Pakistan & Xinjiang were absolutely breathtaking, and this trip took us through some incredible landscapes; we met so many friendly Pakistanis from different regions and Uyghurs in Xinjiang. We were treated like celebrities and came across only a handful of travelers, which is mostly what we seek with Johny and Josh's trip: off the beaten path. Johny is a fantastic leader who is able to get everyone is a great go mode and full of humor. Our accommodations were always comfortable, and we ate at a variety of great places and mingled with locals. Our local guides in both countries were friendly, especially Saqib in Pakistan; he went above and beyond to take care of us.
The charity aspect of this trip fell short of my expectations. The local partners arranged the charity part of the trip, and it felt like performative charity, which could totally be the norm there, but it wasn't what I expected. The level of engagement during the Uganda trip in 2022 was incredible, so the bar was high.
I still enjoyed this trip overall, fun adventures, and meeting up with old friends and making new ones.
Johny & Josh's trips attract a certain crowd... adventurous ones that you want to go on trips with again and again. The group camaraderie is always the highlight.