Excellent trip and so well organised

Holiday highlights: experiencing a torrential downpour on the veranda in the rain forest; finding a coffee plant growing beside my lodge; seeing Sri Lankan elephants and visiting the elephant transit home in Udawalawe.
Top tip: Don't fret over Adam's Peak. Make the decision once you've climbed 4 flights of stairs, then 200 more up, then 200 down for dinner, then 200 back up to bed. If you're ok with that, then go do Adam's Peak.

It was a nice mix of walking, shopping, culture and beach. There were many leeches in the forest/jungle walking and although we wore leech socks which worked well and our guide was very assiduous with salt, dettol as deterrents.. probably worth mentioning

Loved the topography, great group spirit and supportive leader - most days were moderate hiking but 2 days were more challenging and required strong fitness and balance on rock & bolders Overall a great introduction to Bulgaria nature & high points.

Fantastic landscapes and variety. Very tough going in heat of November especially in strong winds. Endless long straight roads can be a bit soul destroying. Setting up and taking down camp most nights is an added workload but scenery and variety help off set that. Possibility to upgrade to rooms instead of camping was very welcome a few times.

Our guide Uden was absolutely fantastic - attention to detail, knowledge of the area including its history, brilliant sense of humour, looking after our medical needs, adapting to conditions (the wrong domestic terminal on the boarding passes, dreadful weather conditions etc), and fostering positive group dynamics. The very best KE group leader I have encountered - and there have been many excellent ones.

The reserves, the guides and the snorkelling.

Great weather gave us great views. The sunsets and sun rises were amazing. While the rating for this trek is 6 moderate be aware that there are many steps on this trek (over 30,000) so be prepared
for some tough sections. The day up to MBC was probably our hardest although it is still doable if you take your time and take as many rests as you need.

Get very fit and don't believe it's suitable for a first Nepal trek

Great introduction to trekking in Nepal with superb scenery and experience of trekking accommodations

I didn't know what to expect but I can say it over delivered every single day - the wildlife we saw each day and close up was overwhelming at times. The passion that Costa Rica has for its national parks and conservation puts the UK to shame.

The trekking through the varied scenery was great. The lodges provided were of good quality. I liked that KE provided sleeping bags and down jackets upon request - this certainly was a positive in my choosing KE. I would recommend arriving in Kathmandu at least a day early - allows recovery from the long journey and there's loads to do/see there too.

While the trek to Panch Pokhari was fascinating we were on a pilgrim trail and so wasn't truly unspoiled and the degree of litter was disappointing. However the trek to the Jugal Himal basecamp was wonderfully rugged and challenging, and especially the return via the rural and unspoiled Tempathang was truly magical. Thus the second part of the trek was the best.

This adventure pushed me like no other, yet was incredibly rewarding. To get the most out of this adventure, be prepared physically and have the right gear. Prepare for harsh conditions, but hope for the best!

Ensure you prepare your kit well and ensure you are physically fit before travelling.