Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Bathing in the warm river at Rio Perdido was really special and a fantastic way to round off a day of zip lining and white water rafting. The Howler Monkeys' serenade at dawn was certainly worth getting up for.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were blessed to have Johnny as our leader. His knowledge of all things Costa Rica was outstanding. Whether it was wildlife, biodiversity, history, economics, agriculture and he even surprised us on our way back to the city when he briefed us all on art history

Advice for Potential Travellers

We travelled in the 'dry' season but even so a pair of sensible shoes for walking was a must. Trainers sufficed but I suggest something more substantial in the wetter times.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing elephants for the first time at the Hurulu Eco Park, and continuing to see them even after leaving the reserve. Also being lucky enough to see Golden Jackals by pure chance on the root back to the hotel from the reserve.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant. Very friendly and knowledgeable, taught us all a lot and had a sense of humour as well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I highly recommend this tour. Eat out at restaurants recommended by the guide, you won’t regret it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Travelling by boat through the natural beauty in Tortuguero was one of the moments that I will remember forever. It felt like we were in a David Attenborough documentary in a remote unspoiled place with amazing wildlife ever where we looked. The driver of our boat along with David our guide made sure we saw everything the water ways had to offer. I will go back for sure! The other inspirational moment was swimming in the pool as it went dark in Esquinas Lodge watching the bats fly around. The rainforest was beautiful and the whole experience staying there was magical. I went to Costa Rica to see a sloth and we saw more than I count. I also had so many encounters with monkeys my favourite animals all of which I found inspiring.

Thoughts on Group Leader

David Vargas was the best guide we could have had and anyone that gets to go on a trip with him is very lucky indeed. We all felt very privileged to have such a lovely and knowledgeable group leader and our trip was very special because of the care he took of our group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect a busy schedule but do as many activities as you can or you will regret it. Clothes drying can be a challenge so take light clothing but also bring something warm for the higher ground. Take a waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots are essential.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide for most of the trip was Jorge Diaz and I can’t praise him enough. He is passionate about the country, entertaining, engaging and supremely knowledgeable. Our driver was Carlos Salazar - hats off to him for some brilliant driving and his care and attention.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to choose just one!! We revisited Petra on our free afternoon having cut our visit short the day before. We climbed the 900 steps up to the Monastery and were not disappointed. The view from the highest point was out of this world. The snorkelling in the Red Sea was also a high point. The sea was crystal clear and the coral and fish just superb. And finally camping in the Wadi Rum was just fantastic. Nothing can prepare you for the vastness of this beautiful desert. We arrived at sunset and after dinner we lay down on the sand and gazed up at the stars. In the morning we watched the sunrise! It was just awesome. We finished up with a camel ride! Definitely something to tick off the bucket list!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mikhled was just great! Nothing was too much trouble and he worked tirelessly all week to ensure we had a great experience. Our accommodation at Petra was double booked and whilst we were enjoying ourselves he was beavering away arranging alternative accommodation which we thought turned out an upgrade - a superior glamping camp in the middle of nowhere! It was delightful! He is also so knowledgeable about his country and culture. He very sensitively explained Arabic, Christian and Moslem sensitivities in the area.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a great trip if you fancy combining adventure and culture.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are just so many to mention but key highlights for me in Jordan are: Seeing the Treasury for the first time, climbing 850 steps up and down again to see the Monastery, spending a night in Wadi Rum and seeing the amazing stars at night and finally swimming in the Dead Sea! Oh and amazing amazing lunch at Madaba that Amer organised for us all. All brilliant accompanied by Amer’s knowledgeable teachings and “story time” of the history of Jordan and its brilliant sites. In Palestine and Israel, the key highlights for me is the day in the holy land and understanding the 4 different quarters within Jerusalem. Following the different stations that Jesus went through. A trip to Bethlehem and seeing the Walled off hotel.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amer who is our tour leader in Jordan is absolutely absolutely incredible. He went above and beyond I would expect from any tour guide. He is so knowledgeable and really is keen to share his knowledge and stories about the history of the sites we’re going to and I can see the passion he has for his country. I know I joke about “story time” or “lecture time” during the trip but Amer really got me to listen and engage in everything he has to say about everything in the trip and the sites we’ve visited. When he speaks, we listen and he has so many things to say about the places we went to and despite us asking a lot of questions he’s been so patient and so detailed in his answers. I learned so much about Jordan and your amazing country Amer thank you so much for showing us the great Jordan. Thank you for going the extra mile on getting us great Jordanian tea, zaatar and olive oil. Can’t wait to serve these for one of our evenings with friends. Thank you as well for sorting me out when I lost my passport barcode while crossing the Jordan - Israel border. I really thought that would be a major problem but you’ve sorted it. You’ve been an amazing tour leader, thank you Amer! Ibrahim is our Israel and Palestine tour leader and he is also incredibly brilliant and knowledge about both countries he’s showcasing to the group. He’s provided very non-bias responses and because of how deeply rooted the issues there is between both countries, Ibrahim has kept a level of factual input and professionalism in his tour and for this I appreciate him. Ibrahim has made us all feel safe and have gone above and beyond by letting us know he is always at hand and is always a text away. He is very knowledgeable of the areas we went to and great lunch and dinner recommendations as well. The Walled Off Hotel and the Banksy graffiti is one of key importance for me and my partner and Ibrahim made sure that we were able to see everything we needed to in the area and gave us enough time to enjoy everything about it. Even when we thought we’re going to be delayed due to a driver issue beyond our control, Ibrahim was able to sort out a new driver for us immediately and we were brought back to be on schedule again.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check the weather before you go and because in Jordan you’re staying in the desert and in Israel and Palestine you’re going to the holy sites, please pack a lot of warm clothes but also clothes that aren’t tight fitting and clothes that modest. The weather changes from really cold in the morning to quite hot in the afternoon when we went in March. Bring a raincoat in case too! This trip is pretty full on and jam packed with activities, in Jordan there was a bit of time to sleep on the bus but in Palestine and Israel - everything is super close that in 30 mins or so, you are at your destination. The tour would start at reasonable times 8:30am/9am. You need to be prepared for a lot of walking when you get to Petra. So stay hydrated most of the day, there are a lot of toilets so key is to stay hydrated. Be patient when crossing the border between Jordan <> Israel the process does take a bit of time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Petra for the first time was quite emotional. Also making it to the top of of the 800 odd steps to see the monastery. It was bizarre seeing Oprah at the River Jordan. She was doing a similar trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amer Nizami was superb. Deeply knowledgeable and a great laugh. Ibrahim was good too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There’s plenty of walking on this trip so comfortable walking shoes are a must. Tel Aviv airport was chaos and took nearly three hours to get through security and passport control so allow plenty of time when leaving. The Jordanian / West Bank border takes time to cross so take water and snacks.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long cycle downhill from Ooty through the large pine forests, then through the tea plantations and finally into the amazing eucalyptus forests was a real highlight. The scenery is unforgettable as well as the feeling of moving from the cool early morning air at 2,200 metres in Ooty to the steamy humid heat closer to sea level a number of hours later. We also ended that cycle with one of the best meals we experienced with the most delicious grilled fish as well as a selection of curries and other “dips” and bread served for lunch. The stay on the boathouse was also a delightful and relaxing experience- just a beautiful way to spend an afternoon and evening / night. Breakfast served whilst the sun came up the following morning as we cruised down the river was very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Safi was excellent. Safi is very engaging, knowledgeable, organised and makes it his business along with his two colleagues (who were also superb) to ensure that the cycle tour is as enjoyable as possible for all participants. Safi ensures everything goes smoothly in order that the holiday is pretty much all enjoyment and zero hassle. Safi puts a lot of effort into enabling the group to meet local children (visit a local primary school), meet a local family and experience workers demonstrating the skills that have been passed down over hundreds of years. The local team led by Safi ensure that the bikes (which were excellent quality) are all in great working order (regularly checking / servicing them), always helps provide a feel for a local area and frequently takes the group on a walking tour and makes really good restaurant suggestions. Importantly, I think all persons on the tour felt very comfortable and safe whilst in the capable hands of Safi. Safi ensures that safety during cycling as well as in all other areas is a paramount consideration which is reassuring. Everything feels very under control.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not take too many clothes- opportunities to wash clothes as you go if required. Do not get too hung up on food hygiene concerns. The accommodation where we stayed and restaurants where we ate or were suggested for eating were all clean and well presented. Yes, take care but we had no issues. We did only drink bottled water (which was in plentiful supply) and used same for teeth cleaning. It may have been the time of year but we had very little issue with bugs or mosquitoes.

Most Inspirational Moment

The excursion to Abu Simbel was optional but was the highlight of our trip. We were incredibly lucky to be there without crowds and were overwhelmed by the magnificence of the temples and deeply impressed by the feats of engineering (both ancient and modern).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was outstanding. She was knowledgeable, clear, patient and good humoured. We were particularly impressed that she handled all of the tipping so expeditiously. When I had my accident she was calm and extremely efficient at getting me the help that I needed (in quite difficult circumstances). She was also very supportive of my wife and responsive to the needs of the whole group. She was unflappable and gracious: we felt in very good hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was not a leisurely trip, but it was brilliant. Be prepared for queues, very crowded temples and quite a lot of standing around. Take a good medical kit with you.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many moments: Seeing the Treasury for the first time. Reaching the Monastery after climbing 850 steps. Camping under the stars in Wadi Rum. Swimming in the Dead Sea. Doing the stations in Jerusalem and retracing Jesus’ last couple of days. Visiting The Walled Off Hotel and the graffiti wall beside it, and learning more about the conflict.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amer (Jordan) and Ibrahim (Palestine & Israel) were both great leaders! Amer was so knowledgeable on every aspect of Jordanian history and great fun, and Ibrahim was nice and very helpful - always giving us advice on to where to eat and go in the evenings. When I said to Ibrahim that I wanted to get a nativity sat in Bethlehem, he didn’t just point out suitable shops but went above and beyond and took me to a place where they carve the figures from olives trees and I got a super hand crafted nativity set that I will keep and cherish forever- thanks Ibrahim!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is full on with very little down time and some long days, which is understandable as there are so many wonderful sights included in the Itinerary, so you will need a certain level of fitness and stamina to be able to do everything.