Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall of China.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was superb. He was extremely knowledgeable. He looked after our group very well, helping us to get the most experiences possible on our trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is a great deal of walking involved. We averaged 20 thousand steps per day. A good level of fitness is needed to thoroughly enjoy the full itinerary. It was warmer than expected, so pack lightly and layer up if needed. The optional shows are a must for the full experience of China. The food was outstanding and inexpensive with lots of choice.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visit to Pompeii . The views on all the walks . The Group :)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberta

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check room allocation /facilities before you go

Most Inspirational Moment

Too difficult to choose. seeing the Acropolis lit up at night? walking underneath the Lion Gate at Mycenae? The scale of Messene? the rock formations of Meteora?

Thoughts on Group Leader

I can't praise her highly enough . Often there are separate specialists for each place but Stephania knew eveything about everywhere. She was a walking encyclopaedia. Not only that, she had a lovely manner , was friendly , approachable and arranged a group meal every night if we wanted it . This was perfect for me because as a single traveller i was slightly worried about being left on my own.

Advice for Potential Travellers

you have to have an interest in the subect matter . I had studied prehistory and archaeology at university and had originally booked this trip in April 2020 so it was something I had longed to do.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting Lahcen’s home near Marrakesh and visiting his village, Imlil, in the High Atlas Mountains were very inspiring. While visiting Lahcen’s communities we learned how special his family and community are to him and saw firsthand the community coming together in support of a villager, his family, and the rest of the community that passed away during our visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen was amazing!!! His patience, love for Morocco and appreciation of our group were spectacular!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long bus rides. Going from Casablanca to the High Atlas Mountains/Marrakesh, and everything in between requires a lot of drive time. It’s so worth it though. We saw ancient Roman ruins and other UNESCO World Heritage sites, stayed in Riad’s across Morocco, visited markets in each city/location, learned so much about the Moroccan people, and rode camels in the Sahara Desert. Wow!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to just pick one out. Every day brought new sights and experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group was fortunate to have Ahmad as the Group Leader. We could not have asked for a better guide to take us through Jordan. Friendly, knowledgeable, professional and with a great sense of humour - a true ambassador for the wonderful country of Jordan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind and go with the flow. On a trip like this, sometimes you just can't stick to the itinerary. For example, our group were visiting Madaba and the King of Jordan rocked up (yes, really), meaning that we couldn't visit two of the planned sights that particular day. But Ahmad, our brilliant guide, managed to take the group to one alternative venue that day and then squeezed in Mount Nebo on our penultimate day at the Dead Sea. Flexibility is key.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many, but I think what resonates the most was being in Imlil and in the village where Lachlan grew up. Listening to him talk with such pride about this community and then seeing the village and meeting the people was amazing. The warmth, the kindness, the support they have for one another. It was an honor, especially to be there as a member of the community passed away and to be witness to them all come together. Again, Lahcen was very generous as he explained this very important burial custom to us all in the midst of his own personal connection.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Patient, humorous and very attentive. He managed us all very well and took care of us to ensure we felt safe and everyone had what they needed. It would not have been the same trip or experience without Lahcen.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a lot of time traveling, so be prepared for that, but worth it to see as much of Morocco and have the vast experience of the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspiring moment for me was being able to go to Imlil, in the high Atlas Mountains. The village where our guide Lahcen grew up and still has a home. We were in his village when we heard what was a call to inform the villagers that someone had passed away in the village. Within minutes, we saw people coming from all directions to go to the town to support the family and participate in the ritual of honoring this fellow villager.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen was very informative and organized. Lahcen is very kind, calm and understanding. He also has a good sense of humor. I really enjoyed his company throughout the trip. He explained to us about everything that we passed while we were in the bus and in the villages and cities. He answered every question that we had about the culture in Morocco, religion, beliefs and rituals. He shared his passion for his way of life, growing up in a village community that is one big family. He shared his passion about his family and we were fortunate to meet them . He transferred that passion to all of us. We had a lot of fun with Lahcen. He made sure that he kept an eye on all of us and kept us together. We all were very safe and well cared for. I arrived not knowing much about Morocco and left feeling like I really understood the people and the culture. As one of our guides said to us. “ we seek to build bridges“ and that they have!

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is so much to see in Morocco. This really gives you a full view , highlighting many different aspects of the Moroccan culture. It’s a great start and you will want to go back for more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Muayed

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t worry about a thing!

Most Inspirational Moment

Two moments: We had a lovely and delicious picnic set up for us at the monastery of Caños Santos on Day 3. This was a peaceful respite after our walk from the Cortijo. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the Caminito del Rey on Day 6. Our guide made sure we beat the crowd and I am grateful for that. We were able to walk it at our own pace, stopping as much as we wanted for photos and to admire the El Chorro gorge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was a good and knowledgeable (history, plants, wildlife) guide who set an appropriate walking pace for our group. He aptly timed quick rest stops and photo stops and was good at pointing out birds, plants and features we might be interested in and might have missed otherwise. He knows many of the locals so we were often warmly greeted along our way. I found him to be encouraging and supportive, showing each of us interest and a good sense of camaraderie.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I advise you use hiking shoes/boots and sturdy trekking poles. I used poles from the Cortijo but someone had theirs shipped beforehand. I also wore trail runners which I always hike in and they were fine, but I did wish I had brought my boots. Be sure to have what you need because there are not many places to shop until you go to Seville or Ronda. Most importantly, make sure you are in good enough physical shape to do the walks safely.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. It's great having a local guide who lives in the area.