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Namibia Highlights - September 2016

Namibia Highlights Lodge Safari

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By Catriona from Kingussie | 15 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic walking in the Picos

Traverse of the Picos de Europa

This holiday is great if you want to make use of the mountain huts in the Picos but still have a guided trip. The itinerary is perfect in that its hotel, 2 nights in refuge, hotel, night in refuge, night in mountain hotel, then the final night back down in a hotel, so you don't have to carry a huge amount each day. My rucksack is 30 litres and it was adequate. The guide was really good and knowledgeable, and speaking to those who had used KE before, the guide was up there as one of the best . At all accommodation the food was plentiful and filled you up. This part of Spain is very cheap if you need to buy any extras, and its proximity to Bilbao and other cities on the north coast makes it easy to add a few days onto this trip.

By Shaun from Kendal | 14 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excellent Walking Tour

Classic Tour du Mont Blanc

Excellent walking tour with very good food/accommodation in all the hotels used. The guide had a very wide experience of working in the Alps and was a fund of knowledge on the geology, plant and animal life (he trained as a student at an agricultural college) and history of climbing in the areas we were walking in.

By Brian from Aberdeen | 14 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beauty and the beasts!

Namibia Highlights Lodge Safari

Namibia has been on my bucket list for some time, and this holiday seemed to tick most of the boxes. It's not really a KE holiday, being run by local partners, but some initial misgivings quickly evaporated - especially when they were able to manage my arrival 21 hours late due to flight disruption! There is a lot of travelling involved, but to be honest the scenery, the fairly frequent stops and my travelling companions all contributed to make it enjoyable. Namibia is a beautiful and inter esting country and our guides Cronje and Annita interpreted it admirably. Flora and fauna were superb, from the Namaqualand flowers to the strange Welwitschias which can live for over 1,000 years (a highlight for me) - and then of course the iconic animal species such as lion, elephant and giraffe - plus beautiful oryx. Useful tips? It's hot, but there is plenty of opportunity to wash clothes. It's worth bringing a pair of good binoculars - I found 8 X 40 excellent. Finally - bring a hankie! Most of the other travel firms will have promoted this as the longer Capetown to Vic Falls trip and you'll need to wipe away the tears as you bid farewell to your new friends who are off to see hippos and crocs!

By Catriona from Kingussie | 13 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wow what an amazing trek!

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

I can't recommend this holiday highly enough. Stunning scenery, fascinating history, varied landscapes flora and fauna and all without the crowds of more well known routes. A special mention to our fantastic guides Kantu and Ruben who were simply fantastic. If you want to go to Peru then this trip ticks all the boxes. Some pointers that may help you plan your trip: * You need a reasonably good level of fitness as you are basically walking up and down mountains. I personally found day two of the trek particularly hard due to the combination of a very steep long ascent and the 30-35C heat. Hill and mountain walking practice is essential before hand and also a good head for heights! * Insect repellent is an absolute must as we all got eaten alive even with copious amounts of deet. *The vast majority of the trek has no mobile coverage or electricity so take plenty of spare batteries/or power pack for your camera as the photo opportunities are limitless. *Take more cash than KE recommend and in small denominations as you will have the opportunity to buy refreshing drinks, the odd hot shower (take flip flops or crocs!) and souvenirs along the way. We had to buy quite a lot of water too and this all dwindles your cash reserves when you've still got to pay your tips when you are miles away from a ATM. * Clothes washing opportunities were a bit limited on the later part of the trek as we couldn't get things to dry so don't pack to light on the essentails (Pants!) *Take swim wear as there are a couple of opportunities for a dip. *The food cooked by Geronimo was outstanding and plentiful and snacks are provided so you don't need to take any with you. * The atmosphere was very dry when we visited so i used a moisturising lip balm constantly. * Take your own loo roll as it was not always available and for "emergency" situations keep it in your day pack. *it was incredibly dry and dusty in places, so a buff was useful to cover your nose and mouth if the dust got kicked/blown up and also doubled up as neck protection from the sun. *They provided a pillow and sleeping air mat.

By Alastair from Ashford | 13 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Good mix of sight-seeing and walking

Samarkand and the Silk Road

If you're reading this, then you're already thinking about this trip, so I won't discuss the wonders of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand - you will already know about these! This is a two-week trip, well-planned so that the sight-seeing of the ornate and imposing madrassas and mosques (etc) is broken up with a few days of walking with country-side/desert stays in yurts and homestays rather than city hotels, thus creating variation in the schedule. You will not need much money, unless you want to buy many souvenirs. All food is included and there is plenty of it. You would only need some money for soft drinks and beer/wine/vodka - these are not expensive. Regarding the money changing, the tour guide will help you with finding Uzbek Som - there is now a 5,000 som note so large wads of 100 som notes will not be required! Consider asking KE to look at and quote for flights with Turkish Airlines on and around your preferred dates of travel. The timings are usually better and TA is quite a good airline. People are friendly and interested in foreigners, especially in the cities where you will be called upon for English practice. English is now being taught in schools. Russian is useful with the older generation. French is also spoken in many tourist areas as many French tourists visit the country. Most of the hotels are of a good standard, especially in Samarkand - the best breakfast and a shaded roof terrace. The homestays and yurts are basic, but all have toilet and shower facilities, usually located away from the main buildings - bring a torch for the after dark trips. Water is heated up by wood especially for the showers at the time you arrive, and would not usually be available 24/7. There is no gas or oil supply to the country side and electricity can be variable. People live quite different lives in the cities and the country-side; the cities are modern with wide roads and an abundance of parks with fountains. A lot of building is going on, mostly housing and especially in Shakhrisabz/Kesh. Some of the Soviet housing is being knocked down and some is being restored. Some new government housing is being built in the country villlages, with modern conveniences. Lunches are mostly provided at private houses which double up as small restaurants, the food was invariably good and plentiful. You would not find these houses on your own, they are unmarked and on quiet backstreets. It was very hot and quite dusty at times in October. It would be lovely to visit in the spring, when the wild flowers are out. It can be quite cold in the hills so make sure you have warm clothes too. You will be well looked after by the tour guide; also the staff in the hotels speak good English and were always helpful.

By Anita from CAMBRIDGE | 10 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Not What I Was Expecting

Mount Damavand and the Pearls of Persia

I was expecting the great mountain walking and beautiful Muslim architecture. But if I told you that Iran is a safe, secular, tolerant, friendly, modern country, would you believe me? OK, the country is ultimately ruled by clerics, who have banned alcohol and made women cover their hair with headscarves in public. But despite this, the Iranians we met (and lot's of people will approach you for a friendly chat), while being very proud of their country, have a surprisingly European outlook an d don't seem to be lacking in freedom. Iran is very different to the version you see on the news.

By Christopher from BRENTFORD | 08 October 2016

Best Tour of Mont Blanc - June 2016

Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc

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By Fiona from GLASGOW | 08 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wasn't sure I wanted to visit Croatia but now cannot wait to return.

Walking Croatia's Coast and Islands

This trip had it all: wineries, great food, friendly people, spectacular views, islands, the bluest water on earth, old villages, ruins with a few challenging hikes thrown in. The accommodations were comfortable and meals better than expected. Best KE trip yet. And the best part? The Guide! Darko is down to earth, ready to share a story or a joke, very accommodating, spontaneous and has a really fun sense of humor. He shared the history of his country which he obviously is proud of as well as po litical insight which you cannot get in a book. Hopefully next time I go to Croatia Darko will be available to guide us, make us laugh and keep us entertained. Maybe he'd even cook one of the Croatian meals he described and states he can cook!

By Paul from FORT ANN | 07 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A holiday to cherish forever

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Ensure your holiday plan allows 2-3 days to acclimatise and to see Cusco BEORE your trail as we had no time on returning from the Inca trail before we had to return for our flight back to Lima. We missed so much! The guide (Neptali) was brilliant and the cook and porters were amazing. The scenery was breath-taking, especially as you arrive at the Sun Gate to look down on Machu Pichu on the fourth day. We think we went at the best time of year for temperature and weather - early/mid September pro vides the warmer weather but before the rainy season starts. Ear plugs would be good for your first night camping due to Donkeys, dogs and cockerels giving it large ALL night and also for the stay in Aguas Callientas; the walls are thin and the sound around the town carries too well. Remember to wear Skin So Soft when you visit Machu Pichu as the sand flies are horrendous. We will cherish this holiday forever. Hope this review is helpful.

By Helen from Carlisle | 03 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This trip was a most enjoyable adventure with so much going on.

Trek the Drakensberg and Cape Town

Whales (seen from the shore), wine and good food at the Cape to eagles, vultures and the most spectacular vistas in the Drakensberg. Our guides (Santjie and Roger)couldn’t have been more obliging and helpful. They had a great sense of humour and a genuine desire to ensure we really enjoyed the experience. They made little amendments to the itinerary after consultation with the group – arranging an al fresco breakfast overlooking Hout Bay to adding a late evening hike up Lion’s Head with an exciting scramble back down with head torches. The trekking was enjoyable without being hard core with a few days of more challenging but eminently do’able scrambling. Anyone with reasonable fitness would be fine. The accommodation was very good and eating out in SA is good value for the quality of food and wine on offer which is first rate. The flora and fauna both at the Cape and in the Drakensberg is remarkably diverse and fascinating, even for someone like me who isn’t usually interested. Ultimately it was the stunning panoramas, birds of prey and the splendid isolation of the Drakensberg (the Dragon’s mountain) that stole the show. You won’t regret going on this trip.

By Adventure from Twickenham | 03 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What an adventure.

One Week Mount Toubkal Trek

We had the most fantastic guide, Hassan. He was kind, knowledgeable and couldn't do enough for us. The food that was prepared for us daily looked and tasted as if it came from a 5 star hotel, not a small tent every day on the trek.
The trekking was very, very hard and, having completed Everest base camp trek with KE during 2015, i would say that this trip was a grade 7 and not grade 6.

I cannot reiterate how good Hassan has been to the group. KE have a great guide an d he promotes your company so positively and with such professional ism. I am looking forward to booking another KE trip again to Morocco and I would only go on one where Hassan is the guide. Thanks KE for such a great trip. I saw and learnt so much and, despite having altitude sickness, successfully summited Mt Toubkal.

By Lisa from Coulsdon | 03 October 2016

★ ★ ★

Hard, hard, hard

One Week Mount Toubkal Trek

Arrival and transfer went smoothly. We were warned by our guide Hassan that this was a HARD trek. Initially we dismissed this as we had done Everest Base Camp last year (which was the same grading), so surely this was a little exaggerated? I was looking forward to getting started and we left for the mountains the next morning. It soon became clear that these mountains were very different from the Himalayas. The paths here are all mule tracks with lots of loose rocks and scree, with very little l evel walking, unlike Nepal where most of the paths are laid with slabs. In addition, the distances covered each day were very long and I personally struggled continuously. I feel this trip would benefit from being increased by two days, thus making a few of the days a bit shorter. I would also increase the grading to a 7 or 8 as this was more difficult walking than Everest Base Camp. Fortunately our guide Hassan enabled me to hire a mule on a couple of occasions which allowed me to complete the trek (although I did not summit). If you are considering this trek, please get as fit as possible and make sure you have no underlying injuries. It is easy to underestimate the fitness required...This is a difficult trek to break off half-way and for me it diminished my enjoyment of the week. In addition, my struggle impacted on the rest of the group, most much fitter than myself (always a bad sign when there are marathon runners in the group!). On our return, the hotel room had a few issues, but the pool was a welcome relief (it had been unseasonably hot at 31 degrees). When a lost wallet was later recovered in the Artisan Centre with all the cash still inside, my faith in humanity was restored! Morocco is a wonderful place with great people and our lovely guide Hassan was very keen to teach us as much as he could about his country.

By Astrid from Bristol | 03 October 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. The circuit and climb of Toubkal is among our most challenging holidays in Morocco and your advice to get as fit as possible when considering this trek is very good. We hope you have a great sense of achievement from completing the circuit and we are glad that you found Morocco to be a wonderful place with great people.

Photos from the Drakensberg and Cape Town

Trek the Drakensberg and Cape Town

By Julie from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | 03 October 2016

Sally Baden's pictures from Albania 2016

Walking the Albanian Alps

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By Sally from Oxford | 03 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic walking holiday with stunning scenery

Iceland: The Three Peaks Challenge

Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Iceland. Excellent guiding with stunning scenery. Very comfortable hostels/huts.

By Claire from Birmingham | 02 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

A great mountain experience.

Trekking the Ridges & Summits of Bulgaria

It is a good organized trip. The information before hand was comprehensive and covered all I needed to know. The Bulgarian guide Ivo led well. His approach to the mountain walking was competent and inclusive. The days were challenging and full. There was not really any time to sight see or experience something more of Bulgar except of course the great mountains. It was my first experience of a group walking holiday and is certainly,based on this experience, worth repeating.

By Stephen from Dordrecht | 02 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A great walking holiday with variation and magnificent views

Trek the Drakensberg and Cape Town

An excellent holiday with great variation in the walking. Santjie and Roger were great leaders keeping us busy all of the time. A great time was had in Cape Town, climbing Table Mountain, visiting Penguins, and walks around the Cape, in addition the leaders threw in an added optional extra ascent of the Lion's Head just above Cape Town one evening. The Drakensberg walking was all very straightforward but very scenic with some impressive views.

The only disappointment was we didn't manage the traverse of the Bell Ridge and ascent of Cathedral Peak at the end of the trek due to the high winds. Food on the Drakensberg part of the trek was also very basic and not up to the variety and quantity I have experienced on other treks with KE and other companies.

Other than a bit of cloud on the first day of the Drakensberg and a bit of wind on a couple of days the weather was also good throughout and it was not as cold at night as it could potentially have been, which was a pleasant surprise.

By Julie from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | 02 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

Best of both worlds-trekking and culture

Mount Damavand and the Pearls of Persia

I hope this holiday continues, for others, as good as it was for us on the first. The trekking was challenging with toilet arrangements camping and at the Damavand hut being basic at best but the places and people amply made up for that. Our guides were excellent and especially skilled at their jobs. Lisa (from KE) provided lots of laughs as I'm sure she always does. The mountains are beautiful. The cultural part gave us a taster of what Iran has in terms of ancient history and the stunning beauty of the mosques and shrines. Again our guide gave us backgrounds and history of the places we visited PLUS making sure we ate well!

By Karen from UK | 02 October 2016

★ ★ ★ ★

Breathless in Bolivia!

Salt Flats and Volcanoes of Bolivia

Fascinating country. One of the least tourist orientated I have been to. A lot of poverty. Go prepared to speach Spanish. Tunupa, Salar del Uyuni & around is beautiful especially at sunset. Hope for a moonless sky to seek the stars at Salar del Uyuni. The town of Uyuni is like something from the wild west, would recommend the local grills for supper. The 'hotel huts' at Sajama are very cold at night, beware of the owner of Sajama hotel who tends to overcharge and is generally an ag gressive kind of grumpy. The air is very dry - take lots of moisturiser. The glaciers are in decline and we had no need (sadly) for our crampons. I would recommend the mines at Potosis, but perhaps not if you do not like pot holing in wellies!
This was my first time at altitude, it was a struggle to trek, despite months of training! I would trust Juan (the local organiser) with my life and Riccardo (our guide) was a joy with lots of knowledge of Bolivian history. Thanks to my fellow travels to supporting me on the treks.

By Joanne from London | 01 October 2016

Latest from our Travellers

Overall Company Rating 96%

Namibia Highlights - September 2016

Fantastic walking in the Picos

Excellent Walking Tour

Beauty and the beasts!

Wow what an amazing trek!

Good mix of sight-seeing and walking

Not What I Was Expecting

Best Tour of Mont Blanc - June 2016

Wasn't sure I wanted to visit Croatia but now cannot wait to return.

A holiday to cherish forever

This trip was a most enjoyable adventure with so much going on.

What an adventure.

Hard, hard, hard

Photos from the Drakensberg and Cape Town

Sally Baden's pictures from Albania 2016

Fantastic walking holiday with stunning scenery

A great mountain experience.

A great walking holiday with variation and magnificent views

Best of both worlds-trekking and culture

Breathless in Bolivia!

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96%

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Latest from our Travellers

Overall Company Rating 96%

Namibia Highlights - September 2016

Fantastic walking in the Picos

Excellent Walking Tour

Beauty and the beasts!

Wow what an amazing trek!

Good mix of sight-seeing and walking

Not What I Was Expecting

Best Tour of Mont Blanc - June 2016

Wasn't sure I wanted to visit Croatia but now cannot wait to return.

A holiday to cherish forever

This trip was a most enjoyable adventure with so much going on.

What an adventure.

Hard, hard, hard

Photos from the Drakensberg and Cape Town

Sally Baden's pictures from Albania 2016

Fantastic walking holiday with stunning scenery

A great mountain experience.

A great walking holiday with variation and magnificent views

Best of both worlds-trekking and culture

Breathless in Bolivia!

Get our latest articles and promotions straight to your inbox

KE 2644 Online Reviews

96%

Your Wishlist

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