Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

My highlights were swimming in the lake above Chamonix (though very very cold!!) and seeing a Wallcreeper.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rupert made the trip very interesting by sharing his knowledge of wild flowers and knowledge of the local cuisine and best coffee stops! His knowledge of the area was excellent and due to this we could do little detours to see glacial lakes and Bernard the cheese farmer that you would miss if you stuck rigidly to the TMB. I also loved having 2 half-lunches, will do this on hikes in the future!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep your pack as light as possible - I wished I'd taken a small pair of binoculars though. Do take your swimmers & sports towel with you as it is great to go in the lake! If you have any knee problems, use hiking poles and bring knee supports with you. There is a lot of downhill on this trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

The carpets of wild flowers set against the dramatic backdrop of the Mont Blanc Massif

Thoughts on Group Leader

John was an excellent leader in every sense admirably supported by Graham (great food) and Charlotte

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go light -you get a chance to wash clothes through BUT take good quality waterproofs or a poncho -it will rain! It can be cold so plenty of layers and a 4 season sleeping bag

Most Inspirational Moment

The scramble to the summit of Mt Ouanakrim.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good and extremely personable especially as the trip was during Ramadan

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go!

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all parts of the trip. Some particular highlights were the trip to Lukomir, Bosnia's highest village - it took quite a long drive up a gravel road to get there (mention must go to our fantastic driver, who approached this, as well as the frequent hairpin bends up and down mountains throughout the trip, with calm expertise!) but was worth the drive. We started with a fairly easy hike to a mountain waterfall (I found the hike down easier than the hike back up, but that might be my fitness level!) and afterwards were were rewarded by a delicious homemade lunch provided for us by one of the village families. It was fantastic to do as it would not have been possible had I not been traveling with the Exodus group I also found visiting Sarajevo very interesting, and we were able to get a good introduction to the recent history in the city. We visited the Sarajevo Tunnel museum and our group leader was happy to share his experiences of the 1990s siege. Sarajevo itself was a beautiful city with very diverse culture and history.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Alen, was fantastic. He was very easy-going and friendly, and provided us with lots of interesting information about the places we visited and the culture of the region. He was happy to answer our group's many questions, made sure we had good information about things to do during our free time, shared with us his personal experiences of the 1990s conflicts and was a wonderful ambassador for Bosnia and Sarajevo.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Those of us who spent a few days in Dubrovnik before or after the group trip were glad we had arranged this - the time in Dubrovnik is limited (arrival in the afternoon and group flight was the next lunchtime) so there was really just time for a late-afternoon visit to Dubrovnik Old Town and supper. I also recommend taking walking boots - it does advise these in the trip information, but I wasn't sure it would be necessary for the walks we were doing. I was very glad to have mine in the end, as the ground on the walks was not necessarily easy underfoot, especially with some loose stones etc underfoot on the Lukomir walk. I also advise good insect repellent if you are susceptible to bites - I did get bitten by mosquitoes on both occasions that I didn't wear any repellent. Zip off shorts-trousers, or a long skirt for women would be handy for the monastery trips - something that could be stored in a backpack. They did tend to provide wrap-around skirts and headscarves to borrow if you needed them but some people might prefer to have their own.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Hoi Van Pass. Coping with Vietnamese roundabouts. Cycling into and around Hue. Vietnamese beer at 50p a pint!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was first class. Always attentive. Knowledgeable. In sympathy with cycling. He had an excellent team, along with mechanic and the 2 drivers. He led them well, and they were excellent in everything they did.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go on this trip. You will enjoy every aspect of it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through snow on the final day of walking in Italy with blue sky and bright sunshine....lush!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simon was our group leader.He was friendly, informative and fun as a leader. I felt safe and confident with him as the guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

The lemurs ! That's what I looked forward to and I was not disappointed. I particularly enjoyed Lemur Island early on in the holiday, as the lemurs were habituated to humans and were virtually 'all over us'. I enjoyed the Tsingy and the walk in Isalo equally.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was a good leader. Always appeared cheerful even though he possibly didn't feel it. Most things went smoothly and he dealt with issues as they arose.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes prepared us for most eventualities such as the rough roads and long drives and problems with hot water/power- I was grateful for that preparation. If anything, I was surprised at the low-ish temperature in the east of Madagascar and could have done with taking a couple of more warm garments.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing 2 rhino bringing there young to the waterhole one was still suckling. Watching & listening to a lion lap water whilst a rhino slurped at the other side of a waterhole - then getting a full blown lion roaring session. The cessna flight back over the areas just visited is well worth the cost - it puts the vastness of everything in perspective and shows just how little is not sand!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Washing can be done for you at the lodge in Swakopmond - fixed price for a basket load. All the toilets were good with paper - but it is single ply and rough...keep all your N$1 coins as you need these for the service station loos. Take a water bottle as the water is drinkable everywhere - although a bit yucky at Brandberg. Good binoculars make a huge difference to seeing all the extra creatures at the waterholes. Camping mats provided are good thick ones - nothing extra needed. It is VERY cold after dark in July so take lots of layers. The Cessna flight from Swakopmond is brilliant but you will need to book it asap as they only take out 5 people at a go. Also the restaurants need booking - we were lucky and got tables but it was only for 2 people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Couldn't pick one in particular. I remember how we all felt during the day at the Dead Sea (day 3?) and I think we all secretly felt that nothing could match that day, but they all certainly did! Out on a yacht in the middle of the Red Sea snorkelling, some scuba diving too.. Sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum, the endless hours you can spend trekking around the lost city of Petra.. Too many to mention

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Ala, was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and could answer any question we threw at him. He kept referring to Jordan as "in my country..." so you could tell how proud he was to be Jordanian and how happy he was to be taking us around his country! Johnny (our driver) and Laith (bike mechanic) were very approachable, friendly blokes too. Nothing was too much trouble for them. A special mention however must go to our cycle guide, Abid (sp)!! Arabian cycling champion.. Abid is a character that, if you have the honour of meeting him, you certainly will not forget him! Anybody who was on this holiday (and I'm sure on others with Abid as the cycle guide) will agree that he was the cherry on top of the cake...and more! One of the most likeable blokes I have ever met and it was such a shame to say goodbye at the end of the holiday. I can't vouch for any other cycle guides on this trip (I'm sure they're all great) but Abid was something very very special and we couldn't have been luckier to have met him

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry a certain amount of low denomination currency as much as you can, and put it in a separate pocket out of your wallet/purse. Last thing you want is for locals (in Petra particularly) to see that you have a weeks worth of money on you. Don't worry, it is perfectly safe, but they will be cheeky and expect a bigger tip from you. If you give them a couple of dinar from your pocket where you only have a few notes, it looks a lot better than from a wad of cash that you have for the whole week. Don't let that put you off though, I've never been to a place where I have felt as safe as I did in Jordan, genuinely!

Most Inspirational Moment

On a personal level, completing a walk I had not been able to do last year was a massive boost. For the group I feel that the traditional Albanian meal in Berat within the walls of the castle was a brilliant evening. The insights into Albanian culture gave me food for thought which will stay with me for a long time.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was very friendly and helpful at all times, always looking to show us the best of Albania and making sure that at all the "sites" expert guides were available which enhanced the experience. There was also time to be spontaneous and adapt to what the group wanted to do.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is always a risk of electricity cuts in the country so a torch is essential. I do not normally need walking poles but I found them essential in Albania.