Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

All the spectacular views and stunning scenery. When the weather was great, the views could not be beaten. I could soak them in all day long. But never take them for granted as if the weather turns and the views disappear you certainly miss them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lotte was excellent. She had a terrific knowledge of the local area, was always friendly and helpful and full of wonderful stories of her adventures around the world. She added to the whole experience of the trek. If she could just control the weather as well then she would have been the best!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Embrace this wonderful walk and embrace every spectacular view. This walk is 105 miles long. It has over 10000 metres of ascent and descent. It is a great great walk and well worth doing for any regular walker with a good level of fitness who walks at a good steady pace. It is a camping trip for 14 days with usual camping facilities, good camping grub, good camping socialising and the need to do your bit for the group with some basic chores. But think seriously if that is for you and if you decide to go then embrace the challenge as you will enjoy it so much more by appreciating the views, taking off the challenge and making new friends.

Most Inspirational Moment

Amazing night skies with no light pollution . Endless horizons with no mand made structures

Thoughts on Group Leader

Can only echo Caroline's comments , Dorjo needs to improve her leader/guide skills. Perfectly pleasant on a one to one basis but clearly most anxious to avoid any conflict whatosever , which means that placatory answers are given. That may solve immediate "issue" but leads to others when promised things dont occur , information isnt forthcoming , scheduled itinerary items are omitted / curtailed , general lack of information ( lunch stop , toilet stop / duration of any stop ) , general feeling of "not prepared " and unable/unwilling to actually go and find out the information .

Advice for Potential Travellers

When checking in for your flights ensure your luggage is checked ALL THE WAY through to Ulan Baator and not just Beijing. Take some spare clothes as hand luggage for overnight in Beijing off airport hotel. Do not expect an Air China rep to "assist " you with transfer to hotel , you have to fill in 72 hour temp visa form , then take transit train to luggage arrivals building ( hopefully if your bag checked through you wont have to collect luggage ) , leave customs and arrivals , go out into public arrivals hall. look for tiny Air China Hotel desk !!! Be prepared to argue that the room has been included and , if paid extra for single supplement , that you have a single room . Lots of driving in mini van , being bounced around for hours at a time so take some sweets for sharing . Also carry some hand gel and own toilet paper , be prepared to see more of your fellow travellers than you normally would ( at comfort stops) . Take own entertainment for evenings as very little to do after evening meal or those occasions when delivered back to ger camp at lunchtime with no activities availble in area. During the season its highly unlikley there will be any "single " Gers available and only then at FULL price ( not the hinted top up price in trip notes . small supplement ) . For the internal flight everyones luggage is weighed en-masse INCLUDING any day packs/rucksacks / hand luggage - and only 15KG allowance per person. So 6 people is 6 x 15 = 90 KG total . Any excess works out at about 1 USD per KG and has to be paid local currency - dont forget to ante up your share . Carry a small torch , for those night time/early morning start bathroom visits ( not every toilet block had lights on during night ) .

Most Inspirational Moment

The camadarie of the group, fantastic banter and mock rivalry with a ladies' race for several kilometres. The scenery was stunning, but by the time we reached the hotels in the evening which had pools it was too late to use them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Giovanni and Michele were good and took care of us with fantastic stops for fruit, snacks and plenty of chilled water. Both were very personable and cheerful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yep, do ask whether a meat/fish option on the menu includes any carbs or veg, as inevitably it doesn't, which means one lacks in energy the next day! (surprising for Italy I thought!). I personally dispense with cycle shorts and pads as cycling more than about 3 consecutive days in the heat has the same effect as nappies!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the walk alongside the Gorge, it was stunning.

Most Inspirational Moment

Rovinj was beautiful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the Paklenica National Park introduced us to some stunning scenery with varied wildlife and interesting geology. Stopping at a mountain restaurant, surrounded by meadows of autumn-flowering crocus, to taste traditional bean soup was a special moment. The owner and our guide then entertaining us with a traditional Croatian folk song was the icing on the cake.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zeliko is an excellent guide. His ability to manage a group of 16 hikers was impressive and the way he helped forge links between us, sharing in some great laughs (is everything really 10 minutes away?) was fundamental to the great atmosphere that developed within our group. Everyone was sorry when the week ended.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Poles were useful over the sometimes rough terrain, decent walking boots essential. The walks were well-paced, especially on the climbs, and the moderate rating is appropriate. Listen to the guide when he tells you it might be cold - we had one very windy day when jackets were essential. Otherwise, the weather in September was warm and sunny. In our experience, the restaurants recommended by our guide were excellent and our group ate together every evening - something single travellers had worried about.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are several! Reaching the twin peaks of Mancondiu and traversing between them on an exposed ridge which was exhilarating and fun with incredible views. Completing the 24km Cares Gorge walk which was incredible throughout. Making the long descent into Bulnes down an ancient Roman path, and having a cold beer at the bottom. Seeing chamois running across the rocks on the descent on the last day. Seeing a rare wallcreeper on the rocks near the Mancondiu peaks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent in all respects. Alvaro was sensitive to the differing needs of a varied group, which I can appreciate is no easy task especially on the Challenging weeks. He was extremely supportive and encouraging if people were struggling and displayed a rare sensitivity and empathy for which he should be commended. He also truly brought the region to life for us by telling us about the history, politics, religious traditions, flora and fauna, and cuisine of Asturias, always guided by the interests of the group! I have never met a group leader who is so attentive to the group as individuals, recognising everyone as different in their abilities, needs, and interests and responding to them in light of this. Thank you for a wonderful week in the mountains Alvaro,

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Challenging Week is indeed challenging so if you do not walk regularly you should do some dedicated preparation for this trip. The walks are up to 24km and can involve ascents and descents of over 1000m. You will be well supported but for your own comfort and enjoyment should ensure you have a good level of fitness and stamina if you're taking the grade 5 trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Most amazing thing were the tropical storms, rain and thunder for hours! And the monkey's swinging in the trees and maybe also the jungle humidity. The humidity was invariably described as 100% humidity which I imagine means the equivalent of having a bucket of water thrown over you! I loved the jungle lodges near Golfito, falling off to sleep listening to the secadars, frogs and rain!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo. Alway professions, completely unflappable and incredibly knowledgable about flaura and forna.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want to see birds don't go in the rainy season. The tropical storms were amazing but pack for humidity - you will be wet and everything you take with you will get damp. A couple of the hotels do not have pools... if swimming is important to you.

Most Inspirational Moment

After 4 days of trekking walking up towards and through the sun gate and looking out over Macha Picchu

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent, he joined us in the evenings for dinner and advised us on what the best sites in Cusco are. Our tour guide on the trail was very knowledgeable and she made the trip for me

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it, do it, do it! I was unsure about traveling in my own but if couldn't have been s better experience

Most Inspirational Moment

To sit under the vast star light skies with no noise or light pollution and to realise how very small you are and what a big world we live in. It helps to put things into perspective!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dorjo had a good heart and intentions but lacks both leadership and organisation skills. It is clear that this is a side line job because she can speak some English. But even this was a little difficult to understand at times. She also does not take an active part in pointing out things of interest along the journey to break it up. She did not seem to know as much about things as we had hoped and this resulted in very short answers and despite further questions revealed nothing more about the subject matter. So we read our guide books and shared fact between ourselves. She does not do it often enough to lead a group of professional people who have traveled the world. The fact that she is a ex teacher showed in how she thought that she could lead and organise us. We are not kids and don't want to be treated like one! She often avoid difficult situations by agreeing to something (to pacify us) then later changing her mind later on ....to our absolute frustration and fury! Eg, There only beer as the ger camps, and some of us wanted soft drinks, so we asked that on return from our mornings outing we could go into town (which was close by) to buy some... "Yes we could". Then when the time came we could not, "there is not enough time and it's too far!". Yet we spent the afternoon twiddling our thumbs in the ger camp. "Would we like sand boards to slide down the sand dunes"..."Yes we said"..... " I will organise that for you". The next day she told Marion she had considers overnight and it was too dangerous.... then when I asked where they were she said " I forgot!" and so this is how it went on the whole trip. Conflicting stories, changing the decision without consultation. Further e.g. Will there be hot water for a shower at any of the ger camps..."Yes, at the next ger camp"... but there wasn't. They forgot to put the stove on for the hot water!. "Can we have breakfast early and go to the dune in the early morning so can climb in the cool"..... "Yes, I will organise it for 7 am with the ger camp"..... but we all sat around for 20 - 30 mins at 7 am waiting for Dorjo and the people running the ger camp to get up, cook & serve breakfast ! Breakfast was hurried and late! Further e.g. There were times that we went out on a morning excursion and could have spent the whole day at the canyon, or rock painting, or monastary, but she rushed us back to the ger camp to sit with nothing to do. So rather than asking us if we would like to take picnic lunch out there and spend most of the day exploring and walking. We were taken back to the Ger camp for lunch then to sit about. There was no activities planned so we amused ourselves by going off walking. We all wanted to make the best use of our time in Mongolia ,so following long days of driving, we wanted to stretch our legs and take the opportunity to explore and walk when we could on the excursions, but this was curtailed. We were viewed as naught children because we laughed and joked with each other and had great banter between each other and the driver. We were even told we were like children! Her style of leadership and organisation is out dated,so although she was doing her best or what she knew, it was not up to the standards that I am use to or would expect from a guide. I like all the others on the trip have worked hard to earn my money to afford to take this trip ....I not some sort of spoil rich kid!. Yes, I have high standards expect of me at work and have feedback and coaching all the time to improve. I therefore expect high standards of those people leading the trip. I therefore would suggest that Karakorum Expeditions need to take seriously the feedback that I know a number of us on the trip made to them on their blue feedback forms we handed in to Dorjo (that's if they did not get put in the bin!) and also take this feedback seriously too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long bumpy rides off road for most of the trip. Be prepared to shower in cold water as they never seemed to have the hot water on when we were showering mornings or evenings! Take some cards or games to play in the evening after dinner which finishes by 8 pm or days when you are just left in the ger camps as there is nothing else to do!