Reviews

History, Hospitality and Heart Across the Silk Road

This trip was the perfect mix of big-name Silk Road cities and places I’d never heard of but will never forget. It was amazing to explore the spots you read about in history books, but I also really loved getting off the main tourist trail. Walking through what used to be the Aral Sea was eye-opening. It’s one of those moments that makes you pause and reflect. Uzbekistan is bigger than you expect, so there are definitely some long travel days, but they’re totally worth it if you go in with a good attitude.

An amazing week cycling the southwest coast of Sardinia

Unique landscape & nature, stunning beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters, Sardinia is a place that will call you back. The itinerary focuses on the southwest part of the island and thanks to the local leaders Mattia and Giordano we managed to see some less known parts of this beautiful island 🙂

A good mix of everything Albania

Three days of hiking in the mountains and five days of visiting towns, cities, and other sights. The history of the country is complex and intriguing. There are plenty of castles and old towns / cities to see, and everything is a very lush green. The unexpected gem on this trip is the 2-hour ferry ride down Komani Lake – very scenic!

Amazing trip to the Abruzzo region

We had a wonderful, unforgettable trip to the Apennines, exploring the stunning landscapes in the Abruzzo region. From peaceful walks through incredible beech forests to following a pack of horses up a mountain, the trip was a perfect mix of adventure and serenity. The food was of course delicious throughout the entire trip, and the accommodation was warm and welcoming (especially the mountain refuge).

A country of stunning diverse landscapes

We booked this trip to celebrate my 70th birthday, aware that it included some long days on rough bumpy roads and a couple of challenging walks. I am very fit for my age but did find the itinerary very intense, with numerous early morning starts (a 6:15 alarm felt like a lie in for us!) and little time for relaxation or recovery (apart from the free day in Swakopmund, when we declined all the optional activities). The walk in Brandberg was difficult underfoot, with lots of rocks to negotiate and boulders to scramble over, with the potential to twist an ankle with each step; we were rewarded by the sight of cave paintings dating over 2,000 years, which fascinated me but may not be to everyone’s interest. The walking trail at Waterberg is even more challenging, and nobody in our group completed it (one couple went part of the way up); most opted for a game drive that took us onto the plateau, and we were fortunate to come upon a group of giraffes at a waterhole / salt lick at close quarters, but otherwise there was little to see on the drive. I would have liked to have experienced and learned more about the history and culture of the country. Waterberg is a place of great significance in the Herero genocide and I think time could have been better spent exploring its historical aspects (there is a German cemetery there but we had no time to visit it), instead of the walking trail or the optional game drive. And the brief encounter with Himba and Herero people on day 7 was merely a photo and shopping opportunity (you had to pay to take photos – I declined – and nobody in our group bothered with the market stalls); I would have preferred to have spent time seeing their village and learning about their culture and history.

That’s the negative aspects of the trip dealt with. On the positive side, Namibia is a country of contrasting landscapes, each of them impressive in its own way: red ochre sand dunes, lunar landscapes, vast open plains and grasslands, strange granite outcrops, desolate mountains, limitless horizons … and the grandeur of the Waterberg Plateau, a table top mountain fringed with bare granite and best appreciated from below and a short distance away. We saw a variety of wildlife along the way, and a good deal in Etosha, although the recent rains after a three year drought meant that game was hard to spot in the tall grass and vegetation that had sprung up; we saw no leopards, briefly glimpsed a few cheetahs (although we got up close to a group in the cheetah conservatory early in the trip), and spotted the head of a lone male lion resting in the long grass and watching us for a short moment. But we had some amazing encounters with elephants, giraffes, wildebeest and zebra, and saw many different antelopes and other fauna. Unfortunately the flamingos had left Walvis Bay, and the desert elephants were no longer in the valley at Brandberg, which was disappointing. Wildlife watching is mostly a matter of luck, and nothing is guaranteed.The best wildlife encounter was the rhino safari at the end of the trip, when we walked to within 20 feet of three white rhino at Eagle’s Rest; an unforgettable experience.

There were many other interesting sights and experiences along the way: countless giant ground crickets, almost everywhere we went; walking through the Sesriem Canyon ; old German colonial architecture in Swakopmund; eating apple strudel and ice cream at Anton’s Cafe; the Zeila wreck on the Skeleton Coast; pet meerkats in Brandberg White Lady Lodge.

A Soul-Stirring Journey Through the Heart of Morocco

This tour offers a rich and immersive glimpse into daily Moroccan life—from the echo of the call to prayer at dawn to sharing meals in traditional homes. It’s a cultural deep dive that rewards open-minded travelers with unforgettable experiences, vibrant medinas, and breathtaking desert landscapes. While the accommodations are simple, the warmth of the people and the authenticity of the journey more than make up for it.

Fantastic experience of Amalfi Coast

Great itinerary, jam – packed with fun activities enjoyed by all. Great balance of free time and guided tours. New experiences every day, including amazing food, culture and so much fun.

A beautiful week in rural Portugal

A delightful mix of road and offroad tracks for our 6 day route south from Lisbon. It was the perfect way to experience the rural and coastal beauty of SW Portugal in May. Our guide João briefed us each evening for the next days ride outlining coffee and lunch stops, the route and profile. Alex provided excellent support with the van to transport bags and provide cycle maintenance when required. João and Alex are local experts in the region and happy to share their experience and knowledge on all local matters, history, flora and fauna. Hotels and restaurants were of high standard throughout. I opted for an e-bike which reduced any worries about holding up the group. Highly recommend.

Team Spirit

This was my first walking tour and I loved it. We had a wonderful guide Theresa and a great group. We also had springtime flowers, the cliffs, the water, and Italian food.

Superb walking, culture and food

A wonderful walking holiday in Andalucia with a good mix of hiking, scenery, culture and amazing food, particularly at the excellent Cortijo Rosario farmhouse that acted as “base camp” for the week. It included great days sight-seeing in Sevilla and Ronda and an introduction to the local wildlife and biodiversity.