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Overall Company Rating 95%

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hard work but rewarded with fantastic views of Everest

The Ultimate Everest Trek

Thanks KE - an excellent trip, great Sherpa's, great route with amazing views. Yes its hard work, yes 'simple and basic' lodges means that (!) but the effort is well rewarded. For me this was a return visit some 36 years after I first trekked to Everest Base Camp via Gokyo and the Cho La. Much has changed: more trekkers, lodges not camping and glacier melt but Nepal was and remains the world's best place to walk. Nepal needs trekkers

By Peter from Harpenden | 07 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A great trek. Highly recommended

Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek

This was an amazing trip, I would certainly recommend it. My daughter and I were very fortunate with our trekking companions; a couple from Sandbach who were the best possible company, very easy going, helpful and fun to be with. I was surprised that the trip went ahead with only the four of us and a support team of three porters, a lead guide and his two assistants. Our sirdar was a Sherpa by the name of Bala Kaji who was a superb leader, very patient, gentle, knowledgeable and extremely suppor tive. I was very grateful that Bala took the time to describe to us so many fascinating aspects of Sherpa culture and life among the mountains of Nepal. This trip was not just about the scenery and reaching Annapurna Sanctuary, we learnt so much along the way from Bala. His support team were also great company and so friendly and cheerful. If I go again, and I certainly intend to, I will make point of trying to go on a trip with Bala as the leader. This was my second trekking adventure in Nepal. Previously I went to Everest Base Camp with a different trekking company, but I am glad I chose KE on this occasion. Better value for money, they seem to care for their in-country staff better than other trekking companies and show genuine concern for the environment. Scenically, I rather thought the Everest trek was the better of the two, which of course included a memorable flight into and back from Lukla and the grandeur of the Khumbu region. But Annapurna was just great, though for me at 63 not an easy trek by any means. The lodges along the way varied in their quality; all basic, but some were cleaner than others. Personally I didn’t take to the local food, but I was alone in our group in that respect – just too fussy! What would I recommend to other trekkers planning to go on this particular trip? I based my packing on the Everest Base Camp experience and so made a few mistakes. The trekking on this trip was much hotter (we went in October), in fact baking hot (up to 30 C lower down) so I wish I had taken a cool pair of shorts. We borrowed a down jacket and sleeping bag each from KE; no cost to us but I wish we had taken our own, they were very bulky. I wrongly assumed that our kit bags would be carried by yaks, as on the Everest trek. Consequently I gave little thought to the weight of the bags, but ended up feeling rather guilty because they were carried by porters not yaks. Remember to take a good stock of loo paper, bottles of hand gel or hand wipes for hygiene and your favourite sweets or perhaps energy gels. We were caught out by the tipping at the end of the trek. KE recommends £50 to £60 each, but with only four of us and six in the support crew, we were obliged to tip more than this. I don’t begrudge the money; it’s just that we hadn’t planned for this. It wasn’t really a problem as we reached an easy agreement with our amiable trekking partners. I would recommend arriving in Kathmandu at least one day before the trek begins, especially if you haven’t been to Kathmandu before. The start of the trip is then less rushed and you have time to relax and get to know Kathmandu. My favourite place in Kathmandu is now The Garden of Dreams near Thamel – just so peaceful, great coffee and apple pie, despite a cheeky chipmunk trying to steal my portion!

By Graeme from Cardiff | 06 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Good trekking combined with Tibetan culture

Minya Konka Trek

Good opportunity to do a remote KE mountain trek combined with experiencing Tibet and urban China today. The trek is not demanding in itself although altitude limits quick progress. Trek is quite basic with less frills than on treks in Nepal, for instance. Food is also pretty basic and worthwhile taking some "extras". Sadly the Chinese also think it is fine to leave a large amount of litter on the trails too which is a bit concerning. Remote Tibetan area fantastic and views better than expected which make the long journeys tolerable and interesting too.

By Graham from HARROGATE | 05 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A very nice, well run trek

The Laya Trek

The trek was well run. We accomplished everything promised. The food and service was very good.

By David from Vancouver | 04 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

bucket list ticked

In the Shadow of Nanda Devi

A great trek in an amazing, scenic and unspoilt area of India. The trek crew were fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the trek food, we would have been happy with spicier and more Indian style food but understand the need to please different tastes. The day train was a more enjoyable journey than the night train. We thought time to wander and shop in central Delhi would be better than the City Coach Tour!! Tips...leave the thermarest at home, take your Down jacket and poles were definitely usefu l!

By Lesley from Wigton | 04 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I've been to Mars or wadi rum in jordan

Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra

I saw wadi rum on the film the Martian and was blown away with the scenery and it lived upto this image and then some. The day hikes were strenuous and climb on few occasions but brilliant. The desert was just awesome with views that went on forever. Petra was magnificent. The staff were really happy all the time and always helpful they were just great as was Sad am the English speaking leader. Even the wild storm in the desert didn't dim our enthusiasm with wild lightening strikes and strong wi nds. You just gotta see Mars but think on this is a fairly strenuous trip.

By Terry from Abergavenny | 04 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

Breathtaking mountain views but.........

Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek

This trek did not reach my expectations. The mountains were amazing the people very friendly, our guide and porters superb and all KE arrangements went perfectly but the Trek itself was disappointing. We arrived on 10th October and it was far warmer than we expected 25C +. You are warned that there are lots of steps in the trip notes and believe me there are LOTS of steps both up and down. I spent most of the trek looking 3 paces in front of me at the floor so as to not fall over. It was very ha rd work in the heat of the day on the lower part of the trek. The accommodation on trek was very basic but generally clean; on 3 occasions we had to share with another couple due a shortage of double rooms at higher altitudes. On the plus side we had rooms with en-suite on 2 occasions. Food was excellent and not set as detailed in the trip notes. You could choose freely from the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and food was a combination of western and local dishes. Guide and porters were brilliant; could not do enough for you and our guide was very careful to keep us safe from altitude and local food/ water issues. The KE flights were excellent with Etihad and we even got an upgrade to business class on the way back. The short internal flights were excellent and nothing to worry about :). Pokhera we really enjoyed; well worth a few extra days. Kathmandu was a mad place; dusty, dirty and very busy; our 2 extra nights at the end of our trip was probably 1 too many; glad to get away. Hotels in Pokhera and Kathmandu very good.

By Stephen from Sandbach | 03 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Nature watching at its best

Amazon Riverboat Adventure

We had a 6 night stay on the Amatista River Boat on the amazon. Its an old boat but comfortable and well maintained with lots of charm. We were a group of 18 so never felt crowded. The upper deck lounge area and bar is lovely and the crew entertained us with great music and Carlos kept us supplied with pisco sours. All the crew were fabulous and worked very hard , nothing was too much trouble. The 2 guides Hulbert and George were so enthusiastic with endless knowledge of the wildlife and plants. They educated us but also entertained us and there was much laughter. We were introduced to many local villagers who made us feel very welcome. We swam with dolphins and caught and ate pirrhana. A truly inspirational trip.

By Susan from Scarborough | 03 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beautiful, stunning Madeira

Levada Trails and Peaks of Madeira

Madeira is beautiful in a stunning, rugged way. I've been on two previous KE trips which have been amazing and this one did not fail to impress. Booking was easy and KE arranged private airport transfers for us no problem at all. On the first evening we got to meet up with the rest of the hiking group (12 of us in all) and the wonderful Roberto our guide. What a character he is - he is clearly very passionate about his home and always took the time to answer questions and give information about anything and everything 'Madeira'. Not sure there was anything he did not know and he kept it entertaining throughout. The walks are fantastic and give you a different perspective of Madeira every day. From mountains to Levadas, to forests and tunnels - we had it all. Some of the ascents and descents are steep and challenging however Roberto always gives you the information about what to expect at the evening briefing and everything is included in the KE guide. As expected the weather was mixed, we had some days that were baking hot and others that brought torrential rain. Neither are an issue if you bring the kit that is recommended. Some days the rain was only in one valley or one part of the island. As Roberto knows the island like the back of his hand he was able to adapt and change the routes if it meant that the route would be drier and therefore safer. He was always aware of the ability of the whole group and adapted accordingly. One day he changed the itinerary completely due to weather and previous problems with landslides - the walk he chose for us was incredible and the whole group loved every minute. It was a coastal walk from Boaventura to Beira da Quinta that involved seeing some of the little villages but also included some great climbs and amazing views. All the hotels were comfortable and most had access to swimming pools. Our favourite was the hotel at Paul do Mar where you can go to sleep listening to the sound of the sea - beautiful. Each day there was always plenty of time to relax at lunch and also back at the hotels before dinner. All in all I can highly recommend this holiday and again want to say a huge thank you to Roberto 'el capitan' (as we called him) for making the trip and fantastic as it was. You have an amazing guide there KE

By Gail from Wingate | 03 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

geography and wildlife super

Botswana Wildside Lodge Safari

This trip is extremely diverse in terms of its locations, accommodation and experiences. Learning about the culture of the local people is also an important part of the trip and the use of local guides helps you and them.

By Steven from Saltburn-by-the-Sea | 02 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

Great wildlife and some good walking

Trek Malawi's Mount Mulanje & South Luangwa

If you want to see some of Africa's best animals then this is a great trip: Lions, Leopards, Wild Dogs, close-up Elephants and some beautiful birds were the stand-out features of the Zambia leg. Approaching the base camp for the Mount Mulanje climb involves some tough but spectacular walking. Those who summitted thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Lake Malawi is beautiful and Chembe Eagle's Nest is a great place to stay.

By Stuart from SURBITON | 02 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

Very well led, but too many people in group.

Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek

This trip was hobbled by having 17 people in our group plus two "others" who joined w/o paying at the last moment. Robi, our trip leader, was great at everything, but this was too much. Our group was continually slowed both for meals and on the trail by this army of walkers. Also note that the condition of lodging is quite poor in general. Do not expect hot showers or Western style cleanliness standards. Kathmandu is not worth any extra moments you may have to spare. All said, the mountains are amazing and well worth seeing.

By Adventure from RICHMOND | 02 November 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. We are pleased that you thought the mountains were amazing. There will always be lots of trekkers coming to this region but we are considering reducing the maximum group size for KE groups to 14. The two 'others' you have mentioned in your review were local Nepal tourists. They made all their own arrangements for food and lodging but apparently enjoyed the company of your group who were staying at the same lodges. Above Chomrong, this trek lies entirely within the Annapurna Conservation Area, which was the first and is the largest protected area in Nepal, rich in biological and cultural diversity. One aspect of the work to maintain this unique area is to severely restrict the amount of new building in the area and a complete ban on the burning of wood for heating water. This does mean that some of the comforts you experience with lodges in other trekking areas are not there once you get higher up the valley, but the pay-off in protecting the environment is mostly considered worth this minor inconvenience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An amazing adventure!

Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro Summit Ascents

This challenge had been on my bucket list for quite a while. I found the advice I received from KE very helpful when I visited the office in Keswick and decided to follow the advice and trek an acclimatisation peak before tackling Kili. Meru was worth doing in its own right as it was interesting to climb, providing stunning views and lots of opportunities to see wildlife. A giraffe popped its head out of the bushes next to the path we were walking along. We had a great support crew who were sens itive to our needs, always cheerful and very supportive. The food was varied and nutritious and I particularly appreciated the water filter which was used to make drinking water safe. Our leader, Onyx was obviously very experienced, setting a good, realistic pace and allowing adequate rest stops. We all made it to both summits - credit must go to the wonderful support and leadership from the team! One slight criticism, probably a cultural issue, I had followed the advice of KE and allocated the suggested amount for tips only to find that more was expected! I needed a total of $220 for tips which seemed rather a lot on top of the price of the holiday and left me short on spending money. The holiday was a wonderful adventure and one I will never forget!

By Angela from Chester | 02 November 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Breathtaking scenery and outstanding activities

Julian Alps Jamboree - Family Adventure

Our family adventure was simply perfect. The scenery throughout the entire trip was breathtakingly beautiful, from the snow capped mountains to the emerald-green rivers and lakes. Our guide, David, was amazing. So friendly, enthusiastic and fun, we all loved him! It was certainly an active week - the high ropes offered several different levels to keep everyone happy, the rock climbing was challenging enough for my 2 who are fairly experienced climbers but David and his brother were so supportive with those of us who were a little less certain on the rocks. The cycling, the white water rafting, the summer toboggan were all brilliant fun as well. Tips....we were lucky with the weather so if you go in October take plenty of layers as it can be very cold early in the morning. No need to take wet shoes for rafting as the company supply proper boots. Also the 'base layer' is actually just a swimming costume for the rafting (though the base layer was useful as an extra layer for the kids on other days). Me and my 2 kids loved every single second of this trip and would wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you!!

By Adventure from Taunton | 31 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A brilliant mix of activities

Trek Malawi's Mount Mulanje & South Luangwa

The safari experience in south Luanga was perhaps the best I have experienced in terms of close up sightings. Our guide was knowledgable but if you weren't in the front two rows of seats you couldn't hear him and it was difficult to get him to stop. However, when animals were seen the guide made sure we all got good photos and was very patient. The lodge in Zambia was a bit basic and not all rooms had working air con, but the staff were very friendly and tried hard to remedy problems. Shared bat hroom facilities made for cold shower queues and not everyone was brave enough to brave the baboons for nocturnal visits. Eddie, our main guide throughout arranged a couple of interesting extras for the afternoons in Zambia! Moving into Malawi we had big drives, but the bus was cool and there were enough toilet and leg stretch stops and plenty of water and snacks. The lodge at Mulanje totally got the first evening meal wrong with cold food served 2 hours late. Also we were expecting lodge accommodation as per the itinerary and in fact we were put in the tents - a very hot night ensued. However, the staff from the lodge accompanying us on the trek were absolutely awesome! Nothing was too much trouble and the food was excellent. The ascent of Sepetwa was very challenging and long but George the guide was amazing. Help was always at hand and there was an answer for any fear attacks. Everybody made the top of a very exciting route and for me this was a highlight. Back at the lodge there was no water but the food arrived more promptly! The final stay at Lake Malawi was very relaxing. Beware of the confusion over park fees here...any excursion was charged extra for the park fee. The cataraman trip to feed the fish eagles was superb with close up views of these magnificent birds. Others enthused over the village tour and rooms and staff were exceptional. No pool which was a shame but plenty of cool places to chill. Eddy, our leader for the trip was desperate to please and a lovely lovely guy. Not everything worked out in true African style really but eddy was always keen to resolve issues. At the end of the day you can never please everybody all of the time!

By Penelope from Durham | 31 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sunrises, Beaches & Chillies

Volcanoes of Indonesia

This was a great and unique trip combining travel, trekking and relaxing. As an optional activity I definitely recommend snorkeling. Our guides, Nanang, Maddie & Wira were great and kept us well informed especially during the period where Rinjani was closed due to earlier eruptions. Indonesia is a great place with lots to see, this trip does well in providing 3 islands to visit. Totally recommended to anyone who wants to try a slightly different trekking trip.

By Pratik from EPSOM | 31 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Experiencing Sicily and its volcanoes

A good time was had by all. the walking was not over challenging but up and down rather than flat. Stromboli was the highlight with watching the eruptions safely from the top . coming down in the dark was done in a safe and controlled way . Our leader Nicoletta worked tirelessly and efficiently to make sure the trip went well. Good English The accommodation was quite varied but all comfortable. Downside....... on the last day from Etna ( top sometimes cannot be reached due to high winds etc but nevertheless going as far up as possible in cable car and then four wheel drive and then walking down with professional guide at cost of eur 85 was still a great experience ) However after this we had to get TWO public buses with luggage in peak traffic to get to our hotel in Catania.... this needs to change ...... another competitor on similar trip still had their own bus to transfers its clients ! first bus from Etna was full so if we had not managed to get on ............???????? I recommend that luggage has wheels as there is a considerable amount of transferring due to nature of holiday unless you are happy carrying 15 kg everywhere. a good holiday that I would recommend

By Graham from Swanley | 31 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Incredibly diverse, bucket-list-worthy sights

Zambia & Namibia Lodge Safari

Starting from Victoria Falls in Zambia, the trip takes you through the Caprivi Strip, with its rich river wildlife and tribal culture. Then it's on to three days in the world-class Etosha National Park, where the full spectrum on game animals makes great photo ops against a desolate white, salty background. From there you enter Damaraland and its stone carvings and cave paintings, followed finally by the other-worldly orange and red dunes of Sossusvlei. The range of accommodations is wide, from river lodges, to tent dwellings to semi-luxury rooms with air conditioning. One place even involved tree houses. In all instances, there were private bathrooms. The ground operator, was well organized and our guide Yvonne and driver Karina were top notch. The five stars is for the incredible exotic beauty and diversity of the sights. That said, be fully aware of consistently long driving days and the need to participate in meal preparation and clean up. I won't subtract any stars for that because these issues were covered in the marketing material and, well, that's the nature of adventure travel in remote, sparsely populated countries.

By Richard from FOREST HILLS | 31 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Stunning scenery and a brilliant guide

This was our 2nd trip with KE and they exceeded our expectations again. The programme was well constructed, a nice combination of walking and hiking with sightseeing and relaxation. The Aeolian Isles were a wonderful discovery for us, thanks to KE and our brilliant and knowledgeable guide, Raffaele. We found out half way through the week that we were his first English-speaking group with KE, but we would have never guessed. He kept us safe throughout and he went above and beyond the call of duty in looking after all our needs. A great start! We would recommend this tour and our guide to anyone. Tatiana and Kevin

By Kevin from London | 30 October 2016

★ ★ ★

Lovely mountains, not so sure about transport, food & accommodation

It is a few years since I have done a group holiday, so my expectations may be a bit out of whack. However, I was surprised to discover that "airport transfers" for this trip were just the local public bus! Likewise our transfer from Etna, was once more a public bus, which didn't even go to our hotel. It would have necessitated two busses to get to our hotel, and over 2 hours of travel time for just a few miles. A few of us took a taxi for part of the journey. In general it feels like KE are ver y much doing this on the cheap. The food and accommodation were both more basic than I had expected too. The last night in Catania was in a particularly noisy hotel. Like I said, I tend to travel independently and have more control over things like food and accommodation, so this was a bit of a strange experience for me. That said, the scenery and mountains are magnificent, and it was very exciting to see real, active volcanoes up close. If you are interested at all in volcanoes this is a real once in a lifetime trip.

By Ita from London | 29 October 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. We are pleased that you found the scenery and mountains of Sicily to be magnificent. It is clear that your group had an issue with using the public bus and we are sorry about this. For this holiday we use public transport for those transfers where group members are arriving or departing at different times or where there are optional activities requiring different transfer times and we make this clear in our literature for the trip. This does have a beneficial impact on the price of your holiday but also, our groups usually tell us they enjoy the opportunity to experience 'normal' Sicilian life. We are surprised that some members of your group also found the accommodation and food to be basic. We pride ourselves on providing a good standard of accommodation and, in Italy, the food ought to be exceptional. Our Sicilian agents are due to visit us here in Keswick next week and we will be following up your comments with them. Please be assured that we will take action to maintain standards for future groups.

Latest from our Travellers

Overall Company Rating 95%

Hard work but rewarded with fantastic views of Everest

A great trek. Highly recommended

Good trekking combined with Tibetan culture

A very nice, well run trek

bucket list ticked

I've been to Mars or wadi rum in jordan

Breathtaking mountain views but.........

Nature watching at its best

Beautiful, stunning Madeira

geography and wildlife super

Great wildlife and some good walking

Very well led, but too many people in group.

An amazing adventure!

Breathtaking scenery and outstanding activities

A brilliant mix of activities

Sunrises, Beaches & Chillies

Experiencing Sicily and its volcanoes

Incredibly diverse, bucket-list-worthy sights

Stunning scenery and a brilliant guide

Lovely mountains, not so sure about transport, food & accommodation

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95%

Your Wishlist

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Latest from our Travellers

Overall Company Rating 95%

Hard work but rewarded with fantastic views of Everest

A great trek. Highly recommended

Good trekking combined with Tibetan culture

A very nice, well run trek

bucket list ticked

I've been to Mars or wadi rum in jordan

Breathtaking mountain views but.........

Nature watching at its best

Beautiful, stunning Madeira

geography and wildlife super

Great wildlife and some good walking

Very well led, but too many people in group.

An amazing adventure!

Breathtaking scenery and outstanding activities

A brilliant mix of activities

Sunrises, Beaches & Chillies

Experiencing Sicily and its volcanoes

Incredibly diverse, bucket-list-worthy sights

Stunning scenery and a brilliant guide

Lovely mountains, not so sure about transport, food & accommodation

Get our latest articles and promotions straight to your inbox

KE 1806 Online Reviews

95%

Your Wishlist

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