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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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

★ ★ ★ ★

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

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great walks to beautiful villages

Self-Guided Walking in Las Alpujarras

A great part of Spain to visit, beautiful country and villages, welcoming but not overly touristy. The walks were well planned - it was good to take the route from Trevelez down to Mecina, rather than the other way as some tours do. We did not receive .gpx files, which would have helped, but the written directions were good. All the hotels were very good, it was nice to have pools. Recommend the vegetarian restaurant in tiny Mecina. The local agent OtrosCaminos were very helpful. Consi der staying on and making the bus-assisted climb of Mulhacen from Capiliera. It is hot walking in summer - best in the early morning and higher up!

By Sarah from London | 10 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mb

Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc

Loved every second , every view, every meal etc

By Paul from Maidstone | 04 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fantastic trip!

Traverse of the Jotunheimen

An absolutely fantastic trip! Despite much of the 8 days being poor weather, our group had a great time. Our guide, Lerke, was very resourceful and managed to juggle our itinerary so that we were able to summit Galdhopiggen. Definitely a highlight! We did see some fantastic scenery and came home with a real sense of accomplishment of our efforts to make our way through the rocky terrain, wet trails and muddy bogs to the next hut. Lerke was a great motivator and offered lots of much neede d encouragement to ensure we were successful. I would highly recommend this trip!

By Sherry from Ottawa Canada | 04 September 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What a Fann-tastic trip!

The Ultimate Fann Mountains Trek

What can I say, this really was a Fann-tastic trip!

The weather was fabulous in July, it was shorts and T.shirt weather throughout the trek.

The scenery is spectacular (especially the lakes) and the (wild) camping spots (all by streams or lakes) are remote and simply stunning - most of the camping spots we had to ourselves. What made it so amazing was how quiet and remote it is. The first three/four days we didn't see any other trekkers or westerners, just she pherd's and local Tajik people (who are extremely hospitable and invite you in for tea, bread, and homemade apricot jam). The trek passes over some high passes so there are some long and steep ascents and descents, but the mountains, wild flowers, and lakes that you see en-route are simply stunning and well worth the effort. It's also lovely to see all the free-roaming herds of cows and goats enjoying the mountain pastures.

Umed was a great guide. He set a good pace uphill (good for faster walkers to follow) and was comfortable with me running downhill ahead of him - just telling me where to wait for him and the rest of the group. The support crew were also great, and looked after us well during the trek.

Food is plentiful. Breakfast is a bit of a challenge if you're vegan, as it's mostly porridge or eggs (although bread and jam is available), but the picnic lunches and dinners are pretty good (for vegans and vegetarians) and they do their best to cater for a vegetarian or vegan diet. There's lots of tasty vegetable soups and fresh salads, and lots of refreshing watermelon for afternoon tea.

The city tours in Dushanbe and Samarkand are really good and you get to see all the key sights.
Can recommend Emirhan restaurant in Samarkand as they have a rooftop terrace which is great for watching the sunset.

Useful tips for travellers
You can get beer at the homestay, mountain hut, and the last campsite at Lake Alauddin. There are showers at the homestay and mountain hut. You can charge your phone/camera etc at the homestay and the mountain hut - you need a European two-pin adaptor. While on the trek, you fill your water bottles from streams and they give you a filter water bottle as a welcome gift which was thoughtful and practical. Hydration tablets / electrolytes are really useful for the more challenging uphill days, especially if it's hot.

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By Julia from Chesterfield - UK | 29 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★

A Cycling Extravaganza in a Unique Country

Cycle Madagascar - Highlands to the Coast

This was an amazing trip, with plenty of exposure to the flora, fauna, culture, food, climate, and topography of this unique Island. The accommodations were clean and safe. The food was representative of the country and the regions were we traversing. But be prepared for the third world sights and smells! Despite the poverty, all of the people were happy and smiling. When meeting people and greeting them with a “Salama” (“hello”), they would respond joyously and with a huge smile. r />
Naina, Ismael, and Kanto were knowledgeable and amusing guides. They rode with us and enjoyed the rides as much as we did. Tolotra and his crew kept the bikes tuned and the vehicles stocked with food and drink. They had a great lunch waiting for us at the various stops along the way, and handled all requests (as well as the baggage).

Riding the gravel and dirt roads through various local communities and villages were the most enjoyable. It was nice to be off of the paved highways, where the vehicle exhaust and charcoal fire fumes could be thick, especially in the towns and cities.

The hi-lights of this expedition are too numerous to list separately. But how about exhilarating creek crossings, hiking up to mountain tops for amazing views, funky hotels, swimming in clear blue lakes and mountain pools (and hotel pools), rain-forest and National Park walks with all the sorts of flora and fauna unique to the Island, sunsets followed by a sky glowing with the light from a multitude of stars, and cuisine of all sorts. And oh, did I mention that all of this is strung together by bike rides?

My one issue, and the reason (probably unfairly) for which I gave the trip a 4 out of 5? As it is primarily a biking trip, there were opportunities where more biking could have been enjoyed. This was especially true at the end of the expedition, when we had 4 days of lounging by the beach. Perhaps these extra days could have been reduced to 2 days (as per the KE brochure), with the 2 additional biking days distributed throughout the expedition. (Particularly so at the start of the trip, where maybe the volcanic region from Antananarivo to Antsirabe could have been discovered?)

By the time the dust had settled, the trip had put on about +/- 500 km of biking.
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A Cycling Extravaganza in a Unique Country

By Timothy from Campbell River, BC, Canada | 27 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beautiful holiday full of memorable experiences
Active Family Holiday on Turkey's Lycian Coast

Our party of three (me, my mum and my 10 year old son) had a fantastic holiday alongside the other family (mum, dad, 9 year old boy, 7 year old girl). The week was made up of a variety of different activities with highlights being sea kayaking, rubber ring rafting and private boat trip. Our guide Ozzie was knowledgeable, friendly and flexible with how he structured the flow of the days to suit the full group. This is our second KE Adventure holiday and I still cannot get over how much I love no t having to do any organising, driving (especially in Kas, those roads are so narrow, our driver was AMAZING!) and basically very little thinking. Ozzie made is seem so easy.

The hotel at Dalyan (Riverside) has fairly basic small rooms but the outdoor space more than made up for it, we loved having our breakfast next to the river watching the turtles swimming up to us. The hotel at Kas (Belinda) is more modern though the outdoor space is limited and it is a little walk up from town (which helps burns off the minimum 2 icecreams per day). We extended our trip by organising an extra night stay at Gocek (Selya Apart Hotel) and were grateful to Ozzie and the Potter family for dropping us off on their way back from Kas to airport.

We all loved the beauty of the places we visited and appreciated the regular dips into pools, rivers and sea.

Thank you KE Adventure team!
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Beautiful holiday full of memorable experiences

By Alix from Liverpool | 20 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Glorious sunshine in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland
Self-Guided Via Alpina Trekking: Meiringen to Lenk

Possibly the most fortunate hikers of the year to experience glorious almost 7 days of unbroken sunshine stomping over the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.

We were a dad and two son trio of mid level hikers. Mid level in being judged by a good level of fitness and stamina but lacking in experience of Alpine mountain peaks with honesty.

The booking experience was seamless and easy and the Eurotrek App was excellent along the way. Although this was not fully operational u ntil we were on the trails.

The self guided tour was described as a level 6 and we spent many an hour as a trio, debating what makes it a level 6. After a full 6 days of trekking, we drew the conclusion that the grading is about right in our experience. As previously mentioned, we are a reasonably fit bunch following regular attendance at the gym and much walking in the Welsh and Mendip hills, locally to us. So fitness was no problem. The hiking difficulty rating provided on the Eurotrek app felt a little overstated than that experienced on our trip. It should be minded however, that we were blessed with glorious sunshine pretty much the whole way, which no doubt made grip at the high altitudes a lot easier. We imagine, with poor weather conditions, the peak passes would be a lot more difficult therefore, providing balance to our initial perception of the difficulty.

Our main luggage transfer was effortless day to day and was always at the subsequent hotel by the time we arrived at it, even when we made for a quick time.

The trek is a wonderful way to experience Switzerland. There is no doubt it is a very expensive place to travel around but worth it for the beauty in our opinion. Naturally, there are ways to avoid the expense and we would recommend the deal that includes hotel food for future users, simply to mitigate further expense. If you're happy to spend a little more, as we were, then it allowed us to really see a lot of more of the towns we visited. Adding to our experience.

If we could make one suggestion, it would be for KE to align the descriptions slightly more with that of the Eurotrek App. As we had in mind that we would be trekking the whole way, every day. However, we did need to catch some local transport on certain days to get to the starting points. This proved to be expensive.

Hopefully this helps any budding hiker to the alps of Switzerland. We had a the trip of a lifetime and one we certainly won't forget as a family.

P.S Thank you to Ashley and his family for being such wonderful companions along some of the way (the good pics courtesy of their excellent photography skills)

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Glorious sunshine in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland

By Tomas from Bristol, UK | 20 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands
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.

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Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands

By Susan from UK | 19 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Walking South Africa
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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Walking South Africa

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.

4000 Peaks of Morocco

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.
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Rewarding itinerary in Madagascar

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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June 2024 Trip

By Michael from North Carolina, USA | 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.
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Adventure travel at its finest

By Andy from Ambleside | 12 August 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands
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!

Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten Islands

By Vibeke from London | 11 August 2024