Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The tour leader Christine made this a great fun holiday.  It would not have been the same without her enthusiasm and knowledge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Please see above

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the real life drama of a two week old pygmy elephant fighting to get out of the river. Initially supported just by Mum but later others of the herd arrived to ensure a positive outcome. The on the boat back seeing a big orang-utan high in the trees in that almost cartoon like pose they keep.Lying in  a mosi net on a platform in the jungle listening to the sounds through the night - I only wish I had taken a tape recorder!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic - she had a big responsibility taking a family group into the East of Sabah just a week or so after it reopened to travellers. Her sense of humour, love of snacks and knowledge of people, food and wildlife combined to make her a perfect family group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! But be flexible and aware that some parts eg homestay will be variable within the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

On the more hilly days, the views were great - made the climb worth it (almost)Food - 3 course meal with huge lobster for £8!Music in barsPeople in Cuba are generally very helpful and friendly.  We had no concerns about safety/security at any point in the trip. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was very good.  He had a great sense of humour (we had "joke of the day" on the bus every day) and was informative and knowledgeable.  His English was excellent - as you would expect from someone who had studied to be an English teacher.  Where problems arose with accommodation or health it was sorted with no fuss.  He ensured we had a good holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go to Cuba - I had to be convinced but now I am really pleased that I went.  Despite what is says in the trip notes, the food is generally very good and plentiful - I've never eaten so much lobster in my life.  However, if you are a vegetarian, I hope you like omelette............Ensure you take enough sun screen as it is very hot and you will struggle to buy it in Cuba.  Also do take padded cycling pants and a gel seat cover as no one has yet invented a comfortable bike seat!  I would also recommend a bandana to keep the sweat out of your eyes when cycling.At every stop you are provided with water, fruit and snacks so you don't need much in the way of energy bars etc. Do though take rehydrate powders and force yourself to take them - you will sweat big time!Mobile phones appear to work OK but switch off Roaming. Do take cash but if you let the guide know in advance, you can get to an ATM on most days. Consider making your own flight arrangements so that you can have extra time at the start or end.  If you do decide to do this then don't use the tour start/finish hotel for any extra nights in Havana - there are far better options in old Havana in Casa Particulars.  These are cheaper and central. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to pin this one down to a single moment. Cycling through three different Asian countries and seeing the differing countryside and experiencing the different cultures (albeit briefly in many instances) was great. Getting roasted in 40 degree heat and then soaked 10 minutes later I also found great. Seeing the Wats aren't necessarily my sort of thing, but Angkor Wat was good and the other temples were just as interesting in their own way.The most moving part for me was seeing the Floating Village where you can appreciate how lucky we are compared to how other families have to live. Similarly, visiting the Killing Fields and S21 was an emotional day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. I'd seen previous reviews saying how good Nee was and was pleased when it was her that picked us up at the airport. She was experienced at doing the trip and this showed. She was confident and informative at all times. She managed to get 18 of us up and out at the right time and, although it didn't show, she paced the group well to get us where we were going and arrive at reasonable times. She got to know the abilities and requirements of each member of the group very quickly thereby keeping all of us happy. She was always observant noticing if anything wasn't right and primarily, she kept us as safe as possible.Further, the logistics of organising 18 people through 2 border crossings, in different hotels most nights, with different guides, different Support and Mechanical teams in different countries, and all the organisation for the individual buses to the Temples or from Seam Reap to Phnom Penn for example etc., this must be immense but it happened seamlessly. So good organisational skills too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't overpack. You can get laundry done at various points and is good and cheap.Many of our group cycled in Sandals and they were fine so Quick Drying shoes would be good (but with a toe cap for protection and a stiffish sole).A waterproof camera (if you're into taking pictures) as you don't generally have to carry anything on your bike but may want to take a snap or two.Be prepared to get wet in the rainy season. You won't get cold though. It's a personal choice whether you use a waterproof - Many didn't on our trip and were fine.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting the other members of the group and hearing their stories and reasons for doing the climb; there was such a variety of people with different motivations. I was a solo traveller amongst a larger group and they all made me feel completely welcome. The gentle words of the group leader (Henry) as we were completing the ascent were inspirational; I became quite choked up when he said that we had only 15 minutes to go...he kept us all moving! Talking the guides, who have done the walk hundreds of times (it doesn't get easier apparently!), they are incredible and supported us all the way (Luce carried by day pack, and someone else's all the way up and down on summit night and fed me water on the way!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henry was an excellent leader. He was calm, answered all of our questions and told us what to focus on (only think about the next day ahead). Every day when we were walking, he kept a close eye on all of us to see how we were, and he watched what we were eating to make sure we were all having plenty. He spotted people who were finding it difficult and instinctively knew what to do to support them. He also encouraged the assistant guides to lead some of the walks, so that they could get experience and training and he was happy for our feedback.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Layers, layers, layers! Also a camelbak is brilliant, take a Sigg bottle (or other metal equivalent) so that you can fill it with hot water every night - it is an excellent hot water bottle. I took a space blanket (metal sheet) for the last night at Kibo - it worked well to keep me warm, but it does collect condensation on the top so be careful not to get wet when you take it off. The hired sleeping bags were good quality and clean and included a thermal liner and the walking poles were brilliant. Pack everything in plastic bags; I had trousers in one, tops in another, etc which meant it was easy to find things quickly. You don't have to have the buffet meal in the hotel either; they do a tasty bar menu too!

Most Inspirational Moment

Being on top of the highest peak of the week, betwixt all the WWI fortifications between the Italians/Brtits and Austro-Hungarian Empire, with the astonishing views and trying to envisage how such warfare was conducted in such winter conditions 7000 feet up in the mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl paced the five walks well, as, though quite fit, I just had the fitness to fully enjoy the last and major gradient walk of the week. His knowledge of the routes was esxllent and, as important for this trip, his research on the hills and in hsitorical research on how this part of the Dolomites was a significant battleground in WW1 was superb. He and his wife's company socially was a great bonus too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Exodus information does not play up enough the extra interest value of the military history and how much can still be seen in the mountains. Nor does it explain that the South Tyrol is a bi-culotural, autonomous region of Italy and about two-thirds Germanic. So, it helps to shift between danker and graze and to expect as much if not more central European food as Mediterranean.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu was a unique experience. The four days spent in Yangshuo on the River Li was also unforgettable.  Shanghai was the perfect place to end in, with a touch of glitz and time to do last minute shopping (China is a shopper´s paradise).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Willliam, our group leader, was exceptional.  He took care of us at all times, gave us endless fascinating knowledge about his own country, brought us to excellent restaurants (that were very reasonably priced), answered every wierd and wonderful question we had about China, and managed to do all of this with a great sense of humour.  Simply fantastic!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

From my own personal experience (!), do not bring too much luggage......and as other travellers have mentioned, leave space for souvenirs and gifts, etc.  Also tissues, wet wipes and anti-bacterial gel come in handy....

Most Inspirational Moment

Each day had special moments. The first glimpse of Machu Picchu and the elation of reaching the Sungate from someone who is not as fit as they should be! The thrill of watching the condors gliding only a few feet above our heads at Colca Canyon, visiting the Inca sites, the market at Cusco, experiencing a much simpler way of life during the homestay on Lake Titicaca,  hearing the silence and watching the stars. All the people we met were so kind and welcoming.     

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marcial was fantastic. He gently but firmly ensured that we all were ready for our early starts (I mean early-5,5.30 am) in the morning. He was incredibly knowledgeable on so many different aspects of life and the history of Peru and answered our questions with unending patience and good humour. He also arranged many different dining experiences and sight seeing opportunities which went above and beyond what was expected of him.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of layers of clothing. There are extreme fluctuations in temperature especially at Lake Titicaca ,Cusco and the Colca Canyon. It helps if you have a reasonable level of fitness. There are an awful lot of steps, many extremely steep at the main Inca sites and the walk to the homestay on Amantani island is strenuous! If you have time .read up on Inca history and civilisation. I am doing that now but it would have been helpful to have had some of that knowledge before seeing the sites.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on the Auigille de Midi on our last free day, with the cloud swirling around us. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Jenny, could not have been better. She is experienced, caring, thoughtful and knowledgeable. I would also like to mention the camp manager, Graham, who is a fantastic cook, and gave us 110% effort. He adapted his repertoire to the weather, and was always ready to give a hand with things not strictly his responsibility, like sorting out mobile phones, helping to pack tents etc. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pay attention to the kit list!! Including the optionals like poles and umbrella. Take as many clothes as you can fit in your bag as stuff gets dirty and wet and there are not many opportunities to wash clothes ... Take lots of COMPEED :-), neurofen and bite cream. You need a warm sleeping bag, it can be cold at night. 

Most Inspirational Moment

A few things which stood out for me. Floating in the Dead Sea. A weired experience , a bit like floating in oil. Petra. What can I say. AMAZING! Sleeping under the stars ( and shooting stars) in the beduine camp and then riding a camel at 6am the following morning. Scuba diving , seeing the corals, colourful fish and even a shipwreck in the Red Sea. ( my first time scuba diving so I was particularly pleased with this.)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Funny, friendly and seemed to know just about everything. Ala was great. He was incredibly organised and was willing to accommodate the group and change plans when some of the group wanted to visit the site of John the Baptist which wasn't on the itinerary. In his own words, " The food is lovely, the weather is lovely. Everything is lovely! "

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is a lot of walking involved so make sure you have comfy shoes. We found that hiking boots were not necessary and in August you certainly didn't need a sleeping bag for the desert. A sleeping bag liner was fine as there were blankets provided. Food and drink was a lot more expensive than I thought but I suspect that there is some sort of two tiered pricing system for tourists. Most meals were between 10 and 13 pounds and cans of soft drink ranged from 1 to 2.50 pounds. Food was good but quite similar wherever you went. I will now not be eating houmous or pitta for quite some time!