reviews
Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
An amazing trip to Bhutan
I had an absolutely amazing time whilst visiting Bhutan and really did not want to leave! The country is spectacularly beautiful and the people we met were incredibly friendly and accommodating. The success of the trip was principally due to our guide who (along with his team) looked after us and made sure that we got the most out of our experience.
Gentle Walking, Indian Hill Stations - Private Departure
From the quirkiness of Mrs Bandhari's Guest House in Amritsar to the heritage style of Chateau Garli and Grace Cottage in Dharamsala. The food too couldn't be bettered whether masala dhosas or aloo paranthas for breakfast or the river fish cooked three different ways for Alan at the Mayflower Hotel in Manali. Our guide, Sanjay, was very experienced and enjoyed taking us to off- the-beaten track places such as the local farmhouse where we sat on a colourful quilt on the balcony floor and indulged in delicious lemon tea while taking in the fantastic views. The walks were a bit demanding at first due to the altitude and steepness of some but we soon acclimatised and ended the trip feeling very fit. Sanjay was always prepared to accommodate any special requests if at all possible and when I realised we would be stopping briefly in Chandigarh, the home of Nek Chand's Rock Garden, he managed to fit in a fleeting visit - fantastic! The cultural aspects of the tour were fascinating from the hurly-burly of the golden temple at Amritsar to the meditative calm of chanting monks in one of the Buddhist monasteries we visited. Shimla with its wonderful pedestrian mall provided a few shopping opportunities - such fun exploring the colourful stalls in the local bazaars - as did both Dharamsala and our final stop, Delhi. Our driver, Ram, in Delhi was brilliant at locating several book shops for us, quite difficult as so many shops were closed on a Sunday. We visited the Janta Mantar here for the first time and thoroughly recommend it. We felt very safe with Sunam, our main driver for the trip. He was a most careful and courteous driver and greeted us each morning with a lovely smiling 'Namaste'. So all in all a wonderful experience and many thanks to Mountain Kingdoms for arranging things to go so smoothly.
North to South Vietnam
A wonderful holiday. Seeing Cities, Mountains and the ocean. A full on trip, lots to see and do.
Oustanding trip to view the wildlife of Tanzania
A packed itinerary of safari rides & walking in the wilderness. The local tour leaders and all the support staff really made this holiday a very special and unforgettable experience. We were able to view so many animals and birds in the wild, and often close-up. The camps were very comfortable with excellent food.
Comprehensive introduction to mountaineering
This alpine mountaineering adventure is a great experience for those looking to learn, or refresh, their skills/experience with crampons and ice axes. It's an amazing action-packed short trip, packing in an exciting Via Ferrata and a climb of a stunning 4,000m peak.
Stunning Serengeti
Just returned from a wonderful holiday visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti Plains and Wilderness area. The variety and abundance of wildlife and birds were amazing as was the sheer scale and scenery of the areas we travelled. A pleasure too to meet Masai people. We couldn't have been better looked after, food was plentiful and delicious, our guides and camp staff were excellent and provided us with a number of lovely surprises. A holiday of a lifetime that will not be forgotten.
Majestic and Miraculous Antarctica
There's nowhere to compare with Antarctica. Whether it's staring at the jaw-dropping magnificence of the scenery or being delighted by the antics of the penguins, you won't find a similar experience anywhere else. For me, as for many others, it was the chance to finally encounter the seventh continent. I walked on and sailed past ruggedly and eerily beautiful mountains, volcanic islands, glaciers and icebergs and saw with my own eyes a constantly changing array of birds, whales and seals. There was something new every day. The experience was supported by lectures on the ship, given by the same environmental and wildlife experts who accompanied us on every excursion. The food and quality of service on the ship were faultless. This isn't a cheap holiday but, if you can afford it, one you'll never forget.
A fascinating introduction to a fascinating country
Absolutely perfect introduction to Bhutan with a mix of walks, guided tours of temples and dzongs, and a festival. Hotels were of high standard of comfort. Guide was knowledgeable, personable and really made the trip. Even the driving was a fascinating experience.
Fullfilling a lifelong dream
This was the most perfect trip we have ever undertaken. The guides and staff on the MV Expedition were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and the service was excellent. The scenery and wildlife sightings were beyond expectations and the knowledgable guides gave us lots of information on everything we saw.
Everest Base Camp in Style
The Everest Base Camp in Style trek was outstanding, and made even more so by our excellent guide, Damber. The weather could not have been better - sunny days and blue skies - and although the nights were cold, we were very well looked after by lots of hot food, hot showers, electric blankets and hot water bottles - so truly spoiled. The "In Style" version is more expensive than the regular Base Camp trek also offered by Mountain Kingdoms but It is well worth paying a little more for these comforts, especially in December. We really looked forward to the Everest Summit Hotels along the way as they were superb with wonderful staff and fantastic food. The trail made for very good walking amidst spectacular scenery - the Himalayas are hard to beat - and the Everest region is unbelievably beautiful. December was a really good time to go with far fewer tourists on the path and more space in the lodges. We had a fabulous time with our guide, Damber, who looked after us and gave us all sorts of tips and advice, and I cannot recommend him more highly. Thanks to the steady "Damber plod", we all got to Base Camp in good health and high spirits. I really enjoyed this trek - one of the best I have done - and I will probably go back in a few years and do it again. I highly recommend this trek, especially out of season.