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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands

I have just returned from an absolutely fantastic trip to the Lofoten Islands.
From the moment the clouds parted on the flight into Bodo and I saw the first views of the stunning coastline and dramatic mountains, I knew I had chosen an amazing destination.
Charlotte, our guide, was outstanding. Her organisation and attention to detail was faultless, as was her ability to cook amazing meals, more often than not using fresh fish bought from the quayside that morning. The food was p lentiful and delicious and whilst Charlotte prepared the main meal, the group bonded over preparation and washing up.
Charlotte was tireless in making sure we were all having the best time, guiding us on walks that varied from an easy beach stroll to more challenging adventures visiting high peaks and mountain lakes. The terrain was quite mixed from rocky paths to boggy trails so good waterproof boots are essential. We also had quite changeable weather; on a sunny day the views are phenomenal with the light glistening off lakes to the sea in the distance whilst the cloudy days created a mysterious, dramatic atmosphere.
The scenery in the Lofoten Islands is indescribably beautiful. The peaks rise almost vertically from the sea, contrasting with the wide expanses of wild beaches and pretty harbours surrounded by colourful fishermens cottages. We only saw a tiny part of the islands and I would love to go back again and discover more.
The trip really exceeded my expectations, staying in some beautiful places and spending the week with a lovely group of people. I can highly recommend this trip.

By Susan from UK | 19 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Walking South Africa

Just returned from this holiday with my family and wanted to write a review as it was amazing. A really good balance of wild game drives in different reserves, history and nature walks, ending with a more demanding walk in the Drakensberg mountains. We were incredibly lucky in what wild life we saw and the guides were knowledgeable and very passionate about the flora and fauna. It was warm during the day, perfect for the walks we did. Cold at night but as long as you bring layers and a warm f leece you should be fine. Accommodation was great, very comfortable and good to have two nights at each place. Pace of the trip was well balanced. Felt sad when the trip ended, a sign of a great holiday! Definitely 5 stars.

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By Jacqueline from Peebles, Scotland | 18 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4000 Peaks of Morocco

4000m Peaks of Morocco

A group of 10 friends from our walking club went together on this trip. The walking was challenging, but we all had a fabulous time. It was well well organised from start to finish, Our guide, Lasan, was fantastic and the remainder of the crew looked after us very well, from the amazing food to the organisation of the camps, we couldn't fault them.

By Nicholas from Milton Keynes | 18 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rewarding itinerary in Madagascar

Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur

A packed and rewarding itinerary, offering great walking and wildlife viewing in 4 national parks. We saw 10 species of lemur, from tiny mouse lemurs to the large and impressively loud indri - all special and exciting to see, given their endemic status. There are some great - and quite cold - swim spots in both Isalo and Andringitra, so take your swim gear and some bravery. We were very well guided by Niry, whose experience and aptitude for the job were evident. Our driver, Jean, also did a grea t job, on roads which are terrible in places. Vehicles with working seat belts would be welcome, though. The Malagasy - and visitors to Madagascar, it seems - like their meat, but this is not a bad trip for vegetarians. I was very well catered for while we were camping and trekking with our own team, including cooks. The rest of the time, you eat at restaurants, which usually have one vegetarian starter and one vegetarian main course, so no choice of dish, but at least there is something veggie on the menu most of the time (otherwise it is a case of asking for veg fried noodles, veg curry, or similar - not very exciting, but freshly cooked and tasty enough). The food was very plentiful, so you will not go hungry. As I said in my feedback to KE, in my view the walking merits a grade 5, as I have done two grade 5 trips which I found required less effort. Getting up at 3am to ascend 800m for sunrise at the top of Imarivolanitra (Boby) is well worth it, but no walk in the park. The itinerary is well thought out, and certainly full. The schedule is at the limits of the infrastructure in Madagascar, so journeys can only get longer than stated, never shorter. This means there is very little down time - this is alluded to in the trips notes, but worth emphasising so that people can anticipate this. If you have time in Tana (the capital), the newly reopened Queen’s Palace in the Haute Ville is a quality sight and certainly worth visiting.

By Timothy from Wiltshire | 14 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

June 2024 Trip

GR20 Corsica - The Complete Route

I would highly recommend this trip if you are in good shape, not afraid of heights, have a lot of trekking/camping experience, and are flexible. The trails are quite rocky with a lot of steep up and down climbs that can really take a toll on your knees and feet. I would suggest taking a second or third alternative pair of shoes/boots to keep in your transported duffel in case the first pair doesn't work out or falls apart. Bring blister and toe supplies (duct tape, vaseline, etc). Ear p lugs and possible eye mask for sleeping.
Poles and possibly a spare just in case one breaks. Definitely bring a water filter and use it even in 'potable' sources. Bring small denomination bill to use in the refuges.
The refuges can be very crowded and sometimes confusing. Generally, the showers and toilets had lines. Refuge operators are very busy and can get irritated and testy if you don't follow their rules and are patient. Tents and provided mattresses were of good quality but I have heard they may not be so great by the end of the season.
Scenery is really beautiful and is constantly changing. One thing that doesn't change are the rocky trails. You will test your nerves on some parts of the trail as there are some long drops if you aren't paying attention and really being careful. Weather was varied but we had it pretty good on the June trip. If you encounter rain, things will be increasingly difficult with the slippery rocks.
Our guide was very good at getting us to where we had to go on time. She knew some spectacular alternative routes and took us to some great swimming holes. She kept a good eye out in keeping us as safe as possible on a lot of the difficult sections.
Overall, I felt really great about finishing the gr-20 and I will cherish the memories of the trek and the really excellent people that were in my group. I highly recommend this trip. You will never forget it.

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By Michael from North Carolina, USA | 13 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Family Adventures in the Algarve

All the hassle of finding activities is sorted- always great locations, local knowledge, food and meeting likeminded people. KE always go the extra mile to find authentic off the beaten track run of the mill holidays.

Jonathan and Violetta and all their team were incredibly kind, empathetic and nurturing. Jonathan, Dylan and Alex were exceptional guides and instructors. Charlotte and Leo and Pammy were amazing playing with the young children on the trip.

Jonathan i s an exceptional instructor. He took the care to individually support each member of our group with both mental and physical guidance with tailored instruction so that clients could gain self belief and confidence in new activities. He definitely goes above and beyond to help those that are nervous or lacking confidence.

We all had a fantastic trip and were very sad to leave this little gem in the cork trees. Jonathan and Violetta are incredibly warm and brilliant at what they do. Their beautiful home and wonderful hardworking, patient, caring team especially Dylan and Alex are testament to this.

By Caroline from Cullompton | 13 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Undiscovered Balkans

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Consistently great quality, value for money. Sustainability and eco-conscious providers, who are mostly local.

Saudin has been beautifully enthusiastic, energetic and professional throughout. Moreover, his attention to each and every one of the group made him stand out as going the extra mile wherever he could. What an inspiration!

By Hanna from Watford | 13 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Adventure travel at its finest

Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur

A masterclass in how to visit a developing country, making full use of local guides, porters, cooks and small hotels. Madagascar is hauntingly beautiful, albeit travellers witness first hand the conflicts between conservation and the perceived needs of local farmers and developers. This holiday took us into spectacularly beautiful and highly photogenic national parks, no mean feat given the state of the roads. Our various wildlife walking safaris were very successful - lots of lemurs, bird s and other indigenous species. The food throughout was exceptional, as was all accommodation (including the camping). KE’s selected campsites were particularly scenic.

The hiking was varied and interesting - my wife especially loved walking through local villages and seeing farming practices which would have been commonplace in the UK hundreds of years ago. People throughout Madagascar were universally friendly, although begging from tourists is widespread and understandable - this is one of the poorest countries in the world and tourists need to be respectful and behave accordingly.

We recommend you book this trip sooner than later, simply because the deteriorating road infrastructure may at some stage curtail some of the best parts. Other advice - change £100 per person into Ariary at the airport as you will need it for drinks and snacks (cheap), tips and souvenirs. There are a lot of small tipping requirements (bag carriers, porters, guides, animal spotters, cooks, drivers etc) - invariably richly deserved. In winter, the mountains are cold at night so don’t be caught out. Even in winter, daytime temperatures were often high, which made the otherwise straightforward walking seem a little harder - you may need to consume 3+ litres per hike.

The food throughout was varied and tasty, and in plentiful supply. Local beer is cheap and good, wine less so. Rum is widely produced, best sampled in very small quantities!

One of our very best KE holidays with an excellent leader, driver and group. Strongly recommended.

By Andy from Ambleside | 12 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lofoten Islands

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands

I thought that the walks were all very scenic and exactly what I was hoping for. Excellent leader. Always pleasant and well organised. Very busy having to organise everything including the shopping and cooking of meals on top of 'leading'. She also did a good job of managing the group. She was able to accommodate all guests to insure that we all had the walks that we desired. Several were not able to do the harder options. One of the nicest leaders I've ever had with KE.

By Bill from Banbury | 11 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands

Thanks for another splendid holiday! We couldn't have wished for a better guide. He had great knowledge of the area, was very friendly and positive and allways helpful and caring for everyone in the group. On top of this he was funny, a great cook and storyteller!

By Vibeke from London | 11 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An absolutely fantastic experience

Family Adventures in the Algarve

Brilliant holiday from start to finish. Highlights for us (in no particular order) were the friendly guides who our daughter loved, the fantastic and patient level of coaching on rock climbing, body boarding, hiking, bike riding and kayaking, the delicious food, the after dinner activities for the kids, and the traditional fabulous opportunity to turn away from the digital world. From start to finish, we had fun, we were challenged and I especially loved the ability to switch off from the mental load of decision making. Our daughter has not stopped talking about the holiday (this time last week we were climbing, etc). It was wonderful to allow the children the opportunity to run around, play in a safe environment, take managed risks and know that we didn't have to do anything!

Jonathan did a great job, keeping the group both challenged and safe. He gave me really supportive coaching for the rock climbing (which was my most challenging activity). Everyone had fun, felt safe, and was included. We could not have come home with better memories or bigger smiles. Jonathan was superb.

By Angharad from Tarporley | 11 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc

Great guide, well chosen routes, hotels and restaurants. Lauris set the pace of the group well, gave personal advice where needed, was entusiastic and knowledgeable about the TMB, the geology and social aspects of the mountains.

By Lee from Sheffield | 11 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★

East Bernese Oberland July 2024

Bernese Oberland Haute Route - East

If, like us, you are lucky enough to get near perfect weather and snow conditions then this could be the trip of a lifetime. The scenery is stunning and for the last four days there is a real sense that you are traversing a remote glacial wilderness. There were only four of us on this trip, which was ideal, and our guide was great. All of the mountain huts were good, but the best welcome and food was at the Hollandia Hut, which we had to ourselves. It is worth noting that this trip should have s tarted with an ascent to the Mutthornhutte, descending the following day to Fafleralp. However, the hut is closed while they build a replacement and will not be open until at least 2026. As an alternative, we stayed at the Lotschenpass Hut, which meant that there was little time spent on a glacier the first day and none the second day. However, the descent to Fafleralp was enjoyable, with great alpine flowers, marmots and good views. This trip is tough, with four days involving considerable ascent at altitude. We found the individual days harder than the Haute Route, but more rewarding, with a greater sense of remoteness. The other point in its favour is that it is quiet. We saw hardly anyone on the glaciers and nobody else on the Abeni Flue. Had we been able to stay at the Mutthornhutte this would have been a 5-star review.

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By Nigel from Wales | 08 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wonderful holiday

Family Adventures in the Algarve

Our two experiences so far (Camels on the beach and Family Adventures in the Algarve) have been excellent and as advertised. We had a wonderful holiday on Jonathan and Violetta's beautiful, remote farm in Portugal. The logistics were smooth, the welcome warm, the accommodation charming and well-suited to a family. Violet's warmth and fantastic cooking (with enough dishes to suit all tastes) made everyone feel at home and cared for, and Jonny's skill as a tour leader ensured an exc itable gang of children were managed, challenged and supported in equal measure, so everyone had fun safely and learned about the activities we undertook. The group gelled well, despite differences in age, ability, nationality and language - largely due to the wide range of fun things to do on the farm (table tennis, rope swing, board games, exploring, climbing wall) and the diligence of the several volunteers and guides. The description on the website doesn't do justice to the fun they brought to the trip, often entertaining the children while the adults chilled with a drink on the beautiful big balcony or in the many hammocks and swing chairs dotted round the garden. We all came home relaxed, well-fed, tired and happy, with new skills and confidence and a range of new friends across Europe. Thanks you, Jonny and Vio (and Dylan, Leo, Alex and Charlotte)!

By Sarah from Oxford | 07 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Varied Trekking in a Beautiful Area

Self-Guided Austria: Dachstein Circuit Trek

Our family of three (youngest member 12) had a tiring but rewarding experience over the course of this holiday which we undertook in July/August.

It was easy to get to the start point from Salzburg airport using Austria’s excellent public transport. The walking each day was well signposted and pretty easy to follow using the guide we had been sent. KE’s supplementary notes were useful for alternatives in case of bad weather or if you wanted to shorten a day.

T he walking starts high up and we enjoyed our nights in the Alpine huts. The walking was quite long over the first couple of days but the scenery was stunning. The first day was very hot whilst the second was a little wet and cloudy. These days felt like high mountain days.

We had a nice hotel for our first rest day and made use of the sauna and the pool. Our son really enjoyed walking across the Dachstein glacier when we resumed the trek and the limestone plateau thereafter was very interesting. Fortunately the early morning cloud lifted on the glacier day. Poor weather would have made navigating this stage quite tricky.

After a couple of nights in mountain huts/hotels we were glad to get cleaned up in a hotel in Bad Mitterndorf.

From here the tour entered passed through some lower terrain but remained spectacular and it provided time for cave exploration and a more relaxed day before arriving in busy yet photogenic Hallstatt.

Slightly sadly our rest day didn’t have the best weather and we got no views from the top of the cable car which was a shame as we weren’t able to experience the Five Finger viewing platform but that is the mountains for you! We did really enjoy the tour of the ice caves at the middle station which were the first we’d ever seen.

Some lakeside walking followed before the biggest ascent of the holiday to the final and very welcoming hut.

We spent some time exploring the Gosausee before returning to the starting hotel and had a few days in Salzburg to round things off.

Overall we enjoyed the accommodation, food and walking over the course of the trip. There are some tiring days but that’s what we wanted and I think my waistline decreased a little but there were often ways to shorten days if you wanted to on the amazing public transport. A great trip and quality time together with few modern distractions.

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By James from Clitheroe | 05 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Classic Laugavegur Trail Trek

The volcanic scenery and geothermal activity simply breathtaking. Everything ran very smoothly and good communication. The icelandic guide was very good throughout. He worked hard to ensure we all were safe and set a suitable pace. He was very knowledgeable and this made the trip very interesting. He really went the extra mile from early morning until late evening. 5 stars. Iceland as a country is very sustainability and environmentally conscious, this was reinforced by our leader. And I am plea sed that the KE ethos was evident in the use of communal transport and leave no trace for example.

By David from Chesterfield | 01 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Vic Falls to Cape Town

Victoria Falls to Cape Town

All the tour leaders helped to give me the best trip of my life. If it is possible I would like my tour leaders managers to be informed also that I was very happy and grateful for their manner in which they conducted the trip. Bradley in particular had a lot of knowledge about what we were seeing, African politics and his great sense of humour and enthusiasm really created an exciting environment. Bradley made sure that the mixed ability’s of the group were catered for and his cooking was firs t rate. The guys also were super efficient at setting up camp , preparing food etc even at the end of long days. As a result of this I would definitely recommend this trip to others on the back particularly of the tour leader’s performance.

By Liz from Manchester | 30 July 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

This was an unusual trek that would be hard to put together as an individual, so KE definitely added value. Niti was a real character who seemed to embody the history of his people. I learned far more from him than any guide book about how it was to be a Kosovan/Albanian.

By James from Bath | 30 July 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Unbelievably stunning location

Icefjords and Remote Villages of East Greenland

From the moment you fly into Kulusuk, you know you are in for something special. I just can't describe how utterly amazing East Greenland is. It may have taken me over 30 hours of flying time to get there, but I would do it all over again. Sitting on the rocky shores of Sermilik fiord under a midnight sun watching the ice filled fiords, climbing beautiful peaks with views in every direction of immense peaks rising out of ice filled waters, sitting in a warm hut in the evenings watching the local village life , I just can't describe how this place is just an amazing experience. What a joy to be in place away from crowded tourist areas and in an environment that is raw and real and stunning. Thanks to Tom the guide for letting us faster walkers off the leash to explore more. This trip for an older guy, is possibly the best I have ever done, and I've explored some pretty remote and cool areas.

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By Dion from New Zealand | 30 July 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Stunning Tajikistan scenery

The Ultimate Fann Mountains Trek

The best scenery I've witnessed on all my trips so far! Stunning lakes along the whole trek, beautiful camping spots each night, friendly support crew, tasty and plentiful food (no need to take your own snacks), welcoming local people en route offering tea and snacks. At the end of the day's trekking, take a small stroll or sit and admire the great surroundings at camp listening to a babbling brook!
Dushanbe and Samarkand either side of the trek are wonderful cities, although ve ry hot in the summer so be prepared.
Tips - take your own camping mat as you do camp on hard ground a couple of nights, temperature does drop when the sun goes down but no need for gloves or hat, we were provided with water filter bottles to fill up from glacial streams along the trek.