Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing the ice of the glacier.Seeing the mountains around the monastery Tengboche.The food at Tengboche.When the snow stopped and the mountains cleared coming down to Laboche.See I can still remember the names of places from my holiday, not something I usually can do.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Of all the group leaders I have had Lakpa Sherpa was the best.  A trustworthy, considerate and hard-working man, who was a mind of information about Nepal.  Not only did he take us to visit his father (the last known surviving member of the Hilary-Tensing expedition) he also made sure he returned to us our lost map, which we had left in a lodge near Everest.  It was arranged to be brought up by another guide who passed us, but forgot due to bad weather; finally it ended up in our hands back in Katmandu, travelling on its own special plane from Lukla. (I made the last bit up)   

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be put off by people who say this route is overcrowded.  Don't forget your camera battery recharger.Don't panic if you didn't sleep much at Gorak Shep, nobody did.  The next morning you can still do Kala Patar.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting and sharing some stories with my fellow travellers, seeing some Griffin vultures fly past when we arrived at the 'Pass of the Doves', and walking through some incredibly beautiful meadows of spring flowers.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very knowledgeable and really upbeat. She made a really genuine effort to include everyone regardless of their level and fitness.   

Advice for Potential Travellers

A waterproof jacket is a must on a Spring time holiday, as the weather can be slightly unpredicatble.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

They did very well. It would have been nice if there would have been more oppourtunities to go / cycle your own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out on the food - our group was heavily suffering with stomach-/food-problems.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many moments in the trip were amazing, Surviving the Inca Trail (Me not being that fit) and the jungle

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Holget was an amazing group leader, local from Cuzco, always helpful, gave you enough information in small amounts.Helped us on the Inca Trail when we were struggling, loads of local knowledge, great knowledge of resturants  

Advice for Potential Travellers

If doing the Inca Trail get used to walking up hills expecially steep hills, if you do the peru explorer trip altitude shouldn't be a problem as you get time to get used to it as you go along.It can be cold in the evenings on the trail, metal water bottles are useful, filled with the hot water they provide make a great hot water bottle. ** They do not supply automatically a sleeping bag (you can rent them from exodus or bring your own) ** **## Dont buy large bottles (over 100ml) of Pisco at the airport if its going in your hand luggage, they will be taken off you at the next airport if your flight isn't direct ##**

Most Inspirational Moment

A lot to choose from, but the desert fortresses were much better than I'd expected (monumental in a desert landscape) and the silence and brilliant skies and solitude of the yurt camp were to be savoured.  The blue tiled architecture is fantastic against a blue sky - the photographers in our group had a field day.  There's a lot of history here and very little evidence of the nastier sides of the regime picked up on in pre-holiday reading (no soldiers/tanks etc). 

Thoughts on Group Leader

I think we may have been both lucky and unlucky here.  Our leader had excellent knowledge (mentioned by name in the Lonely Planet guide) but wasn't used to leading groups - she'd been given the gig at the last moment and was struggling with it a bit e.g. there was never a welcome meeting as she felt uncomfortable with holding one, but that meant she never really found out the temperature of the group and what it wanted.  As a group we needed more advice on places to eat and she didn't seem to acknolwedge that lunch existed!  Pretty clear she wasn't one of the usual leaders though so probably (?) not representative.  It didn't spoil the holiday but was a frustration for some.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Veggies really should stock up on supplies or reconsider Uzbekistan, it is a concept that doesn't really compute!  Otherwise, just the usual safety stuff - no one on our trip was affected by tummy troubles, but we were all taking sensible precuations, and take plenty of entertainment for the long road trips.

Most Inspirational Moment

Has to be seal colony, smelly, noisy but utterly brilliant could have stayed there all day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tour leader was great, he came across as quiet at first but worked tirelessly to help us all get the most out of our trip and was always helpful and knowledgeable. First rate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Early mornings and long drives in the vehicle but the trip is well balanced to prevent boredom setting in and also to prevent you being on the go all the time. Access to charge points for cameras never a problem neither was mobile phone coverage for those that wanted it. Namibia is a well organised country with a good infrastructure, I've been in parts of Europe that felt more remote so if this is your first to Africa it is a great introduction with stunning scenary and wildlife. Loved it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views are amazing.  Coastlines, blue skies, wonderful coves and beaches, mountains at each and every turn, all diverse and never boring vistas.  The trekking at C grade is manageable and the guide we had produced the most amazing picnics enjoyed during the trek in beautiful outdoor places. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eduard, having met him twice now, is so helpful, kind and encouraging.  No-one is left behind on the trek, the pace is just right.  He is friendly, professional and keen to ensure all the party enjoyed themselves.  Excellent leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go........if you enjoy a slightly tropical environment with excellent walking and great views and certainly travel to the island from the UK is easy with only a short transfer from the airport.  Take a small extra bag in your luggage for the overnight stop at Balix Farm.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip far exceeded my expectations so its difficult to pick one inspirational moment but I think the mountain day takes the biscuit!  Bob had just taken a nose dive off his bike (moral of the story always wear a helmet!!), it was hot, hot, hot (somewhere around 38 degrees) and we were flagging a bit when out of nowhere came the hotel - nestled in the middle of a jungle down the bumpiest road you ever did see! Never have I been so pleased to see a waiter with a cool drink and the natural swimming pool was stunning... even if we didn't find it til too late to use and just sat in the green pools out the front to cool down!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose lead the group and Tuna and Alberto were the mechanics come bus drivers. Loads of local knowledge, plenty of dance steps to teach, lots of patience when we kept finding the nearest bar for drinks and ice creams to cool down... and many a catch phrase learnt to keep us chuckling... Well done "my children"!

Advice for Potential Travellers

There were a few things that I think would have helped me:Take old clothes to leave behind for locals - apparently shoes are very expensiveIf taking gifts school kids want pencils not pens, these are better given to the office workersLearn to use your gears on the bike properly - using granny gears is not a failure! (It was very windy and sometimes harder on the flat into the wind than the hills!)Take sudacream for any er... delicate bike sores... or even just sun burnI wish I'd taken 'thank you' pressies for the guides as well as the tip - they definately deserved themNo matter how tired your legs are or if you're at the back of the group, if you see something you want to take a photo of stop and take it, you only get one chance!Do take a 'good' camera, mine was a few years old and just really slow to take pictures and quite often what i wanted to snap had long gone before my camera fired into action!

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on the Wall as the sun set.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny Mao was well informed, patient, helpful and humorous.  The perfect mix for a walking guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure all drinks are purchased in sealed bottles.  This small precaution ensures a troublefree, healthy holiday

Most Inspirational Moment

Few words can do justice to describe stepping along such a formidable path steeped in so much history! Incredible!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny was a fantastic group leader, organised, kind, accomodating and fun! He worked so hard to ensure everyone had a fabulous holiday and his knowledge of Chinese history, the Great Wall and monuments is astounding. He was not only a group leader but a tour guide!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would rate this trek as moderate not challenging. The timings given in the trip notes are for the summer months. In the spring with a more temperate climate each trek is completed in a faster time frame and there is more time at the end of each day to relax or explore further.