Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Maybe places where it was quiet such as the very top of Marble Mountain and watching the sunset from the top of the boat in Ha Long Bay when the day trip boats had left. Meeting the victims of Agent Orange at the craft works was sobering, as were the Cu Che tunnels and the War Museum; difficult, but necessary, inspiring to see how humanity can prevail.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Thanh Vu in Vietnam and Theavy in Cambodia were excellent. They had different styles, but then the countries cultures are very different. They were both great company and I felt I could trust them implicitly. There didn’t seem to be a question that they couldn’t answer and their English was very good. Theavy had some great ideas for photographs which she took delight in helping us with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t underestimate how sapping the humidity can be, the free times were welcome to help us recoup. Be aware that there is some hopping on and off of little boats to do; and the wooden staircases around Siem Reap can be a raking angle and rarely have handrails. A degree of nimbleness is useful to make the most of this trip. On the plane from Vietnam to Cambodia, the flight crew will issue you with Customs and Immigration forms. The forms are tiny; be ready with spectacles, a pen, and maybe a crib sheet with your passport number and the address of the Siem Reap hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved meeting the villagers in Suroth riding on the back of the camel cart and the Maharaja's palace with the wresting and guide by the son. Also the Taj Mahal. However, every expedition was excellent and smoothly arranged.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Naveen was an excellent leader. Everything was smooth. He was easy to understand and always had time to answer questions.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved meeting the villagers in Suroth riding on the back of the camel cart and the Maharaja's palace with the wresting and guide by the son. Also the Taj Mahal. However, every expedition was excellent and smoothly arranged.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Naveen was an excellent leader. Everything was smooth. He was easy to understand and always had time to answer questions.

Most Inspirational Moment

If I have to chose, for Jordan the day in Petra and the time in Wadi Rum. For Egypt the pyramids, our time in the Nubian lodge and Abu Simbel temple. Also the couple of hours tacking North up the Nile on the sail boat. That was so peaceful. Also Luxor Temple by night was special. Experiencing the shear size of the monuments and sites helps understand the magnificent achievements of builders and engineers in their construction

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders had a very good sense of humour

Most Inspirational Moment

Trip to wadi rum and trip into desert. Walk upto monastery in Petra.

Thoughts on Group Leader

None

Most Inspirational Moment

My highlights included an early morning walk around Madurai as it woke up and a morning jungle nature walk around Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Bijou was outstanding.He went out of his way to look after an elderly member of the group with limited mobility, whilst ensuring the rest of the group received all the attention they required. This included arranging for my wife who had a chest infection to see a doctor. He also was extremely well organised in arranging luggage being delivered to and collected from rooms. He was good at providing insights and perspectives on his coutry and the lives and culture of the locals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Our tour include an 84 year old with limited mobility (she was assisted in a wheelchair through airports on the journeys to and from India). This is far from ideal on a fairly leisurely tour that is still an adventure tour and requires reasonable mobility. It is a group tour so cooperation and flexibility is often required to fit in. You should be prepared for slow service in restaurants (one member of our tour struggled to accept this at least once)! Also accommodation is ok, but especially at the Homestay and Boat, it is pretty basic.

Most Inspirational Moment

"Halong Bay cruise Angkor Wat and the temples and enjoying the local food"

Thoughts on Group Leader

"They both worked very hard and ensured the trip worked for everyone in the group. Everyone in the group was very impressed and praised them at the farewell dinners."

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many there was no downsides to the trip

Thoughts on Group Leader

Make this man in charge of all your trips he is the best guide I have ever had

Most Inspirational Moment

"The day of the dead cemetery visits ~ outstanding and both so very different. The Mexican people. Nothing but hospitable and friendly. Our driver Adolfo and guide Marcos. "

Thoughts on Group Leader

"Very knowledgeable about the sites we visited - lots of anecdotes and local knowledge about the families we visited "

Most Inspirational Moment

Varanasi; seeing the devotees on the ghats alongside the Ganges was fascinating and moving. We were particularly lucky because our guide, Jatin, took us to view the evening Aarti ceremony from the river, which was not part of the advertised itinerary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jatin was excellent. Always willing to accommodate the group, quick to respond to unexpected situations and a calm hand on the tiller throughout. He was knowledgeable about the sites we visited, warm in his interactions and reassuringly professional.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We would highly recommend the trekking extension. The suggestion that it is suitable for weekend walkers might be a little misleading as the trails consist of steep, long climbs and ascents on rough stone steps. That said, the distances are relatively short and the pace gentle. The experience of seeing the mountains and experiencing something of village life more than made up for the effort required, and the teahouses were great fun. Do it if you can. On the other hand, it's difficult to recommend the Everest flight. I was hoping for epic views and photographs and took a wide lens to take on the hoped-for immensity of the Himalayas. In the event, the flight path was distant from the mountains and I was glad of a long lens to make them look closer. Even then, the windows were small, dirty and misty and the shots I took were disappointing. I do appreciate that some find the experience a highlight, but for me, the trek gave a much better sense of the Himalayas. We found a trip to the Monkey Temple later in the day to be far more worthwhile and considerably less expensive.