reviews
Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
The programme for this cultural tour is excellent, with a range of experiences from watching Sumo wrestlers at their daily training, to spending the night in a Buddhist shrine, where we attended their prayers at daybreak. From a mountain trip to watch macaque monkeys playing in the snow, to boat trips on Lake Ashi, where we saw Mount Fuji, and to Miyajima Island to admire the stage setting for the No theatre productions. We returned truly different - with so many unique memories, really healthy after the cuisine. and mindful that a holiday can make such a difference. This was a holiday to bear comparison with any other in the pantheon of outstanding experiences. We both thank you as the originator of this trip. You had the imagination to appreciate what it could be, and the efficiency to realise the dream so effectivley. You can be proud of your work!