Traveller Reviews
Read holiday reviews and feedback by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
Traveller reviews of Mountain Kingdoms
Overall holiday rating: 5
Total number of reviews submitted: 1222
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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.
So many unique memories of Japan, a truly outstanding experience.
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!
An exceptional holiday to Bhutan.
An exceptional holiday. Such a delightful contrast of culture, festivals, information and history. Travelling across the country with beautiful scenery and welcome from everyone. Our guide was so informative, good company and attentive to every detail. Thoroughly enjoyed the walking.
Everything I hoped it would be and MORE!
I travelled to Uzbekistan with a couple of friends in mid April, visiting the fascinating Fergana Valley first of all, as a trip add on - a must in my view! It was exciting travelling to Kokand on the very comfortable train through the lush countryside and mountains. For me, the culture of the Fergana area and opportunity to visit top artisans of silk weaving, batik and ceramics, alongside beautiful palaces and mosques was a unique experience! Our guide throughout the whole trip was excellent...she was so knowledgable, charming and prepared for anything, a real joy to spend time with. We travelled widely across the country but everything was so smoothly organised, the drivers excellent (even if the roads were a little bit bumpy!) and the transport high quality. All the hotels we stayed in were very comfortable, not too big and in great locations. As for Uzbekistan...the star of the show! What a beautiful country, lovely welcoming people - especially the children who love to practice their English with you! There is so much to see and absorb and having around 4 days in each city - Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand in particular- was a really good amount of time to explore them properly. Leisure days in each place were welcome, if only to wander, especially very early in the morning, meet Uzbekis and then shop and haggle in the wonderful markets and bazaars! Each place we visited had its own special atmosphere and mood. I loved the quiet majesty of Khiva in the early hours and the busy back streets of Bukhara! The colours and patterns on the buildings combined with their history was heady stuff - so beautiful! We all loved the delicious food too - everything cooked from scratch wherever we went, fully seasonal and yes, quite meat based, and so tasty but with lots of substantial salads, soups and fresh bread too. The local beer is very welcome after a long day sightseeing! Mountain Kingdoms were excellent( and very patient!) from the very start in helping us plan and organise this trip...there was even a birthday cake on my arrival in Tashkent! What a lovely, thoughtful surprise. I HIGHLY recommend the Silk Road to Samarkand holiday, it really was everything I hoped it would be and MORE! Thank you to Mountain Kingdoms and our brilliant guide Shakhnosa for making it such a special adventure.
Thought provoking trip to Armenia
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.
Impressive guide
We were impressed by the pride and enthusiasm of our guide who told us about so many Armenians who are not honoured for their achievements as Armenian eg the inventor of the MIGb aeroplane Artem Mikoyan and the humbling respect for their many ancient monasteries and churches.