What Guests Are Saying about Our Guides

It’s no secret that we think our guides are the best in the world. But what do our guests think? We’ve collected feedback from a number of 2015 Guided Walking Adventures, to help give readers a clearer sense of how travelers feel about their guides on tour. We think these quotes speak for themselves.

Italy: The Amalfi Coast & Capri

“You will not find any better guides than Alessandra and Luigi. Their wealth of knowledge about the region and its history is incredible. I very much appreciated their compassion for each and every ‘country walker’ and how they met our individual needs. By the end of the tour, I not only made new friends, but they felt like family.”

—N. Weaver, Texas

Austria & Germany: Bavaria & the Tyrol

“Brothers Christian and Dominik were wonderful guides—truly kind and patient people who made it their highest priority to ensure that each person's experience was memorable. They graciously and seamlessly accommodated individual requests, needs, and preferences. I greatly appreciated their advice on what to order from the menu—each pick was always right on target. It was wonderful to have their father, a glacier guide, join us for a walk and to have their Alpine rescue dog, Barkley, join us for two days.”

—H. Plott, Virginia

Ireland: Connemara & Galway Bay

“Our guide Pól O'Colmain is a true ‘renaissance man.’ He was very personable and knowledgeable on Irish history and the flora and fauna of Ireland. In addition, he is a well-read poet, musician, and artist. What a wonderful traveling companion!”

—E. Smith, Maryland

Czech Republic: Vienna to Prague

“René and Marie were so passionate about Czech culture and history and were invested in educating and entertaining us. They expended extra effort to introduce us to many dimensions of life in the Republic—folklore, music, dance, cuisine, agriculture, and more. They clearly enjoyed being outdoors and knew every trail and town. Plus, they were considerate of the needs and wishes of each guest.”

—K. Hinson, Washington DC

Italy: The Dolomites

“Both Claudia and Alessandro were quite professional…and yet had such good personas that we all felt like family throughout the week. I took a spill and Claudia was there in a second with the medical kit. The fact that both guides were so prepared for the wilderness made us feel comfortable to hike these mountains.”

—F. Young, Washington

England: The Lake District

“Our guides were outstanding: intelligent, informative, highly professional, and very relaxed. They were also each extremely likable—interesting men in their own right—and made an excellent team. Rob's relationship to the area seemed especially physical and athletic; as a naturalist, Chris's relationship seemed almost spiritual. I loved to watch Chris’s face as he attended to and identified the various birds' songs we heard along the way. Between the two of them, they made the trip the unforgettable experience that it was for me.”

—E. Lockman, West Virginia

Iceland: Reykjavík & National Parks

“Sori and Ragga were exceptionally great guides. They were so personable—I can think of no better or more entertaining way to hear the story of Iceland than in their company. Sori's ability to deliver a fable, a piece of information, or a historical context is just outstanding. They definitely went of their way to make this trip a memorable experience for us.”

—A. Serebryannik, California

Italy: Maremma

“Gianni Stanghellini is the most extraordinary guide and one of the most extraordinary individuals I have ever met. His English was fabulous and his knowledge of history, culture and geology was vast. He was funny, kind, and extraordinarily talented. A stand-out part of the trip was hearing him play the flute in one of the churches. He also went out of his way to help me improve my Italian. I was in tears saying good-bye!”

—S. Froeber, North Carolina

New Zealand: The South Island

“Where do I start? I lived the first 42 years of my life in New Zealand, but learned so much from Peter and Jon about the country’s history. We had so many little extras from them, like fruit-flavored ice cream, whitebait fritters, a barbecue on a beach with a bonfire, and another cookout with wonderful views of Fox Glacier and Mt Cook. I could go on and on—they were the best guides ever!”

—W. Scoular, New Zealand