Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The first view of the spectacular coastline from the clifftop.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leaders were Francisco and his life-long friend Rafael. They made frequent stops on the walks to tell us about the flora and fauna, and the geology on day 6, where there are sites that are world-renowned. They both had a great sense of humour and were thoughtful, anticipating the needs of all the group members, even providing flip-flops for a stream crossing. They recommended, and organised, restaurants for group dinners on every night except two, giving us insights into the cuisine both of the hills and the coast (and lessons in the Portuguese way of eating sardines and deep-fried fish with your fingers!). Overall, they couldn’t have done more to make the holiday a memorable one.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take sturdy boots/walking shoes with a good tread. Some of the walks have stretches on sand dunes and it is worth wearing long trousers on those days if you don’t want boots full of sand! Walking poles are useful for some sections.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely superb. Could not be better - friendly, helpful, informative, knowledgeable, personable

Advice for Potential Travellers

As above - highly recommended if you know what you are getting

Most Inspirational Moment

There is not one but many moments. For Estonia, the most inspiring would be biking along the Gulf of Finland and stopping to have fish soup in Kasmu. It was a perfect combination of biking+history+food. For Latvia, exploring Riga with our guide and walking the old town was amazing. For Lithuania, the entire day spent on the Curonian Spit: biking through pines and dunes; the smoked fish lunch, and the sunset walk on Witches Hill were stunning moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrius (Andrew) is an excellent guide for the Baltics. He obviously knows the countries well. He treated us as adults and unless we needed help, tended to be hands off and I appreciate that directness. If one needed additional information for the day's ride, he was happy to provide it. I got the feeling that others may have felt there wasn't enough information given for each day, but that is easily remedied with more info on the WhatApp. All one needed to do was ask. Personally, I felt cared for without being smothered. In addition to leading the rides, he chose very interesting places for lunches and dinners. Aside from the historical insights he shared, we were treated to local foods that included Fish Soup in Kasmu, the smoked fish shack in the Curonian Spit, and the Georgian dinner in Vilnius. Andrius also shared (with humor) the difficulty of life under various occupations. I came away with a very clear sense of why independence matters so much for each of the Baltic countries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The level of riding described is spot on. It is not a strenous ride, and the distances are not very long each day. Our last two days of riding in Lithuania was hampered by rain and wind, so the original itinerary to bike in Trakai did not happen, instead, our guide led us through a short biking tour of the old city which was fascinating, and we drove to Trakai and explored the castle. Be prepared for rain and cold in June. You are as comfortable as your gear. For biking combined with culture and history of this area, this tour checked all the boxes for me. If you are interested in history and architecture, and extra day in Tallinn and an extra day in Vilnius would be worthwhile. I did elect to ride an e-bike, and the equipment was more than adequate for this ride. Exodus provided waterproof panniers.

Most Inspirational Moment

The rides on the metro in Tashkent not to be missed, the people were so polite offering up their seats as soon as we got on. Again the walk in Djety Oguz and the canyon walk were great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders were very good and looked out for us as a group.Both Vitaly in Kyrgyzstan and Dilshod in Uzbekistan were outstanding in the amount of information that they imparted,at times it was rather overwhelming and just too much to take in especially after a lack of sleep and the heat of the day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take dollars, cards were accepted in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan a few in the group had cards blocked in Uzbekistan which was time consuming and a hassle to get unblocked. You can exchange your local currency from Kyrgyzstan in Kazakhstan, you have to rely on the guide for exchanges in Uzbekistan we were taken to a money exchange in a very nice hotel,I ran low on currency and the guide phoned a friend who then came out to the local market to do an exchange,very clandestine but fair exchange rate. The food in Uzbekistan does get very repetitive each restaurant has a very similar menu,lots of meat kebabs and salads,the lamb was excellent. Also don’t expect dishes to arrive at the same time is very random and they run out of dishes unexpectedly after you ordered 30 minutes ago.

Most Inspirational Moment

The hike in Djety Oguz - it's an easy walk and the scenery was stunning. And Samarkand... it made me feel very small and humble to walk around these massive mausoleums.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both group leaders were terrific!! Vitaley in Kyrgyzstan and Kazachstan, and Dilshod in Uzbekistan. They have different levels of experience, but was they have in common is their extensive knowledge and enthusiasm. The both have a good sense of humour, kept good control of the group when needed, we were in very safe hands with them and they both were so obviously dedicated to give us the best possible experiences. Be prepared for them to talk in great depth and detail about the places you visit!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses and hat are pretty essential, it got up to 43 degrees in Uzbekistan (middle of June). We did have some rain in Kyrgyzstan, so a light rain jacket is advisable as well. Food and drink are very cheap. You'll typically pay less than £2 for a beer and a meal with drinks and starter and main will be under £15 for sure, and portions are generous! Food is ok, very meat based (beef and lamb especially). Veggies should be ok... eggplant dishes are staple of every menu... and tend to be delicious! There are some long days and the pace can be a bit intense, especially towards the end of the trip. You don't get a lot of free time, but you always have the option to bow out of certain activities if feeling too tired. The guides definitely keep an eye on everyone's welfare, so unless you have more serious mobility restrictions, you should be fine. Just enjoy it, this is a great trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't recommend this trip enough to anyone who's intrigued by the fascinating history of the Amalfi Coast – I even got to see skeletal remains from such an important piece of its past! As someone who enjoys spending time in nature, it was a dream to be surrounded by so many beautiful views, from stunning ocean vistas to lush green plants and vibrant, colourful flowers. The cuisine perfectly complements the vibrant scenery outside, bursting with flavour and truly tasting authentic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

the real star of the show was Veriano, our guide. He was simply phenomenal! His passion for the Amalfi Coast and its rich history genuinely shone through as he guided us through the various towns. He brought everything to life, sharing captivating stories and insights. What made it even more special was when he spontaneously took us to Atrani, going off-itinerary just to share another hidden gem – that's dedication for you! His knowledge and enthusiasm made every moment truly memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Comfy shoes are a must – there's lots of walking, especially stairs, but it's worth it!​ Pack light and layer up.​ Use Multibanco ATMs to save on fees.​ Carry cash for tips and those lovely barbecue evenings (often paid separately).

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the Working Farm and looking out the window to see sheep, goats and horses froliking was the highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Could not have been better!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Visit this country - now!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking is hard we were all tried all our energy to reach finished line.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was not that experienced yet. Hr tried very hard to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

They all fueled the same things.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all of the cities and the short walks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Artus was a pleasant human being but not a great guide. He'd not done the trip before and I wonder if he was called in at short notice to cover sickness. He got us from A to B with a little help from group members and their Google maps. It would be 4* with a more knowledgeable guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be mislead by the title Walks of the Baltic and Finland. It's more a cultural tour of cities with a few short add on walks. Helsinki public buildings are shut during mid summer weekend.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many moments combined, seeing storks and eagles soaring over the mountains at the same time! Walking through meadows and stopping to watch a fox that didn't care that we were there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julian was excellent, we were privileged to have a wildlife expert as a leader. It felt like we were getting much more out of the week than just a walk. His passion for the area shone through and his way with people made us into a very cohesive group. Days were full but never to long, no one rushed ahead and no one felt they were holding the group up. Everything ran smoothly, even with a few adaptations, and that doesn't happen by accident.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take binoculars, there is a lot to see. Take a sandwich box for lunch and a small knife and fork if you prefer salad to a sandwich (the regional specialities for breakfast are also great to take for lunch (this is allowed!)). You don't need to take extra food, there is plenty and it's delicious. Take waterproofs (if you do get rain it by no means detracts from the trip and you can easily dry anything that does get wet). Enjoy being in a group which enjoys walking and wildlife!