KE Adventure Travel Traveller Reviews

Trek through the local villages of the Annapurna region to Annapurna Base Camp. What an awesome experience of the culture, nature and local people of Nepal. Trekking to see the mountain giants up close and personal was a trip of a lifetime. The local people are adorable and scenery of the Nepalese Himalaya is breathtaking. This was a well paced and interesting trip taking into account time for acclimatisation for the altitude and included chance to see sunrise over the mountains of the Annapurna. We had chance to experience the local food, drink and culture (including local Buddhist temples and memorial stoupas). Given the earthquake in 2015 I felt proud to be able to support the local people in a small way to continue to recover from the devastation/ aftermath.

KE are a well organised, professional company who provide substantial pre-tour information and advice. Their support during the trip through their trip partners and also from the UK when required if the unpredictable (sickness during the trek) happens is second to none. I would definitely recommend KE and will be travelling with them again in the future.

A simply superb trip, amazing scenery, a great personal challenge and something I will never forget!

The whole team (both in UK and Nepal) were superb. The UK staff were incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to help. If they could not answer my specific question they found someone with experience who could. The pre-departure administration was first class - timely, efficient and well delivered. In Nepal, the team were also superb. Nothing was too much trouble and they took a clear enjoyment of imparting their knowledge and passion for the country. Above all, they managed to achieve the difficult balance of caring for and catering for a group aged between 26 and 72, through an arduous trek. For me, the best travel company I have used so far.

As a mountaineer and a world traveler, I was not entirely sure what to expect from the Ecuador Volcanoes. Though I was drawn to them, they - and the country itself - seem rather obscure and not nearly as flashy as Kilimanjaro or Aconcagua. And yet, from the moment the KE rep picked me up at the airport (around midnight), I could feel the warmth and friendliness of the Ecuadorian people. KE has found gold with Camilo and Mariojlen Andrade and their ground operations, and with their exhuberant local trekking and climbing guides. Camilo is the ultimate Renaissance man - a classic mountaineer who has climbed the greats many times, but a gifted artist with a literary background and a love for the Kichwa culture. I felt so blessed to be welcomed not only into his hacienda Pantavi near Tumbabiro, but also to his office and his home, all three of them filled with museum-quality art. He knew so much about every plant and animal, about farming practices, about which mountains were used in pre-Columbian times for rituals. Every turn was a fascinating bit of information - and he also used this explanation time to give us rest breaks on the high altitude treks! During the first 3 days of the trek I was quite ill (altitude sickness or some water-borne issue - my advice to travelers - bring your water filter or tablets, even for washing your toothbrush or cleaning out Nalgene bottles). Camilo quickly consulted with our local guide Avram, and found an alternative route so I could continue the trek. It can't be fun for the guides to wait as the client vomits or takes a nap during the trek, but I appreciated the extra care when sick and hiking in a foreign country. Imbabura, Cayambe and Iliniza Norte were spectacular. They will go down as some of the best climbs of my life. I love scrambling, so the 2 scrambles were great fun and Cayambe was the hardest thing I've ever done, but highly rewarding as well. I am not sure what happened on Chimborazo, but the mix of sketchy conditions (black ice, loose scree & ice, 45* snow gullies) and a freak whiteout meant nobody summited. I chose to stay back in the hut. I think we were all tired by that point and there wasn't a whole lot of gusto for the summit and sometimes the mountain just says no. The stay in the village of San Clemente was one of the most special experiences I've had in a foreign country. Manuel and Laura were lovely hosts and the setup of the compound was so unique. It felt like home and I'm glad we were able to spend time there. The food was delicious - very balanced meals for high-output hiking and climbing. Always a delicious protein, a carb, some veggies and dessert. My stomach issues and altitude prevented me from truly appreciating the delicious meats and traditional dishes like arepas, humitas, plantain and quinoa soups and yucca fries. It was obvious the meats were fresh and organic, the eggs were that morning's pick, the fruits and veggies came from nearby farms. I wish I'd had much more of an appetite than I did! Also, the tea selections were really interesting! It is almost impossible to predict how the group dynamics will go, and part of this may be owed to Camilo and his leadership, but our team was amazing!!! It could not have come together better. We each found climbing partners who matched our pace and temperament, and this allowed most of us to summit most of the mountains. It was also a good thing we got along because we spent quite a lot of time together climbing, driving, eating, touring, etc... I am glad i booked a single room because, at the end of the day, I needed some time alone. But our group was amazing and I think I've made lifelong friends among my teammates. And I think we all fell in love with Ecuador.

All in all, this was an extraordinary trip. KE has a great organization, fabulous ground crew/local outfitter, and its choice of lodging was so unique, I feel like we saw a side of the country that most travelers don't get to see. Again, trip of a lifetime and I will definitely book with KE again.

My wife and I chose this trip with KE Adventure after reading about it in their brochure. We expected a trip with adventure, lots of outdoor experience and some relaxing in small hotels. The experience we had was way above anything we expected. The Guatemalan people and culture were fascinating, the volcanoes were all different...active and exploding, smoking, spitting lava, tree covered and verdant with life, perched above lake filled calderas. The wild camping was superbly organised and the campsites were just in amazing locations. Travelling between our base towns was as much an adventure with so much of the land and people to take in. Our food was fantastic, from local restaurants to Mario, our camp chef (he brought his chef's jacket with him!!). Our relaxing time spent in the three different towns on route was constantly full of surprising views of local culture and interaction. Our three guides were just superb with Sebastian, our leader, sharing his love of his country with us and filling us with the same passion for this place so different to our own country. The trip has been planned so it just gets better and better, you cannot believe that each day can top the last but it does. Even the last evening, instead of dining in a restaurant in town we were driven to a place high up above the town we were staying so we looked down on the town of Antigua as fireworks went off in town. The guides had organised us to buy gifts (a Secret Santa) and we had a hilarious time choosing these to finish the trip. Amazing organisation, couldn't believe it really!!

KE Adventure from Keswick organised all our trip from flights, transfers to guides. Everything was booked through them after reading their brochure. There were no hidden extras and as said the trip really exceeded expectations. Dealing with their online site to log in passports, insurance etc was simple and on the telephone everyone we spoke to was professional, informed and did exactly as they said they would. The tour operator they used in Antigua, Guatemala was Old Town Outfitters. Their guides were a pleasure to be looked after by. Their organisation of travel and accommodation was superb in a country that is at best operating at a much simpler level than ours! Hats off to all involved in making this trip one of the best holidays we have ever had (and we are a very well travelled couple!).

I had a great time hiking and camping for 2 weeks in the remote Indian Himalayan region of Sikkim. We were very well looked after.

KE adventure were great. The tour leader was excellent.

Fantastic two weeks travelling through Botswana seeing the very best of Southern Africa. Too many highlights to list them all but the time spent swimming and socalising in the Okavango Delta with the local guides was definitely a highlight whilst we had to pinch ourselves to make sure we were actually watching so much wildlife including a Leopard only 30m from the dining area in Moremi. Seeing Wild Dogs catch an Impala right by the vehicle was special if not necessarily everyone's cup of tea to be so close. I traveled in November which was great as we completed most of the trip before the rains came yet peak season ends in October - it was pretty hot though!

I booked last minute really as there were less than 2 weeks before the holiday. KE got back to me within 48 hours confirming that the place was available which I considered very efficient. Ground dealing were however with a sub-contractor (Sunways Safari's) and then a further sub-sub contractor in Planet Okavango. It was made clear that this holiday was run by a third party but it makes it difficult to further rate 'KE' Both sub contractors on the ground however were great so no complaints!

In a part of the world which is often overlooked as an adventure destination, Oman presents an opportunity to experience world class trekking in deep rugged canyons and rocky mountain terrain. But the cultural surprises will surely make this a memorable experience. Omani people are overwhelmingly friendly, welcoming and genuinely interested in learning about visitors as well. The infrastructure is first rate in the cities, and if you enjoy shopping and good food, you will not be disappointed. And yes, if you enjoy a nice glass of wine or a good beer, those can be found in most larger establishments. For the traveler who needs something new and desires to learn about a fascinating part of the world, consider Oman.

KE Adventure is a first rate operator. Their sales staff is knowledgeable, and helpful. Back office support staff is efficient and quick to respond to any question. KE made my holiday easy, safe and enjoyable.

An excellently supported and planned moderate level trek in Nepal. Sensible acclimatisation - ascent route. Takes in Gokyo, Gokyo Ri, Cho La, EBC and Kala Pattar. Stunning views.

Supported by an excellent guide (Rajendra Rai), Sirdar and Sherpas. Trip notes accurate and helpful. Very smooth travel & transfer arrangements.

i am a great fan of'slow' cycling holidays which allow you to explore an area by bike (as opposed to powering through it, head down). Istria in Northern Croatia is tailor made for this, and my KE Adventure trip combined easy cycling with beautiful countryside and seriously good food and wine. Our route took us along the coast, inland through rolling countryside, and onto the Parenzana, an old railway line now converted into a bike trail, which was originally built to transport local Istrian foods, wines and olive oils up to Trieste. (Mussolini took up the tracks and put them on a ship to Ethiopia which promptly sank, so now you can use the trail to enjoy those same local products in situ.) We visited a vineyard and olive presses for tastings, and cycled along the Mirna river valley, where the world’s largest truffle was found in 1999. Other highlights of the journey included the medieval hill town of Motovun; Porec,with its World Heritage-listed Byzantine Basilica; the stunning old fishing port of Rovinj; and the Roman amphitheatre in Pula. The quality of the bikes was excellent, the support vehicle was always on hand to provide assistance (and a picnic lunch each day) and our tour guide was very friendly, attentive and well informed. Thanks KE for a great holiday!

I looked at KE Adventure Travel's cycling options thinking they might be a bit too'adventurous' for me. But then I noticed they were offering this new 'moderate' tour 'Cycling the Wine Roads of Istria'. In terms of the cycling, the tour description was bang on, so I was able to enjoy the week without fear of any massive hill climbs ahead! If anything, they underplayed the quality of the hotels (with the exception of one which was disappointing) so we were pleasantly surprised with the accommodation. The bikes were high quality, and apart from a couple of punctures there were no problems. The communication was good - we received all the information in good time, along with a complimentary strong, bright red KE travel bag each, which was easy to spot on the baggage carousel. I hope KE add more moderate cycling trips to their itinerary because I would be very happy to travel with them again.

This was a 5-day walk of the GR131 on Lanzarote, and an additional walk on Isla Graciosa. The accommodation provided was a well equipped and comfortable Villa in Costa Teguise, and transport was provided each day to the start point and finishing point of that day's walk. The guide was very good at catering for the individuals needs and requirements within the group, and ensuring that the group kept together. The guide was extremely knowledgeable re the geography, history, flora & fauna of Lanzarote, and whilst the walking in the luna-style landscape was interesting in itself, the information given by the guide made it all the more enjoyable. The guide joined us for dinners in the evening, and was most personable.

A well organised tour by KE Adventure. The information provided during the enquiry phase was excellent, as was the on-line chat facility and the personal contact with KE staff. The booking process was smooth and the tour arrangements were faultless.