Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Matera for the first time, trying the local cuisine.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Great leader!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Wear good shoes - some of the hike trails are a bit stony.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Surprising and very enjoyable
Great guide in Marinella! Very beautiful scenery, great hikes over rolling hills and flat olive groves
Far exceeded expectations
It’s a wonderful trip. Every last detail has been meticulously planned from the routes to the choice of hotels, where to have lunch, where to rest during the cycling… It was my first cycling holiday and I enjoyed that part of it more than expected – if you’re reasonably fit, with the exception of Ooty Hill it’s perfectly manageable. In that sense the heat and humidity is the hardest part of the cycling. However, the standout for me was the food – simply incredible… I like Indian food in the UK but this was another level entirely – a huge variety of flavours and certainly not crazy spicy.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the top of Ooty Hill. Physically, the toughest thing I've ever done (it's brutal) - despite taking on electrolyes and other fluids, being in shape and generally sporty (I'm mid 30's and not carrying any weight) I got badly dehydrated and must of stopped 12-15 times. However, I was enormously proud of myself for cycling the full 13km /1,300m of height gain. And next time I'll know the sort of training I need to do! The other highlight was seeing an elephant in the wild for the first time on the game drive, which again was a lot more fun that I expected.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi was easily the best group leader I've had and I've done these group tours all over the world. He was incredibly conscientious and kind as well as being exceptionally well organised - time and again he went the extra mile. He'd always phone ahead so everywhere we stopped was expecting us and his advice on things like what not to eat was greatly appreciated. Finally, when he needed to put his foot down with either us or his team he'd do so in a gentle, understated way - often with a chuckle. He had a great sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go when it's a bit cooler, padded cycling shorts are a must and take electrolytes if you sweat a lot. Oh and try the Kerala bread - kind of a cross between naan bread, a pancake and puff pastry (I couldn't get enough of it!)
Japan
Mount Fuji. It was breathtaking.
Most Inspirational Moment
The People. so polite. And very helpful
Thoughts on Group Leader
She was very good and helpful. Would have been helpful if she have had a small flag to hold up Because when ther was a lot off people I had trouble seeing her. Because she was small . But she was very good .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes gust go and see this beautiful country.
Wonderful cycling
As the oldest member of our group I was slightly apprehensive about cycling the Amalfi coast before we started but Paolo, our guide, put us all at ease straight away. Every day was hugely enjoyable and Paolo was very informative about the local area and the Mediterranean diet.
Breathtaking views around every corner!
Most Inspirational Moment
Completing the last day's cycling from Minori to Sorrento and back was my longest and hardest day to date - 86km and 1,335m of elevation, but it was so satisfying to complete it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Paolo was great! He worked tirelessly to keep us all more or less together, was very knowledgeable about the local area and managed to get some good discounts at various restaurants.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If I can do it so can you! I am a 'social' rider with my local club riding once or twice a week usually around 30-40 k and a few local hills. Before the holiday I made sure I could ride several consecutive days and upped my distance/elevation a little. Every ride was split into manageable sections with breaks for coffee, lunch, photo opportunities etc. so plenty of recovery time after a challenging climb.
A great way to see as much as possible
I wanted to see as much of the country as possible. You cover 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles) so it’s a lot of bus time. The guide, Mohammed, is first-rate. He has a real love of the country and definitely communicates this passion. The driver is excellent as well. Exodus gives you a mountain lodge about an hour walk from motorized roads (mules carry the luggage) and that is something different. Lodging was very good and they picked some nice locations in the medinas. All the lodging was good and I just took the regular trip, not the premium. Moroccan people are friendly and the trip exceeded my expectations.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being in the Atlas mountains, the chance to experience the Sahara and Essaouira is a gem.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very professional, really goes out of his way to make this a very rich experience for everyone on the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Breakfasts are bread and jam, so if you want something more substantive than a diabetic special, bring your own food. Just be aware that there's a lot of travel on this trip. Don't plan your trip around Marrakech. I was expecting this fabled city and it's a big tourist hustle. Essaouria and Fez are both outstanding for the city portions of the trip.
One of our best holidays
This was a superb holiday from start to finish. The itinerary was well thought out and we loved using the rail network rather than being stuck on busses. We were lucky to arrive at the peak of the cherry blossom, to have wonderful views of Mount Fuji and to arrive in Takayama on the day of the spring festival. The ryokans were great fun and we enjoyed the whole experience of the olsens. We found the Japanese people to be polite and helpful and we always felt very safe which made it a very stress free holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
The trip to Hiroshima. It made us feel very sad and we felt that every world leader should be forced to come there. But it was a vibrant city and it also made us hopeful that there can be forgiveness and a moving on. And the pancakes were amazing!
Thoughts on Group Leader
It was all made brilliant by our leader, Ayaka, who was a font of knowledge, efficient, funny and thoughtful, always making sure that we were getting the best from our holiday ( and not getting lost on the metro in Tokyo!) We cannot praise her enough.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Wear comfy shoes. There are a lot of steps and don't forget your umbrellas. The climate is as variable as it is in England. It is a cash society but we had no concerns about carrying lots of money about
Trails of Vietnam
A full on and intensive tour of the many facets of Vietnam, giving a flavour of this extraordinary country. Be prepared for long days, but you will be richly rewarded often seeing parts of Vietnam that other tourists may not see. As always the trip notes are very accurate.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many different and wonderful experiences in this fascinating country.What will stay with us, were the inspirational and continually cheerful people, the delicious food and the manic driving. Just crossing the road is challenging and as for the cycling .....we loved it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were SO lucky to have Tham Tu as our leader. What a remarkable young lady she is. So knowledgeable and passionate about her country. She always had a smile on her face, was brilliantly organised and nothing was too much trouble. She always went the extra mile to make the Trails of Vietnam a special experience. How could we forget her making cocktails for us on the train!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take Cycle shorts and / or a gel seat, but there is no need to take a cycle helmet, as those supplied were of good quality. Don't pack too much as there are plenty of opportunities to have laundry done very cheaply and you need the extra space for souvenirs and new clothes of course!
Delhi to Kathmandu
This was a great trip which involved a lot of travelling ( by bus, train, jeep and boat) but with the reward of visiting some beautiful and historical places and having some wonderful experiences. The travelling times for our group were often longer than suggested in the trip notes but this was because at the time of our travel there was some major road construction occurring. However the long bus trips did give one an opportunity to observe the countryside, the Indian and Nepalese cultures and ways of life as one passed through towns and villages. There was also the opportunity for the odd nap as there were quite a few early morning starts. Also this gave an opportunity to read up on, or reflect on the places visited as the trip moves quickly across India and into Nepal.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me the inspirational moments of the trip were visiting the Taj Mahal, getting close to the Indian one horned rhino in Chitwan national park and the flight to Everest . The Taj Mahal is such an iconic building and to have experienced its beauty and atmosphere at sunrise was inspiring. Our group were so lucky at Chitwan ...we saw about 10 rhino with 7 being distant viewings but 3 were really close to the jeeps. Being a keen photographer of animals this really made my trip !!! Am still wondering how Gaj our " all things can be sorted" guide managed to arrange that !!! Seeing Everest and the Himalayas above the clouds..... not to be missed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gaj was our fantastic leader who looked out for our safety but also ensured that we had a good time. He frequently asked us if our tummies were in order... "because if your tummy isn't in the right place your head isn't going to be in the right place". For the majority, tummies were in the right place for the whole trip and I am sure that this was partly owing to the fact that Gaj knew where to take us to eat. A guide is always worth his money for giving good advice to avoid unhappy occurrences and then if they occur being able to sort things out . Gaj always gave us good tips on things to do or not to do and always knew where we could change money, find a chemist, procure a chain and lock for your suitcase or get passport photos done . Besides all the practical stuff Gaj told us lots about the history and culture of his country and answered all our questions enthusiastically.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for the long drives.. its what you have to do to visit places where some roads are not great. The Nepalese immigration insist on pristine US dollar notes ( no markings and flat) for your visa.
Discover Sri Lanka - Excellent!
Highly recommended.
It’s an amazing country and Sri Lankan’s in general have a very chilled and relaxed attitude to life/work. Which is a nice to see when you come from a big city.
The country itself is lovely and picturesque. The mountain region in particular has some amazing views.
Most Inspirational Moment
- Elephant trip : was optional but I would highly recommend you go to this. Everyone on my tour went and came away with a massive smile and loads of photoes. It's can be dusty, hot and bumpy ride - but it's not a "drive though" zoo - its a real life national park. - Sri Lanka Housing Project : amazing story and even better food
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rowan was brilliant and very passionate about Sri Lanka, it's history, it's culture, the environment and wildlife. Always attentive and ready to help out when we need help (above and beyond in some cases during our trip).
Advice for Potential Travellers
- Take a hat if you are folically challenged! - Money wise I took pounds with me and changed only around £150 just for me at the airport. But througout the trip I changed further pounds (only once in Kandy), used the ATMs and my debit card to pay for larger hotel bills. If I was to go again I wouldnt bother with ATMs (some worked but many didn't); instead I would convert more pounds at the airport and use the debit card at the hotels or where easy. - Only Adams Peak needed proper walking boots I think. I would get some decent walking sandals next time. - Out of the optional trips I did the : -- Elephant trip (best thing I have done in a while) -- Whiteriver Rafting (excellent - but will soon disappear due to ongoing engineering projects to build a massive dam) -- Adams Peak (excellent - brilliant views but can be difficult to walk as steps can be uneven) -- Whale Spotting (good - we saw a few whales and a killer whale - but I would not go if you can't get a "private" boat with enough Exodus members [10 people] . If you go on the "public" boats you are karted on and cannot move around freely. The "private" boat is all yours and allows you to move around to different parts of a boat. Whales come up when they want and having freedom to move around means you can see it)
Great for wildlife
A good opportunity to see the wildlife – especially birds – in a number of different locations across the country.
Most Inspirational Moment
I'm not sure I'd describe any of it as inspirational but there were plenty of wildlife sightings - aided by the sharp eyes of our guide and driver - and some spectacular scenery.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Antonio was friendly, helpful and spoke perfect English. Eric, our driver, also deserves a mention and the two worked well together as a team.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that, although this trip is described as having "comfortable" accommodation throughout, this is not the case. While most accommodation is good, and some excellent, three nights are spent in a lodge where the accommodation is no better than basic and you'll need your own towels and toiletries (and an ability to turn a blind eye to health and safety, particularly where electrics are concerned). Also take a good waterproof - it is the rainforest after all - and we had one day of particularly persistent and heavy rain. The lodge was doing a roaring trade in the sale of waterproof ponchos!