Fantastic Itinerary and Group, but Severely Let Down by Tour Leadership
I recently returned from this trip and have very mixed feelings about the overall experience. On one hand, I absolutely loved the agenda and the guest artists project the trip. The itinerary itself was well thought out, and the activities planned were exactly what I was hoping for. To add to that, the other travelers were incredible—overall, the trip was fantastic because of the amazing people I met, and we really made the best of our time together.
Unfortunately, the group leadership was a major issue. Throughout the trip, there was a shocking lack of responsibility taken by the owner/leader for several issues that occurred. The most glaring example was when the host somehow managed to lose 11 of the 12 group members during a group outing on the itinerary. Other items included hotel issues that were not immediately resolved (I am unsure if these were even communicated to the hotel), damage to an art project on the trip, and other coordination items. Instead of stepping up, owning any mistakes, and correcting course, the host completely deflected blame.
Communication was a constant struggle. The host did not speak the native language of the destination and frequently blamed many of the trip's logistical issues on this language barrier, rather than taking accountability as a professional leader.
While the destination and the group dynamics were unforgettable, the biggest disappointment by far was the leadership ability of the host. If you book a trip, go for the itinerary and the chance to meet great people, but be prepared to look out for yourself due to the poor hosting.