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97% of our customers rated their holiday Good or Excellent

2021 Total Reviews

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★ ★ ★ ★

A really good and varied trip

Rising Sun Japan Walking Explorer

A really good and varied trip with very good experiences and opportunities to experience Japanese culture.

By Lesley from Cumbria | 26 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Snowy walking in the south of France

Queyras 3000 Metre Summits Trek

A splendid week of hiking in a less well known corner of the Alps. While unseasonal weather in the first few days kept us off some of the summits, Nirmal took us on lower level routes with group safety and enjoyment in mind; thanks are also due to Pascal for transporting us down from the refuge. The highlight was the ascent on new snow of Grand Glaiza, and the panorama that awaited us.

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By John from Loughborough | 26 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★

Rural Romania and Backroads of Bulgaria

This was my 10th trip with KE - I’ve been recommending KE to friends and family for years now. Both guides Yordan and Cristina were exceptional in every aspect of their work. It felt like we were travelling with a group of friends rather than being part of a guided group.

By Sean from York | 26 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

What a trek, there was 12 of us a fantastic group of people who I hope to remain friends with for a long time. Our guide was Rudy Arqque who was very passionate, organised knowledgeable and person centred. His knowledge about the history and culture of the Incas, the environment and the people was outstanding he had an answer for every question. Rudy, Yoi and his team particularly Juan the chef never failed to dissapoint the food was off Michelin quality well presented using basic utensils at altitude truly a magnificent achievement. Rudy performed an amazing spiritual ceremony/ offering to the mountains which was a fantastic experience. Rudy and his team made every day special and as easy as possible for us. Tents erected food prepared for our arrival hot water bottles when we were cold. We even visited a coffee plantation and got honey straight from the hives still warm. We met the locals including Sylvia who welcomed us into her home meeting her animals and telling us about her daily life in the mountains.
We started early to avoid the high heat of the day. We had Chiquequirao to ourselves camping on the Inca terraces truly remarkable and while Machu Picchu was also magical it was raining and difficult to get a photo without one of the other 6000 people visiting . If you want to hear and see about the Incas then this is definitely the best trek to do although don’t be disappointed when you have achieved the 120K trek and 6000+ metres of total ascent that there is no reward T shirt for Choquequirao only Machu Picchu 🤔

By Linda from Selkirk | 25 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Stunning Family Challenge

Family Teenage Toubkal Ascent, Morocco

With three fit teenagers to entertain to an extent whereby they were too tired, having too much fun or not close enough to wi-fi to access social media the Teenage Toubkal Ascent seemed a like the perfect family holiday challenge.
We enjoyed ever single minute of this holiday, from arrival in Marrakech to the time that we headed off to the coast for our second adventure with KE we were tested, entertained and enthused. Climbing a mountain of this size as a family gave us all a real sense of achievement, it was a test and in places some of us found it hard but nothing beats that summit feeling. We pulled through, looked after each other made some new friends and achieved something that we all felt proud of.
Morocco is a stunning country and the Atlas mountains breathtaking, we found the acclimatation worked perfectly for us. We spent a day traveling from Marrakech to Imlil up in to the mountains, in the afternoon we visited waterfalls got to know our fellow adventurers and enjoyed the view from the guest house, which was clean and comfortable. We were fortunate to witness a Berber gathering with music and dancing, on our way down from the waterfalls we were swept along in a group of musicians singing and playing drums, it was an amazing experience. On day two we acclimatised with a short walk up to around 2500m and then back to the guest house.
Day 3 was a long day and hot, but the scenery took our mind off any discomfort and the regular mountain cafes serving fresh orange juice provided welcome solace. With around 1600 meters of ascent the mountains became ever more beautiful, whilst there were others on the trail, it was no means busy. We arrived at the Toubkal refuge at 16:00 pleased with progress and ready for an early night.
Summit day, up at 03:30 and on the trail an hour later, moving quickly through the darkness we all felt a real sense of excitement. Under the watchful eye of Mohammed our experienced and attentive guide we made good progress stopping to marvel at our surroundings as the sun came up. Noticing the altitude we paced ourself for the final push, to summit as a family was a special feeling we all felt proud of what we’d achieved so far and proud of each other.
What followed was a leisurely descent in the knowledge that an amazing lunch would await us on our return. The support team on this holiday were amazing the food was fresh plentiful and delicious, the highest standards of hygiene were in evidence throughout.
Day 5 we descended enjoying another amazing lunch cooked by the trail. We were lucky to be joined by some amazing people in our group, they had many stories to tell and advice to impart. Our guide Mohammed was a true mountain man, strong and confident, we were supported throughout.
If you have fit kids with a bit of determination and want the ultimate bonding experience this is the holiday for you.

By Thomas from Yorkshire | 21 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

And now for something completely different

Mountains and Lakes of Kyrgyzstan

A great trip combining the steppes and spruce- and glacier-clad mountains of central Asia with a few cultural highlights. Unlike other treks I have taken, camping was done in fixed camps comprise of spacious yurts or roomy tents. The fixed camps provided power for recharging electronic devices (2 hours per evening), excellent food and guitar-playing hosts. One camp had a sauna. Another had hot springs. It wasn't exactly glamping, but it was pretty comfortable. Kyrgyzstan is a beautifu l country -- distinctly more mesic than neighboring Tajikistan. Personally, I was enthralled with the Tien Shan spruce forests, but then I have "thing" for trees that is probably extreme.

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By Bruce from Victor, New York | 20 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I would highly recommend KE Adventures

Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc

I would highly recommend KE Adventures to all my friends and family because I felt very supported every step of the way, whether it was with reservations, transfer information, additional hotel stays and lastly, with my most excellent tour guide PY, and which is very important as a single female traveler. With great weather, good food and cozy accomodations, and most importantly, Monte Blanc and all it's amazing glory, as a backdrop, every day was a highlight.

By Sandra from Olympia, USA | 19 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

It might be Europe's toughest GR trek, but it's one of the world's most beautiful

GR20 Corsica - The Complete Route

Ok, first some context. I'm a travel and mountain journalist, and a qualified Mountain Leader and Climbing Wall Instructor. I have trekked all over the UK, including some of the toughest routes in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. I've also trekked in many incredible locations abroad, including the Alps, the Picos de Europa, the Dolomites, Triglav in Slovenia, Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail and more. I'm also something of a mountaineer, winter climbing regularly in Scotland, and having bagged several Alpine peaks, including the Matterhorn last year. To be clear: this isn't some form of willy-waving boast, but rather to give you an idea of where my background lays when I say the following: this is one of the most spectacular treks I've ever walked, and also one of the toughest.

Before I get onto the details, I need to speak about our guide Paulin. I have been lucky enough to travel and work with many guides, but none have been as superb at their job as Paulin. He was extremely professional, highly knowledgeable, and very patient with our group. But more than that he was overflowing with passion for Corsica. It felt like being shown the mountains by a good friend who was happy to share all that he knew and spread his love of the landscape. I hope to travel to Corsica again and see more of the mountains, and when I do, I shall be hoping to reconnect with Paulin. He really is a special guy, a credit to the local agent and KE Adventure, and a true ambassador to Corsica.

So, onto the nitty-gritty...

Part one: the beauty.
The mountains of Corsica are simply stunning, and I wasn't prepared for just how much they and the surrounding landscape would vary throughout the trek. It's a near constant assault on the senses, with the ever-changing colours of the rock, transitioning from grey to red and glowing in the sunrise and sunsets, highlighted by the vast swathes of greenery from the forests and matched by the herbal scents of the maquis, accompanied by the calls of birds, deer, and wild pigs, and the echoing ring of unseen cowbells high in the mountains. And that's just on the main GR20 route. When you factor in the regular off-path detours to find hidden swim spots and viewpoints that without Paulin I'd never have known were there, the experience was elevated to another level altogether; it often felt that the mountains were there just for us. Another benefit of having Paulin was learning of the heritage and natural history of the various places we passed through. Paulin has previously been a botanist and a goatherd and was a wealth of incredibly useful information, including where to find the best Corsican cheese at the mountain bergeries! Be warned - it can be strong!

Part two: the effort.
Even with a fairly decent trekking CV, I found this tough. The thing to be aware of is that it's not just one thing that makes it tough, but the combination of multiple challenges. The trek is 13 days long. Just getting up and walking for 13 days, often with limited sleep and early starts, is draining - by the end of the fortnight I was exhausted. Then there's the distance. This isn't 13 days of short walks. Yes, a few days come in at under 10km, but most are more, and at least a couple were well over 20km. This shouldn't come as a surprise - 180km in 13 days - but it is something to remember, particularly when you take the ascents into account. With around 12,000m of total ascent during the trek (many days are up and down and up and down and up and down and...you get the picture) that's nearly 1000m of ascent per day. In truth, some days are more and some are less, but if you imagine walking up and down a Scottish Munro every day for 13 days in a row, then you're starting to get the picture. But there's still more to factor in: the technicality. There are several days that involve exposure to some big drops and scrambling over difficult terrain. Some of these sections are protected by chains, but many aren't. If you're to get the best out of these days you need to be comfortable on this sort of terrain, including slabs which can be notoriously slippery when wet. Oh, and you'll be doing all this with a sizeable pack on your back.

Part three: the preparation
We've established that you'll be trekking for 13 days covering an average of around 14km distance and nearly 1000m of ascent every day while negotiating tricky terrain with a heavy pack on your back - how on earth do you prepare? The truth is you can't. At least, not for all of it in one go. But what you can do is build up your training separately. Get used to walking uphill. Grow comfortable on steep scrambling terrain. Get used to carrying a heavy pack (it has a notable effect on your balance). But most importantly, be as fit as you possibly can. If getting to the hills every week is tricky (I hear you - I live in Norfolk) then take out a gym membership and thrash your cardio. Sign up to spin classes. Make use of cross trainers or stair machines. Make time to make the effort. It'll all be worth it once you're in Corsica. And for two very important reasons. Firstly, as a minimum, you need to make sure you're capable of completing the trek. If you're not, the guide will tell you so and you will be asked to leave. This may sound harsh, particularly as you've paid your money to be there, but if it's not safe to continue, or not fair on the group, you will be required to drop out. And this latter point brings us on to the next reason your fitness needs to be tip top. You'll be walking as part of a group, and any group is limited by its slowest members. While you certainly won't be left behind if you're physically capable of completing the trek, you don't want to be the reason the group as a whole gets caught in a late afternoon thunderstorm, or misses sunrise at a spectacular viewpoint, or misses out on a spectacular high-level mountain route to take a shorter and easier low-level bypass, all because you can't keep up with the pace.

Part 4: Kit and useful tips
The KE kit list is good. Read it and pay attention to the details. All of them. Don't debate them based on previous experience - I did and was missing a few useful bits I had to pick up in a supermarket in Calvi. You might think you can get away with a smaller pack, but 40-45 litres is what you need. You'll be carrying all your day-hiking gear, plus your sleeping bag and overnight kit, plus some communal items like food. One member of our group tried to get away with a 30-litre pack (because it would fit in EasyJet's carry-on frame) and ended up with stuff clipped to and hanging off his pack like a human game of Buckaroo - not ideal for technical scrambling. You might not usually take a Tupperware box for lunch, but the takeaway lunches the refuges provide are usually rice, pasta, or lentil salads, and they don't travel too well in a dry bag. Both a sleeping mat and waterproof trousers are, at the time of writing, listed as optional on the kit list. I'd suggest they're essential. The self-inflating sleeping mats provided in the refuge campsites are ok, but although many tents are on raised sleeping platforms, some are pitched straight onto the ground which is cold and rocky. Even when in prime condition (which by the end of the season they're definitely not) the thin sleeping mats provided barely hide the lumps and don't keep out much cold, so take your own mat to add to the pile. And while you might get away with wearing shorts for the entire trek, the Corsican thunderstorms can be big and wet - even if you don't mind your knees getting wet, a pair of waterproof trousers will keep the water out of your shoes. Be sure to also take a set of camping cutlery (don't assume you'll be given a knife to spread the jam on your breakfast bread at the refuges) and a set of earplugs (dorm rooms are a snore-fest).

Part five: a word about footwear
I'll get straight to the point: approach shoes, or mid-ankled version, or light and flexible boots are the only way to go. The weight of stiff leather hiking boots will be a huge handicap over 180km, but more to the point they simply won't perform as well. For delicate scrambling moves - especially when smearing on slabs - the precision and flexibility of lightweight shoes or boots simply cannot be beaten. But a couple of things need to be considered. The GR20 is not the first time to try walking in shoes if you've always walked in boots. My advice would be to get a pair of shoes (or lightweight boots) well in advance and do all your training in those. Finally, if you've got a tried and tested pair of boots that have served you well all their life and you're thinking they may have one good trip left in them, the GR20 is not the trek to see out their retirement. The Corsican mountains gobble up boots, and if your footwear is not in excellent condition there’s every chance it will simply fall apart. Really, I saw it: a boot shedding its sole halfway up a scramble.

One last far from essential but handy tip: the best GR20 souvenirs (badges, patches, t-shirts, fridge magnets etc) I saw were in the shop at the Haut Asco hotel. This is only three days in so it’s easy to assume that there will be more opportunities later on, but there were none as comprehensive as this. And as it’s the overnight accommodation where you have access to your luggage, there’s nothing stopping you buying as much as you want and sticking it in your transfer bags!

If you've bothered to read all the above, thank you - I hope it was useful. If you've skipped to the end for a summary, then this is it;

The GR20 is beautiful and tough in equal measure. But prepare properly, have the right kit, and go into it with your eyes open and it might just be one of the best things you'll ever do.

By Benjamin from Norwich | 18 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Incredible trip to the roof of Africa

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route

This trip was an unforgettable experience and was so well organised and ran smoothly from start to finish! The head guide Saidi was so knowledgeable of the mountain, always put our safety first and his encouragement, kindness and motivation was priceless. The assistant guides (Joseph and Antony) were always there to help and the team of porters along with the chef and waiter always made sure we were looked after and given amazing food and were bought tea to our tents each morning! Our team of 5 all made it to the summit for sunrise thanks to all the help from our guides. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is thinking about it, the Lemosho route is beautiful and the team will go above and beyond to make sure you have the best time and help you achieve your goal!

By Amy from Poole | 18 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wild Tuscany

Walking Wild Tuscany

The accommodation was beautiful, the food was amazing and the hosts (Ailsa and Jamie) were brilliant. We don't like to do the same thing twice but this might well be our exception to a rule. Ailsa and Jamie were THE best hosts. Our room (actually a lovely apartment with kitchen, sitting room, hall, bathroom and bedroom) was lovely - comfortable, clean and well equipped. The food was absolutely amazing. Amazing. The best (by a mile) we have had on a KE holiday. They were also just really lov ely, interesting and thoughtful hosts. KE are lucky to have them as representatives of the brand.

By Sian from Hexham | 18 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wild Tuscany

Walking Wild Tuscany

Hosts were highly experienced and provided an outstanding experience. Accommodations were beautiful and comfortable. Meals were amazing. Hikes and itinerary were customized and optimized based on the weather and level of hikers. Stefano our guide - Highly knowledgeable about the history of region. Obtained great insight into the culture. Was a great ambassador, could feel his passion and pride for his region. Anticipated the weather conditions well and incorporated into the itinerary, keeping sa fety a priority.

By Soon from North York, Canada | 18 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Walking Highlights of the Rockies

All the walks offered a great mix of views. Etienne was a terrific leader. Kept us well informed and nothing was too trouble.

By Jane from Lutterworth | 18 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The amazing rock scenery and rock pool swims were a highlight

GR20 Corsica - The Complete Route

KE does the whole of classic routes, good guides, well organised, and generally attracts people with the right ability for the trip. For tougher trips including this one I've contacted the office on specific points and always find staff helpful and knowledgeable. This trip borders on mountaineering requiring the ability to move at pace over difficult ground as well as sustained ascents and descents on rocky terrain, sometimes in the wet. And having done Striding Edge or the TMB does not giv e you any idea of what to expect or how to equip and train yourself. The things I’d especially highlight:

1. If you’ve not previously rock climbed, find your nearest bouldering wall and practice there, wearing the footwear you plan to use on the trip. And if it won’t embarrass you too much, do it with your loaded rucksack!

2. Approach shoes with a rubber rand and grippy sole are ideal, you can get some with a bit of ankle support to mid height if that’s a worry for you. I wore a nearly new pair of Merrell Moab 3 mid height boots which I’m familiar with and happy would meet the needs of this route for me.

3. Do a trial pack of your hike rucksack with everything you will take on the camping sections.

4. Trip grading. I’ve previously done CHR and hikers HR as well as Bhutan thunder dragon ride. I found the GR20 the toughest of all

The food was pretty basic at the refuges but much as expected, this is not a culinary highlights trip! We did sample excellent local cheese and they catered fine for me as a vegetarian. The KE advice on diet and food supplements is spot on - one of the guys brought instant porridge oats to supplement breakfast and I wished I’d thought of that.

Our guide, Paulin, was very cheerful, attentive and informative with a fine sense of humour. His local knowledge and experience, visiting the shepherd hut where he had been a goatherd, his choice of route details and rock pools to picnic at - all gave special experiences on what is a very busy route.

By Pauline from Peterborough | 17 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Complete GR20

GR20 Corsica - The Complete Route

After 30 years of travel, I can say in all honesty that Paulin is the best guide I have had the pleasure to deal with. A passionate, experienced and fun loving character. A true asset to Corsica. My highlights were Paulin and the never ending beauty that Corsica has to offer.

By Nick from Morpeth | 17 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The holiday was well organised and very enjoyable

Walking Highlights of the Rockies

Our guide Etienne and his assistant Louis were first class, they were lovely people and looked after us very well. The standard of food we were given was excellent, varied and interesting. They made sure we got the most from our trip and kept us to a good timescale. They definitely went above and beyond the call of duty. This trip will be very hard to beat!

By Karen from Sutton-in-Ashfield | 17 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday

Walking Highlights of the Rockies

Our guide Etienne was totally involved at all times- he clearly loved all aspects of the job and came across really well. Never had the impression he needed a break from us! His relationship with his no 2 Louis was also excellent- they really were the dream team! Been on a number of trips and Etienne was definite my no 1 leader- he made this trip outstanding.

By Sarah from Wrexham | 16 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★

Hunza, Shimshal and the Rush Lake Trek

Hunza Valley and the Rush Lake Trek

The Rush Lake part of the itinerary was excellent and every bit as spectacular as I had hoped for. The trek was expertly led by Bart and the kitchen crew and porters did an excellent job. We took an extra day which would seem to be rather more steady in approach and enjoyable. Although not a long trek in terms of days walking, it packs a lot in with glacier crossings and other adventures.
We never made it to Shimshal - a crucial bridge had been destroyed, which was unavoidable but disappo inting. We were also unable to fly back from Gilgit (thanks PIA) and had a mega journey/adventure getting back to Islamabad on the Karakorum Highway!
I would expect to see the itinerary change in the future as the first few days are currently (IMHO) a bit weak (hence the rating) and could be improved with some more and longer day hikes.
Photos by Matt Ward

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By Matthew from Caerleon, Newport, Wales | 15 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

High Tatras Trekking

High Tatras Trekking - The Carpathian Mountains

Jakub was passionate about the Tatras and cared about their management as a place of recreation. He took great care to ensure the safety of the group when terrain became challenging. His enthusiasm and good humour was infectious and he contributed significantly to the success of the trip.

By Adam from Mamer | 14 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★

Mountains and sunshine

High Tatras Trekking - The Carpathian Mountains

What a fantastic trip we had. Jacob was an excellent guide, encouraging and attentive in an understated way and he told us a lot about the mountains and the climbing history of them. The food in the huts was a suprise..... excellent and lots of it. And we enjoyed the choice of beers at the end of each day. The first two days felt a little slow. The bus to Zakopane was 2 hours 20 minutes and it felt like there was too much time in the town really, when I'd have preferred to be out walking. T he rest of the trip was full-on though so maybe a slow lead in was needed. A well organised and really enjoyable trip in a stunning part of Poland/Slovakia which I recommend if you want to try a Hut-to Hut trip.

By Jane from Brighton | 13 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Classic Laugavegur Trail Trek

All the holidays I had with KE were very good. Our guide was very professional. Ability to make quick decisions. Excellent cook. Highlights - Scenery and landscape.

By Michael from Galway | 12 September 2024

Latest from our Travellers

97% of our customers rated their holiday Good or Excellent

A really good and varied trip

Snowy walking in the south of France

Rural Romania and Backroads of Bulgaria

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

Stunning Family Challenge

And now for something completely different

I would highly recommend KE Adventures

It might be Europe's toughest GR trek, but it's one of the world's most beautiful

Incredible trip to the roof of Africa

Wild Tuscany

Wild Tuscany

Walking Highlights of the Rockies

The amazing rock scenery and rock pool swims were a highlight

The Complete GR20

The holiday was well organised and very enjoyable

Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday

Hunza, Shimshal and the Rush Lake Trek

High Tatras Trekking

Mountains and sunshine

Classic Laugavegur Trail Trek

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KE 2021 Online Reviews

97%

Your Wishlist

Holiday Search

Latest from our Travellers

97% of our customers rated their holiday Good or Excellent

A really good and varied trip

Snowy walking in the south of France

Rural Romania and Backroads of Bulgaria

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

Stunning Family Challenge

And now for something completely different

I would highly recommend KE Adventures

It might be Europe's toughest GR trek, but it's one of the world's most beautiful

Incredible trip to the roof of Africa

Wild Tuscany

Wild Tuscany

Walking Highlights of the Rockies

The amazing rock scenery and rock pool swims were a highlight

The Complete GR20

The holiday was well organised and very enjoyable

Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday

Hunza, Shimshal and the Rush Lake Trek

High Tatras Trekking

Mountains and sunshine

Classic Laugavegur Trail Trek

Get our latest articles and promotions straight to your inbox

KE 2021 Online Reviews

97%

Your Wishlist

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