Running Vacations Reviews: Why Our Adventures Change Lives
Alright, so you’re thinking about a running trip, maybe wondering what makes for the absolute best running vacations out there. For us at NomaTrails, it’s never just been about the miles, the elevation, or even the scenery – though we have plenty of all that! It’s about something deeper, something that sticks with you long after the dust washes off your shoes. It’s about genuine connection: with the land, with the people who call it home, and with each other. You can see what people are saying on our Facebook reviews page.
What Makes Our Running Vacations the Best?
My wife Cristina and I, along with our incredible team, have been doing this for over a decade now. From the very beginning, we knew we couldn’t just take people anywhere. We needed a real, deep relationship with the places we ran. I mean, I have to be able to say, “This is where my kids went to school,” or “That’s my grandma’s village.” If it’s not authentic, it’s just… fake, right?
That’s why we use running as a way to explore, like our ancestors did. It’s not about getting slim or improving your race times. It’s about traversing a territory, moving through it in a way only runners can. You get to places a car can’t, you meet people you wouldn’t otherwise. It’s an immersive experience, and that’s what makes for truly unforgettable running vacations.
More Than Just Miles: The NomaTrails Difference
It’s sometimes hard for people to grasp what we do until they’ve lived it. But I can tell you, these aren’t just holidays. These are memories, stories you’ll tell your grandkids. They’re experiences that will change you, transform you. Be careful, though! You will go home different.
We’ve had people tell us our trips saved their marriages. I remember one couple, they came on a Costa Rica trip married to other people. The next year, they were married to each other! Or parents who’ve said, “This baby wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you, we were going to get divorced anyway!” It sounds wild, I know, but that’s the power of these shared adventures, the group dynamic, and the raw beauty of putting one foot in front of the other through incredible places.
The sense of community is huge. As Abdu, our guide in Morocco, always says, “We’re not changing money… well, a little bit of money is okay! But it’s about the people, the experience.” We sit and share a meal, have a cup of tea. It’s about making friends, keeping in touch. When my friends from Spain or America meet me after a tour, we talk, and sometimes tears come to our eyes about the shared experience. That’s what our trips are all about.
Our Global Trails: Client Experiences and Unforgettable Running Vacations
Costa Brava: Our Home, Our Heart
Right here in the Costa Brava, where it all began for NomaTrails. Twelve years of running these trails, getting to know every hidden cove, every ancient village, every local. We’ve honed these routes, finding the most scenic and rewarding paths. Many people say these are some of the best running vacations they’ve ever had.
Jordan Marchewka told us it was “hands down the best vacation we have ever been on.” Joaquin Campos, after his Costa Brava adventure, laughed about how by the second day, you always hear “only 4K left!” He said, “Highly recommend it and looking forward to doing it again.” Mark Wheeler, who’s traveled and raced in over 70 countries, simply said, “you will not find a better guide than Pablo.” That means a lot to me. Noel Relyea, who joined us for both Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, couldn’t recommend us more highly.
Leah Plumridge remembered running with us back in 2012, saying it “remains one of our favorite trips of all time!” She loved the variety of accommodations, from a converted monastery right over the sea to a farmhouse nestled in rolling hills, and of course, the Michelin-starred meals. Dan Kearns vividly described running “from tiny Mediterranean town to tiny town, across the rural countryside – popping down occasionally to swim in the azure blue sea.” He put it perfectly: “You see so much more of the culture and landscape when you experience it on foot instead of by car.”
J’ne Day-Lucore recalled running to places not possible by car and staying in castles. Derek Hunter praised our ability to manage groups of varying abilities, including his own. Stephen Griffiths called his 2015 trip an “incredible experience” with “amazing” service. Michelle Ponto loved how I knew the trails inside and out, adapting routes to keep everyone challenged “without completely defeating us.” That’s the balance we always strive for.
Denise Larson summed it up beautifully: “The running routes are unparalleled, the food (and drink!) is an equal part of the experience, and Pablo truly welcomes you into the regional culture. I can think of no better way to travel, as this trip changed my outlook on the world and on running.” Nicky Eckstein, who ran with us in June, spoke of “running 7 days through the most beautiful countryside, dramatic coastlines, and staying in fabulous hotels situated in picturesque villages.” She loved how I “easily adapted routes to suit our strengths and weaknesses.” It’s truly a special place.
If you want to experience the true soul of Catalonia, come run with us. Explore our Costa Brava running tours here.
Morocco: A Journey Through Time and the Best Running Vacations
Morocco is a special place, a land of stark beauty and incredible hospitality. Abdu, my friend and co-guide there, is truly one of the best. I remember when we first met, I was in a bit of trouble with my four kids, needing help. He abandoned his group to help us, and that moment of magic, finding each other randomly, is why we’re partners today.
Imagine waking up at 3 AM in the desert, running behind Abdu for two hours in the sand. Then we stop, and he shows you the stars, every single one feeling so close you could touch it. After all that running and walking, you’re ready for the most beautiful sunrise you’ve ever seen. We create those moments. Driss Ait El Farsi captured it simply: “Moroccan High Mountains.”
Oxana Cherevchenko called her Atlas to Sahara run “the best time of my life – an adventure like no other.” She loved experiencing the country “up close,” pushing her mental limits. She described the Sahara dunes: “Going uphill, sinking in sand to your calf, sliding, pulling the leg out to take another step… but maybe this time a few centimeters closer to the top of the dune! All of a sudden, running on terra firma becomes easy peasy. Technical difficulties aside – a wild, exhilarating and yes, liberating experience like no other.” Rick Ostroff, who did both Costa Rica and Morocco, said while Costa Rica was challenging, Morocco “stole my heart with its beauty.” He called Abdu “the king of Morocco and one of the best guides you’ll meet in the world.”
I remember one day, we were running in the middle of nowhere, heading towards a place I didn’t even know. We were five and a half hours in the opposite direction from where the tourist buses go from Marrakech. Then we found this incredible valley, a beautiful oasis. We discovered people living in a way they might have 500 years ago, speaking a language I’ve been trying to learn for nine years – Berber.
We found a family by an irrigation channel in a deep canyon. A 12-year-old girl, Tuda, with a face like cornflakes, immediately ran to find wood, made a fire, and offered us tea. Our kids, they’re little monsters sometimes, but she was just incredible. Abdu looked at me, heartbroken, and told me she didn’t know how to read or write, she’d never had the chance for an education. I was devastated. Abdu, being the incredible human he is, looked at me and said, “I’m going to make her a school in six months. I’m going to put my money on it.” And he did. That’s the kind of connection you make there. It’s truly like time traveling. You can learn more about the incredible Atlas Mountains and Berber culture on Wikipedia.
Costa Rica: Wild Jungles and Hidden Wonders
The Costa Rica jungle expedition is another place where magic happens. It’s challenging, yes, incredibly difficult physically and mentally, as Holly Chase put it, but “extremely rewarding.” She joked about always hearing “only another 5k…” but her tone showed it was worth every step.
Minna Kaarni called it a “great adventure, great running, beautiful nature.” She said Cristina and I were “the best hosts ever!” Steve Breese, who ran 96.3 miles with us in the South Pacific Jungle, said we’ve “developed a really unique travel opportunity that is not duplicated anywhere else.” He advised to “train hard leading up to the trip,” but promised “spectacular sights.” Carl Murray echoed this, calling it “a trip I will never forget” and truly “one of a kind.”
Renée Lajoie summed it up perfectly: “We saw places no tourists will ever see. Lunch stops in the middle of the jungle at a local’s house who grows their own food – fresh coffee from a coffee farm! Then there’s Pablo and his crew… bunch of legends I tell you!” She said you “owe it to yourself” to challenge yourself with such an experience, and the “best part, you’ll make long-lasting friendships.” She plans to do it again, so it’s clearly not just a “once in a lifetime” trip!
David Yon remembered Pablo and Sergio, our local guide, taking them to “hidden waterfalls in the jungle that we’d never have seen on our own.” It’s about those moments, those unexpected discoveries. Sven Incog Nito simply said, “Running Costa Rica was just amazing! Pablo and his team are doing an absolutely perfect job, thanks! Everybody, go for it!” Cindi Yaklich agreed, saying Pablo, Sergio, and Siddhar were “the best guides you could ask for.” Jody Yoken called it a “trip of a lifetime!” with an “amazing guides, great cohesive group of runners who help each other through the thick of the Costa Rican rain forest (literally!).”
Ready for a jungle adventure? Check out our Costa Rica running trips.
Sicily: From Sea to Mountain Peaks, Truly the Best Running Vacations
Our newest adventure in Sicily is already proving to be one of the best running vacations we offer. Pasquale Mangione, our guide there, has crafted an itinerary that takes you from the sparkling sea, through rural villages, and up into the high mountains, traversing valleys and weak points, then back down to the coast. He’s found these incredible routes, like the one from Isnello where you can see the sea almost from the mountain peaks, or heading towards Cefalù for a well-deserved swim.
Arthur Francis, on his first running holiday ever, admitted he was apprehensive. But meeting Pasquale and me, he said, “Their passion for life and for getting a real feeling of an area you are running through is invigorating, intoxicating, and motivating.” He loved the meticulously planned trails and the fantastic accommodations, even mentioning “a couple of surprises along the way!” He urges, “If you have never been on a trip like this before, then make this your first destination – it will truly not disappoint.”
Rachel Holland, a veteran of our Morocco trip, “jumped at the chance” for Sicily, and it “didn’t disappoint!” She said Pascal and I had put together an itinerary that truly “captured the essence of Italy,” with a huge variety of experiences. She painted a picture of running through “narrow cobbled streets of historic towns, along coastlines with big views and big skies,” swimming in crystal-clear Mediterranean waters, and exploring “ancient mountain forests.” She loved Pascal’s “invaluable local knowledge and enthusiasm” and my “infectious” passion. She recalled moments like “dancing on the beach to a reggae band at a couscous festival” and “enjoying the solitude of a church.” It was “a relaxing, fun, cultural, adventurous holiday with amazing food and many happy memories. Mille grazie!”
Yes, sometimes the geomorfological reality of the coast descending directly into the sea means we might need a quick transfer, but it’s all part of the journey to get you to places like Isnello, where you can see the sea from the mountains, or Cefalù, for a well-deserved swim. You can find more information about tourism in Sicily.
So, what are you waiting for? If you’re the kind of person who thinks running point-to-point, discovering a new place every day, and traversing an itinerary by foot sounds like a good idea, then you’re one of us. Come join the NomaTrails family. We’re ready for you.
