Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousI'll never be so relieved to get to the top.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? A great trip with excellent well informed and organised Spanish speaking guide/leader. Very good food and comfortable well equipped rooms. Good company. Really good after hours things to do; wine tasting, guided town tour and visit to Santo Domingo de Silos monastery for Vespers. Never a dull moment. And a trip to Burgos to ease the aches and pains.Lovely countryside, villages,hills and valleys, cliffs and rivers and a mountain or three to climb. But definitely more of a grade 2++ than a straight 2. We were exhausted by the end of the week. The best time to go would probably be last week in September as the local saints are celebrated all week with various events every day. See the Covarrubias website at ecovarrubias.com for details including weather and much else. There were two romerias the week we there (early September). Go while you can. What did you think of your group leader? Very good. See above. Probably the best leasder we have had so far.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do plenty of training before you go as it is quite hard work. Easy jet do cheap flights from Liverpool to Madrid but you will need to go Friday or earlier as ther are no suitable flights Saturdays. But a couple of days in Madrid is a good way to start the holiday.Is there anything else you would like to add? Suspected bed bug in room.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousSlipping into a time warp...What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The setting off the coast of Lycia, surrounded by green warm sea was very peaceful and beautiful. There was little sense of the outside world intruding - no roads and settlements except for those small ones we landed at to explore. Complete peace, away from the hurly - burly.What did you think of your group leader? Our captain also cooked, and was good at both sailing the boat and providing wonderful meals. He knew what he was doing, and offered us things we would enjoy. Inevitably, there was a bit of a split in the age range between older and younger people, with some happily in the middle. Sometimes this meant a bit of a clash in terms of people wanting quiet or music, but there were ways of resolving it.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Alovely holiday. Bring your own music if you don't want to listen to other people's on the sound system! though we all enjoyed the Turkish music.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousWonderful insight into Borneo but you need to be fit and able.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The jungle and it's many surprises.What did you think of your group leader? Chris (Sarawak) great and local.Tom (Sabah) Top man!Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be aware that this is a serious climbing holiday!Is there anything else you would like to add? Too many flights... nine in all but can understand why.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousCowbells and Vultures!!!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being able to do 3 out of the 5 walks!!! Jorge was brilliant and was able to give me the confidence and support to complete the 3 walks.What did you think of your group leader? We only really saw Jim at the hotel so really it was Jorge we spent most time with and he was brilliant. He has a good sense of humour and fun but at all times was aware of what was going on around him.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Yes be aware it is a hard B walking trip!!! Make sure you have been doing some uphill walking long before you go on this trip.Is there anything else you would like to add? This was a wonderful holiday and the group got along really well. The only slight downside was the weather but there is nothing to help that! This trip was well planned and well supported. The only other thing that surprised me was the fact we flew into Bilbao then had a 2.5 hour ride in vans to the other side of Santander, would it not be easier to fly to Santander?
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousA beautiful country and great peopleWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The challenging climb of Triglaf on a clear sunny day so that the sheer drops on either side were clearly visibleWhat did you think of your group leader? Local guides were excellent and looked after the group really wellDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Do not be put off by the warnings given before the climb of Triglaf
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousThe Pilgrim's Happy ProgressWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving at Santiago after so many weeks walking through France and Spain.What did you think of your group leader? Michael was excellent. He was very sensitive towards the different physical abilities of our group - the fit could go on ahead and the slower could come along later, but he always checked the strugglers. He gave us our pilgrims' passports (on which we get a stamp all along the Camino) with our names on them so that we could set out on our first day without delay. His historical, geographical and cultural knowledge was extensive and made the Camino even more interesting. He understood that I was a genuine pilgrim. Two of us were vegetarian and he ensured we ate well. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure that you have the appropriate walking experience before you set off. You will be doing more than 20k and then repeat this for several days. You do not need a map - you just follow the yellow arrows that guide you from the French border to Santiago. Is there anything else you would like to add? With Michael as a leader it made my last part of the Camino as part of a group much more interesting than walking alone because he knows such a lot.
Reviewed October 2007 UserThis trip starts in THE most beautiful town in the worldWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The town of Telc, where the trip starts, is just gorgeous and stunning. If you never go anywhere else you should go here, just to spend time in the town square - sit and drink it all in, explore all the nooks and crannies, climb the castle tower to see it from above. Unforgettable. If you like railways, visit the pink railway station too. Go out a day early to have the time to see it and appreciate it. http://www.telc-etc.cz/telc/?lang=ENPrague is fantastic, of course. On the trip between the two, we loved Cesky Krumlov, Trebon, Cesky Budejovice. The cycling through Bohemia is very enjoyable, never too tough, lots to see every day and everywhere you lookWhat did you think of your group leader? Ondre was a very nice chap and very helpful at all times. Did a lot to make the trip enjoyable, and was very responsive to the group's wishes.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go out a day early to spend an extra day in Telc just wandering round and chilling out. Get there by public bus from Prague.Extend your stay in Prague if you haven't been beforeHave at least one "knee of pork" for dinnerClimb up all the towers to enjoy the viewsIs there anything else you would like to add? There were 12 people in all on the holiday, from the UK, USA and Canada, and it made for a very enjoyable trip to be part of that group, it was all very friendly and sociable Everywhere in Bohemia, the hotels were all very good and exceeded our expectations. The hotel in Prague was not quite as good, but it was OK.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousGalaxy Hotel owners and staff were wonderfully accommodating and friendly. Such a pity constructionWhat did you think of your group leader? Roger was very informative and knew the island well.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousA very worthwhile trek, with the Aneto climb hard but worth the effortWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The trip in its entiretyWhat did you think of your group leader? Very good and was oustanding in pacing the groupDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Definitely be hill walking fit with well broken in bootsIs there anything else you would like to add? To have the Mulleres Pass and Aneto days back to back is a hard ask. If possible I would rearrange this part of the trek.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousNot enough leechesWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? With 4 sections to this area it gave a good overall look at the possibilities for a longer stay when we go back packing on our retirement. ........possibly the bota trips on the Kinabatang river and the stay in the lodge with very gentle people was the best but was balanced by the rest of the trip with exercise in Sarawak and Kinabalu.By accident went to harbour side restaurants during Ramadan. The lady brought the grilled fish prawns and squidat 6.25 pm We looked around , although the folk around us had food on their plates they were not eating and were ravenous ,. In solidarity we fasted for 5 mins and so made friends .A wow moment.What did you think of your group leader? Chris in Sarawak was superb. Emotionally charged with showing HIS land .Tom laid back , able Brit, seen it all before. leads from the back on Kinabalu and then pops up from nowhere. Experienced. Needs to get married and hvae lots of babies with a woman that loves Durian . My wife is unavailable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Wash hands before eating , especially after handling money. think before you order food..... is there anything that could upset my tummy for a few days ? Could i resist incorporating meat (eg chiken that was cooked a couple of hours ago that is going to be incorporated in to the welcome stir fry) iinto the diet. and then I might go on the trek or climb the mountain.Having been on several Asian holidays and treks. I prefer to incorporate meat towards the end when the high passes have been traversed.