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97% of our customers rated their holiday Good or Excellent

2135 Total Reviews

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Je suis knackered!

Best of Corsica's GR20

This was my first time in Corsica and it is a truly beautiful island. I have no regrets choosing to join the week-long “Best of GR20” and having the week before to explore the northern coast independently rather than doing the full 2 week trek. The walk and the views are truly spectacular but it’s not easy...mostly 5 or 6am starts (we might have had more than most due to forecast of afternoon electrical storms). There are plenty of technical bits with long ascents and descents to challenge your knees. Our small and able group added on a couple of summits too which were amazing and a real highlight but I didn’t feel quite like that when arriving late to the refuge day 5 with impending dodgy belly, feeling knackered and having to find a camping spot/erect tent some distance from the facilities. The food was fine on the trek but i’d encourage others to stay on to experience the range of cuisine available at the coast especially if you’re a fan of seafood, ice cream and wine. Don’t forget your swimwear...we had some beautiful places for dips. We were reassured that water from the “sources” was safe to drink but in hindsight, I wish i’d used my filter. Thermarest not needed. We were given loads of snacks so unless you have particular dietary requirements, I wouldn’t bother taking your own. Our guide also provided tea/coffee on our morning stop and we would’ve benefited from taking a small cup/mug. I met the group in Vizzavona - train from Bastia was easy and enjoyable and good tips from local guides about arranging collection from the station. I’ll definitely be returning to Corsica - loved it!

By Kathryn from Inverness | 24 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lanzarote, but not as you might know it!

Walking on Lanzarote

A great week of walking and what dramatic scenery! So happy to have chosen this trip as the walks took us to some places that we would never have thought to explore, we hardly saw other hikers the whole week! The paths on the whole are straightforward to follow, but are not really way marked so you do need to keep your navigational head on and follow the notes and map provided. La Graciosa made for a lovely stop with a gorgeous coastal path around the northern section of this little island. Havi ng the hire car for the week was a great way to get around.

By Mei from Windermere | 24 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Exactly what I was looking for

Kangchenjunga to Makalu via the Lumba Sumba La

I'd asked KE for a remote, camping trek that would take me through lots of villages that saw relatively few tourists. That's exactly what I got. There were a couple (one in particular) brutally long days of trekking which couldn't be avoided, but the time spent in the villages at the end of the day and on rest days was exactly what I'd hoped for. Came back with so many photos of the locals. No complaints with the guides or the food provided. A few times we got in to camp afte r dark and ahead of the tents but I had no real issue with this. Its part and parcel of being on such a remote adventure.

By Paul from London | 24 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beautiful walks, perfect location and Italian flavour

Walking in Cinque Terre

My first self-guided walking holiday and what a delight it was! Getting around on the trains was super easy, allowing for loads of flexibility to have a lie in one day or start early another. The route notes were easy to follow and all the trails very well way-marked. It was great to also be able to get further afield from the most popular routes on the Cinque Terre, I particularly liked the Lerici Loop and the hike from Marola to Portovenere. Staying in the little village of Corniglia was perfe ct. Some great restaurants here - highly recommend Ristorante Cecio and the Cantina da Mananan for delicious food. Oh and have plenty of the fantastic local Cinque Terre DOC wine! Yummy!

By Mei from Windermere | 24 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lovely tour in beautiful nature and mountains

Through the Heart of the Balkans

Thanks especially to our brilliant guide Michel we had some great trekking days in remote and very beautiful nature and mountains. Michel made it possible to walk in your own space and he told a lot of interesting things about the history and culture of the countries we visited. The hardness of the trekking days was well planned. The day before and the day after the longest and by far most challenging day, were the least hard days which was very pleasent. My only complaint concerns my fellow tra vellers. A couple of them talked ALL THE TIME which to me was very disturbing. To me af big part of trekking is to enjoy the beauty and greatness of our nature in partly silence. But hopefully you will not experience this when you choose to go on this lovely trip:)

By Sigrid from FREDERIKSBERG | 23 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Challenging walks with fantastic scenery

Traverse of the Picos de Europa

This is a challenging walk within the capabilities of regular hill walkers. There is a scrambling day but the excellent guide judged the groups capabilites and managed this well. The scenery was outstanding even when misty. The huts are friendly and provide good food. Access to luggage is once during the trip, so I would suggest no more than 8 k in the carried bag. The wildflower meadows are beautiful so a small guide book would be useful.

By Wendy from Southampton | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Unspoiled mountains

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

Great walking through peaceful countryside varying from flower covered alpine meadows to rugged ridges and forest trails. All the accommodation in the mountains was in simple guesthouses which were comfortable and had good locally produced food. The walking involved around 1000m ascent each day and requires a good level of fitness. The guides were outstanding (Berislav and Misha) - very informative and great fun. The days at the end of the tour at lake Skadar and Kotor provided a great relaxing contrast. We took the land only option and had a day in Pristina before the tour and a few days in Dubrovnik at the end which worked well.

By Charles from Sheffield | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Our guide Sophie was amazing. She is so knowledgeable and experienced.

Classic Tour du Mont Blanc

Sophie shared her love for the mountains, the wildflowers and the geology. She took the time to ensure every individual had a positive experience. She guided me in negotiating difficult terrain and challenging water and snow crossings. Without her help and encouragement I could not have completed the trip. I will be forever grateful to her. Although the food was delicious, most of us would have appreciated more fresh salads and vegetables.

By Julia from Corvallis | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A truely amazing trekking experience!

Best of Corsica's GR20

The GR20 is a truly amazing trek and we had a fantastic week. The Best of GR20 takes you through the northern part which includes the highest mountain ranges. Our fantastic guide Genevieve went above and beyond what we could have expected and took us up some additional peaks, including the Paglia Orba, the Monte Cinto, and cared for us very well really taking our safety seriously (eg when there were thunderstorms approaching on the first day and then another time when rain was coming in). We had a small group with everyone at very similar levels of fitness and capability and everyone connected well. I can highly recommend this trek!

By Andrea from London | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic Week

Traverse of the Picos de Europa

We had a fun ,challenging and memorable week that I will always remember . Our Guide Anna was friendly , supportive and above all extremly knowagable on routes , tips and the area and steered us over great terrain and gave us insight into the area we would never have got on our own . Above all, we had fun. The accomodation and travel was all clearly planned leaving us to enjoy the trek , the views and the whole experience . Not been with KE before but plan to do more Dave Mountford

By Dave from Berkhamsted | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★

Picos de Europa are Underrated

Traverse of the Picos de Europa

Wonderful traverse of the western and central massifs. Culture and food of Asturias and Cantabria are an added bonus.

By Marek from Christchurch | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★

A beautiful and interesting walking trip.

Walking Lake Como

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking holiday at Lake Como. The walks typically took us on muleteers tracks above the towns and villages. There were few other people around and the views were marvellous. We came across all sorts of interesting details such as the house where Mussolini had been executed and by contrast to a restaurant, where the chef was giving a pasta-making demonstration. The walk-notes were sometimes difficult to follow and the search for a "staggering" view led us well out our way but became a quite memorable walk in itself. Generally we would have preferred somewhat longer walks. A little more guidance about how the ferries operate would have been useful, rather than a reminder on every page to check out the ferry timetables.

By Russell from Heidelberg Heights | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A brilliant experience.

Tour du Mont Blanc Family Adventure

We were two grandparents and a 15 year old granddaughter. The excellent Guide catered for both young and old quite expertly. He shared his love and knowledge of the mountains with the group and enriched us all in various ways. In parts the walks were quite challenging for some of us. In the end we were so glad for all we had experienced. The hotels were varied but always excellent and in wonderful places. We were very well fed everywhere we went.

By Russell from Heidelberg Heights | 22 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A Brilliant 'Wee'Holiday

Traverse of the Picos de Europa

This was a really good guided treking holiday with the huts and hotels nicely complementing each other. The food was really good throughout, despite the remoteness of the huts they provided fine fare. The walking was very varied through lush pasture up into high bleak limestone tops. This variety was also supplemented by the varied animal life from vultures to chamoix not forgetting the wild flowers and spectacular alpine meadows. Another KE holiday not to be forgotten.

By Elizabeth from Glasgow | 21 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

K2 and Concordia

A real "Adventure" trek with some long days and difficult underfoot conditions. The mind blowing scenery showed what must be considered as some of the best views in the world and the late snow only enhanced this. The 34 hour road journey from Islamabad to Skardu gave an insight into a different side of Pakistan and should be looked upon as a bonus.The warmth and genuine friendliness of the Pakistani people shone through our entire visit and the professionalism of the local agents and t rek crew could not be faulted.This was my 13th trek,the 8th in Asia and I rate this as the best I have experienced.

By Alexander from Peterculter | 21 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The stunning Julian Alps

Across the Julian Alps to Triglav

Fantastic trip. The Julian alps are stunning. Climb up Triglav fabulous. Hints and tips: weather can be unpredictable. Can be very hot need to carry lots of water or for us, thunder lightening and heavy rain. Trip can change because of this. Need to buy water in the huts which is exoensive 4.50 euros! Just drink beer much cheaper. Group flight easy and Raddison Blu airport booked on line very reasonable. Walking in the alps incredible stony/shaly paths. Walking poles can be good for descent. Pac k even lighter than you think! Huts good, food good. Buy your snacks etc in the supermarket in Bled, expensive in the huts. Local wine nice. Great trip I will probably do again and see the bits I missed.

By Theresa from Perth | 20 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excellent wildlife and sightseeing African adventure

The Great Southern African Lodge Safari

We went on the 21 days accommodated trip to Zambia, Namibia and Botswana in June/July 2019. It was an excellent trip and we would highly recommend it. The itinery was excellent and we covered a lot of things, travelling over 5,000 kms in total. This meant that there are some fairly long driving days - however the truck was comfortable and there were regular stops. The accommodation was great. We stayed in a variety of lodges, tented lodges, and small hotels/guesthouses. We were very impressed wi th the quality and this really added to the overall experience of the trip. We stayed on the banks of rivers - listening to the elephants and hippos in the night, in a beautiful farmhouse outside Etosha, in stunning lodges in the Namibian desert etc. We were comfortable and slept well! The 2 nights wild camping was one of the highlights of our trip. We loved the small but comfy 2 person tents with their added room with toilet! The camp beds were comfy and it was a great adventure. We travelled in a 12 person truck - this was between places as well as for the game drives in Etosha. We had a great group and this made the journey fun. The truck was comfortable and had a charger for electrical items if you had things to charge on the go. Fresh fruit was always available and there were a selection of books and maps about the countries and wildlife. Some driving days were long but we stopped regularly and often stopped at supermarkets to stock up with extra snacks and drinks. My only constructive criticism of the truck was it was a little too big for the game drives in Etosha, in my view. I would have preferred to split the group into 2 smaller vehicles-for maximum opportunities to view the wildlife. This, however, is only a minor issue. The guides were outstanding - Stephen and Maxwell. What incredible, knowledgeable, kind and funny men. They taught us a lot, were very patient, worked incredibly hard and were great company. They helped make the trip special. The food was great! It was amazing what they could cook up on a camp stove and we had a variety of different things every night! We sometimes ate in the lodges but mostly from the truck. Everyone helped, which makes things work better. We had good, fresh, plentiful healthy food-such as stews, pasta, fish, salads, barbeque etc. Lunches were fresh salads/sandwiches/wraps and occasionally hotdogs They cooked me a full English breakfast for my birthday-which was well received! The itinery was great. What a start at the magnificent Victoria falls! We went there day 1 with the group from the Zambian side and they were stunning. Day 2 is a free day with optional activities. You could return to the falls and cross the border to see them from the Zimbabwean side (75 % of the falls) but we decided not as the visa for UK citizens was $85. We enjoyed a game drive (where we saw white rhino) and the sunset boat trip with free bar (the less said about that the better!!) Etosha was experiencing a drought so there were not as many sightings-however it was beautiful and we saw herds of elephants, giraffes, 2 lions, black rhino, zebras etc. On the free day in Swakopmund I highly recommend the optional 2 hours ATV dune trip-it was a lot of fun and most of the group went. The dunes in Sossusvlei were breath-taking! We climbed dune 45 - again stick at it - it was worth it to get to the top and see the views. Another huge highlight was the 2 nights wild camping in Botswana-WOW! We travelled to the Okavango delta in Mokoros (small canoes) propelled by a poler. We had a brilliant 2 days doing bush walks and sitting around the camp fire with the incredible people who were looking after us. We saw hippos galore, giraffes, zebra, elephants, water buffalo etc whilst walking - it was so exciting! So many more beautiful things - too many to mention here! I did a lot of research before we booked and found that the price and itinery of this trip was the best, in my view and we are very happy that we did it. We would go again in a heartbeat. Thank you-what a wonderful 50th!

By Jennifer from Leeds | 20 July 2019

Stunning Julian Alps

Across the Julian Alps to Triglav

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By Theresa from Perth | 20 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

BRILLIANT EXPERIENCE IN HIGH MOUNTAINS SURROUNDED BY BREATHTAKING VIEWS

Italian High Level Route

A fantastic week, taking me high onto snow and ice, with crampons and ice axe, for the first time, and for much of the week. KE's "Is this holiday for you?" is perfectly pitched - it is sometimes strenuous (so yes, be fit), but it is so rewarding and a really great experience. I also found the packing list useful and yes, it can be done with 10kg. (But I couldn't get it all into my 33L rucksack - bought a 44L pack and this worked fine). We were blessed with amazing weather, m aking the glacier views all the more stunning. So much depends on your fellow travellers - we were a great little team - and above all, your leader. Kathy Murphy was our guide - I agree with all that has been written about her, she is simply an outstanding mountain guide - and we were so fortunate to benefit from her friendship, knowledge and experience.

By Giles from Staines-Upon-Thames | 18 July 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Possibly the Hottest GR20 Ever ? !

GR20 Corsica - The Complete Route

The 10 of us who booked the Real GR20 to start in the last week of June were hoping to avoid the crowded peak summer months on the route and the heat, for Paddy Dillon in the Cicerone guide states that in June “the days will be warm, but not too hot”. However, no-one could have anticipated the record-breaking ‘chaleur’ that built up in central France and the Mediterranean in 2019. Even at 2,000 metres, the shade temperatures had built up to the mid-30’s (C) by the afternoon and we even heard that 110 F (43 C) had been recorded at a refuge 2 days ahead of us! Mind you it could have been worse: apparently it rained almost every day in June 2018 and all we had was 30 minutes of rain on the afternoon of Day 10, with the accompanying thunder & lightning storm missing the ridge we were on by some distance. Martin, a French guide, had the responsibility of helping us keep safe & on route, assisting those who needed it on the well-signed but exceeding rough terrain, and sorting out the pre-booked meals and accommodation with the refuge, gite & hotel owners. The heat was not long in taking its toll and at the end of Day 3 one of our party had to drop out temporarily for 5 days due to a combination of vomiting and heat exhaustion. Two days later it was even more dramatic, as a rescue helicopter had to be called in to evacuate another team member who was close to collapse with the heatstroke and a viral infection. Fortunately the heat relented just a fraction after that and the remaining 5 men and 3 women all finished the route, most showing a few scars, sores & aches after the 13 days, which averaged around 1,000 m (3,280 feet) of ascent & similar descent. Although the daily distances varied from 8 - 28 km (5.0 to 17.4 miles) the days were long, with our shortest day’s walking being 5 minutes under 7 hours and the longest 11 hrs 45 mins. The latter was one of the 2 ‘double stage’ days, necessary to fit the 15 stage route into the fortnight dictated by the weekly UK flight schedules. Most days we started early (7.30am was a late departure) and generally we climbed for the first two hours or so to a col. Fortunately KE Adventure does the route from North to South and this meant that we were usually on the shaded western side of the mountainous island spine for this early morning climb. Once high we needed full sun protection, although the second week brought the occasional cooling breeze in the afternoon. Food on the trek was mostly basic but nourishing & plentiful, although we had to make sure we replenished mineral salts and there never seemed to be any salt at breakfast-time. Most of us carried 3 litres of water in our packs each morning it was so hot, and we also drank lots of the refreshing sparkling local “Orezza” mineral water. We also became very adept at dunking our headgear into any stream we crossed to help cool us down, especially in the hotter afternoons. After a hard, sweaty day a shower (cold at the refuges) and a Pietra beer were always very welcome! The 2-person Quechua pop-up tents did their job and we all slept reasonably and didn’t pick up any bed bugs. However, the facilities at some of the refuges were very stretched e.g. 2 showers and a couple of toilets between around 80 people! Having access to our main luggage on 8 nights, meant we could swap some gear around and enjoy the luxury of 3 days towards the end of the route when we didn’t have to carry overnight gear and so enjoyed walking with lighter packs. All in all it was a tough, very spectacular walk that needed determination, especially as there was only around 10 hours of easy ’normal’ walking on the flat. Nowhere is the route as exposed as, say, Crib Goch and it is not highly technical: basically one needs the ability to be able to rock hop confidently on very broken ground and walk across granite slabs of varying degrees of steepness without slipping. We soon mastered the knees bent, “Charlie Chaplin” splayed waddle technique for the steep downhill slabs! You don’t have to be ‘superhuman’ to complete the route but you do have to pay careful attention to what your body is telling you. If you don’t attend to chafing, pains and blisters as soon as is possible they will only get worse and cause even greater problems as the tough days follow one after the other. We were lucky in that our group contained 4 medics so the first aid gear we had between us must have been some of the most comprehensive ever seen on the route! If I had to summarise each day in a single line, it would be something like:- Sunday (23/6): Arrival and exploring Calvi Monday (24/6): Calenzana to Piobbio - Uphill most of the Day but Not Too B ad with Views & Shade. Tuesday (25/6): Piobbio to Carrozu - The First Day of ‘Proper’ GR 20 Scrambling Wednesday (26/6): Carrozu to Haut Asco - Slabs, Slabs and more Slabs: A ‘No Poles’ Day Thursday (27/6): Asco to Ballone - A Tough Thursday but alas No ‘Solitude’ Friday (28/6): Ballone to Vergio - The Day of Drama as We Lose Our 2nd Victim to the Heat Saturday (29/6): Vergio to Manganu - “Easy” Saturday – but Still Spectacular Scenery Sunday (30/6): Manganu to L'Onda - A Tough but Wonderful Walk: possibly the “Highlight Day” of the Trip. Monday (1/7): L'Onda to Monte d'Oro - A Hard, Short Day to End the Northern Section Tuesday (2/7): Monte d'Oro to Col de Verde - A Long ‘Normal’ Hike in the Woods – Light Packs at Last! Wednesday (3/7): Col de Verde to Usciolu - A Two-ascent, Full-mountain Day Thursday (4/7): Usciolu to I Crocci - The Easiest Day on Our GR20 Friday (5/7): I Crocci to Col de Bavella - MEGA Tough but Amazing Scenery Plus a Summit Saturday (6/7): Col de Bavella to Conca - No Let Up: Relentless to the End! On our trip our waterproofs were virtually redundant and so was all the cold weather gear we had brought. Snacks from the UK to eat on the trail were a nice luxury and even chocolate-coated ones didn’t melt if you ate them early on in the day! Overall it’s a trek that gives great satisfaction to look back on, with great views and companionship while you’re ‘following the fléchés’.

By John from Solihull | 17 July 2019