How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was beyond perfect. A friendly, kind best mate always happy, funny, caring and there for you when you needed him. Great historical, cultural, local and political knowledge. Entertaining, caring, intelligent, immensely hard working and committed and a brilliant cook. Manuel exceeded all expectations and kept spirits on an incredibly demanding trip.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"It is beautiful but hard. It is not just the trekking through the Sabana for days followed by trekking through jungle up a mountain and then around a mountain and then down a mountain and back through jungle and Sabana, crossing rivers and navigating sublime sub tropical thunderstorms along the way in intense heat with rucksacks on and the sun beating down. No, this is just part of it. The driving, the canoeing, even getting to the Angel Falls is physically and consequently emotionally demanding. The country has virtually no tourist infrastructure making this a real adventure but this is also reflected in the fact that it is 1 star for Comfort and 5 for Strenuousness."

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

 

Manuel was lively and very knowlegable. He was very capable of getting everything organised but at times I felt he didn't always communicate what was going on as well as he could. Overall though I think he did a great job and helped make the hoilday memorable.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

 

You need to be fit to enjoy this trip and prepared to rough it a bit. But if like a bit of adventure and jumping in and out rivers you'll probably enjoy yourself. 

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

He was excellant. Very accomodating and knowlegable

 

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Hire a porter for the trekking instead of carrying your bag in the heat

 

Do you have anything else to add?

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What a fantastic adventure this holiday is! Every day held new challenges and amazing scenery to enjoy. Highlights for me was the trek up Roraima - with stunning views from the top and incredible weather we were definitely lucky. Also I loved the chance to swim in the Angel Falls - a once in a lifetime experience.

Our tour guide, Manuel, couldn't have been more helpful, hard working and fun. He certainly made the trip - along with a great group. It was an excellent holiday and one I'd recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure. Go for it! (VZ -30th July 2011)

Highlights:  The tour leader - True expert on the area, took care of every single person on the trip and was willing to go the extra mile to make sure the experience was memorable a real asset to Explore. 

Kavak Gorge - The flight over the mountains to transfer from Santa Elena to the canoe trip  Integrating with the local communities when you climb Roraima and on the trip to Angel Falls    Changes for the trip and trip notes:  Possibly look to replace one of the first two days 8 hour overland travel with a flight to allow for more time on the beach for the last two days, the half day you get on the beach isn’t really worth the travel as you arrive at 4pm when the sun is starting to go down and after spending all day getting 2 internal flights and another 1 hour 30 min transfer to the beach resort which wasn't quite the Caribbean experience everyone had hoped for.  The Explore brochure needs to expand on the Kavak gorge and flights over the mountains as these are some real highlights of the trip and are certainly some of the unique selling points of the VZ tour. (VZ -30th July 2011)

If you are after a proper adventure packed full of highlights then this trip is for you! The trek is challenging but very enjoyable as you get distracted by stunning views of the Gran Sabanna and the top is literally ‘The Lost World’. The river journey is also a great adventure leading up to the magnificent Angel Falls, where you take a bath at its base! Kavak Gorge excursion is very special.…an opportunity not to be missed! Our Tour Leader and his local staff were also absolutely amazing and the food they produced was brilliant. You won’t be disappointed I guarantee that! (VZ - 30th July 2011)

A tough trek which deserves its 'Strenuous' rating, but very rewarding when you reach the Lost World on top of Roraima - a truly unique landscape. The canoe trip was more mundane, but had its moments of excitement when negotiating the rapids. Even at the beginning of the dry season, the Angel Falls are an impressive sight. Manuel, the tour leader, was full of boundless enthusiasm and never failed to surprise us with the quality and quantity of food produced - the best I've had on any trek, anywhere. Advice: travel light - it's a tough climb and you're well away from civilisation, so leave the party gear at home. Be prepared for the wet: rain, river crossings, waterfalls, canoes. (VZ - 18th December 2010)