MT SobekReviews of mtsobek.com

My three friends and I went on a private hiking tour of Mt. Blanc Chamonix by Mt Sobek. We spent over US$21k on a 5 night 4 day trip. The hiking trails were absolutely breathtaking, with stunning Alpine views that made every moment unforgettable. Our guide Karine was exceptional—knowledgeable, engaging, and flexible, adjusting our 4-day itinerary around the weather to maximize our experience. The group size and pacing were spot-on, making the adventure truly enjoyable. Karine's love for nature and for the trails shone through every moment of the trip, from her sense of humor down to her obscure knowledge of fox poo and wild berries. If there was one, most outstanding aspect of our trip, it was the fact that we were in such good hands with our guide that we enjoyed the serenity of the moss-laden quiet forest trails as much as the awe-inspiring terraces of the Aguille du Midi. However, our hotel was a major letdown, one that left a bad taste in our mouth with Mt. Sobek. When we initially inquired about the tour in July, Mt Sobek indicated that Chamonix was booked out and it may not be possible. Shortly thereafter, we were told - good news, for about $1k more per person they were able to secure Prestige Rooms (twin sharing) for us. We did not at all mind paying more to upgrade our room. We were not expecting The Four Seasons but imagine our shock finding ourselves at an eco-hotel (at most 2*) with rooms that, according to online rates we checked, at the time cost around $200/night (about $100 low season) for their so-called Prestige room. We later discovered the price difference between the Prestige room and Standard room is $50/night. So they had the audacity to charge us in total $4000 more for an at most $500 upgrade. One of our beds was literally in a walk-in closet. On the bright side, the hotel’s location behind railway tracks meant the first train woke us up at 7 am every day. To top it off, housekeeping was subpar—with used coffee cups left uncleared in our room every day. We think it is completely unacceptable for Mt Sobek to spend under 10pct of our tour cost on rooms. Our attempts to question our tour coordinator about this went ignored. We can highly recommend hiking Mt Blanc but would not suggest using Mt Sobek - surely there are other better options. If you do end up not having a choice, definitely ask for Karine and at least insist on transparency with respect to the accommodations and get a look through on the room rate. Update: Mt Sobek reached out to us and solicited our detailed feedback on the trip and equitably addressed our issues. Their willingness to take responsibility makes us open again to future trips with them - they do have outstanding guides and amazing itineraries. Of course we will pay closer attention to our accommodations - everyone should do their part in making sure expectations are not mismatched. Thanks again Mt. Sobek for your responsiveness.

The MTSobek Camino experience was outstanding! The itinerary was well-paced to include the most scenic sections of the Camino Frances with overnight stays in charming, comfortable accommodations where local food and wine was served in abundance. Private afternoon tours were offered in major towns (San Sebastian, Burgos, Pamplona, Léon, and Santiago de Compostela) and wonderful stories and Spanish history shared daily by the trip leaders. It was truly a multi-dimensional adventure.

Excellent guide and hike. The views, food and accommodations were great. Highly recommend.

We loved the entire trip! Ian Lewis was an outstanding lead guide. His knowledge of the area, the people, lodges, culture was extensive and he happily answered all of our questions. Amongst all of the members of our group we presented Ian with a few unexpected happenings and challenges. He always found a way to take care of our unexpected needs with a smile and in a way that did not cause any undue delays to the rest of the group. He maneuvered additional unexpected challenges due to local logistical changes with skill and efficiency. Ian and assistant guide, Juri, were top notch and a joy to travel with.

This trip took us from the hustle and bustle of the big modern cities to slow pace of century old villages. Using the busses, trains and subways offered a real feeling for what everyday life is like in Japan. Each meal was an exciting exposure to beautifully displayed new foods for our consumption. The sites we visited gave us a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Japan. It is also cause for further study on my return home. The natural beauty of Japan, while on the hike, will remain in my heart for a long time. I feel lucky that I was able to participate in this exceptional trip.

Our guides were amazing. Hotels were top notch. Great hikes with appropriate amount of downtime in the evenings. Recommend this trip to anyone looking to travel to Peru’s Sacred Valley.

An excellent trip to learn about Morocco and the High Atlas Mountains, containing a great walk through gorges, villages, and wilderness. I can't imagine having a better guide (or food).

A once-in-a-lifetime experience. The combination of stunning scenery and immersion in Himalayan culture was unmatched. Sanjeev was a fantastic guide, and all we had to do was enjoy the hike, the views, and each other's company. A true bucket-list experience.