Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the Ooty hill. Hard work but worth the effort. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was our leader - a wonderful person. Looked after the whole group and on cycling days made sure we were briefed at regular intervals. Socialised with everyone in the group. Shibu the bus driver is great - he drove the bus, made sure we always had water and snacks and sometimes cycled with us. Vipin the assistant was an enthusiastic learner.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your own saddle for comfort. Wear light cotton clothes as it is hot - I wore padded shorts under baggy cotton ones. Take the Ooty hill slowly - last few hairpins do one by one. Take swimming gear - there are a couple of swimming pools in the hotels and there is chance to swim in the sea. On the long downhill from Ooty take it slowly - don't rush - its a lovely ride through eucalyptus forests. The road is very potholed and requires 100% concentration.  

Most Inspirational Moment

I shall always remember hearing giggling during a picnic and turning to see a group of Berber women taking photographs of us, hearing and seeing the goatherds across the valley, seeing Ishmael going down a vertiginous slope with his mule - in his slippers

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abdullah was kind, humourous and laid back while inspiring confidence.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is over rough rocks and the inclines very steep. This is essentially a trekking holiday, requiring stamina and fitness. Abdullah is very encouraging and considerate, and there are some opportunities to opt out.  The opportunity to camp in remote and unspoilt sites inevitably means that days and distances are long. But at the end of the day the delicious meal and candlelit conversation is worth the journey. 

Most Inspirational Moment

I don't think there was an inspirational moment, as such.  The whole trip was an inspiration and gave me a appreciation of a country which is at ease with itself, despite its problems, and is attempting to create a society and environment which will benefit future generations.  The Costa Ricans have a saying "Pura vida" which sums up their approach to life and this holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Gio Madrigal, was fantastic!  His enthusiasm and commitment made the trip very special.  He was not only an expert in flora and fauna, as would be expected, but his knowledge of his country's history and society added another layer to the experience.  I cannot commend him highly enough. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to pace yourself for a climate which can be very hot and humid.  Always carry a water bottle, and use it.Dawn comes early so don't lay around in bed or you'll waste the best part of the day. Take a sink plug with you as most rooms don't have them. Costa Ricans are very friendly and welcoming people; go and meet them.  It is very easy to strike up a conversation. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about being vegetarian, you'll be extremely well catered for. Remember ear plugs unless you can sleep through; snoring, tents zipping/unzipping, domestic "discussions", the call for prayer, gale force winds.Your guide will likely arrange for bottled water to be available so don't worry too much about tablets for purification.  Try not flushing the toilet for an entire weekend before you go to get used to what a wild camping toilet might look (and smell) like after a nights use.

Most Inspirational Moment

We did an additional Jeep safari due to a chance gathering of elephants in the nearby national park. All credit to our leader Sujan for organising this on request. We saw one elephant in the distance. Then two nearby, then another.. Then over a rise to see over a hundred: wall-to-wall elephants! The cycle ride through the paddy fields was wonderful, and in this and other activities Sujan really made us feel connected with the countryside and people. Floating down a jungle river after completing the white water rafting was a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Finally the whale watching trip: yes blue whale and sperm whale, yes lots and lots of dolphins, but it was the flying fish that for me made the whole experience worthwhile.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Couldn't ask for better. Sujan was friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. He has wonderful organisational and people management skills, and clearly is respected in the various hotels and sites we visited. He went beyond his remit in organising the additional elephant safari. Plus he was very good humoured and made my two sons aged 18 and 23 feel very welcome and at ease. And he was very patient with all our individual quirks and requirements, and lending out his bird book!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Maximum flexibility as Sujan would say! In fact everything was so well organised that there was very little need for extra flexibility to be exercised. I wish the trip notes had made it clear that the optional activities could be paid for in stifling as I changed all my money unnecessarily. I took a very basic wildlife guide and wished I'd purchased a better bird book, and one on butterflies and maybe plants as the variety was so astonishing and interesting. Our leader was very generous with loan of his bird  book, however. Take a big appetite as the food is amazing, and a big smile because you need to return those of the Sri Lankans.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment was seeing my first tiger on my birthday, after 10 game drives & over 40 hours of looking. Spotting 2 leopards was a Brucie bonus as I never expected to see any.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krishna was a really sound guy. Very knowledgable who knew his stuff. Anything he didn't know he would find out for us. You could tell the guy was as enthusiastic seeing tigers with us, than the first time he ever saw one. Was still answering our questions on the way to the airport. I'd love his job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Freezing cold on early game drives, so wrap up well & take the blankets on offer. In the shade a lot on some drives as the terrain is dense forest. This makes tiger sightings harder. I found it hard to spend my money as everything's so cheap ( once you hit Agra & Delhi that is when you can spend money ). Beer cheap, food cheap, early morning drives make sure you don't drink too much beer.

Most Inspirational Moment

My two favourite places were the desert and Kasbah Oliver.  The camel ride was fun and it feels quite surreal and magical being surrounded by sand dunes as far as you can see.  At Kasbah Oliver, you get away from the cities and can really take time to soak in the beautiful mountains around you.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yahya was great - very relaxed, patient and easy to understand.  He answered all our questions and gave us alot of insight into the local life, customs and values.  This helped me to make sense of the unfamiliar things I saw (like why there are mainly men in coffeeshops).  He was very open when faced by our battery of questions.  Lassan, our busdriver, has great energy, a beautiful smile even though I never knew what he was saying!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I definitely recommend joining in the drumming (if that takes your fancy) that you might hear in the evenings on your trip.  Otherwise, bring a good book or some music to pass the time. Most hotels we stayed in did not have computers - so if you need to connect, bring one.Essaouira is a good place to buy cheaper souveniers and there is a good selection of all the knick knacks that we saw along our tour. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Finishing on the beach after six hard days ! The whole trip was an inspiration. The mountins, the views, the company, the tracks, the food, Hard to beleive that there was tracks so long without seeing anyone at all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz-  Someone wrote on a previous report that she could `walk the walk, and talk, the talk, certainly support and endorse that.  A great `Holiday Rep` a  far too good a biker, and a bike mechanic as well - could you ask for more.  With 12 guys in the group and  the support group of four guys - she could have been out of her dept, but she `led` in great and understated way - all respect for her.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Consider time of year, altitude, mountains, I misjudged a bit, just about had enough warm clothes. Having been to Agadir before I think my mind was on Agadir Beach and not the mountaisn when I packed.  Read the Trip Notes.The trip is described as challenging, and for me at 63 it was, not ashamed to admit I got off on several occasions when the going got tough(for me)  Its a good trip - if you feel incined go got  it. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Not really an inspiration moment, but a couple of high points. The first "picnic" lunch nearly took my breath away. Cushions on the ground in a shady spot, green tea, beautiful salad, hot rice & ratatouille, bread, cheese, fish and fruit. What Hamid (the chef) could rustle up with two butane burners is incredible. The final campsite was marvellous with it's natural spring and bathing pool. I only wish it had been warm enough for me to immerse in (but then it was December).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abdullah was fantastic. He was an excellent walk leader setting a steady pace which meant no-one was shattered at the end of each day. He was also ready and willing to answer all our questions about Moroccan culture no matter how obscure. His knowledge of nature and wildlife was extensive and when in doubt he had a ready supply of guide books to refer to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If like me you feel the cold or are a "princess and the pea" type person take a thermarest if you have one. The sleeping mats provided are great, however the camping grounds are rocky and when I travelled (December) it was quite cold at night. I really wished I'd taken my thermarest as well, however my husband had no difficulty at all with the comfort or cold so just a personal quirk. The scenery is spectacular, but limited in colour, so if you want to get some good pictures, wear bright colours. It will give your photo's a bit more panash.  If you like english tea, take your own. You can only get Lipton's in Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Camping in the Sahara and waking in the middle of the night to see the stars. Unforgettable and a very special sense of timelessness. Indeed much more Christmas-like (shepherds watch their flocks/3 wise men etc) than all the twinkling tatt at home! The in-camp evening entertainment was also fantastic with the local camelliers and camp caretaker doubling up as great drummer/singers. Our whole group got really into it with lots of improvisation and participation. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that we found Mustapha to be a kind attentive and extremly humourous guide. His obvious passion for his country and Berber people together with his excellent language skills made the whole trip run very smoothly and with considerable added interest. Our driver was excellent too ... not at all crazy, just very calm and steady.... AND awake!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light! It does get pretty cold at night so just layer up and go scruffy. I might think about wearing cycle shorts (covered) on the Camel ride as fairly demanding on the deriair! Trip note suggestions that women should take cover-up long skirts seemed uneccessary though a large scarf was fairly handy. Also the swimming pools at hotels are absolutly freezing and not really a viable option for December visits.