It’s not easy to pick out any one thing that stood out above all else, this trip was a feast for the mind from start to finish. Its now a good couple of months since our return and I’ve had time to begin digesting the memories. With that in mind, I guess it has to be the people we met along the way, so many wonderful people.

All our guides were excelent without exception but not just the guides… all their support staff, cooks, drivers, kitchen assistants, hotel and resturant staff etc … the local people wherever we went, the waving smiling children … I could go on forever. Yep, above all else, the people realy did it for me.

My top tips… Take a large empty bag in which to bring home a few Souvenirs. Keep smiling (hard not to !) the locals seemed to warm very quickly to a friendly face. Try not to be too intrusive with your camera, if you want photo local people just ask politely.

If at any point you feel yourself wilting from culture overload, dont be afraid to tell your guide you’d rather like to chill out over a coffee or a beer, they are more than happy to go with the flow.

Short answer, Yes … local guides, locally sourced food, Souvenirs made by local people, local airline, local drivers and all our tips went to local people. Just the way it should be.