Traveller Reviews
Read holiday reviews and feedback by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
Traveller reviews of Mountain Kingdoms
Overall holiday rating: 4.9
Total number of reviews submitted: 1288
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A great introduction to the culture and history of Uzbekistan and its people.
A great introduction to the culture and history of Uzbekistan and its people. We especially enjoyed the Registan, which was truly magnificent, and the chance to see each of the cities lit up at night. Our guide was fabulous, so knowledgeable but also great fun. That said, the days we had to explore on our own helped to balance the pace and give us time to revisit our favourite places at leisure.
Varied itinerary
The varied itinerary, the small group, the insight into the country and its past and meeting local people made this an excellent holiday. Shakhnosa, is an outstanding guide who always gave 100% and more of her time, energy, knowledge and love for her country and job. Nothing was too much trouble and she promptly and efficiently dealt with the few problems that arose. Her 'little extras' made us feel we really mattered to her.
The tour was exceptional
Our recent tour was exceptional, made perfect by our wonderful local guide, Shakhnoza. Her warmth, humour, and attention to detail meant we could completely relax and enjoy every moment. She took care of everything with enthusiasm and professionalism. The ancient monuments were breath-taking and undoubtedly the highlight of the trip – truly awe-inspiring. Our group of 13, all well-travelled, quickly bonded and shared great conversations and plenty of laughter throughout. There were light-hearted moments too – a lunchtime disco had us dancing with locals, and at another meal, the youngest lady in our group was whisked into a mock wedding ceremony, complete with a groom from another table! It ended in dancing and a lot of laughter. The balance of cultural depth, seamless organisation, and fun made this a truly memorable holiday. I would highly recommend this company for anyone
The mountain walks were the best bit
Good holiday, despite the hot temperatures. Probably liked Bukhara the best, but Khiva & Samarkand also good. However, the mountain walks were the best bit, and the friendliness of Nurata was not to be missed. Saw lots of interesting birds including bee-eaters, rollers and a blue whistling thrush.
This was a very enjoyable trip
This was a very enjoyable trip combining the cultural highlights of the famous Silk Road cities interspersed with the slightly more relaxed pace of moderate walks in two different mountain areas, where the local families hosting us were very welcoming. The standard of accommodation and quality of the meals was better than we expected. We would recommend going out a day early as the pace of the trip over the first few days is pretty full on.
This a great trip, combining culture and nature.
Uzbekistan is an amazing country with stunning old cities, fascinating history and a great variety of scenery. We saw all the best bits: flat deserts, snow capped Himalayan peaks and beautiful architecture. This a great trip, combining culture and nature, with good accommodation and a great group of fellow travellers.
A very interesting country with warm and friendly people.
A very interesting country with warm and friendly people. There are plenty of tourists at the main sites, so being in a small group is a big advantage. Having a free day in Khiva and Bukhara gives you the chance to soak in the atmosphere, as well as having a breather in what is a busy schedule. I went on the optional trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand, which gives you a chance to see a different side of the country in Langar, but is a long day. Shakhnoza is an excellent guide and the drivers, hotels and food were very good. Bottled water is supplied constantly if you don't wish to use the Water- to-Go bottle.
An incredible experience
I have never trekked before and choosing the Three High Passes was just an incredible experience. It was tough no doubt, but the scenery is absolutely stunning! Harry at Mountain Kingdoms helped us with all our questions prior to booking and ultimately facilitated our trip becoming a private tour as there was just the two of us. In Nepal, Prakash looked after us really well and our guide Pemba and porter Ngawang made the trip something special. Crossing the passes and summiting Kala Pattar are days I will never forget.
Mountain Kingdoms organised everything extremely well
This was an amazing experience and it was a real privilege to visit Bhutan. Mountain Kingdoms organised everything extremely well - hotels, transport, holiday extension and the trek itself. It was the Bhutanese people though and guide who made our holiday. They are welcoming, gentle, encouraging and supportive. The weather on the trek was unexpectedly poor (snow and hailstorms) but we always welcomed to a dry, comfortable camp with hot drinks and good food. Karma was very knowledgeable and his team were always good-humoured.
The sites we visited were wonderful
The tour had a well chosen itinerary with extra days at each location for exploring and shopping. The sites we visited were wonderful - exactly what I'd hoped for, with inspiring, ancient and monumental buildings. The tour leader was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, providing all the historical and cultural background you could wish for. The hotels were comfortable and well-located, in all the city centres. All meals were included, except for the three free days, and were of a good quality, varied and with very generous servings.
Marvellous trek
Marvellous trek to Everest Base Camp. Truly astonishing natural scenery.
Our trip to Bhutan was simply outstanding.
An Unforgettable Bhutan Experience with Tinley and Chimmy! Our trip to Bhutan was simply outstanding, thanks to our wonderful guide Tinley and our brilliant driver Chimmy. Every detail was thoughtfully handled — from being serenaded by novice monks to sharing tea with an 85-year-old monastery guardian. Tinley adapted treks to suit our love of longer walks and made sure we experienced real Bhutanese life through simple but welcoming homestays. Yes, there were some long drives, but the breath-taking landscapes made every mile worth it. The food was tasty, spicy, and authentic — and our camping meals should of been Michelin-starred! Tiger’s Nest Monastery was the perfect grand finale. Highly recommend!
This was a full-on introduction to Bhutanese culture, cuisine and countryside.
This was a full-on introduction to Bhutanese culture, cuisine and countryside. The majesty of the mountains and fertility of the valleys provided beautiful walking opportunities, well pitched to challenge active older people as well as younger. Every day we learnt more about the history and Buddhist culture of Bhutan from a guide dedicated to filling our time with as much of interest and beauty as we could manage. The uniqueness of Bhutan and the friendliness of the people gave us a full range of memories and impressions to carry back home.
A well-planned itinerary.
My second trip to Bhutan with Mountain Kingdoms, and again a fantastic one! A well-planned itinerary and a wonderful guide and driver led us through parts of the country that have not seen too many tourists, and we were intrigued by the beauty of the landscape, the cultural richness and, most of all, by the kindness of the people who live there. Highly recommended!
We would highly recommend Mountain Kingdoms as a tour company.
All the accommodation and meals on the trip were excellent as well as the comfort of the local transport. Our guide Kinley "Bull " was a walking encyclopaedia which made the experience even better as he was so knowledgeable when visiting the various sites. Our driver Kinley was also an excellent driver.and also very helpful. Luckily we only had a small group of 6 people which made it easier when visiting the sites. We would highly recommend Mountain Kingdoms as a tour Company.
Extremely well organised.
From the start the trip was extremely well organised - including in relation to the stop over in Nepal. The hotels in both locations were of extremely good quality and all those connected with the trip - both at home and abroad - were knowledgeable, quick and efficient, catering for all my needs. The itinerary, whilst testing at times, gave a good flavour of Bhutan, its culture and people.
We liked the small group, and the packed itinerary.
It was well organised, in a great area where we're able to visit temples and other religious buildings from several different religions. We liked the small group, and the packed itinerary - although we still managed to feel relaxed.
I had waited a long time to find a tour that encompassed my love of textiles & heritage together.
I had waited a long time to find a tour that encompassed my love of textiles & heritage together with a desire to visit India. The opportunity to visit artisans homes and workshops, rural communities plus temples and other historic sites was the perfect combination. Gujarat was less touristy than perhaps other areas of India so a personal insight and the ability to share our passion for textiles with artisans and other travellers was fabulous. Our guides were amazing and the trip would have not been the same without them. I need not have worried about travelling alone either! The small group of 5 was ideal
Well organised!
Excellent scenery, well organised, daily distances just right, good food, good porter and guide.
This tour was wonderful and fascinating in every respect.
This tour was wonderful and fascinating in every respect - full of extraordinary textiles and access to the different workshops which produced them so we could see the techniques and traditional equipment used and then have the chance to buy some of the finished items. We saw a variety of things from block carving, block printing, screen printing, resist dyeing, embroidery which is exactly what I had hoped for. The expertise, artistry and creativity was remarkable. In addition to the textiles we were taken to temples, palaces, a safari in the salt desert and even for a swim in the Arabian Gulf so it was a wonderfully varied trip and memorable in every way. Gujarat was such a delight and particularly as there were very few tourists so that it felt as though we were seeing 'the real India' and (as yet) unspoilt by droves of people and coaches - long may it last.