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Nepal November 2019

Everest the Hard Way Trek

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By Peter from Brentwood | 05 December 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A Silky Mix

Samarkand and the Silk Road

I’ve been fascinated by the Silk Road ever since a trip on the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan back in 2001. This trip promised to be an opportunity to look at some of the more iconic bits, while still not going totally ‘tourist’ – and getting in some walking too. I won’t say much about the delights of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, except that although I’d read about them and seen the pictures, visiting them in the flesh was something else (though I can probably manage without seeing a nother madrassah…..)! Being of advancing years, I like to know in advance what the walking is going to be like – and can report that it was excellent. Consistent with the grading, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Rarely steep, the only people we met were locals who were usually happy to stop and try out their English. We were there in the dry season, so everything was a bit parched and sometimes the stock tracks we followed were a bit loose and ‘slidey’. Boots were definitely better than shoes, which needed frequent emptying. Trekking poles were useful too. Accommodation was excellent, from hotels to the lovely yurt camp in the desert and then the sometimes quirky homestays (don’t expect too much in the way of toilet and washing facilities, though we always managed a shower, but more than made up for by the warmth of the welcome!) Food was everywhere plentiful and excellent (and plov is fantastic!) and the local wine and beer were good. We did, however, have to resort to bottled water at times, although 'Water to Go' was very useful. Uzbekistan is a strange country. I hadn’t expected the miles and miles of flat thorny desert. The original Silk Road travellers must have found this challenging. The blocky Soviet buildings are another reminder of the past, but the people were generally bright and welcoming, and although this is a Muslim country, it appeared to be ‘relaxed Muslim’ and I never felt that being a woman was noteworthy. Other tips? October was hot, but the hills were a pleasant walking temperature. Note that on our trip we weren’t offered the opportunity to split up for a long or a short walk on day 9 – the whole group (10 of us) had to opt to do either one or the other, which isn't clear from the trip notes. Needless to say we did the shorter walk, which everyone enjoyed. Money goes quite a long way, but can be a hassle to change, and most of the souvenir sellers (of which there are many!) were quite happy with dollars or euros (1 dollar = 1 euro = 10,000 som). Despite the KE advice, we didn’t have to declare the amounts we brought in. Another excellent KE trip – made more enjoyable by excellent companions and attentive crew.

By Catriona from Kingussie | 04 December 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Spectacular trek and climb off the beaten track

Chulu Far East and the Hidden Valleys of Naar and Phu

A Great holiday with a great group. The trek in Naar and Phu valleys was spectacular, much quieter than the circuit. Kang La was a highlight and the views from Base camp and High camp were amazing. The night spent in the Monastery was a favourite with comfortable rooms and a special atmosphere. This holiday really isn’t all about the summit. Although high winds forced us to turn back just before reaching the summit we did not feel disappointed and had an exhilarating day. I would say that you should expect more than straightforward snow slopes. There is a pre dawn start crossing boulders and steep scree to reach the col and from there, on snow, mainly ascending fixed ropes. Having said that the itinerary left us well acclimatised and Pasang, our fantastic guide, looked after us and gave us confidence. Camping was excellent - the food produced was outstanding. The itinerary would be enhanced by providing a contingency day for the summit, maybe save a day by missing Manang. A few tips. I would take a thermarest for the camping days for extra insulation. Ladies a Shewee and pee bottle will save some chilly nighttime excursions! Consider spare sunglasses. Trekking poles are really needed for snow and river crossings. I would add decongestant to the first aid list and anti biotics from your GP. I would definitely recommend this trip.

By Allison from Wymondham | 04 December 2019

A Silky Mix

Samarkand and the Silk Road

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By Catriona from Kingussie | 04 December 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The clue is in the title!

Everest the Hard Way Trek

A fantastic 18 day trek including Everest Base Camp. The 3 passes were were very challenging, a combination of rough terrain and being above 5,000m. It was 'hard' but there was a very generous acclimatisation period at the start of the trip to build up to heading into the higher elevations (I didn't use diamox). There were easier days (4 hours walking) mixed in so there were some free afternoons. Each day there were many immense views of the surrounding mountains. Most of the days we were away from the main path so there were not many other walkers. The trip was in November, the days were mostly sunny and warm. There were a few nights that were very cold so be prepared. There were only a few early starts but they were also very cold until the sun rose above the mountains. Our group of 11 was supported by 3 guides and 6 porters. We stayed in teahouses and they were all of a decent standard (all had indoor toilets). The food was ok, as the trip progressed it became very carb heavy with little veg. I would recommend bringing some seeds and dried fruit to spice up the daily porridge. I would also suggest bringing some decent protein bars as the snacks available to buy are mainly chocolate. Unfortunately the direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla was not operating and we had a very early start (3am) and a 4 1/2 hour bus ride to Ramechhap airstrip for the 20 min flight to Lukla. If the Kathmandu flights aren't running I would recommend arriving earlier in the day in Kathmandu to be able to have some time to settle in after the long journey. This was my 3rd Nepal trip with KE and it was the best one. If you have the energy and time I would recommend this one.

By William from Banbury | 03 December 2019

EBC

Everest the Hard Way Trek

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By William from Banbury | 03 December 2019

★ ★ ★ ★

Lovely people and spectacular landscapes.

Walking Holiday on the Captivating Cape Verde Islands

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip, We had a super local guide whose knowledge and enthusiasm made a real difference. The Islands had very variable landscapes from lush valleys to arid rocky areas. The ascent of the Fogo volcano was my highlight, a long and steep climb and an exhilarating descent down an extensive volcanic cinder slope (definitely worth wearing close fitting gaiters for this part). Many of the walks involved more descending than climbing, not to everyones liking, but mostly on good tr ails. The food was simple local produce with lots of tropical fruit and veg. On the whole the accommodation was good, mostly in small family run guest houses although the size of group meant that not everyone was billeted in the same establishment. Beer and wine always available at evening mealtimes and reasonably priced. We had good weather for the whole trip, mostly warm and sunny with a couple of slightly overcast days. The itinerary on this trip is very busy especially as it involved moving on to new bases several times, a lot of good stuff packed into the 12 days. Not the holiday for you if you're looking for a laid back relaxing time.

By Stephen from Wallasey | 30 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

WONDERFULLY AMAZING AND CHALLENGING TREK

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

This is a truly amazing trek and well worth the effort. As with all KE trips, every detail was well organised and flawlessly executed. Every aspect of the trip was outstanding, from the superb crew and fabulous food, to the unbelievable scenery. The crew was led by our fantastic guide, Henry, who oversaw everything with absolute professionalism and a great sense of humor. He, along with his assistant Christian, planned every day so that everyone in the group (of 16) could walk at their own pace and not feel under pressure. Henry's knowledge of his country's history and culture is impressive and his willingness to share this knowledge is inspiring. If you go on this trek you'd be lucky to have him as a guide. The trek itself is amazing and challenging. All the other reviews were right...day 2 is tough! But don't be put off by this, its worth the hard, long slog uphill! The scenery is stunning and seeing Inca ruins at every turn is spellbinding. Being able to explore the Choquequirao site in practical solitude is the highlight of the trip, followed closely by the majestic Machu Picchu. I traveled in October and the weather was very pleasant, sometimes hot. Be sure to bring insect repellent! Overall, this was an amazing holiday which was, in large part, due to the lovely and hilarious group of trekkers I ended up with! I fully recommend this trip...go, enjoy Cusco, meet random people, drink Pisco Sours and see a stunning corner of the world!

By Claire from Dublin | 29 November 2019

Italy (high res photos available)

Walking Wild Tuscany

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By Adam from London | 27 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Very Scenic great cycling adventure holiday

Tour of Gran Canaria

The holiday was an experience to remember. I’m just a average cyclist so to be amongst club level cyclists, some average level and some intermediate level, I learned about proper cycling as in the mountains you need to learn about the gears on the Cannonade cycle which I was very impressed by its performance handling - the brakes, hydraulic and double disc were superb .This holiday is challenging, the mountain climbs are tough, you will leave need some grit, determination and sweat so be prepa red, but once you reach the summit you will feel great. The descents are really good fun and go on for ages which surprised me to learn how to decend with confidence, the bike won’t let you down, the views are really stunning, the guide and driver supportive. My one regret: did the tour in trainers which hindered my cycling - funny,  today bought the cycle shoes and cleats. The group: about ten - a mixture of nationalities, all good people. The hotels: excellent, the food: buffet style so you can eat a lot but when you're averaging forty plus miles a day, you can indulge. Would I do this again? yes, so overall a good holiday experience.

By Peter from Worthing | 25 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great climbing experience

Everest Basecamp and Island Peak

Another amazing and successful trip with KE, we achieved our goals and had a fantastic experience in Nepal. As always with KE the itinerary was well planned but flexible and we were well looked after during our trip.

By Colin from Dunbar | 23 November 2019

Langtang Trek Time Lapse Video

Gosainkund and Langtang Trek

By David from Skipton | 23 November 2019

Toubkal w/c 23rd Nov 2019

Mount Toubkal in Winter

By Kenneth from GORING ON THAMES | 22 November 2019

El Salvador November 2019

El Salvador's Eight

By Lois from Tacoma | 20 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An outstanding trek in breathtaking scenery

Sikkim - Beneath Kangchenjunga Trek

This was definitly the best camping trek we have taken. With no other trekkers except on the last couple days we had the mountains to ourselves. We had mostly spectacular weather in the mornings with the mist coming in like clockwork in the afternoon. Driving snow going over Danephir pass but chicken soup waiting for us when we got to camp then having breakfast Al Fresco in the snow the following morning. Sunrise on Kangchenjunga from below the Goeche La was a high point, as were the two occasio ns to see sunrise on Everest, Makalu and Cho Oyu fom a couple high viewpoints. The food was the best we've had on camping treks with surprise choclate cake one night, apple pie another, cinnamon apple rolls another day all baked fresh at the camp. Even with a minor itineray change to allow two members to go down early due to sickness the trek went flawlessly. The only negative was we arrived during the Diwali festival and most spots on the Dehli city tour were closed. I definetly recommend this trek for those who want to go off the grid. No communications, no cars, planes, helicopters or any sounds besides nature for 14 days. It doesn't get better than this!

By Raymond from Acworth | 19 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★

Oman a-go-go

Oman Adventure Trekking

The spectacular wadis and canyons of Oman are places that will impress all travellers with KE. The Balcony walk in the 1000m deep Wadi Ghul was the early highlight with the swim in the pools of Wadi Shab a great way to finish. Tour leader, 4 wheel drivers excellent. High quality food throughout including at camps, especially if you appreciate middle eastern cuisine.

By Martin from HAYWARDS HEATH | 18 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A great experience

Jordan's Dana to Petra Trek

A first class guide in Murad Arslan who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and good company. Nothing was a problem to him, and he could not have been more helpful. The other crew members, Atallah, Mohammed, Momem and Salam were great too. The food was excellent and there was plenty of it. I found the first couple of days pretty tough due to the temperature, and there was no need for a -5° sleeping bag at night, but once we got up into the hills it was easier. The actual trekking was fine, although there were a couple of short steep sections. Awah the donkey was always there although nobody needed him, and it was possible to miss a whole day and meet up again that night if you felt a stretch was too difficult. Highly recommend this trip.

By Peter from Stromness | 14 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic trek

In the Shadow of Nanda Devi

This was a brilliant trek through beautiful forest, by rocky, turquoise streams and with magnificent views of snowy peaks. The high spot (literally) is walking up the ridge to the Sudam Khal pass with panoramic views. Nanda Devi is a slight disappointment as, despite its height, it is almost hidden behind other summits, but the magnificent Panch Chuli range more than made up for it. KE are quite right to claim that it is an area little frequented by Western tourists as we saw no other trekkers d uring the entire nine days. It is relatively sparsely populated but we went through a number of villages, where we were obviously something of a novelty, though given a friendly welcome, and one evening ended up playing volley ball with the local children who had followed us to our camp. Our guide and leader Thinles was fantastic. Super organised and efficient, and unfailingly cheerful, he made sure that he had happy trekkers and a happy crew, that magic combination. Service was five star: we couldn’t even fill our water bottles without someone there to help us! And it is a mystery to us how the cook team managed to produce so much tasty food. It was a great experience to take the train to and from Kathgodan. The road journey into the mountains was also quite an experience. Hairpin after hairpin, precipitous drops, constant overtaking, but our skilful drivers got us back safely.

By Sarah from STOURBRIDGE | 14 November 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beautiful, interesting and not too challenging!

Ethiopia, Simien Mountains Trek & Lalibela

This holiday was a great mix of walking and sightseeing. I really enjoyed Gondar and Lalibela, and it was great seeing a bit more of the country, rather than just landing, hiking and then leaving! The mountains are stunning, our guide Tesfa was helpful, flexible and just a really nice guy. The campsites were in some cases busier than I'd imagined - not quite as off the beaten track as I think I had envisaged. Having said which, we were the only people (other than boys selling coca cola!) cl imbing Ras Dashen the day we did, so I think compared to many mountains ranges it's not exactly busy. The terrain was quite rough at times but perfectly do-able. Was a bit taken aback by the scramble at the top of Ras Dashen, but again, with a bit of assistance, perfectly achievable. Drive back from the national park is not for the faint hearted - some exciting hairpins and very rough road, but well driven, so didn't feel too scared. And did see a herd of Ibex, so that made it feel more worthwhile. On which point the animals, birds and plants were varied, exotic and bizarre and really made the whole experience very special. Great going in October when the land was still pretty lush and green.