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97% of our customers rated their holiday Good or Excellent

2104 Total Reviews

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic holiday

Walking the White Mountains of Crete

Good food, good company and good walking.

By Peter from Edinburgh | 19 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Fabulous Lycian Way!

The Lycian Way

What a fabulous trip! The Lycian Way ticked all the boxes, sunshine, great scenery, swimming in the sea, great food and really good accommodation. Turkey is a beautiful country, the people are friendly, the coastline is simply stunning, and the food is great with plenty of fresh colourful salads and mezze dishes for vegetarians and vegans (don't worry, there was plenty of fresh fish for the meat eaters). I was surprised at how good the accommodation was, especially the two nights we spent a t Cirali and Ucagiz. The scenery and terrain was very varied each day and swimming in the sea at the end of a walk is a must.

The only slight disappointment for me was that we didn't get to spend much time looking round the ancient site at Olympus. In the trip notes it suggests there is time to explore the site and to wander between the hidden ruins, but we only really had time to take a few photos while we walked through to the start of the trail.

Thank you KE - this really was a fabulous walking holiday!

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By Julia from Chesterfield | 14 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great

Levada Trails and Peaks of Madeira

I thought madeira was great. Tour guide fantastic. Food excellent. Transport slick. Hotels agreeable. The group decided Nuno was a "Super star guide". He was enthusiastic and patient. He had a great knowledge of the local history & flora & fauna. He was supportive & allowed us to stop when we discovered something of interest to explore. He looked after safety issues but didn't boss us. His efforts were totally focused on giving us a great time & he had a good sense of humour which was appreciated.

By Susan from London | 14 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beautiful trails, majestic mountains and great food

Hiking Greece's Menalon Trail

This was such a great self-guided trip. Just excellent!

Firstly, the trip has a fundamental (for me, at least) feature: it’s point to point to point. That is, you walk from your accommodation each morning to your next evening’s accommodation, with no transfers at the end or beginning of each day’s walk. In my experience, this makes the trip far, far more enjoyable and satisfying, as you feel like you are walking a trail for the entire trip, rather than it feeling like a series of day walks that you are ferried to / from each day. Having done both kinds of self-guided walking trips, this makes a huge difference to the enjoyability of the trip.

The landscape of the Peloponnese region that the Menalon Trail runs through is simply stunning. The scale of the landscape, the mountains, the valleys, the forests and the “big sky” are amazing. If your idea of Greece is the Greek Islands, well it is nothing like that - the Peloponnese has a beauty all of its own.

And it is so quiet! Maybe we were lucky; maybe it was the time of the year we did the trip (5th May to 12th May), but the Menalon Trail was amazingly quiet. On the first day, from Stemnitsa to Demitsana, we did see a few people around the two monasteries visited en-route, as they are a bit of a tourist attraction, and perhaps most relevantly, it was Orthodox Easter Bank Holiday Monday. But on the remaining five days of walking we saw nobody else on the trail … all day … not a soul!

The trail itself is incredibly well maintained. There was the odd little section that was very slightly overgrown, but to be honest, that’s being picky, and the vast, vast majority (“99.5%”) was just perfect. And well way-marked too. In fact, on the odd occasion where the GPS guidance went a bit “sketchy”, we could always rely upon the way-marking.

Talking of GPS, I thought the local agent-provided navigation app (ActiveNav) was not great, to be honest. Instead, we used the GPX files KE provided, and just loaded them into OutdoorActive, and that worked just great. I can’t comment on the quality of the route notes, as we never used / needed them: the combination of OutdoorActive with KE-provided GPX files and the trail way-marking worked perfectly well.

The KE website mentions encountering dogs on some parts of the trail, and the fact that an (electronic) dog deterrent device is provided for the trip by the Menalon Trail administrators. Please, please do not let this put you off the trip. We had no problems with dogs whatsoever - absolutely none (and in fact we’ve had more in the way of problems with dogs in Spain and Turkey on self-guided walking trips). I suspect it’s just the Menalon Trail administrators who are so keen to ensure the quality of the trail and a great experience completing it, that they’re perhaps exhibiting an over-abundance of caution.

At the time of the year we did the trip (5th May to 12th May), the wild flowers were simply stunning, and almost a constant companion on the trail. The variety of landscape passed through was fabulous - rugged mountains, deep gorges, beautiful (and huge) forests, alpine-like meadows. Just fantastic, and all without seeing a single (human) soul all day!

The accommodation on the trip was fabulous. Every night’s accommodation was fantastic - and the breakfasts were just incredible (you could very easily come away from this walking holiday having put on weight!). A couple of tips here:

- The trip notes say that there is only one place to eat in Elati. This isn’t actually correct (and the suggested tavern looked pretty awful and gets very “meh” reviews on TripAdvisor). There is in fact an absolutely superb little cafe-cum-restaurant-cum-bistro right slap-bang in the middle of Elati, right on the bend opposite the church - you can’t miss it. They do lovely freshly made pizza margarita, and waffles with chocolate and ice cream, the setting is lovely, the owner is super-friendly (and they have the most beautiful dog!). They only stay open until about 7pm, but you will be there well, well before that. Also, not mentioned in the trip notes, but that night’s accommodation in Elati (the fantastic Elati Chalet) has what they call a “coffee bar” (which is lovely) and they’ll make you a fresh pizza if you ask them, as late as 10pm!

- At Nymfasia, there is only one tavern, and it’s about 1.5 miles away from the accommodation (the excellent Agropolis Xenonas) … and the tavern in question looks pretty ropey and doesn’t get the best of reviews. Agropolis Xenonas will give you a lift to / from the tavern if you need one, but the better option (not mentioned in the trip notes) is to phone ahead first thing in the morning and ask Agropolis Xenonas if they will cook you an evening meal! We did this, and had the most lovely, hearty home-cooked meal, including a Greek salad that was the best I’ve ever had! (You will need cash though - and you will need to phone them that morning to give them some notice).

In terms of food, we had some simply stunning meals on this trip. And, although I’m not vegetarian, I think you could easily eat vegetarian all trip and still eat fantastically (we in fact ate vegetarian a number of nights).

Not important to many people, but important to us: I have to admit, the coffee en-route was pretty awful. It wasn’t until we got to Valtesiniko at the end of the penultimate day of walking that we found good coffee, at the fabulous and cute Valtesiniko Cafe (which does flat whites and also does fantastic chocolate soufflé puddings with ice cream - I ate two of them!). Coffee on the trip was universally expensive (surprisingly, even though food and meals were cheap) - expect to pay circa €4 a cup (which is painful when it’s also pretty awful).

Weather-wise, be prepared for anything. We had wall-to-wall sunshine some days, a couple of cloudier days, and even a finish of one day’s walk in the rain. Early May, it was quite cool at night, particularly in the higher villages, and it got down to low single digits Celsius - which meant the warm, cosy accommodation (a number of them with wood-burning stoves or open fireplaces in the rooms, with lots of wood and kindling) was so enjoyable.

By the way, luggage transfers every day worked like clockwork. For peace of mind, perhaps just confirm with the accommodation when you arrive that your luggage will be picked up the next day and where it’s going to - but just about every time, the accommodation beat me to that question upon checking-in.

It’s a simply brilliant trip. I’ve done a number of self-guided walking trips, and they’ve been great, but this one is the first one where I felt like I could come back and do the exact same trip again - in fact, maybe I will!

By Adrian from Leeds | 13 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A superb experience

Ultimate Albania Cycling Tour

This bike trek combines a week of challenging daily rides (average of 60+ km per day), spectacular views of Southern Albania (a mix of mountains, rolling pastureland and visits to exquisite cultural venues that include a millennial old monastery, orthodox churches and mosques and the historic cities of Korce, Djirokaster and Sarande as well the Greco-Roman ruin of Butrint.

Albania is an amazing and (still) unspoiled venue for the intrepid traveler. Probably the best part of the t rip entailed sharing the experience with 14 other likeminded travelers and two supremely capable guides. Mateo, the lead guide, was brilliant. He set out a daily bike regime that was both realistic and challenging in both pace and scope. He always attended to our daily needs and proved to be an excellent communicator and amazing subject matter expert of Albanian history, geography and culture. A real jewel!

The food and lodgings were exceptional. Food was local fare and delicious and there was plenty of it. The lodgings (a mix of cabin, guesthouse and hotels) were all clean, well served and comfortable. Overall a superb experience.

By Mike from Staunton | 11 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Experience

Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek

You are warned, and it's true. there are lots of steps - so get practicing on those stairs at home :-) The trekking was great and the scenery is out of this world. Amazing to see these majestic mountains rising up into the sky even when you are already standing at 4,000m. We had a super guide in Sujan, always with a smile and very proud and knowledgeable about his home country of Nepal. Our Lodges were basic (as you would expect) but the food was always good and if you peek into their kitch ens - they are immaculate. If you get the chance to have a cappuccino at Himalaya - go for it - it is amazing. Our flight back to Kathmandu was cancelled due to poor visibility and we had a most 'entertaining' 10hr trip by road - taken with the right attitude - it's an experience for all your senses!

By Frances from Switzerland | 08 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

😊

Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek

Amazing

By Nicholas from Market Drayton | 07 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Family Egypt Adventure Holiday

I wanted to write to say a huge thank you for once again providing an amazing experience to my family and I.

We all had a fabulous time, met some lovely new friends and were thoroughly impressed by our knowledgeable and kind - guide Ahmed.

From the majesty of the pyramids to ballooning over the temple of Hatshepsut. From the joy and excitement on the streets at the end of Ramadan to the calm peace of canoeing by the Aswan dam, and from being hosted for fabulous meal s by families on Elephantine Island and again in Luxor to snorkelling in the clear waters of the red sea - we could not have asked for more.

We can’t wait for the next adventure…

By Michael from Wirral, UK | 07 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Lycian Way

Walking The West Lycian Way

Very impressed with the holiday and with the pre trip dealings with KE. Really well thought out itinerary and a lovely selection of small hotels (especially The Stone House). GPS tracks were accurate and invaluable. Everyone we met was helpful, friendly and accommodating.

By Matt from Llandudno | 07 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fabulous trip

Victoria Falls to Cape Town

Fabulous trip - a holiday that just kept on giving. Every day was different, with new landscapes. Likewise the support team of Bradley, Charles and Sandili just kept on giving. My highlights were the ever changing landscapes, with great cycling with a variety of surfaces and cycling techniques.

By Richard from Winchester | 05 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wonderful holiday

Hiking Greece's Menalon Trail

We absolutely loved the holiday. The hosts, the accomodation and the breakfasts were amazing. The walking was excellent. There were very good restaurants along the way.

By Vibeke from London | 03 May 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excellent week in the Atlas Mountains

Mount Toubkal in Winter

This was our second trip with KE, having previously completed EBC in 2022. As expected the logistics and communication with KE was excellent, with smooth airport pick up and hotel process. We opted to spend an extra couple of nights in Marakech, which is an "interesting" place to say the least - certainly a big difference to the Atlas Mountains!
Our guide: Lahcen, was excellent and he was one of the stand out points of the trip. The hiking in the Atlas Mountains was incredible, with beautiful scenery and some acclimatization hikes, which were quite strenuous. The food and hospitality was excellent throughout the trip.
The trek to Toubkal itself was challenging, and hiking poles are a definite must, but the views at the top are stunning and there were minimal people at the summit.
Just a heads up, that KE merged our trip with a French tour company, so we were placed in a group of 7 French people, which we weren't expecting. This did create a different vibe in the down time/ evenings, compared with our previous trip to Nepal. The group was very friendly, and we did practice our limited French skills. We weren't aware of this possibility when we booked, so wanted to make other people aware that this can happen.
Thank you again KE for another incredible adventure, where to next....

By Charlotte from United Kingdom | 28 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dana to Petra Trek

Jordan's Dana to Petra Trek

Well planned holiday. All staff wonderful and very welcoming and enthusiastic. Murad made the holiday a very enjoyable and adventurous experience whilst giving us lots of information about the environment and country. Made every member of the group feel cared for.

By Paul from Macclesfield | 26 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great itineraries, good organization

La Gomera - Jewel of the Canaries

Ene was as good as it gets: Dynamic, great with group dynamics (we had a 13 person group), handled surprises with flawless flexibility (late arrivals for ex.) He was very well informed on the island's environment, history, etc. where he grew up, and hit the absolute right amount of detail at his always-welcomed trail stops. Funny, engaging, smart, flawless English... we loved Ene!

By Dave from Lothian | 23 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Walks and Wildlife

Walter was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable, communicated very well, and was very attentive to the group. Trip highlight - Watching a tapir come out of the undergrowth, walk straight by me and then disappear back in the undergrowth.

By Anthony from Littlehampton | 22 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Jewel of the Canaries

La Gomera - Jewel of the Canaries

We were provided with an incredibly diverse and well thought out itinerary. That the group was filled with really interested and like-minded travelers headed by a local and knowledgable guide, was a major added bonus. Ene treated the experience like he was taking a group of friends through the many important places that shaped his own childhood and life. We were fortunate enough to see La Gomera through his eyes, while simultaneously being provided information, background and current challenges as a way to formulate our own understanding of this unique island. I will never forget him!

By Ashleigh from Belchertown | 22 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gosainkund and Langtang Trek

Raj was a fantastic leader you could tell he is very passionate about sharing his culture and Home country with everyone in the group. He’s a joyous person who always had a smile on his face and brought happiness to everyone around him. He kept eye on everyone and made sure that anyone that was struggling had extra help and attention so that they could continue to enjoy their holiday. It was a pleasure to meet him !

By Tai from Kamuela | 22 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An incredible experience

Jordan's Dana to Petra Trek

Everything went very smoothly. It was fun and exciting and I felt safe and taken care of the whole time. This was such an incredible experience. The physical challenge, the beauty, the history, the wonderful food and even more wonderful and warm people of Jordan -- I couldn't imagine a better trekking holiday. Even roughing it at the camp grounds was fun, though the toilet situation was definitely a new one for me haha. Very grateful I took this trip with KE.

Murad was such a wonderful guide. He was so so knowledgeable, patient, funny, helpful. I can't imagine doing this trek with anyone else. He made this an unforgettable experience, and it was clear he cares deeply for Jordan, for the environment, and for people.

By Ariana from Frederick | 22 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A varied and beautiful trek - with a fantastic guide

Gosainkund and Langtang Trek

This was our first trek in Nepal, and will certainly not be our last! The route was very varied, with the first part climbing through terraces and forests towards the ever-present mountains south of Langtang. Thanks to the well-planned route and steady ascent, there were no problems with altitude going over the Laurebina La - and the long descent into the more Tibetan region of the Lantang valley gives fantastic views. The climb up by the Langtang Kola is different again, and the upper valley ar ound Tianjin Gompa is stunning. Do try to climb up Tserko Ri if the weather and fitness permit - the views are stunning!

The trek was made especially enjoyable because of the fantastic leadership of our guide Raja - knowledgeable, incredibly helpful but also just great company - and the team of porters and assistant guides. Overall an excellent introduction to trekking in Nepal, and a lot quieter than some of the more famous routes (from what we understand).

By Keith from London | 20 April 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great 12 day trek close to Kathmandu

Gosainkund and Langtang Trek

A varied and interesting 12 day trek, which was very well organised, with a friendly and supportive group of 10 trekkers. Raj is an award winning guide, who lived up to his reputation as a capable, well-informed and considerate leader, ably supported by assistants Singhi and Bhupal, and the amazing team of six porters. The optional ascent of Tsergo Ri was a highlight for me, with stunning panoramic views at the summit, and my first time using crampons, needed due to the ice and snow underfoot in the higher sections. But there were plenty of other moments of awe and wonder in this highly engaging mountain environment. The food on the trek was vegetarian, tasty and plentiful - this would also be a good trek, food wise, for vegans. Some of the tea houses are basic, as described, so be prepared to go without hot water for a few days at a time, and to share squat toilets with the rest of the group - good for the leg muscles, but not always the nose. The hotel in Kathmandu was very comfortable, especially so at the end of the trek. There’s not a lot of spare time in Kathmandu unless you add on days at the beginning or end. Most of us had been trekking in Nepal before and most were also envisioning future trips, so this trip is a great addition to anyone’s Himalayan experience.

By Tim from Wiltshire | 20 April 2024