Breathtaking Switzerland! In July we enjoyed a breathtaking trip to Switzerland with Headwater, from start the finish the trip, the holiday blew us away, from the stunning scenery, wonderful hotels and knowledgeable agents on the ground to enhance the overall experience was amazing. Can't wait to travel with Headwater again soon!

Austrian cycling holiday In summary; cycling down the Danube is a great holiday but don't rely on Headwater to provide a streamlined travelling experience - see below for details. In July this year we went on an Austrian cycling holiday organised by Headwater. I sent them the following feedback on request but had no response from them. The cycling was great and my understanding is that Headwater outsourced the cycling part (bike hire and hotel booking) to a local company (radreisefreunde). That part of the holiday was excellent and all the hotels were great. Our disappointment was the getting to and from the holiday which was the part organised by Headwater. We had the following issues which, although not major, made the travelling section of the holiday into a chore instead of part of the holiday: - We cycled from the Austrian border to Vienna but our flights were booked to and from Munich which meant we had to spend 6 hours travelling back to Munich on the last day. The holiday would have been improved by having flights back from Vienna. - No arrangements had been made for us to get from Vienna to Munich at the end of the holiday. Only when we queried this were train tickets booked. However, seats were not reserved for us so we were unable to sit together for the 4 train journey. Knowing you needed to reserve a seat was the expertise we expected from Headwater. - on arrival in Munich we had to transfer to the main station but that train ticket had not been booked and there were no instructions for whether we needed to or how to. - When we arrived at our first hotel it transpired that our dinner booking clashed with the bike briefing. We were told we had to phone the restaurant to rectify this. We tried to phone all the numbers provided for help but there was no answer and the 24hr emergency number was not a real number. We had to leave a message on the general phone number and did get a response (but not a solution to the clash) - we had booked full board on your advice but were "told off" in one hotel for foolishly choosing that option. It hadn't been made clear to us that it would mean we were on a restricted menu and that we could have easily eaten a la carte each night.

Taste of Tuscany Cycling Headwater didn't print my review even though they say they print all reviews unless there are exceptional circumstances so I'll print it here. The booking process was good and they arranged an additional hotel stay in Rome beforehand which was good. However, the accommodation was not what we expected as stated on the website, not the Agriturismo La Pietriccia with wonderful views across to Chianciano, but at the Poggio de Rose apartments 100m down the hill with frosted windows so we couldn't see out even if it was only to the builders yard over the road. The food was disappointing considering it was supposed to be traditional Tuscan fare. However, the wine was excellent and the hotel owner was brilliant - so helpful in planning all our days out. There was another group of guests, walkers, who were going to write a review, that hasn't appeared either??

Walking tour in Montenegro Walking tour in Montenegro I have just returned from an eight-day tour booked through Headwater that took in three national parks and the Adriatic Coast. We flew to Dubrovnik where we were met and taken on mountain roads to Zabljak, a ski resort. The hotel lacks lifts but was comfortable and centrally located near the supermarket and restaurants where we dined. On our first day of hiking we visited the Durmitor National Park where we saw the glacial Black Lake before enjoying a memorable group picnic by Snake Lake with local produce and wine to celebrate a member’s birthday. The national parks have rare virgin forest. Often when walking you are joined by well behaved unleashed dogs. We also saw goats, sheep, butterflies and wild flowers. Our guide Danijela spotted a baby snake and blue beetles. She also pointed out rose hips, pomegranates and enabled us to taste local blueberries. Unfortunately it rained on our second day but our itinerary was adjusted so that we didn’t get too wet yet enjoyed some local sights such as Eye Lake. The weather spoilt the panoramic view but Danijela showed us pictures from a previous visit and was always armed with maps to help explain the geography and history of the country and Yugoslavia (southern Slavs) more generally. It was very educational. Danijela was always familiar with the countryside and able to adapt the routes for our group. Sometimes we veered off the beaten track and really felt we were experiencing something special. There were uphill climbs and rocky terrain but we were unhurried and could progress safely. Our third night was at the Hotel Bianca, Kolasin, a beautifully designed ski lodge with a warm wooden interior and an amazing swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. We passed through the capital city of Podgorica on our way to the Mausoleum of Prince Bishop Petar II. A hot day and altitude made it a challenging climb but the 360-degree view was worth it. After lunch we hiked down to our minibus, waiting to take us on the serpentine road with its breathtaking views of Kotor and the Adriatic Coast to Perast, our base for four nights. Perast is largely pedestrianised and accommodation at the Conte spread out. The town has a Venetian feel with its waterfront terraces and churches. We swam in the sea and were able to view fish and the boats coming and going in the harbour area. On the one day with no cruise liners in port we took a boat to the nearby island of Our Lady of the Rocks before carrying on to Kotor. Here we climbed about 1,300 steps from the River Gate to St John Fort before returning to the town with its cathedral, city walls, market, cafes, shops, museum and plentiful cats. Next day we visited Godinje for a home made cheese, prosciutto and wine lunch at a fourteenth-generation family vineyard. Afterwards we descended to Lake Skadar, the largest Balkan lake. From our ‘Pelican’ boat we spotted kingfishers and yellow heron, as well as water chestnuts and water lilies. The boat stopped for us to swim mid lake with the mountains of Albania visible in the distance. Our last hike was on the Vrmac peninsula with its outstanding views of Kotor and Porto Montenegro bringing our walking holiday to a pleasant conclusion.

Recently visited the Swiss Alps on a… Recently visited the Swiss Alps on a walking/biking holiday with Headwater. It was an amazing experience. The landscapes were incredible. I've never seen anything like it! The trip was very well organised, the route maps worked well and the local agents were friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.