Reviews

Outstanding adventure

There will simply be not enough space to detail all the great experience we had on this trip. Firstly our guide Nut, was outstanding and he ensured we that we covered off of everything that was available to us. Sights, sounds, experiences, feelings, emotions, tastes and the list goes on! Apart from a positive sweeping endorsement about this trip, below are a handful of highlights as felt by us.
1. Nuts food recommendations.
2. The Killing Fields in Cambodia.
3. Saigon.
4. The Thai/Cambodia crossing.
5. The greetings by all the children in Vietnam.
6. All the sights available to you whilst riding a bike.
7. The amazing support staff.
8. Majestic temples.
9. The accommodation in Phnom Penh.

We highly recommend this trip to anyone who would like a unique adventure through Thailand/Cambodia and Vietnam. If you are not a bike rider thou, best you do some preparation.

The 5 Stans

A great trip covering a wide range of experiences – from Turkmenistan [Ashgabat with its somewhat bizarre architecture (the Wedding Palace being a particularly good, if that’s the right word, example) and the welcoming wedding parties at the Arch of Neutrality; the ancient ruins at Nisa and Merv; and the burning pit at Darvaza among particularly memorable sights – all in the presence of a great local guide Jabar]; through Uzbekistan [with spectacular sights and sites at Bukhara, Samarkand and Shahrisabz together with the ruins of one of Alexander the Great’s fortresses by the River Oxus all with the guide, Bek, who is probably the best guide on any tour I’ve been on]; Tajikistan [wonderful journey through the mountains to the gorgeous Iskanderkul Lake]; back into Uzbekistan [to learn about ceramics and the mechanics, and smell (boiling silkworm cocoons), of the silk industry; Kyrgyzstan [marvellous mountain scenery, great homestays, and lovely yurt camp (though be prepared for all weathers in one day – from bright sun to hail and lightning in a matter of minutes)]; and a brief stay in Kazakhstan [could have stayed longer and got to see more of Almaty, etc]. Suzie, the British guide who accompanied the trip throughout was wonderful and made everything easy for us – without her it would have been a lot more difficult. Food was ok to very good (the meal at the family house in Samarkand and the meals at the homestays being favourites), but was very limited for the vegetarians generally. Hotels were good to excellent and the transport was fine, though the air-conditioning on the minibuses in Kyrgyzstan didn’t cope with the high temperatures.

A Challenging yet Rewarding Trek

A great weeks trekking in Bulgaria’s Pirin and Rila mountains reaching high passes, through ancient coniferous forests, walking through spectacular meadows hosting many wild plants and butterflies, passing glacial lakes and some good ridge walking and the ultimate challenge – ascending Bulgaria’s highest, Musala (2925m)

A little bit of everything at a great pace

Bosnia and Montenegro have it all; beautiful coast line, spectacular lakes which are oh so blue , mountains and charming towns and cities. This trip goes at an excellent pace with at least 2 nights in each place and no early starts or very long drives. Our tour guide Sabina was exceptionally good at explaining the conflicts of these countries enhanced with her own personal experiences. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she anticipated the needs of every member of the group including providing advice post tour. Hotels were of a good standard and well located.

A classic route

A great route, planned well with rest days in the right place. The walking leader, John was knowledgable on the area and gave lots of information on the history of mountaineering in the Mont Blanc massif. We were very lucky with the weather and got stunning views every day. All campsites were as described in the trip notes and, with the exception of the two wild camps had all required facilities. Great food every night either cooked by Kieron or in a local restaurant. All in all a great trip.

Fabulous tour with the best guide ever Milena and a wonderful driver Alessandro

The 15 day tour of Sicily was absolutely fantastic. The best tour guide ever, her name is Milena. A wonderful driver Alessandro. I felt that it was a pretty comprehensive tour of Sicily seeing all the highlights plus more. Fabulous food in restaurants where we ere taken by Milena. Verdict EXCELLENT.

Truly a wonderful adventure

Everything about this trip went beyond my expectations. Our thoughtful and knowledgeable guide Nacho was a delight! The other members of my group (there were 15 of us) were lots of fun and we felt like family by the last day. The scenery was spectacular and the hikes were challenging but not over the top. I cannot say enough positive things about this trip except it was rather hot and humid while we were there and ceiling fans in the rooms would have been a welcome addition. The hotel overall was comfortable, convenient location and the meals were incredible! Don’t hesitate to book this trip if you want to see Spain off the beaten path.

Hard but Worthwhile

The trip is very much a level 5 treking trip rather than a walking trip. Be aware some of the climbs are very physically hard.

Tour de Mont Blanc, Highlights

Excellent week, surpassed expectations. Great fun group, super guide & above all, amazing chalet hosts, Sarah & Rich treating us to their warm welcome, local knowledge & 5* gourmet meals in Chalet Chamonix

Fantastic holiday

One of the best treks I have ever done well organised, food fantastic and stunning Mountains. Great group.