Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the Sun Gate and geting that first view of Machu Picchu was a fantastic moment. But in fact, every day on the trail was fun and had great scenery. I also loved the (optional) dune-buggying/ sand surfing just outside Nazca. It was so much fun!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Fabrizio, was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. On the first day, I suffered from quite bad altitude sickness. He was very reassuring and kept an eye on me to make sure I was OK. I'm very grateful for how he looked after me. I was fine the next day and I didn't really have any problems with altitude the rest of the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Personally, I wish I'd left my sleeping bag at home and hired one when I got there. It would have left more room in my pack. The sleeping bags that were hired out were absolutely fine and our leader sorted out the hiring of them.There is plenty of driving on this trip so it's good to have plenty of good songs on your ipod and don't forget the charger!

Most Inspirational Moment

wild life and birds

Thoughts on Group Leader

very experienced one - marco polo

Advice for Potential Travellers

weather is colder than we think, beware theft in hotel, they can unlock your door and get in your room to steal things

Most Inspirational Moment

Several dawn incidents are memorable, such as a male lion being chased off by a pack of howling Hyenas, an unforgettable sound and spectacle. Or the frequent chasing around the plains following the three 'cheetah boys' as they hunted. Or the almost daily tracking of leopards.  One all-day outing was simply the most exhilerating , full-on experience of wildlife I have ever had, 14 hours of non-stop activity

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul Goldstein has immense experience of these trips, and it shows. He is dedicated to ensuring everyone gets memorable pictures, constantly aware of where wildlife will be, racing across the Mara at high speed to catch the action, then postioning the vehicles for the best angles and light. He takes the time to patiently explain photographic technique for the less skilled  - but expects his advice to be remembered! Anyone failing to do this the next day, resulting in out of focus/underexposed/missed shots can expect a stream of invective in their corrective interview.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You will learn how to get excellent wildlife images, and be given many, many opportunities to take them. You will need plenty of card storage. A second camera is particularly useful as back up and for wide angle shots, leaving the main camera and long lens ever ready to not miss any action 

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Taj Mahal was an amasing experience and of course the sighting of tigers, the main reason for our trip to India.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He had a good knowledge of wildlife but lacked a little in people skills. It would have been good to have had a written note of how much the extra game drives and tips were during the holiday rather than a brief list at the end of it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If travelling in January take plenty of warm clothes, we had 5 layers on plus blankets and a hot water bottle when on game drives. Because the eating/communal areas in the lodges have no windows/doors we had our meal dressed in coats etc; and then went to bed as it was so cold.If you intent to do the extra game drives you will need approx. £500 - £600 which includes all tips.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the most awe-inspiring moment was when the captain of the ship announced land ahoy, my first sight of Antarctica made my heart race. I've been fortunate to visit many parts of the world in my flying career but the seventh continent feels like a trip to another planet.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Doctor Lynn Woodworth, she is an authority on polar marine life and conservation, possesses a warm and welcoming nature, has a positive outlook on life and has the rare skill of making people feel special. Her team adore her and I strongly recommend her as your group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My only suggestion would be to pack lightly, our ship, the Vavilov, was extremely comfortable and warm with an excellent crew and delicious, copious food. My expectation was of living in a harsh environment so i took far too many layers of clothing. We were issued a technical jacket with zipped-in fleece which was ideal protection against the elements for our shore landings, the boots that were loaned to us were so comfortable and warm that i have now bought my own.

Most Inspirational Moment

Zip lining across the rainforest canopy ............ just as a thunderstorm was starting.  I have a rubbish head for heights but its just so exhilarating and fortunately kind Fiona distracted me by relaying her favourite recipes whilst my teeth were chattering waiting on the platform to take off.  My daughter of course found it a doddle.  I have to say that I also found the kids on the trip inspirational - they bonded and had a great time and when we visited a local school everyone joined in and had fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fab - knowledgeable, funny, helpful and so enthusiatic.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect to be dinner, lunch and breakfast for the mosquitoes!  Long sleeves, long trousers, deadly sprays, natural remedies - nothing stands in the way of the mosquitoes in Tortugera but then the sight of the butterflies makes it all worthwhile..................

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling around Angkor Wat and surrounding temple complexes was a way to see the sights that made you feel a part of it in a way that being on a bus would not have come close to.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Exploring Petra, particularly getting up into the hills to get the full sense of the scale of the site.  Sleeping under the stars in the Wadi Rum and riding a camel as the sun came up.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Full of stories and interesting bits of information to keep us entertained.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just being in the forest and seeing all those exotic plants, mammals, birds and reptiles in their natural environments would have been utterly wonderful. But the tapestry of night and morning sounds (frogs, monkeys, birds) was a revelation, each place having its own soundscape. I have recordings which evoke the humidity, temperature and atmosphere of each place we stayed even more than the photos.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We could not have asked for a better leader. He (Jeff Munoz) was knowlegable, enthusiastic, and determined both to show us as much as he could of the country and its natural history and to impart his knowledge. Both the leader and the driver (Mario Jiminez Ortiz) were conscientious and accommodating. They arranged optional group visits to restaurants, which would not otherwise have happened, and always offered interesting trips during the free time when they should, presumably, have been off duty.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do read up about each place you are visiting and where there is time for optional excursions ask your group leader about alternatives. In Monteverde we enjoyed the activities we did (bridges walk, zipline experience, hummingbird viewing, forest walk) but personally wish I'd spent more time exploring the primary forest rather than ziplining or visiting secondary forest (Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve - short walk). Definitely do the boat trip on the Tarcoles River if you get the chance. Don't obsess about seeing a quetzal - there are so many other exciting creatures to see!

Most Inspirational Moment

So many! Walking on Etna (especially as rain had been forecast and it turned out to be a beautiful day); visiting the lovely town of Cefalu; the beautiful towns of Ragusa with its stunning baroque architecture, and Erice with its great views; the walk in Zingaro Nature Reserve; seeing the Valley of Temples at Agrigento in the late afternoon sun; picnicing by the sea at Selinute after visting the temples there; and of course delicious Sicilian cakes!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabio was our leader and he was assisted by Salvo. They also drove the minibuses and did so very well indeed. They also looked after us well and were friendly and helpful throughout the trip. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was a fantastic trip but very exhausting as well. Great days but very long after early starts so though not requiring a high level of fitness you need to have a good deal of stamina. Some people may feel there is too much packed into each day but I wouldn't have wanted to miss anything I saw and certainly did allow me to see a great deal of this beautiful island. Take a good guide book. At a number of places our guides gave us a town map and we were free to explore on our own which was nice but with often limited time you need to be organized if you want to do a place justice!