Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

I think seeing the green sea turtles hatching on the beach at Tortuguero was the highlight of my trip.  We had been looking on the beach at dawn and dusk for 2 days when Primo our boatman called us over and we had to run and walk for about a kilometre along the beach just in time to see about 70 hatchlings break out of their nest and head off in to the sea.   The visit to the organic farm is surprisingly good fun.  Gustavo and Christian the farm worker are a great double act.  Try some of the raw sugar cane juice and also the local rum that they brew from it whilst you are there.  You will also find out how to harvest papaya the Costa Rican way, using your hat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was an excellent tour leader throughout the whole trip.  Paulo was our bus driver and was able to navigate Costa Rica's roads with ease and as much comfort as possible for us.  Gustavo has an obvious enthusiasm for his country and also has an excellent knowledge of the local wildlife, trees and plants.  He was able to answer all our questions with a great deal of understanding and patience.  We were quite a big group but Gustavo always had plenty of time for every one of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in September and for me this was a great time of year to go.  The turtles had been nesting for a few months and so there was a good chance to see hatchlings.  It was also just before the main season started (Oct to May for the cruise ships) so there weren't too many other tourists at each of our destinations.  The food in Costa Rica is not cheap and it is quite easy to spend a fair bit of money on the optional extras such as the boat trip for whale watching. Take one of those big sink plugs as a lot of the hotel rooms don't have sink plugs! If you want to get some laundry done then the Esquinas lodge only charge $15 for a bag full rather than per item. Also at Esquinas spend a little time choosing some wellies that fit, they are very useful after the rain!  The horse riding is suitable for complete novices (like me) but it is quite a long trek (3 hrs round trip on the horses) as long as you can hang on as  the horses know the way.  The horses do like snacking on the way so try your best to keep them out of the hedgerows.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a fantastic whale watching trip with a humpback breaching and lobtailing.  Plus a grey whale and a colony of sea lions in the crashing waves on the same outing. The time with the grizzlies was also amazing.  I hadn't appreciated how close they would be with the group of us just standing beside the river where they were feeding.  They put on a great show and we saw about 10 grizzlies in the 2 hours we spent there.  The outing was then topped off by a group of orcas on the way back.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jo was a good leader and clearly enjoys leading this tour.  She educated us about the area, the culture, the trees and the wildlife and her local knowledge gave us some good stops on long drives, good picnics and good evening meals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bear in mind that the weather in this part of the world is similar to the UK.  September is the best time to see the grizzlies, but it can also be wet.  There is flexibility in the itinerary and some things can be moved to different days to cope with this, but some of the activities on the itinerary just cannot run if the weather is really bad.  On our trip, the sea kayaking on the last day had to be cancelled because of heavy rain and wind.   On our scheduled whale-watching trip from Tofino we saw no whales (but plenty of seals, sea lions and sea otters).  Apparently this is really unusual, but wildlife is unpredictable!  As a group we chose to depart from the itinerary and book ourselves onto another whale watching trip from Ucluelet the next morning.  It was the right decision (see best moment above) but we had to depart from the official itinerary to give us a second chance to see the whales.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the best day out was visiting the Grizzlys on Bute Inlet - being remarkably close to a huge salmon crunching male - superb viewing conditions also of females and cubs on the same stretch of river , then when you think it can't get any better a pod of Orca's on the way home - bliss Our group had a great day in Torfino but were unlucky and didn't see any whales on the first trip - we mustered as a group the next day and independantly booked through the tour operator at Ucluelet ( part of the Gray Whale shop opposite the hotel ) a really superb day with sightings of both gray and humpback - this time in a different part of the Vancouver Island inlets  , well worth the $100 each - will never forget Captain Bob taking us up close ( very close ) to the Sea Lion colony - felt like we were truly in the midst of an HD BBC nature programme , exhilarating and magnificant 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - good leadership , great humoured - obliging and passionate - knowledgable and reliable 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel sickness tablets ! the tour bus got hot in the back seats and despite the distances being relaitavley short ( max 4 hrs ) the windin roads and the bad AC system meant a few green faces - plus the pacific can be a little choppy - no problems after being to the drug store !!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra is definitely up there but I would have to say it was sleeping under the stars in the desert in the Bedouin camp. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our main guide Zuhair was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country, always ready with a story and genuinely concerned to make sure everyone had a good trip.  I felt at times he could have had more attention to detail regarding the itinerary and organisation, made things a bit clearer and given more choices about where/what to eat, but was good overall.The cycling team deserve a special mention as they were highly enthusiastic, very organised and had well planned routes taking in some amazing scenery.  Although there was A LOT less cycling than on other cycling trips I've done there were still enough challenges to satisfy the more experienced cyclists and enough backup for those who were less keen on riding bikes!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can get very hot and we were often cycling/walking in the hottest part of the day so make sure you are fit enough to enjoy this trip fully.  Petra is a huge site and very tiring to walk around but totally worth the effort, make sure you go to the Monastery which in some ways is more impressive than the Treasury, just don't take the donkey ride up.Also don't count on doing Petra by night, this had become quite controversial when we were there and had been cancelled, but there were many more aspects to the trip so you won't feel deprived.Don't forget your torch!  

Most Inspirational Moment

More than a few.  Flying over the Andes from Lima to Cusco and seeing the mountains and the snow. Experiencing the Inca civilization in its different forms along the trial.  Travelling up river by boat through the Amazon and hearing the sounds of the rain forest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rene, our group leader, was very knowledgeable and organised.  Being from the Inca tradition, he knew the history of the culture and what purpose the Inca builings were created for.  He understood the spiritual nature of the journey on the trail (the Inca oneness with the mountains). He also co-ordinated the logistical exercise of organising the camp and the porters along the way very competently.Equally, I really appreciated Erik's understanding of the rainforest, his uncaany ability to spot the wildlife and know how the plants could be used as traditional medicines. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

To get to Cusco and then the rain forest, be prepared for quite a lot of travelling, but it is worth it.Read the trip notes, as there are weight allowances on the Inca Trail and to break items down again in going to the rain forest to a light day pack.Take a spare set of clothes to change into at the rain forest lodge, ever if you are encouraged to travel light.Have the recommended vaccinations and anti malarial tablets. 

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the Lac Blanc walk. We had lunch on a rock overlooking four glaciers. Aiguille du Midi on the rest day was a highlight and so was the walk from there to the Mer de Glace. And every evening meal was a delight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Super chap. Worked really hard to ensure everyone in the group had walking of the right level with great sensitivity. Knowledgeable and good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good choice if you are travelling alone, as the format of the chalet holiday provides company. And as almost everything is included, you will not need much spending money. Chamonix is lovely, but full of expensive outdoor clothing shops. A pharmacy and supermarket are 5 mins' walk from the chalet.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views of Mont Blanc and associated mountains on the last day. It was clear, the sky was blue - you couldn't help but keep stopping to admire the view

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nick was a great bloke who was a very relaxed leader but willing (and able) to exercise control when necessary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light and then remove half of what you've packed - honestly you don't really need that much for what is 4 nights away. You'll appreciate it going up those passes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing bears and a wolf at the bear hide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was very good, friendly and informative.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for the walking not the wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not one particular moment just the general experience of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anna was well informed and organised the daily cycles well but we had problems with three difficult members in our group with whom she was extremely patient.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely need cycling experince and always wear your helmet.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on top of The Kofel and taking-in the stunning panorama. Don’t let the dire warnings in the walking notes put you off - it’s undoubtedly high and a scramble to get to the top but if you do the ‘overtaking manoeuvre’ described in the notes, and you’re reasonably able-bodied and sure footed, it’s well worth the small detour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Consider making use of the local Tourist Information office - they’re very helpful and can book tours for you. We used them extensively including booking our tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein which, considering the massive length of the queue for un-booked tickets at the castle when we arrived, was definitely a good move and highly recommended. Pre-booking the guided tour enabled us to pick-up our tickets as soon as we arrived at the castle and then go off and look at other things prior to our timed entry. All the walks (we did) were on well signed paths and were easy to find and follow. However, some of the walks described in the walking notes descend over fairly uneven ground with some tricky tree roots at times - walking poles might be advisable.