Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14348 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed February 2011

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Great trip with a packed but very good itinerary. Some long days in the bus but worth it to see the full range of sites and changing terrain from deserts to mountains and back.

Most Inspirational Moment

The arrival at and walking in Todra gorge is spectacular. I won't spoil the surprise of the arrival but you should have your camera ready when you get off the bus. The drive through the pass on the way to Marrakesh is also amazing particularly when you consider the desert landscape you were in only two days previously. However the best part for me was watching the scenery change as we moved around the country.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha was an excellent guide with masses of local knowledge and great pride in his country. Our driver Hasan was also one of the best tour bus drivers I have ever seen always keeping safety ahead of everything on some very difficult roads and manic traffic in the cities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

- I would suggest not taking the Royal Air Maroc flights which were the designated group flights. They were quite disorganised in getting people on and off the plan although once we got going the flight was ok. However the timing of the flights is also not very good as you arrive very late into Casablanca on the first day so you only get the following morning in the city which is spent at a couple of the sites so no exploring time. You would be better off taking an earlier flight or arriving a day before if you want to explore this city. The flight on the way back is not direct and takes six hours when direct flights are available with other airlines and take about 3-4 hours.- Be aware and ready for the fact that some of the hotels are very basic and not up to Euro standards but this is not a real problem as long as you approach it with the view of this being an adventrue and not a luxury trip.- Pay a lot of attention to the recommended packing list in the trip notes as there is very little on that list that you won't be using (or borrowing!) during the trip. - take some entertainment for the bus trips if you get bored watching the scenery. The bus we had was quite small for the size of our group (15 plus driver and guide) so you may need to make allowances around personal space.

Reviewed February 2011

ANTARCTICA, FALKLANDS & SOUTH GEORGIA

I had high expectations, but this trip surpassed them all. The ship was functional & comfortable; the ship crew & expedition team were fun & hard working. The landscapes and wildlife were AWESOME (I hate that word, but no other word does it justice!). The sea and sunshine smiled on us most of the time, which was a real bonus. I've travelled a lot, but i feel truely privileged to have visited this corner of the world. I'm now planning my next polar trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

2 exceptionally special moments: 150k penguins at Salisbury Plain, St Georgia - spectacular! And a zodiac cruise around a sea of floating blue ice bergs (though i'm sure the expedition team would say they were bergy bits not bergs!). Spectacular doesn't even come close.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lynn is Miss Antarctica, we benefitted from her experience in the region and she had the full respect of her team which says a lot.

Advice for Potential Travellers

book it now!

Reviewed February 2011

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An excellent trip which covers a lot of ground. Costa rica is a wonderful country and certainly not like most Central or South American countries. It is well developed and benign.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to say as there were many wonderful moments. Two would be seeing two jaguars swimming the river on our way to Tortuguero on our first day and finding the elusive Quetzal at Savegre and spending nearly an hour watching a male and female in a tree. Dont expect to see jaguars but Quetzals seemed to be seen by most at Savegre at this time of the year.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rafael was simply superb. If Exodus use a better guide I would be surprised. He had great sense of humour, an outstanding knowledge of almost any subject and gave us a grest deal of information about the country and the wildlife we saw. He was determined to ensure that we enjoyed every minute of our stay. I must add that he was assisted by an excellent driver Francisco who also worked very hard to ensure everything went well. They were a great team and a pleasure to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you love wildlife then go. You will see wonderful birds and also a variety of animals although almost certainly not jaguars. Be prepared for rain although we had none except at night in the two weeks. You will need to change your sleeping patterns as you will have very early starts on most days. You need to pack for extremes of temperature. We went to Nicuesa lodge rather than Esquinas and it was very hot and very humid. From there we went to Savegre where it was cold enough at night to need a fire in the rooms so dont expect tropical temperatures all the time.It is a trip with a lot of driving but our guide always ensured that we had stops along the way to break it up but you have to accept that you are covering a lot of ground in a small country and the roads are not always too good. The trip is well organised to see the various areas and differing habitats.

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

A really enjoyable holiday that exceeded expectations. This trip goes to places where there are few western tourists and you feel you are getting to know the real India – combined with great weather and fantastic food.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick just one - the highlights included - the elephant festival we attended near Guruvayor; the descent through the Western Ghats and the food which just gets better and better.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pete was an excellent group leader - knowledgeable and experienced with a laid back approach. He went the extra mile to ensure that we all enjoyed the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother taking money to exchange - there are ATMs at numerous points along the trip and you get a much better exchange rate than when exchanging cash. There is an ATM at the airport.

Reviewed February 2011

SNOWSHOEING IN THE DOLOMITES

Terrific fun – a great winter holiday in the snow. Hotel Adler brilliant too.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views from the peaks we conquered were truly exceptional. Sledging down a mountain on our "day off" from snowshoeing was also a memorable experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl was a very good leader - always trying to ensure we had a good time and got the most out of the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Snowshoeing is a great activity for people who enjoy trekking. It's easy to pick up and allows walkers to keep going in the snow, while rediscovering their childhood. Proper winter clothes are essential - especially really good gloves, as temperatures can typically be around minus 8 or 9 celsius.

Reviewed February 2011

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

It's true what they say – nothing will prepare you for Antarctica. Not just in the don't-forget-the-sunscreen sort of preparation but the sheer beauty, wildness and silence of the place. The ship, although it was only the second trip it had done for Quark, was brilliant and we honestly couldn't fault the crew, food, comfort (except we didn't have a window: if you're offered cabin 330 on the Sea Spirit, ask to change it!) and overall planning and preparation for the trip. The trip leaders oozed enthusiasm, they were knowledgeable and were able to make last-minute alterations to the schedule to allow us to make the most of every glorious moment of this holiday. I doubt if I will go to Antarctica again, but if I could, I would go again with Exodus and Quark. The free coat was pretty cool too. Only downside was the long journey with the stop at Sao Paulo and the overnight at Ushuaia. Aerolineas Argentinas was delightfully quirky but Exodus had the foresight to allow plenty of transfer time so we didn't miss any connections. And a special "thank you" to their out-of-hours service (and in-hours service too!) for sorting out a couple of minor hitches with all efficiency and politeness.

Most Inspirational Moment

The moment in Paradise Bay when they cut the engine of the Zodiac, the camera shutters stopped and the silence was absolute.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant. A very people-person, knowledgeable, very safety conscious, and unfailing enthusiasm.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of layers. We had sunshine and no wind and boiled in our thermals. Take your swimming costume - it may well be needed. And don't forget the sunscreen.

Reviewed February 2011

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

An absolutely amazing trip that surpassed all expectations. The cabin was bigger than expected, the food great, the wildlife plentiful and close, the crew were friendly, organisation was superb and there was so much to do I didn't even get to read my book!

Most Inspirational Moment

My Highlights were a 2hr Zodiac cruise amongst the ice seeing some most amazing formations.The polar plunge .. where I jumped off the gangway into the Antarctic waters and was pulled back in again by Sergi the Russian sailor.Landing on my Seventh continent on Christmas Day and then celebrating later with a barbecue on the back deck.Watching the Humpback whales from the ship with the Captain making awesome maneuvers to make sure we got the best shots.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader and her team were incredible. They were all very knowledgeable and passionate about their jobs. They created a very relaxed atmosphere on the ship and nothing seemed too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! Book early if you want to do any of the extra activities. I regret not picking a longer trip that went to South Georgia. I had an extra week in Patagonia walking and visiting the Purto Moreno Glacier which was awesome.

Reviewed February 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Kili climbing… was certainly one of a kind life experience. The perfect conditions to challenge yourself and find your inner peace and strenght. It is hard to describe really, you have to live it to understand it!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved most of the days, especially being so close to nature. If I had to chose a moment, obviously the summit day (actually night) is pretty mindblowing. After walking up for 5 hours in the dark, when our guide told me 'don't lose your confidence sister' and kindly carried my backpack, 2 hours before reaching Uhuru peak, I suddendly felt an adrenaline kick, and wings growing in my feet...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was extremely responsible, he knew so much about the mountain, and was great in managing the team and bringing everybody together. The 2 other guides were amazing as well, both wise and professional and yet super friendly and cheerful. We had so much fun. I must also add that our guides' mountain gear was much better than those of many other trekking companies we found on the way, showing they take good care of their staff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lemosho route is definetely the best to reach the peak as you spend several extra days on the mountain just to acclimatise in preparation for the summit ascent. It is also really enjoyable since you leave from a beautiful pine forest, and arrive through a lovely tropical forest, so you get a lot of variety.Trust your guides! Drink loads, walk slowly, it is not a competition! Bring a camel bag, as it is the only way to drink enough as you walk to meet the 4-5L water requirement/day.Also, I was happy I had hired a matress through Exodus as they were much thicker than those you get in mountain shops, they also isolate better from the cold. Honestly, I slept like a baby every night.For the summit ascent: bring loads of snacks, better liquid (energy gels for instance) as the cereal bars and chocolate will freeze. An ipod is also great as the summit ascent can get a bit monotonous when you are walking for hours in the dark and personally music kept me going..Keep all electrical equipment next to you body every night (in your sleeping bag) and during the final ascent so the batteries don't freeze. There is signal on the top so you can send text to family and friends to tell them you have reached the top!

Reviewed February 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

A fantastic opportunity to get to the top of the highest mountain in Africa. It is amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. This trip is possible for anyone with reasonable fitness and a bucket load of determination; as the final night slog up the hill is mentally hard – keeping focussed is the key. The guides were extremely helpful throughout the trip and we wouldn’t have succeeded without them.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Kilimanjaro; beyond words.Though looking back on the trip, I would say the guides assistance in getting to the top was inspirational in that they provided excellent support (getting water, warming hands up, doing jackets up) but didn't verbally encourage you to go on, but did so through their patience and just being there. Perfect for such a challenge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group was good and organised the trip well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My partner and I found taking diamox helped us prevent severe headaches. Drink loads of water, it helps. Take immodium in case the combination of altitude, water and food make you ill. Be mentally prepared for the last day by being focussed on what you want to achieve; it is possible.

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

A great trip. Getting off the beaten track in India, riding through small villages and along back roads, provided an opportunity to see India away from any other visitors. The welcome from the people of India, just riding past them, was amazing and completely unexpected. Some great cycling, and a very well constructed trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long descent from Ooty is an amazing ride - mile after mile of sweeping turns, with amazing views amongst the tea plantations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader has created a great trip, that blends some tough cycling (a very steep climb half way through the trip) with some easy and relaxing days (especially on the houseboats - which are lovely by the way). We also experienced some great food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

While there are 1-2 long cycling days these are taken at a modest pace. Most people of moderate fitness could do this trip and really enjoy it.

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