Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

getting through a couple of very steep , snow and ice packed sections of a couple of the walks

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thomas was full of historical info and local knowledge which he was more than happy to share. good sense of humour and encouragement when he thought it was needed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

use clothing layer system, plus gaiters . Weather can be sunny / cold / rainy / snowy . There are times when you dont snow shoe but may need to walk in deeper snow as its safer than an icy path. Alternatively it could be muddy and gaiters do help keep you clean. Definitely take some shoe grippers that can fit onto your boots i.e. Yaktrax or those rubber /spiky things sold in many shops. Some paths are sheet packed ice and the grips give you that extra safety feature , but you will be putting on and taking off multiple times during a walk so make sure you are familiar with them. The paths vary depending on if they are in open / forest / gorge etc. If you can , carry an old hiking trousers belt / webbing/ bit of string . Its useful to help tie down the snow shoes onto your rucksack ( if you dont have side straps on the rucksack ) . The guesthouse is cosy and warm , plenty of hot water. No TV in rooms . You make your lunch sandwich at the breakfast table in mornings and carry it with you. Might be worth carrying your own trail bars / jelly babies etc if you like to snack en route . A flask to carry your own tea ( the guest house will fill with hot water or fruit tea ) may also be useful in cold weather. You really only need a bit of spending money as one night in a restaurant in Brasov ( I had 2 beers plus main plus starter and it was 60 Lei or 12 pounds total . Roughly 5 Lei to the pound ) . The guest house runs a tab that you settle on final night. You just help yourself to beers ( one beer is 5 or 6 lei depending on brand , teas in afternoon 4 lei ) from fridge , mark it on your list and settle at end . The guest house is in middle of nowhere , really isolated . So no town or shops to walk to etc.

Most Inspirational Moment

The optional snowshoe hike in Riisitunturi National Park was fantastic. The scenery was something I'd never seen, and everything I wanted to see when I imagined Finnish Wilderness. Also the silence in the forest, and exploring on snowshoes with others, or practicing cross country skiing alone. It's a perfect escape bubble from the rest of the world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Teddy/Bjorn was great - very laid back with a great sense of humour. All the staff at Basecamp were knowledgeable and really friendly. The whole place has a relaxed and cosy feel.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it! If you like being outdoors, making new friends, and trying out new activities then you'll have a great time. You don't need any experience of the activities, just be willing to have a go. On a practical note: The afternoons are mostly free so you can be as active as you choose to be - either snowshoeing, cross country skiing, using the sauna and hot tub, or just taking a nap! Evenings were spent playing cards or boardgames, chatting, or reading by the fire. Drinks are available from reception - I recommend the cloudberry liqueur, or the peppermint in some hot chocolate! Optional activities can be quite pricey so do allow for that. You pay for everything on your tab at the end of the week. If you're not a downhill skier or boarder then Ruka doesn't have much to do, but I found the day spa and a nice coffee shop. A few others went snowmobiling. Wifi works in the dining room/reception (most of the time) and you can always use 4G in the rooms if you need to. Bring a spare power pack if you like taking photos on your phone. The cold will drain your battery quicker than at home. Basecamp really do provide everything you need to stay warm, and you don't need to pack much at all. Just a few sets of your own baselayers, hat and buff, and then jeans and jumper for the evening.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the summits and enjoying the fabulous views

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was fabulous - knows the area well and is enthusiastic about sharing information so you understand your surroundings and appreciate the walks even more. Very conscious of the group to ensure that everyone is enjoying the walk, that the pace is right, and anyone who is a little uncertain in parts is encouraged and supported.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring layers, gloves and a warm hat. The sun can be warm (sometimes we were in T shirts) but the wind is icy, especially on the mountain tops (in January anyway).

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the Thorong la Pass and the high mountains all around us. Pokhara was great fun on New years eve.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good, he mixed in with the group in the evenings and was always joyfull and very knolageable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go to enjoy yourself and have plenty of card space in your camera. It is a strenuous trek with plenty of steep ups and downs to tax the knees

Most Inspirational Moment

The long hike up to the top of one mountain to see the remains of an doorway arch and views across the island.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Probably the best group leader we have had (and we have done a lot of Exodus and Explore holidays).

Advice for Potential Travellers

In December you need to be prepared for cold, wet and windy weather (it even sleeted on us at one point), and pack layers accordingly. A pole or poles will help on the descents.

Most Inspirational Moment

Backwaters, temples in Madurai, tea plantations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was fantastic. One of the best. He was highly knowledgeable in all aspects of India and gave relevant commentaries as we journeyed. He was also patient with us on the menu selections.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip was rated as easy walking. I would say on two days it was moderate.

Most Inspirational Moment

Home-stay, Walk and talk in the spice garden, On the houseboat

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was Good and very hard working although he felt compelled to keep giving commentary despite many people sometimes being marginally interested.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the end, the two days in Funchal, maybe because I felt I'd earnt it! We did an optional extra dolphin boast trip, went on the cable car and generally soaked up the atmosphere. Funchal at night during the Christmas period was lively with very tasteful decorations. The views of the north coast from several of the walks were spectacular.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Andre a very experienced mountain guide. He was extremely friendly and helpful and considerate to those of differing walking abilities and experiences. The walks all went well without incident because of this. He was also good at recommending places to eat which accepted 15 individual bills.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't do this without either regular walking experience or some preparation before hand. There are five walks. I ducked out of the most strenuous one ( I wasn't the only one) but the last was also for me hard going, too many rocks, too many tunnels and too many hills. To be fair it was not the route in the itinerary which we could not do because of road closures. Definitely consider walking poles, invaluable especially for the down hills.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cruising the backwaters, followed by visiting the temple at Madurai, and the tree plantations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was very professional and knowledgeable. He also had a great sense of humor.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for an assault to all your senses and to face the fact that misogyny and discrimination are everyday issues. You also know nothing know about sound pollution, air pollution and garbage/plastic pollution until you have been to India! Quite frankly I came back from the holiday more tired than I was before I left. That's mostly due to the fact that we were traveling from one place to the next every other day (with three nights in a row in a different hotel). But India generally speaking is not a relaxing place, unless you go to a beach and don't move for a few days, I guess. I have learned a lot but I wouldn't say India is a place I'll be eager to go back to.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many great moments on our trip but the most inspirational and humbling for me was the spirit of the Vietnamese people, from happy smiling school kids shouting hello as we cycled through their villages to the hard working people in the fields planting rice or ploughing fields with Water Buffalo always managing a smile or a wave. It made me appreciate what I take for granted in my comfortable life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi was fantastic, great knowledge, answered every question that was put to him, managed all aspects of the trip perfectly, great restaurant recommendations and good fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a shoulder bag for the overnight stops or change of clothes for the longer bus trips after cycling when main luggage isn't accessible. Try the local tailors in Hoi An, amazing quality and very reasonable. Take your own food on the overnight train, the canteen gets very busy. Use taxis in Saigon and Hanoi even for short distances, they're cheap and it's safer than walking (crossing roads). Take a book for the coach rides.