Yl3acRKhyasFJ41MWvOfkw
Bevan, our guide, was great. Kind Regards -Adrian

User friendly website and easy to navigate. When registering prior to holiday everything worked! Check List was very handy. Printing out the A-Z information at home used a lot of ink! Having found Collett's on the internet, my wife & I were impressed with our entire dealings with the company - from receiving a return call to our initial enquiry on a Saturday afternoon through to easy registration on the website, comprehensive information, a text message prior to our arrival in Panticosa and young affable leaders who were prepared to tailor the walking to our needs, were great fun and good company. Such attention to detail and customer focus is a rare but welcome find! We had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday in the Pyrenees and would love to return. Collett's are now on our (small) list of companies we would recommend without hesitation.

Jack and Alice were old friends from Haus Valentin in February. Their care, patience, constant good humour, friendliness and helpfulness were truly outstanding: it was a great pleasure and reassurance to have them hosting the GR11 walks. The first rate quality of the young staff is always the key to the success of Collett's holidays in my opinion and these two (and I believe the other two) were absolutely first rate and deserve the highest praise.

Good reputation and do just what we wanted to get to know walks and to have some independence - We have a property in France and wanted to explore the Pyrenees..and this did just that, giving us some knowledge of the area and a chance to do our own thing too. excellent , mature staff, who worked hard and developed a good understanding of our requirements.

Thoroughly enjoyable experience. Office Hour was a rally positive feature as were the shared tables for meals. Collett's and hotel staff were outstandingly friendly and willing to help.

The tapas lunch was lovely and an excellent way to meet up with some of the fellow walkers going on the GR11. Very welcoming and a nice touch. As we were on the GR11 week we didn't attend the normal office hour. However every evening before dinner Hanaa and Bevan went through the route for the following day, handing out maps when required. This worked very well. Have been with Collett's before and enjoyed the previous holiday. Also wanted to walk sections of the GR11 without needing to camp/stay in refugios every night. Collett's week on the GR11 fitted in with our requirements.Special mention must go to Bevan and Hanaa for 'going the extra mile' to ensure the week's walk on the GR11 was most enjoyable and memorable. Nothing was too much for them and little extra touches, such as carrying nibbles for us to have in the refugio and marking the birthday of one of the group with fizz and cake, were much appreciated. Both Bob and I wish them all the best for the future.

We thought that the information provided was fantastic, maybe you could let people know that there is washing up liquid, laundry powder etc. provided in the self catering units and to really emphasis that you need to bring towels.
I know it's hard to include photos of everything but a photo of how great the self catering unit is would be good. thanks for dealing with questions in such a quick, positive way. We had no trouble at all booking our holiday from oz and we really appreciated the skype call early on. Arriving tired and hungry after a long drive our welcome to the resort by Hannah was fantastic, she got us settled in and excited about the week ahead and made sure to ask if there was anything we needed.We did one of the guided walks each day, so didn't use routes/maps etc. We loved the way the walks were explained each night, the discussions and access to reference books. The guides were more than willing to listen to suggestions, amend plans or add extra on to accommodate the groups ideas/needs. It was wonderful listening to everyone's tales from their days walk and we thoroughly enjoyed each night. We had a wonderful holiday and the week with Collett's was a highlight of our five weeks away. We will definitely book with Collett's again.
We would love to thank all the wonderful guides who made our time so enjoyable with their enthusiasm, knowledge and friendliness.

The walks organisers

It may of been nice to participate in a few more harder walks, however the group staying in Panticosa were a really good group to go out walking with each day, so it was a brilliant week.

The 4 four Colletts staff in the resort were a pleasure to meet, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all 4 all the very best in whatever they go on to do next.

Because I had been with Colletts many times to the Dolomites, I wanted to go to the Pyrenees instead this year and have always liked the way Colletts work and the opportunity to go along and join like minded people walking in the mountains.

Certainly like to return to Panticosa, very enjoyable week. The weather was even kind!

Great location and wonderful walking – we had a great time.

Our car broke down on the drive down through France so we missed a day. The Collett’s staff at the resort negotiated with the Hotel and offered a 1-day deferred start if we wanted.

Hotel and food were excellent – always 3 options available on the menu with a number of local dishes.

Walking in Odessa and round the Pic du Midi were fantastic.

Great Collett’s team on site – thanks Hanna, Alice, Bevan and Jack

See you next year!

The staff in both centres were excellent and were very skilled in making sure everyone was included and all ages were catered for at mealtimes, there company and knowledge was excellent in both resorts,however we would add that the staff in the Picos were outstanding, difficult to put your finger on the reason but they worked very well as a team and provided outstanding hosting skills. we wish the young people in both resorts all the very best , and can honestly say that they are your greatest asset!

Everyone in the office was very helpful, especially as we added another person to our ferry ticket and then had to change our date of arrival in Panticosa by a day. Nothing was any problem.

Great holiday and we would love to return! Thank you!

Hannah went above and beyond the call of duty providing freshly baked goodies almost daily – very welcome!

The formula of providing optional 'guided' walks daily combined with flexible arrival and departure days ensures a very sociable atmosphere in which to enjoy some fabulous settings.

The Collett's team was outstanding as usual. You couldn't ask for better hospitality.

Office hour worked really with with whole family agreing the walk the night before. Everyone then knew what wa expected the next day so everyone got on with it without questioning it. This was a really important aspect to the holiday which we all liked and helped make it such a success. Well done for setting it up that way. We aso liked the chance to meet the other guests that we would walk with as we were S/C so otherwise would have been out of the loop a bit. The kids both really looked forward to office hour we even attended on our last night when we were no longer walking the next day! It was good to chat over the days sightings of wildlife etc.

The four organisers were really outstanding and worked great as a team. They were all great at getting on with people and we all liked them. The kids (aged 13 and 17 loved talking to them). They were excellent role models for our kids and good company and the walks and effective leaders for us and the rest of the group.
I am a very experienced mountain climber and would be able to lead all the walks easily myself, however, we went with colletts for the family experience and meeting others and also so that I did not need to carry the organisational role for my family. Although I know what I am doing in hill ground I had complete faith in the guides abilities

The whole experience was very well organised so thanks for that. It is probably the best family holiday we have had.

The individual walks selected for each day were very well worked out to get the full Pyrennes experience and great views, good wildlife and give full days walk but not getting too tired.

As a butterfly enthusiast I got 65 different species during my holiday. Most of these came in my first two days in the Pyrennes with Colletts. That kept me more than happy. Whales and dolphins on ferry crossing on the outward and return legs were another highlight of the trip.

We have used Colletts before and have always enjoyed our holidays with you. They are well managed and enjoyable with friendly, professional staff. The team in the Pyrenees were always available to help with anything. Thanks again for a wonderful, memorable holiday.

The staff went out of their way to welcome us even though it was their day off (Wednesday). The organisers (Alice, Jack, Hanaa and Bevan) were absolutely brilliant. They made a very special holiday extra special. Best Brochure plus holiday met our needs which were self-catering in the Spanish Pyrenees and to be able to decide whether or not to join in walks (which in the end we did all 7 days of our stay!).

just returned from a great week in the company of Jack, Alice, Bevan and Hanna, all were first class hosts. there wasn't a day we didn't enjoy to the full which included a day driving around the southern area to see the vultures.
highly recommend this as an ideal way of being introduced to the Pyrenees.
make sure Jack finds you the elusive Black Woodpecker, he knows just where to look!

The organisers (Alice, Jack, Hanaa and Bevan) were absolutely brilliant. They made a very special holiday extra special.

Best Brochure plus holiday met our needs which were self-catering in the Spanish Pyrenees and to be able to decide whether or not to join in walks (which in the end we did all 7 days of our stay).

Thank you, we had a wonderful time

After seeing advert and calling the office I got a good feeling about our holiday in the Pyrenees from the conversation I had with the staff.I was confident I had made the right choice. The holiday was everything I was looking for and so pleased I used Collett's. I must also give great credit and praise for our guides Jo and Tom,both of whom were fantastic and really worked hard to make it a most enjoyable holiday!

The Colletts staff and the hotel staff were outstanding and made the holiday a great success for us. I would definitely recommend Collett's. I can't say enough good things about the staff. The formula suits us very well, where you can stay with the group or do something quite different (we went horseriding and canyoning while we were there).
Looking forward to coming back again!

You came up quickly on the website page. Most of all though when I rang you was the excellent quality of your greeting; your knowledge and friendliness. I made my mind up immediately following this conversation. I also want to congratulate you on the quality of your staff in the Pyrenees. Tom, Jo, Sam and Cat were excellent. Friendly, intelligent, humorous and knowledgeable. They made the holiday.

We stayed in a family group in Hotel Sabocos in Panticosa. Lovely village, lovely hotel, lovely walks and best of all, Collett's team, Tom, Jo, Cat and Sam: really nice people with great local knowledge. All the other guests we spoke to seemed to be as pleased as we were. The option of organised walks or self-guiding gives plenty of scope, and the loan of maps is very helpful. There is no annoying hard-sell of extras, but the team helped us to find the extra trips we asked for. I would definitely recommend both Colletts and the Hotel Sabocos.

Many thanks for a wonderful trip to the Pyrenees. We only stayed a week, doing hard walks every day, and felt exhausted when we came home. Next year we will try 2 weeks and have a few lazy days in between the hard ones.

Your staff are superb. Especially Joanna and Sam.who we saw most of. Very knowledgeable, helpful and full of enthusiasm. Your training and choice of staff is first class. I have been on a Colletts holiday in the Dolomites, and I booked my sister and brother in law on a holiday in The French Pyrenees . I visited them there and thought it was lovely. I feel Colletts is an ideal company for people of an independent nature. It allows for flexibility in dates, accommodation, group or individual activities. The Staff are outstanding in every way.helpful and enthusiastic. I like travelling individually but really appreciate the back up of knowledgeable staff, and the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. Thankyou for a wonderful holiday.

Although your staff always announce that they are not qualified guides etc the preparation and training your staff receive for the specific area they work in (as opposed to general training most tour leaders receive) is much superior to what I have encountered with other companies offering mountain walking. We chose Collett's because of the combination of guided walks and supported independent walking being available. We took both of these options and in both cases these worked very well. This was our first tour with Collett's and we were impressed by the arrangements and the ambience of the holiday.

Your team in the resort where excellant. They couldn't do enough for us. I didnt take any walking poles but found I needed some. They where happy to lend me theirs for the whole during of my stay. I was very grateful for this. As we didnt have any transport they offered us a lift to the supermarket/spa if we wanted to go. They all made the effort to get to know us and it was a pleasure spending time with them.

I thought your staff were excellent. We walked with Sam twice and he was entertaining and very knowledgeable on both occasions. His love of Outdoor Pursuits shines through and he made us feel extremely welcome. Jo was of course AWSOME - and Scottish! (She will get that!). Cat and Tom exuded a quiet confidence which meant it was so easy to listen to advice - which was accurate and relevant.

Sam was the perfect host - greeting us and giving us all the information we needed to begin our holiday! All our guides were simply outstanding - with superb social skills, great sense of humour, solicitous for the comfort and well being of every member of the party, and adept at choosing walks suitable for the general ability level of each group of guests.
I would recommend Collett's in a heartbeat to anyone who is interested in a walking holiday.

Really enjoyed walks esp the new walks which Jo and Dan are finding as snow line was low
Have said to Jo she needs to find 6 new Mod/hard walks so we come back next year!!!! et again a really enjoyable holiday. Look forward to next year ???Dolomites or back to Panticosa?

Dear All, I feel that I must email you to say what a wonderful time we had on our holiday last week in Panticosa. The hotel was excellent, the food good and our hosts and their staff ever helpful. Jo, Tom, Sam and Cat were delightful young people and a great credit to you. Nothing was too much trouble and their company was truely enjoyable. Please convey our thanks to the team and wish them success in whatever they decide to do in the future.

This was our second holiday with Colletts and I am sure that it will not be our last.

Regards, Jan Jenkinson