Reviews

fantastic country and people

Just returned from this trip over Xmas and loved it. The pace and distances were just right, allowing us to soak in the atmosphere of the Country. Safi, our guide and his team were brilliant in every way. Patient, knowledgeable and helpful. The bikes were of very good quality and made it easy to cover the distances without too much effort.

Excellent

I really recommend this trip. Peru was an amazing experience. There was so much to see and the scenery and the wildlife were amazing.
Yes there are some early starts and long drives but I found I didn’t mind with the help of a few downloads on my tablet and the amazing scenery. There was plenty of (free) water provided and ample toilet/food stops and we were mostly on a large comfortable coach.
I highly recommend the Nasca lines plane trip (don’t eat beforehand) and Machu Piccu lived up to the hype.
I worried about altitude sickness but for most people it’s not a big issue. Walking is more tiring and you may well get a headache but paracetamol should fix that.
In terms of things I wish I’d known beforehand -you will use a lot of cash. Credit cards are not accepted everywhere -even the expensive plane trip had to be paid in cash (although it seemed like Exodus used the only operator that didn’t take cards). ATMs are plentiful and will issue US$ and local currency but you will need soles for restaurants and entrance fees.
I also hadn’t appreciated that you need an overnight bag for the island trip.
We would have liked Exodus to provide more information about optional trips beforehand. Our guide didn’t sell them which although a blessing in some ways meant that we would have missed out on the Rainbow mountain trip if our fellow travellers hadn’t recommended it. For my sons this was a real highlight. (Bring gloves and a hat in winter it gets cold). You do need to be fairly fit for this trip but the horse option helps.
I would skip the sacred valley tour which is largely a lengthy shopping trip.
The hot springs however were really enjoyable and we had time for swim in one hotel so bring swimwear but towels were provided.
We went in August (winter) which seemed like an excellent time to go. It was mostly pretty warm although cold at night in Cuzco and on the island and I was glad it wasn’t any warmer in Machu Piccu with all the steps.
In terms of ages our group ranged from 19-70. Exodus suggested the average age wiuld be around 40 which seemed about right. This was the first time i had been on a group tour and I was worried about whether my sons (19-24) would enjoy. They did -there is so much to see I think you would struggle to fit so much in if you self organised – you don’t need to be super fit but as well as a lot of sitting down there is a fair amount of walking and a lot of steps.
The hotels were fine (3 star clean comfortable with mostly decent wifi) and food was generally good or excellent. We ate in groups (sometimes there was really only one place to eat but otherwise optional) but everyone paid individually (I imagine that’s usual but I hadn’t done a group tour before).
Our guide Armando was really nice and helpful and Exodus seemed pretty organised.
If you think you would enjoy this trip you probably will.

An amazing trip and a fantastic value!

Loved it.

Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of South India

This is a fantastic trip with a lot of variety. From trekking in the mountains to relaxing on a houseboat; from bird- and animal-spotting to touring a magnificent Hindu temple; from seeing tea and spices growing to tasting the most wonderful Keralan cooking; and generally seeing, hearing, and learning about the rich variety of South Indian life and culture. This was my first trip to India but it certainly won’t be my last.

petra and wadi rum by bike

Petra and Wadi Rum were the highlights, and the basics were covered in terms of being met at the airport etc., but we lost one day due to bad weather and the following day, despite excellent weather. Aqaba is very much a Russian holiday destination these days and we found the coral and snorkeling disappointing and surprisingly expensive. Nevertheless, Petra is impressive, as is the Wadi Rum desert. The hotels were OK.

A great trip but.....

We took the trip over the Christmas period and it was a good one, the crew (Jacob, Stoney, Silvia and Dolly) were all excellent and could not be faulted. The organisation was good, the driving excellent, (how Stoney gets that truck along some of those roads is unbelievable) and the food was good and plentiful.
There were 11 of us on the trip and we all got on very well which is a good thing if you are stuck on a truck for 2 weeks. Do not worry about charging batteries as the truck has a plug by each seat which can be used anytime whilst the truck is moving.
The White Water Rafting Option in Jinja was excellent and the safety precautions couldn’t be faulted, you are almost guaranteed to be thrown out at least once but we all felt perfectly safe when we were.
The campsites were in some cases very basic with no water in the toilets and cold or no showers but they were adequate and in others there were options for upgrades to rooms if required.
On day 8 the trip notes stated a visit to the top of the falls, what they did not say is that it involved a boat trip and then a trek along an uneven trek and a climb up several steps of uneven height, which was a bit testing for some people, although I see that this might have changed now but you might want to check.
The big but is that on our trip both the Chimps and Gorillas were unco-operative and people thinking of doing the trip need to be aware that there is no guarantee of seeing either. On our trip some of us trekked 5 miles along tracks and off track just to see 1 Chimp and for the Gorillas we left camp at 4.45am and drove for 3.5 hours to the start point and then split into 2 groups, the moderately hard trek group took 7 hours of hard trekking up and down steep slippery and overgrown hills there and back to see the Gorillas who were up in the trees and not all that easy to see, the easier trek group took 10 hours and 4 of our group needed stretchering out with exhaustion which cost them between $200-$300 dollars each. We then all had another 3.5 hour drive back to camp getting back between 20.30 & 22.30 hours, much to the relief of Jacob our guide. Although this is what happened on our trip, we were told that that was not the norm but…..

Fantastic walks, amazing scenery, great food and a fantastic guide

Walking in North Cyprus was a lovely surprise. The trip was very well organised by Exodus and we had a fantastic guide called Gizer who was very knowledgeable, kind and professional. The trip was a hotel based walking trip at Christmas time. The weather on the whole was perfect for walking and showing off the amazing scenery. (just one afternoon of rain) The walks were varied, quite tough at times but very rewarding. We mostly visited castles and monasteries during the walks. The hotel was a good standard with nice big rooms and very friendly staff. The group were amazing and inspirational. The Guide was fantastic and organised great restaurants with really good food at very reasonable prices for us all. He was the perfect host to show off this beautiful part of the world and he ensured all of us enjoyed our holiday.

amazing trip, full of surprises

a great, well organised trip – The hardest thing i needed to do was to wake up on time – everything else was taken care of. Loved the safaris, bird watching, village walks/cycling, train journey, whale watching and more. Hotels were great too.

Challenging riding, good location

A well-run trip – good organisation and helpful leaders and support crew. There is a variety of riding and dramatic scenery. A fair amount of uphill riding too, so fitness important.
The technical descents are challenging. I have ridden mountain bikes for over 30 years and parts tested me. Some riders on the trip had limited experience off-road, so found it tricky.
Weather was changeable – be prepared for anything!

Absolutely awe inspiring.

Seeing and standing next to the real thing is unsurpassed by any screen be it 3D or otherwise.

Good pace if booking the extra excursion/visits, almost all of which were worth the effort.

The cruise part was very relaxing and a welcome break from the grey cold wet xmas hustle.