Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There were too many on this trip! But some of the best moments were relaxing in a hot tub with a waterfall as your backdrop, walking up to see a glacier, the iceberg lagoon and swimming in the blue lagoon with snowflakes falling on your face and sipping a drink from the swim up bar on the side of the lagoon.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I really liked the group leader, David Kelley. He was very thoughtful and wanted us to have a great time, and he felt personally responsible that we didn't see the northern lights even though that was down to the severe weather conditions we had. He also had a wicked sense of humour (British, sarcasm) which made me laugh all trip. And he cut up cake in the snow with a plastic knife and fed us. What was also fab was his immense passion for Iceland and what he was sharing with us which was apparent throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Key advice is to make sure you have the right clothing for the trip, the weather is really very unpredictable. So definitely take waterproof trousers and a balaclava, woollen mittens and a hat that covers up your ears and will stay on in a blizzard. Also a waterproof bag and waterproof case for your camera. It can be sunny one minute, then hail can smack you across the face the next, and then it's snowing! Embrace the unpredictability of the trip and don't be disappointed if things don't go according to the itinerary.

Most Inspirational Moment

I especially enjoyed the stay in Munnar and the trek in the Western Ghats with breathtaking views of the Annamudi Peak and surrounding hills. I could have stayed here for another day just exploring the countryside, photographing the wildlife and surroundings and talking to local people. I also enjoyed the fact that we stopped to see a small brickworks, rice being harvested and visited Madurai and the very busy Sri Meenakshi temple.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Chandra was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. He went out of his way to accommodate our wishes. The whole trip ran smoothly. Also the coach driver was an excellent driver and with his helper kept the coach in good condition.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As we had booked a few extra days onto the end of the trip we did not feel so compelled to relax at the seaside at the end of the trip and we did the extra optional trip to Kanyakumari. Although you end up on a small coach for a couple of hours each way I did enjoy visiting the old wooden palace at Padmapuhamban and the small boat trip to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue at Kanyakumari followed by paddling in the nearby beach where the three oceans meet and where we watched the sunset.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Adam's peak Sigirya Cycling

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshantha was very organised, kind and caring. Was able to sort out problems and was very knowledgeable. Organised a kitty to pay for tips to avoid overpaying/hassle individually. Organised constant supply of bottled water on coach to save everyone buying in order to save costs and time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Money - get it at Colombo airport and there are plenty of opportunities to get out of ATMs along the way. Can pay in sterling for optional activities. Option to change in Kandy. Except for three or four days it is a different hotel every night. This is fine as it's the only way to see the sights! There was usually no more than 90 mins spent on the bus at any one time as appropriate breaks built in (e.g. to tea factory, spice garden, tea house etc.) Wifi available at almost all hotels (mostly in reception and not in rooms - I note this was a complaint earlier... but who wants constant internet when on holiday!?) Plenty of time for relaxing around the pool at the end of the trip and also odd afternoons - it's not 'on the go' constantly... I thought it would have been more 'active' but some felt it was too active! Hotels were much better than expected - some were luxury! Most food is consumed in the hotels. In some places there is an option to eat in town, but some may regard the hotels 'safer'. The cycling was very gentle and excellent fun The extra day in Kandy is not really necessary - I'd have rather had an extra day of walking, but it does serve a 'functional' purpose (time to wash clothes, change money etc.) For Adam's peak it cost me £80 as I was the only person in the group that wanted to do it (if more people do it the cost comes down) On one review the person complained that those on single supplement had worse rooms. I can't see how this would be possible. The rooms were almost all equal.

Most Inspirational Moment

Superb descents on even surfaces and perfect snow during days touring in the mountains. Dawn light on Gausta (the nearby mountain) on a day of perfect weather. The first cup of (free) coffee after a seven-hour tour!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ilse and Mary are always cheerful and enthusiastic, and provide excellent teaching for novices and experts alike. They always seem to be able to find some decent snow, even if the conditions are less than ideal. Evening 'entertainments' first-rate for the newcomers who need to know about waxing and safety in the mountains. Whole group this year very cheerful and friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are unsure of whether you will like Cross-Country skiing, try it here: if you don't take to it, it is very easy to hire downhill equipment, snowshoes, or take in the history of the area by visiting the local museum, which celebrates the "Heroes of Telemark". Plenty of photo-opportunities and, this year, surprisingly plentiful bird life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Taj Mahal

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, knowledgeable, calm, clear, fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you plan to extend your holiday arrange to stay at the Central hotel in Delhi. ( The Siddarth) rather than the Ashok. It takes an hour to get to the centre of Delhi from the Ashok.

Most Inspirational Moment

Nothing specific but I have been to some amazing so I may be a bit jaded! The Sri Lankans are lovely people and very cheery and seem to be genuinely pleased to see you. We did a lot of waving. So lets say I was inspired by their optimism. Some of the countryside is stunning; particularly in tea country and the upland areas. The beaches looked nice but we really only saw them from the bus apart from getting out near Galle to see some fishermen bring in nets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ruwan was a delight. Very cheerful and knowledgable. He kept everything ticking a long and was very patient. He and our lovely driver Charles also organised a great birthday surprise (and we had 4 of them on this trip!). I'd quiz your leader on what some of the optional activities are really like as maybe he wasn't as upfront on this as he could have been. We gelled well as a group and everyone was prompt which helped.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy the scenery, talk to the people, check which side of the bus to sit on each day for the best views. Most walks can be done in a good pair of trekking sandals. Even Horton Plains in my opinion although I did wear light boots here as it was a bit rocky in places. If you go on the whale watching optional trip you will pretty much be out until they find a whale - in our case 8 hours! Be prepared but we did at least see a blu whale. A small umbrella makes a good sunshade. I'd advise against the optional 'jeep safari' after Sigiriya to see elephants. It was nose to tail jeeps and diesel and most unpleasant in my opinion. It seems to be very unregulated and far from the 'eco' in the name of the park.We saw more elephant from the main road on the way back! Try and get away from the endless buffets at hotels. It can be tricky as one of the hotels are isolated and a la carte can be very disorganised (you can see why the hotels opt for buffets). Evening meals can be very crowded and noisy and it does sometimes all feel a bit 'package tour.' Ditto lunches where all the stops seemed to be tourist stops but check for stalls nearby if you're willing to risk eating local (which is also much cheaper). The train ride after Horton Plain is not a chance to meet the locals (as billed) as most of you will be standing up along with other tourists for close to 1.5 hours. The 'locals' have booked their seats (wise) and have all come from Colombo. I'd change more money than advised at the airport. Its quick and easy and rates are pretty much the same everywhere. There are ATMs but some of us had problems.

Most Inspirational Moment

Doing Fischleintal twice!

Thoughts on Group Leader

They were all first-class

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just my comments in the first box

Most Inspirational Moment

The pilgrimage walk to the top of Adams Peak.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Nalaka. He was incredibly knowledgeable, organised, attentive and always smiling - we couldn't have asked for a better leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

£500 worth of rupees should be enough for the two weeks but bring your card as well as there are some shopping opportunities ( Kandy markets and gem factory and Galle ) You will be given bottled water on the tour bus and at every hotel you go to. Bring waterproofs as there was one place we stayed for one night where it was rainy and nearer UK temperatures. There are plenty of monkeys/dogs about so best to get your rabies jabs done before you go - none of the animals were aggressive though so nothing to worry about. The leader will do a tips kitty at the beginning I the trip so you don't have to think about tipping as it go along.

Most Inspirational Moment

learning how to snowshoe and cross country ski with our guide Henri Suopanki were also fantastic. The optional snowmobile safari was absolutely incredible also. their professionalism and safety for us all was incredible and enabled us to have a fantastic time on the snowmobile!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Henri Suopanki was absolutely incredible all week and we as a group were very fortunate to have such a fantastic person as our guide. he really enabled me to have one of the best holidays of my life. His professionalism, enthusiasm for the job, patience, sociability with the group, and sense of humour were amazing. He is definately one of the best guides I have ever been fortunate to have. He is a credit to his profession.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definatly take the option of a full day husky safari, it is an incredible experience that should not be missed! A once in a lifetime opportunity. The snowmobile safari is also fantastic and definately worth trying.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sheer beauty of some of the locations, particularly when skiing alone, in the quiet (well, except for a squeaky binding)

Thoughts on Group Leader

All were great