reviews
Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
A demanding but great trek in an interesting region of Georgia.
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.
The chance to explore two countries at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, full of history, with excellent hospitality and good wines!
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
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.
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.
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.