Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The Taj Mahal was mind blowing. I couldn't believe the size and the beauty of this building crafted so perfectly. Our first tiger sighting was our best. Just watching a tigress bathing in the watering watering hole for 5/10 minutes, lapping up the water with the sun reflecting off it's back.   We saw baby jackals! It was the first time our group leader had seen them too and he's been in the job 25 years. They were like cute little puppies. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was fantastic and excelled at his job. A naturalist for 25 years he certainly knew his stuff and our game drives with him were much more enjoyable than the ones without him (we had to share him with the rest of the group). His wealth of knowledge was fantastic and we genuinely enjoyed his company. The part that really made him really great though was the way he looked after us. One of the key reasons i booked this trip was because i didn't want to travel as a single female alone in India. He was continually protecting you from every hawker, begger or con artist. Even when you didn't see him he was watching like a hawk, stepping in when you looked like you needed it. Thanks to him i felt safe throughout the journey. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

As a single female i felt safe the entire time, do not be scared to do this trip alone. Deli Belly will happen no matter how sensible you are, your body is not used to this diet. Just make sure you have the proper supplies with you.  The Elephant rides may seem like a novelty tourist earner, but it's definitely worth it at least once to see a Tiger that closely.   India is not as cheap as you'd expect, be prepared... Actually India is, but National Parks and Hotels are not.Do all your tourist shopping in Deli at the end. It's far cheaper than buying it in the tourist traps along the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

No one inspirational moment, but rather a week of perfect peace walking in beautiful countryside with some lovely people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As stated earlier, Suzie is one of those special people who don't come along all that often. We met her in Italy last year when she led the "Amalfi Coast" walk and were impressed then. Of all the tour leaders I have met (and that's quite a few) she is up there with the very best.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No. Everyone has to learn how to get the most out of life in their own way. However, if you don't like walking don't sign up for a walking holiday! (someone did just that on this trip)

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing the ice of the glacier.Seeing the mountains around the monastery Tengboche.The food at Tengboche.When the snow stopped and the mountains cleared coming down to Laboche.See I can still remember the names of places from my holiday, not something I usually can do.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Of all the group leaders I have had Lakpa Sherpa was the best.  A trustworthy, considerate and hard-working man, who was a mind of information about Nepal.  Not only did he take us to visit his father (the last known surviving member of the Hilary-Tensing expedition) he also made sure he returned to us our lost map, which we had left in a lodge near Everest.  It was arranged to be brought up by another guide who passed us, but forgot due to bad weather; finally it ended up in our hands back in Katmandu, travelling on its own special plane from Lukla. (I made the last bit up)   

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be put off by people who say this route is overcrowded.  Don't forget your camera battery recharger.Don't panic if you didn't sleep much at Gorak Shep, nobody did.  The next morning you can still do Kala Patar.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting and sharing some stories with my fellow travellers, seeing some Griffin vultures fly past when we arrived at the 'Pass of the Doves', and walking through some incredibly beautiful meadows of spring flowers.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very knowledgeable and really upbeat. She made a really genuine effort to include everyone regardless of their level and fitness.   

Advice for Potential Travellers

A waterproof jacket is a must on a Spring time holiday, as the weather can be slightly unpredicatble.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

They did very well. It would have been nice if there would have been more oppourtunities to go / cycle your own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out on the food - our group was heavily suffering with stomach-/food-problems.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many moments in the trip were amazing, Surviving the Inca Trail (Me not being that fit) and the jungle

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Holget was an amazing group leader, local from Cuzco, always helpful, gave you enough information in small amounts.Helped us on the Inca Trail when we were struggling, loads of local knowledge, great knowledge of resturants  

Advice for Potential Travellers

If doing the Inca Trail get used to walking up hills expecially steep hills, if you do the peru explorer trip altitude shouldn't be a problem as you get time to get used to it as you go along.It can be cold in the evenings on the trail, metal water bottles are useful, filled with the hot water they provide make a great hot water bottle. ** They do not supply automatically a sleeping bag (you can rent them from exodus or bring your own) ** **## Dont buy large bottles (over 100ml) of Pisco at the airport if its going in your hand luggage, they will be taken off you at the next airport if your flight isn't direct ##**

Most Inspirational Moment

A lot to choose from, but the desert fortresses were much better than I'd expected (monumental in a desert landscape) and the silence and brilliant skies and solitude of the yurt camp were to be savoured.  The blue tiled architecture is fantastic against a blue sky - the photographers in our group had a field day.  There's a lot of history here and very little evidence of the nastier sides of the regime picked up on in pre-holiday reading (no soldiers/tanks etc). 

Thoughts on Group Leader

I think we may have been both lucky and unlucky here.  Our leader had excellent knowledge (mentioned by name in the Lonely Planet guide) but wasn't used to leading groups - she'd been given the gig at the last moment and was struggling with it a bit e.g. there was never a welcome meeting as she felt uncomfortable with holding one, but that meant she never really found out the temperature of the group and what it wanted.  As a group we needed more advice on places to eat and she didn't seem to acknolwedge that lunch existed!  Pretty clear she wasn't one of the usual leaders though so probably (?) not representative.  It didn't spoil the holiday but was a frustration for some.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Veggies really should stock up on supplies or reconsider Uzbekistan, it is a concept that doesn't really compute!  Otherwise, just the usual safety stuff - no one on our trip was affected by tummy troubles, but we were all taking sensible precuations, and take plenty of entertainment for the long road trips.

Most Inspirational Moment

Has to be seal colony, smelly, noisy but utterly brilliant could have stayed there all day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tour leader was great, he came across as quiet at first but worked tirelessly to help us all get the most out of our trip and was always helpful and knowledgeable. First rate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Early mornings and long drives in the vehicle but the trip is well balanced to prevent boredom setting in and also to prevent you being on the go all the time. Access to charge points for cameras never a problem neither was mobile phone coverage for those that wanted it. Namibia is a well organised country with a good infrastructure, I've been in parts of Europe that felt more remote so if this is your first to Africa it is a great introduction with stunning scenary and wildlife. Loved it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views are amazing.  Coastlines, blue skies, wonderful coves and beaches, mountains at each and every turn, all diverse and never boring vistas.  The trekking at C grade is manageable and the guide we had produced the most amazing picnics enjoyed during the trek in beautiful outdoor places. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eduard, having met him twice now, is so helpful, kind and encouraging.  No-one is left behind on the trek, the pace is just right.  He is friendly, professional and keen to ensure all the party enjoyed themselves.  Excellent leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go........if you enjoy a slightly tropical environment with excellent walking and great views and certainly travel to the island from the UK is easy with only a short transfer from the airport.  Take a small extra bag in your luggage for the overnight stop at Balix Farm.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip far exceeded my expectations so its difficult to pick one inspirational moment but I think the mountain day takes the biscuit!  Bob had just taken a nose dive off his bike (moral of the story always wear a helmet!!), it was hot, hot, hot (somewhere around 38 degrees) and we were flagging a bit when out of nowhere came the hotel - nestled in the middle of a jungle down the bumpiest road you ever did see! Never have I been so pleased to see a waiter with a cool drink and the natural swimming pool was stunning... even if we didn't find it til too late to use and just sat in the green pools out the front to cool down!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose lead the group and Tuna and Alberto were the mechanics come bus drivers. Loads of local knowledge, plenty of dance steps to teach, lots of patience when we kept finding the nearest bar for drinks and ice creams to cool down... and many a catch phrase learnt to keep us chuckling... Well done "my children"!

Advice for Potential Travellers

There were a few things that I think would have helped me:Take old clothes to leave behind for locals - apparently shoes are very expensiveIf taking gifts school kids want pencils not pens, these are better given to the office workersLearn to use your gears on the bike properly - using granny gears is not a failure! (It was very windy and sometimes harder on the flat into the wind than the hills!)Take sudacream for any er... delicate bike sores... or even just sun burnI wish I'd taken 'thank you' pressies for the guides as well as the tip - they definately deserved themNo matter how tired your legs are or if you're at the back of the group, if you see something you want to take a photo of stop and take it, you only get one chance!Do take a 'good' camera, mine was a few years old and just really slow to take pictures and quite often what i wanted to snap had long gone before my camera fired into action!