Skyhook Arvostelua 723

Excellent leadership from the two Sams, fantastic scenery and a real challenge with an excellent group of like minded people. Crossing Loch Mess by canoe is something I’ll never forget!

Brilliant well prepared knowledgeable guides. Good equipment, an amazing route and the best group of people one could hope to travel with

I booked this trip to prove to myself at 67 I was still able to challenge myself, however I was totally inspired to see that a 70 & 75 year old woman were on our trip and were a total inspiration to us all. The chemistry between everyone was fantastic and that includes the two Sam's. These lads were amazing, very patient, helpful, extremely knowledgeable in not only what we were doing but where we were and the history of the area. Not to mention big Sam being a fantastic cook. The full trip totally exceeded my expectation and I would not hesitate on recommending this trip to others and that includes those who think it is too much. It is a challenge and not a walk in the park but the patients and encouragement from the lads was second to none.

Keep up the good work and I will be looking to see what adventure lies ahead for me, so sorry lads you just might see me back.

Highly recommended and 5 stars from me.

Stephen
Dunoon
Argyll

I booked this 3 Peaks challenge expecting a steady, achievable pace as advertised (approx. 6-7 hours for Ben Nevis 0830 start and 1530 at mini bus to leave). However, on the day the guide stated we would aim for closer to 5 hours, which is a significant increase in pace for a multi-day event.

I had made it clear in advance that I am a slower walker on ascents and was managing a minor knee issue which was why I opted for the 3 day and not the 24hour. Despite this, I was told I could not take short breaks if I wanted to keep up at the pace I was walking (a steady 3.3km average according to my Strava), while others in the group were allowed to stop and when I reached them they would start walking again not allowing time for me to break. At one point I was also told to “stop going on my phone” when I had briefly stopped for water and a photo, the first time I had taken my phone out on the climb, and we were approaching an hour in.

My understanding of group hiking etiquette is that the pace should consider the slowest participant, or that groups should be managed accordingly. This did not happen, and I felt not only unsupported but that Kevin was rude towards me as I was slightly slower than the rest of the group.

As a result, I chose to withdraw on the ascent as the pace and approach did not match what was advertised or what I had booked.

I would recommend this trip only for those confident in maintaining a faster-than-advertised pace, rather than those looking for a more moderate 3-day challenge.

A fantastic trip! We’re still pinching ourselves that we flew out for three days an climbed Toubkal in the middle!
Hosting and guide were great. The food was very very tasty and the hospitality wonderfully welcoming!
It’s a tough slog and you need to be pretty fit. The refuge was a lot of fun, but with 25 person rooms, won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Some of our group arrived early and left late, but we flew in on the first day and out on the last, so it’s manageable.
A brilliant group of likeminded people made it more fun, and whilst we went as a group of four, most of the group were individuals- it didn’t matter.
I’ll definitely go with Skyhook again.

The Garden route & Addo Elephant park is a breathtaking trip that delivers on all levels! The scenic drive offers a constant changing landscape, dramatic mountains, golden beaches, along with an incredible variety of wildlife!! South Africa is a magical destination that never stops surprising you, with each day bringing something new and memorable. The food throughout the trip was delicious and the accommodation exceeded all expectations. Gareth, our guide, elevated the entire experience—his confident driving and deep knowledge of the route added so much to the experience. If you’re looking for a unique and unforgettable adventure, I couldn’t recommend this trip more!
The experience was just as described in the company's itinerary and much more. An epic journey! Great value for money. Well organised and an excellent guide!!!

What an amazing place! So beautiful with lovely friendly locals.
Our guides took such great care of us and I loved my time there!

Great trip, amazing guides fantastic food

The trip was very well organized. The activities very nice and safe, the hotels were very good and the food amazing. On the other hand, our guide Jonathan knew very well the place, but he was very nonchalant, was tired most of the time, he didn’t say everything about the trip, and at the end, he got too “friendly” with my daughter.

Mt Toubkal, High Atlas Mountains was made unforgettable by the people met along the way.

Guides were amazing (Hassan , Lhacen).
Helpful and attentive, humorous. Including the cooks!
Everything was covered well and everyone responded brilliantly.

I personally recommend Ayoub and Abdul at Riad bab Imlil, Mountain eco lodge.
Well organised, got in contact with each of us and made sure we were all in the loop.
(P.s heated room downstairs! But all rooms had extra blankets.)

They really put the cherry on the cake with great food, great advise and great sleeping arrangements.
Not to mention sound motivation.

10/10 would bring others here again

Another amazing trip with Skyhook.
1st time trying a winter hike and it was great. Slovakia is beautiful, great value for money and has so many activities on offer. I highly recommend and will be visiting again. 3rd trip with skyhook and all have been excellent.

The guide Tom, was full of positive energy.
Great fun, superb knowledge on the area and history.
Well structured trip, no wasted time. Full of laughter. An absolutely great experience.

A truly fantastic experience. The accommodation,the guides,the food,and the amazing location were all 1st class.The greatest achievement of my life. Just be aware, this is a serious test of your physical and mental fitness.

Best Skyhook trip ever!
Thank you, Tom, our fabulous guide, for your knowledge, literal support and your humour ❤️ Absolutely fxxking amazingly awesome trip..... From stunning snow mountains, to quiet reflection at St Bernard's Hospice, to extremely scary toboggan rides and cuddles with the graceful giants, the St Bernard's dogs at Barryland. A fantastic mixture of challenges and relaxation, the weather and company just added to what is a great trip, would definitely recommend and do it again, thank you, Carol & Jodie 🙏🙏❤️❤️

Amazing trip!
Hassan was a great guide and worked tirelessly to ensure we were all kitted out and supported during the trek. Even through observing Ramadan...heroic!!

Everything went as planned, food was great, even in tricky locations. Accommodation good, although the refuge is very basi, we were still apply catered for.

As a solo traveller, felt safe and enjoyed the company of the group I climbed with.

Only caution was/ is that as a short trip, you don't get much time to acclimatise to the altitude, so need to be very fit, especially in snow.

I didn't summit, through personal choice, but still found the overall experience fantastic, supported and life affirming.

Can't fault the organisation, guides, cooks and experience.

This was definitely my last trip with Skyhook. I booked a two part tour. Climbing Mt Toubkal and visiting the Sahara.

To be honest, I would not recommend completing the visit to the Sahara with this provider. As a solo traveller, I contacted the company in advance to confirm whether the trip would still go ahead if I travelled alone. They confirmed that it would, without providing any additional comments regarding quality or potential adjustments other than maybe joining a group. No discussion of any price modifications that would have allowed me to make an informed decision.

After paying an additional £220 for this three-day trip as a solo traveller, I was placed in a van with approximately 20 people, despite the booking suggesting small groups. I was asked to pay for my own lunch, even though the tour description stated that all meals were included. I received back the money I paid for the lunch, however that is not the point! The dinner at the first hotel did not even include water, and a very small plate had to be shared between four people at the table. The stops on the trip also differed from those described in the itinerary, and some locations were not visited at all. People travelling with me paid between €70-80. You can imagine my disappointment!

After speaking with other passengers, I realised that I had effectively been outsourced to a trip booked through the GetYourGuide platform. While I am aware that this platform offers budget tours (and I have used it in other countries), this was not what I paid for in this case. The experience felt like a low-cost tourist trap. During the trip, we were accompanied by local “tour guides” who walked us around public areas and then demanded tips in a manner that felt almost forceful.

To make matters worse, my contact at Skyhook asked me to update him on how the trip was going. When booking a guided tour, it should be the provider’s responsibility to ensure service quality and passenger wellbeing at all times.

The first part of the trip was somewhat better, and I believe this is where their expertise lies. However, this is not an easy climb in winter, and the equipment provided was not always suitable. Two helmets did not fit properly, yet no adequate solution was offered; we were simply told to carry them attached to our backpacks. On the first day, after lunch, we began walking on snow while carrying all our gear but were not advised to use crampons, which would have made that section significantly safer and easier. I was wearing trekking boots, which were listed as suitable in the equipment description, yet the terrain was slippery and unstable in several areas, making that section far more difficult than necessary.

Ultimately, it was the natural environment itself that made the experience worthwhile, rather than the organisation or service provided.

Great trip! Beautiful walks amongst almond blossom and fantastic vistas. Lovely hotel - relaxed staff, comfortable rooms and tasty food. Hotel was perfect for a group booking. Guide was great - set good pace and planned distance well for needs of group. Can recommend to any one with some walking experience as there are a few slightly more challenging uphill sections. I loved being out in nature in gorgeous February sunshine.

There's so much to see. The highlight has to be the overnight trek up Volcán Acatenango to view the almost constantly erupting Volcán de Fuego. It's impressive during the day but absolutely spectacular at night and the campsite is the perfect viewing platform. Lake Atitlán, the deepest in Central America, was also a great overnight trip. It was serenely relaxing kayaking across it and the hike back along the ridge above the shoreline was very picturesque. I'd have liked the cycle ride to have been longer, but this too added to the experience. The shoreline town of Panajachel offers lots of opportunities for buying colourful souvenirs and has plenty of bars and restaurants to try out.

The main base of Antigua is likewise a busy but beautiful place to stay, enjoying the local sites and views, rooftop bars, restaurants and shops - of which there are a lot. Our courtyard hotel was true to Guatemalan style and offered tasty breakfasts in the cool morning air. Old Town Outfitters provided all the services of the trip and Pablo, our guide, did a great job in looking after us facilitating the experience and explaining the sights and history.

Prices are good value, take some local currency (Quetzals) but credit cards are widely accepted too. Both warm and colder weather gear is required. Daytimes are warm, but not too hot, and evenings and early mornings are cool. Long trousers (or gaiters) for the volcano hikes will prevent stones filling your shoes and do expect your clothes and kit to get very dusty from the ash. Either use the hotel's laundry service or bring plenty of bags for packing dirty kit.

Where you visit is well set up for tourism but doesn't seem overly spoiled by it yet. Visit soon if you love sunny picturesque locations and prefer to enjoy them actively rather than passively. It's well worth the effort of getting there.

Local leader kept the show on the road despite water damage to trails from Storm Leonardo. Food and accommodation excellent. Fellow participants were a delight to know . Trip well worth the money

This was a fantastic trip, highly recommend. It was great to have some different activities such as thermal baths and a trip to the ski fields, as well as hiking. Tom our guide was fantastic, it was great to hear about Slovakia and the area.