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A real level 4 trip, with steep sections on most days, some scrambling and rocky paths, but also some gentler parts along ridges and the coastline, with the rewarding views over majestic fjords, hidden beaches and colourful villages and the Lofoten archipelago in the background.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Evenes, Bodo, Dronningruta, Lofo
Evenes, Bodo, Dronningruta, Lofoten, Kvalvika Beach, Himmeltindan, Nusfjord, Bodø
The AP mini circuit has to be considered as a viable alternative to the full circuit(which I have not done) - if you have a fortnight and are confident of your trekking abilities, you will get all the thrill of the trek up the Valley and over the 5416m pass , a descent through the incredible Mustang valley on the other side followed by a memorable flight past the AP range back to Pokhara .
Trekking and HikingAdventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We originally looked at booking the longer Costa Rica Family Adventure as we thought the Family Escape (at 7 nights) may be too much of a whirlwind. However, we liked the fact that there were less distances to travel (as the Family Escape does not include a visit to the Caribbean coast), and that there were more activities included, plus, on enquiry, we found out that on the dates we wished to travel the families booked onto this trip had children of similar ages to our own (16 and 12). We are so pleased we went for this option! From being met at the airport by our wonderful guide, Eduardo, and driver, Cesar, to being waved off as we boarded our transfer on the last day, we enjoyed every minute of our holiday!
Costa Rica is an incredible country and this trip gives you a sense of its diverstiy - from the volcanic landscape around Arenal, to the Cloud Forest at Monteverde, and the tropical beaches of Carillo. The mix of activities is great - from the high adrenaline rafting and zip wire course at Monteverde, to fascinating nature walks and wildlife spotting. The itinery is quite pacy - there are activities most days, however, you get at least 2 nights at each hotel (apart from in San Jose) so you do get chance to unpack a little and enjoy some downtime.
The hotels all offer something different: Los Lagos at La Fortuna is set in lush tropical gardens with its own resident crocodile and butterfly and insect houses. Plus, it has its own hot springs complete with water slides which our children loved. The Country Lodge at Monteverde is a little more basic, but charming, whilst the Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows are super stylish with spacious rooms and a stunning pool area.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
9-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde
San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Carrillo Beach
From the autumn 2016 season the Mera Peak trek/climb by this tour operator changed from a camping based itinerary of previous years to lodge or tea house based accommodation. I/we departed in October 2016. Before commencing the trek Id convinced myself that the trek in to Mera would be broadly similar to the Everest Base Camp trek, I was very wrong. There is no gentle start and long days requiring sustained effort are the theme pretty much throughout. The route taken for the first few days is very quiet and had a feel of "going around the houses" for me. That quieter route also makes for much more basic lodges than those found on EBC for example but they were all adequate. The longer approach route does however allow for excellent acclimatisation, a major key to success. All the approach routes converge in Kote and it is then a straight shot up the now rocky Hinku valley. I didnt find the approach trek in to be very scenic and that wasnt helped by day after day of cloud cover. I wonder if a November departure would be worthwhile for clearer skies. Khare, which I thought of as base camp village, was a surprsingly busy place with climbers from all over the world either preparing for or returning from Mera. Stories of six groups having been beaten back by high winds the previous day brought about a realisation that nature could quite easily scupper our plans. Having left Khare and reached the snow line, those of us that brought our own mountain boots and crampons were reunited with them by virtue of some porters that had gone ahead of us. I was now using mountain boots and crampons on snow for the first time, I found I tired far quicker than I cared to admit at the time. After a short but steep climb things level out and then it was a relatively short walk to Mera La camp for the night. The sunset and night time stars were very nice. We were now in tents for the first time. I wish I hadn't binned off my Thermarest mattress as a weight saving effort for the Lukla flight. Foam mattresses were provided but I could still feel the cold coming up from the ground. The next day was a short one from Mera La to High Camp. It however is one of those sections where the destination never seems to get any closer despite feeling you're working like a steam train at full speed. The amusement of high camp's precarious position soon passes as you try to concentrate on getting some sleep for the upcoming 0030 wake up call. I got no real sleep. We then started our torch lit climb through the night in deeply sub zero temperatures. It was hard going, really hard going, there was little talking amongst us. It was just heads down and endure it. The group were imposing more rest stops on the guides than they wanted but I don't think there were any negative consequences when all said and done. My fingers were numb with cold. The sun slowly rose and Mera central summit could now be seen ahead. We left our rucksacks at the foot of the summit and using our Jumars went up the surprisingly short roped section fixed by our guides, it was easy and I was on the summit in a minute. It had taken around 7 hours from leaving High Camp with no sleep (for me) since Mera La the previous day. It was bitterly cold on the summit and very windy, there wasn't any open celebration. There now followed an extremely long walk all the way back down to Khare village with only a short pitstop at High Camp along the way. It was exhausting. Availability of water was a problem too since much if not all of our water was still frozen despite the now blazing morning sun. I was gasping for a drink. Ngima our leader had some warm water in a flask and I will definitely take a small flask when I find myself back on a high mountain again. What now remained was the trek "home" to Lukla. The third day of decent involved far more steep climbing than we were in the mood for but we gt where we were going. Conditions on the Zatrwa pass werent as bad as they could be. During our trek trail crampons or shoe grips weren't necessary. There were only a couple sections of ice a few paces long. The decent from the pass is long and steep, thankfully the national park authority have been building a stone staircase which makes things a little easier but you still have to watch your step. There is the potential for an overnight stay a few hours short of Lukla but depending on progress it can be skipped and we pressed on for Lukla and some comfort... relatively speaking
ClimbingTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Ba
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Base Camp, Mera La, Mera Peak High Camp, Mera Peak, Zatrwa La Pass, Lukla, Piuyan, Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chholem, Sukye La, Kothe
Wow - this was a challenging hike! Not so much the terrain, definitely due to the hot weather. Putting the heat, sweat and fatigue to one side - this hike is unique and rewarding. Along the route there is lots to see and the destination is mind blowing! Our team (Stiwen, Brayan & Pinnochio) were attentive and did everything possible to make this a safe & memorable trip. The side journeys on this itinerary were all worthwhile and enjoyable. It was just the two of us for the duration of this trip and at all times we felt safe and everything ran without a hitch.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Camping
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bogota, Cartagena, The Lost City
Bogota, Cartagena, The Lost City Trek, Santa Marta
The Rongai route begins at the remote northern side of Kilimanjaro near the Kenyan border. We will be hiking through a true wilderness area towards the jagged Mawenzi Peak then cross a barren desert before climbing up Kibo’s eastern crater wall. The Rongai route is a more slow ascent and is therefore preferred by those with little or no backpacking experience but is equally enjoyable for even the most hardened Kilimanjaro climbers.
During the climb you will have 5 nights of full-service camping, with a private toilet tent. There is a large communal tent, which is used for dining and at other times in the event of inclement weather. Limited single accommodation is also available and includes a single tent as well as the hotel nights.
We can arrange extra accommodation before or after the trip if needed.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Hut, Camping, Tent
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Kilimanjaro Rongai route, Kilima
Kilimanjaro Rongai route, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Marangu, Rongai, Kikelewa Camp, Mawenzi Tarn Hut, School Hut Campsite, Horombo Hut, Marangu Gate
This was a tough but thoroughly enjoyable trip in a very beautiful part of the world. The challenging grade is about right; be prepared for a lot of rocky steep ascent and descent including a fair amount of scrambling and using fixed cables/chains. Some parts (particularly the ascent to La Om on Day 4 and the ridge along the top) are pretty exposed. There is a good mix of tougher and somewhat easier days to break things up with some nice forest and meadow sections. The reward is some amazing scenery in a relatively unspoilt part of the world. The whole trip was very well organised and accommodation at Villa Hermani was very clean and comfortable, with friendly hosts and great food. The mountain huts were a good experience but be prepared for very basic toilet and sanitary facilities.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bucharest, Magura, La Om, Piatra
Bucharest, Magura, La Om, Piatra Mare, Cabana Malaiesti, Omu Mountian Hut
A 7-day Langtang trek with this local tour operator is highly recommended! We had five wonderful, tough, fun, beautiful, and overwhelming days of trekking, experiencing Nepal’s raw natural power up close. We hiked from Syabrubesi to Kyanjin Gompa (a 2,400-meter altitude gain!) in three days and descended in two. Along the way, we passed through lush forests, steep mountain slopes, and even snowy trails. When the weather was clear, the views of countless towering peaks were absolutely unforgettable.
The entire experience was guided by our experienced guide, Binod, and our knees were especially grateful to have the kind porter, Rajendra, with us. Binod managed everything perfectly, paid close attention to how we were feeling, and adjusted the pace according to our needs. He was also very aware of altitude sickness symptoms. We took Diamox but didn’t experience any issues. Unfortunately, I caught a bad cold just before the trek, but Binod was ready with medicine, Strepsils, and ginger tea.
He and Rajendra make a fun duo, adding to the fantastic experience! Along the way, the company were easy to reach if we needed any additional assistance – though we never actually had to. We were two sisters on this adventure, and we are SO happy that we gave ourselves this experience!
Trekking and HikingAdventure
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
12-79 yrs
Operated in
chinese, english, hindi, south korean
Destinations
Langtang trek, Kathmandu, Syabru
Langtang trek, Kathmandu, Syabrubesi, Lama Hotel, Langtang Village, Kyanjin Gompa
Very hard, very demanding, very cold, VERY REWARDING. The first view of a snow leopard, like my first encounter with a tiger, was highly emotional and, unashamedly, induced tears !
WildlifeTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
