Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Col du Bonhomme.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alison was great. Very informative but relaxed.

Most Inspirational Moment

The view from Saint Elijah and walking to the end of the overhanging platform. Also, the Yagodina Caves were great. Some very impressive stalagmites/stalactites. Shame you're not allowed to take photos.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In a word, excellent. She obviously had a passion for this area and nothing was too much bother. Her English was excellent. I did two trips in Bulgaria and I think both guides set the standards for a good group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I thought the trip notes were pretty accurate although we didn't see many birds. That might be the due to the time of year, I don't know.

Most Inspirational Moment

A good team spirit

Thoughts on Group Leader

All round a good bloke, good fun who led well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of warm clothes and 4s sleeping bag a must as Hut is very very -2/3 cold with only one small fire where all the guides well '3 sit directly infront' so no heat enters the room.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably Dubrovnik - sitting having a coffee just enjoying it all going on. Boat trip was also a highlight,lake swimming  and some lovely meals too...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Super - very aware of different interests and needs and realloy efficient and accurate in the information and help she gave. Thank you Sanja.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light, leaving room for buys, especially food items - love the honey with nuts and fruit in it.  Also, if going in high summer, be aware that the long walk has little shade, though our leader was very good at building in rest stops when we found shade.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the walks were excellent with each having it's own character.  I felt they were all well paced and were of just the right length and challenge for me!  There were many inspiring mountain views to be had!  Lucca was well worth the visit on my free day!  Braccicorti was an excellent place to stay - the family who run it were all very friendly and the ambiance of the location was very relaxing.  The food was very good and plentiful and the group were excellent company!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was excellent!  She really went the extra mile for the group and did her very best to ensure everyone had a good trip!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lucca is a great place to visit on your free day (hire bikes and cycle the walls) but you may be able to squeeze it in on the final day before your flight depending on times etc. if you want to go somewhere else!  Italian trains are excellent so it's easy to get to Florence or somewhere after the trip if you wish to extend your stay!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing sloths, the river trip, walking in the cloud forest

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent- enthusiastic, well informed and charming

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take walking boots

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the variety in this trip, from the hustle and bustle of Havana, to the fiesta towns of the South, and beautiful Vinales. The catamaran trip was well worth the extra expense as it gave a rare opportunity to chill out for a few hours. You may be tired at the end of the week, but the extra trip out to Vinales was also worth the effort for the stunning scenery. Don't miss out!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very good, very informative and easy to talk to. Our bus driver was also very helpful, though he left the talking to the group leader. Everything was well organised.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you can, take pens and soaps / hotel toiletries to give away to the locals.Bring shoes than can cope with cobbles in Havana, and a forest trek near Trinidad. Watch your handbags in Havana especially at night!  And just to forewarn, bring your own loo-paper and Immodium, though the delicate tums on our trip could have been down to the amount of Mojitos consumed. Be prepared for poorly functioning bathrooms even in the 'good' hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in the village in the mountains gave us a view of life that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. The remoteness of the village and the lack of motor transport.Arriving at the dinner site on the treks, meeting up with the cook and donkey and having a lunch cooked for you in the middle of nowhere.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was always very conscious of our safety and the ability of the group members, which meant we had to turn back on one of the day walks because of deteriorating weather conditions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On the guided tour of Marrakech we were taken to a pharmacy where we were really expected to buy some products and at the end of the tour we were taken inside a restaurant to a table which had already been laid for us. We were obviously expected to have lunch there but it certainly wasn't the best quality or the best value for money. I think you would be better to make your own arrangements.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were numerous highlights but I think reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri and seeing the most incredible view of the Himalayas and the glacier below us dissapearing down the valley was a special moment.Other highlights included the landing in Lukla, seeing Everest for the first time from Namche Bazaar and of course having that first shower after two weeks on the trek..!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was excellent, clearly an experienced guide.  It was reassuring to see he paid close attention to any members of the group he thought might be having problems. Also the other guides were great, very friendy and always there to offer assistance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If youre not a regular hillwalker definatley make sure you do some training before you go ! As other reviews have already indicated you need to be reasonably fit if you want to get the most out of this trip. The guides make sure pace isnt too quick but there are some very steep climbs and that combined with the effects of the altitude make the going tough at times.  The Cho La Pass involves some scrambling over some large boulders and up some loose rock so be prepared for that..And invest in a good sleeping bag as it gets veeeery cold at night and only the main dining rooms are heated in the lodges!