Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the "Big Mama" sand dune in the heat of the desert sun and then running and jumping all the way down. Watching animals in their natural environment coming to drink at the waterholes. The elephants seemed to be having such fun rolling in the mud and completely submerging themselves, apart from snorkel like trunks, under the water. Seeing the Milky Way so vividly in the black night sky.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was excellent. He had amazing local knowledge and went out of his way to be helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you travel in August you won't need a raincoat but make sure you have enough layers of warm clothes for cold nights and early mornings. It was 1C when we landed in Windhoek.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through The Sun Gate and seeing the view below us truly incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was great. One of our party had altitude sickness and wasn't able to join us for most of the trip..he was very supportive of her and ensured that she was able to join us for the last day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take good waterproofs even in the Dry season!

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed walking around the rim of Mt Vesuvius. Swimming in the sea at the end of a hot walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely fantastic. Professional, informative, caring and she set the right pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would say the walks were more moderate but carried out at a leisurely pace so make sure you are reasonably fit and can walk down steps.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day had its inspirational moments. The views were stunning and the company fabulous. The group I traveled with were diverse and we all got on extremely well. I enjoyed the idea of moving from one place to another and exploring The Alps on this Trek. I was lucky enough to see the start of The Ultra Trail; the electric atmosphere will stay with me forever! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent. He was knowledgable and led the group with care and consideation for the whole group. He did not make anyone feel that they were not up to the walking; infact we all worked at our own pace which made a very challenging holiday a relaxing one!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure that you are in good physical health before you embark on this trip. It is a very challenging trek but an immensly rewarding one. Invest in some walking poles and learn how to use them before you do the Trek; they proved to be an extremely useful tool.  If you are interetste in Alpine Flora; invest in an identification book; I really wished I had one with me to identify the beautiful flowers in bloom! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Views from Ravello (not on itinerary)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hard working & conscientious. Very personable & a good mixer

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for wet weather at any time. Take a poncho to protect you & your daypack

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk in the tea plantations and hills around Munnar was exceptional.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mixed - the group leader was unclear in terms if explanations and in a number of cases seemed deliberately misleading - for example, the trip notes referred to the wildlife walk in Periyar being before breakfast (which is what I would have expected to see animals), however the guide changed the time to late morning and when I challenged this he told me and the rest if the group there were no early walks. When we arrived at the park we met people returning from early walks. This led me to doubt the veracity of everything he told us thereafter.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For the walk in Munnar be prepared for an excellent but surprisingly strenuous walk. In Periyar take waterproof boots as the trail is very muddy and leech-infested - two of our group were bitten by leeches, one badly who was bleeding profusely. Be prepared for VERY slow service in restaurants and hotels - in Periyar we waited over half an hour just for a coffee at breakfast.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Garda is so beautiful and Venice is magnificent. All of the towns we stayed in were historic and interesting.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele Quaresimin was an excellent tour leader and went out of his way to make this such a good holiday for all our group. He ensured that the holiday ran smoothly and quickly sorted out any problems that arose. He grew up in this area and knows it so well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is a very good introduction to both Italy and cycling holidays.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me it has to be reaching the top of Monte Piano after an enjoyable and entertaining climb up.  The splendour that greeted us was just incredible.   I felt that I had arrived into another world,  trodden on sacred ground and was  left in awe of the surroundings.   Carl explained things very well indeed and kept us safe and entertained along the way.  It was a poignant moment when we stopped at a point on the way up where lay the graves of some  fallen heros of the brutal action during the war.  There were red  sanctuary lamps beside each rough woodden cross,  showing that they had not been forgotten  where they had fallen  , in that inhospitable spot.  As we walked  through the trenches and visited  observation posts,  Carl very knowledgably  explained what had happened there.   He  brought us over to the little war museum on the mountain.  It left me with a sense of just  how savage and cruel the kind of fighting must have been for the soldiers of both sides.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carl was an excellent leader.  Very approachable when you had a difficulty.  He is well qualified and it was plain to see that  he is a past master of mountaincraft.  As a result,  I felt very safe throughout the trip and had no worries.  He was also very entertaining and it was like  listening to David Attenborough as he spoke in quiet tones about some marmots that appeared in the vicinity.  For his  knowledge of the surroundings, its botany,  geography and the manner he presented it,  I would describe him as a scholar and a gentleman. The weather was not ideal the first two days but  we got sound advice with regard to our gear and equipment,  what to expect and what to do about it. Things came right after day two and Carl explained about how to cope with the heat and sun. Overall  he proved himself to be a man for all seasons.  I would go up any mountain with Carl.    Next time it will be a grade C and I am even dreaming about a via ferrata.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, regarding pace.  Carl set an easy pace but some of the group appeared to lag behind splitting the group from time to time.  I could hear them complain on two occasions  that they felt that the  pace was too fast for them.  However I walked to the front and back of the group and made a point  of checking their pace against  the leader's and found it to be the same.  All they had to do was follow Carls instructions when he asked them several times to walk directly behind him in front especially when setting off after each break. If you do that then it is  you who will set the pace for the group.  The leader is trained not to  go any  faster than the people behind him are going.   Its also not a race to the top. I could hear him explain all of that that many times.   You need to take heed of the leaders instructions and also not dally about after everyone has started off  -unless of course you need a comfort stop. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was a calm, collected and easy going leader who ensured our safety and enjoyment throughout the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many but I particularly enjoyed our Saharan experience and night under the stars, our stay in the High Atlas where everything felt blissfully miles away from our civilisation, the Fez Medina for its mysterious beauty and mild craziness and Essaouira for its tranquil charm and chilled locals...Oh and eating delicious figs off the trees in the mountains! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen was very knowledgeable, friendly, personable and enthusiastic. He was also very open about the local culture and religious practices, which I genuinely appreciated. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

(Some of those may be obvious, only I was new to this kind of holiday)In no particular order: - sanitising hand gel is a must, we all used it and although there were some stomach upsets, it was nothing very serious. Imodiums and rehydration salts should also travel with you- earplugs, the call to prayer resonates 5 times a day, starting at 5am! Having said that, I personally found it very mesmerising- flipflops (for summer departure if pools are involved/ and the rest for hammams) - nappy bags or similar for the stay at Kasbah Oliver (no toilet paper allowed down the toilets) - insect spray (although this could be a summer annoyance)- a bottle of your favourite spirit possibly- alcohol can be tricky to get hold of - don't be afraid to haggle when it comes to more expensive items, somebody told us to aim for a quarter of the asking price- if you have some dirhams left, DO change them in Marrakech, possibly at the airport before you leave, as there is nowhere to change them in the transit area of Casablanca airport- beware of cheeky locals (Marrakech is the only place where it happened in all fairness) who might give you false information/directions about places of interest. If in doubt, ask a shopkeeper rather than passers by. - shaking hands over price deals, for example with taxi drivers who won't use a meter, is a good idea.  - a couple of the journeys on the minibus are long so ensure you have travel sickness tablets if you tend to suffer from it