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Traveller reviews of Mountain Kingdoms
Overall holiday rating: 4.9
Total number of reviews submitted: 1267
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Exceptional guide
We had a truly exceptional guide - Lileete (spelling?). All the arrangements worked like clockwork. The accommodation and food were excellent .
A good holiday for fit walkers
The opportunity to explore and learn about a country we knew very little of. The guiding was excellent, the accommodation good, transport worked well. Scenery amazing. The walking was more demanding than we anticipated. We have no hesitation recommending this holiday to fit walkers.
Superb route in Georgia
A great country to visit and superb route.
A holiday of great variety
There was great variety in the holiday - coast and mountains, walking and history/culture, even variety in the weather! Our guide was excellent - knowledgeable, good company and also adaptable to accommodate variations in the schedule to make the most of our time.
Fantastic first trip with MK
My first MK trip and it was fantastic! First class travel company and good value for money. We were a small group and I was travelling alone so slightly nervous about the dynamics but it all worked out well and the guide was amazing too. I’m already planning my next trip.
Great trek
A demanding but great trek in an interesting region of Georgia.
Blown away by the Silk Road
We loved the contrasts of the historic monuments and the more modern history, as well as the varied topography of the country. From deserts to mountains, from ancient to modern cities, all accompanied by first rate guides. The ex-Soviet train ride was exciting, but for us the highlight was staying with a village family. Conditions were very basic, but we had the warmest of welcomes, ate very well, and experienced a slice of real rural Uzbek life. The flora & fauna of the hikes was unforgettable too. The Silk Road monuments blew us away! We highly recommend this unique holiday.
Excellent hospitality and wines!
The chance to explore two countries at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, full of history, with excellent hospitality and good wines!
Excellent guide and relaxed pace tour
We saw everything we wanted of the section of the Silk Route which is in Uzbekistan. Our guide was excellent in every way: a fountain of knowledge and history and a very pleasant person to spend time with. She organised everything most effectively, but with a light touch. The relaxed pace with a day off in the three key cities was a major selling point for us
Flowers, friendship and ancient cities
We most enjoyed: periods spent in mountain meadows; sight and scent of flowers and herbs, as much as gained views (despite abscence of tulips and irises). Friendliness of Uzbekistanis and of our expert guides (and happenstance of friendly helpfulness of our group members). Visits to ancient Silk Roads cities including museums etc as well as incredible architecture of mosques and madrassas.
Amazing holiday in Uzbekistan
What an amazing holiday! Tashkent, Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand are fascinating cities and we learnt much about their history and culture thanks to the knowledgeable, engaging and friendly guide. The mountain areas are spectacular, and it would have been lovely to have done more walking.
Cultural gems and beautiful hiking
This holiday was a really great mix of the cultural gems of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand coupled with hiking in beautiful mountains and getting an insight to both city and rural living in Uzbekistan.
Gently walking in Croatia
A great laidback gentle holiday which had it all - a few hikes, city breaks and island hopping boat trips all coordinated by our equally laidback guide Marco who exuded claim confidence and was a fountain of knowledge. Having only four of us (friends) out of a possible maximum of twelve, we were gently herded along the trails and the itinerary seamlessly amended to suit both our wishes and the weather - and I suspect our joint abilities (average age 70). Not too testing but a great introduction to a beautiful country and we travelled at the right time to miss the crowds and the inclement weather. Highly recommend for those who are not competitive walkers and who like to walk but also linger and observe.
Best guide and good walks
Our guide, Alp, was one of the best guides we have ever had on any kind of holiday. He was kind, knowledgeable, helpful, flexible and funny. The trip enabled us to see very different landscapes and to have a range of different walks, all within a short driving distance. Alp adapted some of the walks in response to our abilities, which we really appreciated - but we still felt challenged (in a good way) and that we achieved a lot. On most days we hardly saw any other walkers. This was our first Mountain Kingdoms trip. Based on this experience, it won't be our last.
Cannot recommend this trip enough
Khiva was the highlight of the trip for us but Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent did not disappoint. Every city has different plus points and the sights to see in all the destinations are breathtaking. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and highly conscientious, going over and above her role to ensure that everything went to plan. The lunch and dinner venues were all very different and of a good standard throughout. We did suffer from meat overload by the end of the trip but that was to be expected in a double land-locked country. The people are diverse and charming. Uzbekistan is a very special country and I cannot recommend this trip with Mountain Kingdoms enough.
Wonderful guide and cultural highlights
We enjoyed the majesty and beauty of the mauseleums and mosques, the varied types of landscapes and land management and our WONDERFUL guide, Shakhnoza.
Wonderful walks and scenery
Wonderful well-paced walks in stunning scenery. The guides were welcoming and friendly and emparted their knowledge of the geology and ecology of the areas with enthusiasm. One also always felt confident of their ability to lead the group in some potentially challenging conditions. The whole trip was well planned with a good balance of treks, sightseeing and travelling between the ‘hot spots’. The accommodation and food also helped to make the holiday so enjoyable. Do train walking up hills before you go!
A good introduction to Armenia
A good week long introduction to a remarkable and little visited country. Takes in most of the key ancient sites and some beautiful countryside on the varied half day walks. Good standard of accommodation in three very different locations.
A thought provoking trip
Hiking Armenia is a thought provoking and full on trip with long days not to be underestimated. Armenia is well worth a visit with some stunning sights.
Harry's recce trip
This was my first time to Sri Lanka and definitely not my last. This trip has a combination of rewarding walking and comfortable accommodation. Highlights included getting away from the beaten track and being able to visit villages that had very rarely seen tourists. The abundance of flavoursome food and, last but not least, a great cup of tea to start the day.