TESTIMONIALS

Hiking the Fisherman's Trail in Portugal was a life-changing experience. As I followed the rugged coastal path, with the Atlantic crashing below and endless cliffs stretching ahead, I felt a deep sense of freedom and connection to nature. It’s a trail that humbles you with its beauty, challenges you with its sand, and rewards you with fresh seafood that tastes like it was seasoned with sea breeze, love and divine intervention. Every village felt like stepping into a postcard, except with better wine and fewer tourists. But the storks! The only ones in the world who thought, “Yeah, let’s build our nests on sea cliffs where no predator (or rational bird) dares to go.” Majestic, stubborn, and unbothered by the crashing waves below. In short, this wasn’t just a hike. It was a soul-stirring, stork-stalking pilgrimage that reminded me of how good it feels to be alive. The waves, the wind, the salt – they didn’t just touch my skin, they rewrote something inside, as I listened to the ocean tell its story.

Thanks again Christine for a great trip! Each day was better than the previous! I enjoyed talking with you and will see you again for a trip next spring!

Christine is very inspiring. My wife, Satya, and I both thought that our Via Francigena trip was hands down the best trip we have ever taken. We both are far richer because of this wonderful Camino led by you. Thank you!! We are already planning for our next trips.

Words fail as I try to express the amazing experience I had as I hiked the Fisherman’s Trail with Christine as our tour guide. At one of the many restaurants we visited, we joined some of the locals as they welcomed us to their table. One reflection I have of this trip is the internal transformation I had…. I surprised myself with the stamina I had along the trail and the joy that brought me to tears of gratitude. Christine paced the hikes in such a way so even a novice like me could comfortably walk the trails. This experience opened my eyes to a world of hiking that will now become a part of my life.

This trip to Portugal exceeded all of my expectations! Christine is not only a great trip guide, but also an exceptional planner with every detail concerning our comfort in mind. The landscape was just breathtaking, diverse and impossible to describe. It ranks up there with one of the most beautiful places I have ever been immersed in, and it was my first hiking experience. That being said, the distances and moderate difficulty were surprisingly doable! Portuguese people were all so friendly and were happy to share their history and lives with us. It is very comforting that everyone can speak English. Christine planned two days in Lisbon for us before the hiking started which included a tuk tuk tour and shopping/walking around Lisbon. I would highly recommend doing that. I am looking forward to the next hiking experience for sure! I am hooked.

This truly was a trip of a lifetime for me. Christine, our tour guide made everything go so smoothly and her attention to detail coupled with her relaxed demeanor made me feel so secure and comfortable! The places we ate and the hotel accommodations gave me a real sense of being engrossed in the culture of the people along the trail. I can’t say enough about this amazing experience.

The beautiful countryside and amazing food of Portugal were quite the surprise. Everyone we spoke to in shops and restaurants was kind and helpful. Also surprising were the fun people we encountered on the trail. The accommodations and trail leadership by Christine made this a trip I will never forget.

Christine was a great leader. Looking back at all that the trip entailed, she played many roles and did an excellent job. It was evident that Christine had done extensive prep for the trip because she knew the route very well. She ALWAYS had a back-up plan in the event that the planned route was not available. For example, one day we were to cross the river and due to recent rains it was not possible. Without hesitation, she immediately implemented an alternative route to get to the next area of the trail beyond the river. I believe that Christine was able to evaluate each of the hikers on the first day and knew where she would have to adjust mileage, availability of pick up if/when one of the hikers could not continue and ALWAYS communicated with the driver to let her know exactly where to do a pick up. Christine knew the route that well and she is very tech savvy, so she could send the driver the exact location! Her attention to every detail was impeccable. The restaurants Christine chose were excellent. To me, they were not the typical tourist restaurants, but rather were "where the locals go". We even did a pajama party picnic at the hotel in Colle di Val d'Elsa. She and Leti took care of getting all of the food and prepared it "on the spot" while the hikers enjoyed the Spritz that she fixed for us. That night she was bar tender, chef, trip leader and hostess! At the end of each day or evening at dinner she reviewed the route for the next day and discussed the level of difficulty in order for the hikers to determine if they wanted to hike part, all or none of the trail. One of our hikes ended with a winery visit which was great! The last day that ended with a picnic and going to the mineral spring was such a great way to end not just the day of hiking, but the whole week. The Tuscany hiking trip with Christine was one of the BEST trips that I have done! Christine is an outstanding trip leader who pays attention to every detail in planning and had done the hike multiple times to ensure that she was familiar with the trail and was able to adjust the route if/when necessary. I will definitely do another trip with Christine in the future. Greece, here I come!!!

We all had a marvelous time on our Tuscany hike and Christine was just the right person to manage all the different roles she played. Very flexible and accommodating. I am already looking forward to my next trip with Christine!

Thank you for an absolutely outstanding trip to Portugal-the first of many adventures together!

A giant thanks to Christine for her hard work preparing and leading our trip. The hikes, accommodations and food were all excellent.

Thank to Christine for her wonderful guiding skills and companionable demeanor on the trip. It was splendid and I look forward to another trip with her as a guide.

My experience on the recent Tuscany trip was amazing! I am 80 years old. Not an avid hiker, but do like to walk and keep in shape. I did underestimate the challenges of the hike, however, Christine was outstanding in thinking of all the needs of everyone in the group. She made sure we saw the best parts of Tuscany. Made me and several others feel very comfortable and normal when we could only hike 4 miles of hills, by providing a support van to get us to a rest place. However, those who were up to the challenge, were able to keep moving forward to meet their needs. Christine is extremely knowledgeable about hiking, knew what we needed to bring, how to use it, how to encourage us, let us have a LOT of fun, let us challenge ourselves as much as we could/wanted to, made sure we saw gorgeous, breathtaking, amazing countryside, rivers, woods, et al, and at the end of the day arranged for extra adventures (wine tasting, great restaurants, picnics, etc.) She is just amazing. Never saw her frown about anything. Just smiled and took care of us. I have never done anything like this in my life and I am so glad / thrilled / pleased that this was my choice for my maiden hiking adventure.