Koken Lake Challenge

Great hike with a good level of difficulty. You need to be at least somewhat athletic because some parts are also done with your hands. But the landscapes are magnificent. Our guide Antoine helped us discover the flora and guided us to the Boiling Lake. Impressive! Swimming in Titou Gorge at the end makes you forget the 7 hours of walking. However, not recommended for children.

Hubert was a superb guide! The hike was a bit too much for me but we made it to the Valley of Desolation which was awesome. Hubert wisely advised me to turn around there. He also arranged better accommodation for me at short notice. This is all round a great tour company! Thanks to Tiffany and Hubert.

Great communication from the operator and guide Antoine on the day leading up to and day of the hike. Antoine was super knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the island, and kind enough to take pictures. It was a group of 3 (shoutout to the Chicago folks if you see this), so we kept a good pace. I tracked it at 7 miles in about 6.5 hours total. I loved the experience and recommend it.

Dillon was a very enjoyable and competent guide. This hike has to be one of the very finest hikes available in the world, though it is challenging!

Our guide, Dylan, was excellent. He was so knowledgeable, kind, and patient. We are not fast hikers and ended up finishing a few hours later than expected but he never pushed us and instead just gave us helpful tips on how to stay safe. 100% recommend!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We went with “Peter the bushman Green”. An absolute legend of a guide. The hike is hard & require sure footing and good shoes but is so worth it. He entertained us the whole way, set up amazing photo opportunities, explained every plant and tree species that was unique to Dominica & really considered our safety at every turn. I would highly recommend this company for this hike or any of their tours. As for Peter the bushman Green, he’s one of Dominica’s best characters. Thank you

This tour is not for the faint of heart. Today is day 2 since the hike and my calves and thighs are still pretty tight. The hike has areas that are very narrow and steep but it is well worth it. Tour guide, Mio, is amazing. He is easy to talk to, funny and provides a wealth of information about the island, the rainforest and its occupants and so much more. He’s like a walking Wikipedia! We were hiking at a descent pace so it took us 6.5hrs total. The lake was at a simmer that day but it is still quite a wonder to set eyes on. We crossed several rivers and saw some waterfalls along the way. On the way back, I was blessed to enjoy the downpour of a warm waterfall on my shoulders. Absolutely stunning views along the entire way with blue/green pools in the rivers and some that are blue/gray due to the potency of the volcanic minerals. Dominica is truly a blessed country in nature. We got to boil an egg and you can collect your own natural clay from small volcanic pockets. Mio calls it nature’s natural proactive. Funny enough, I paid $25XCD the day before for a small amount but thankfully had a ziplock bag to scoop some fresh clay— which I have on my face as I’m writing this review! 🤪 At the entrance of the hike is Titou Gorge and we got to jump in and swim up to see the two beautiful waterfalls at the end of our hike. Following Mio’s direction made it so much fun and a lot easier to push against the heavy flowing current. That part was actually the best part of my visit to Dominica. I highly recommend this company and especially tour guide, Mio.

AllTrails is serious about the challenge of this hike. Lots of people did the hike without a guide, but it was obviously a mistake to not have a guide due to the challenge and remoteness of this hike. Despite being sore for a few days after, I loved every minute of this hike and would recommend it to anyone with a foundation in physical fitness

Leaving this review 5 months too late but better late than never, right? I can’t speak for other guides but ours, Antoine, was amazing - extremely knowledgeable, patient, and friendly! Thumbs up from us! PS Better make this hike before it becomes very touristy with the new cable car transport system that is being built in that location (unfortunately).

This is not an easy hike but it has the best views on the island. It's an experience you can't get anywhere else. Antoine was very knowledgeable about the trees, plants and wildlife, along with the history. He was very patient and accommodating. He makes it look easy! Not for the feight of heart. Wear good shoes and go at your own pace. Bring lots of water and good snacks and wear a bathing suit. If you can, definitely take a dip in the sulfur river.