Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

As an absolute beginner, staying upright on a small slope was an amazing feat. Snowshoeing up to the top of the plateau and seeing the wilderness for miles around Spending New Year in the snowy wilds and with such great people!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Illse and Mary were really great at coaching us in less than favourable conditions and keeping the options open to all abilities and inclinations for activity. They also provide evening 'entertainment'..but I will keep the content a surprise!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely take the advice of others and pack a bottle or buy supplies in the duty free at Oslo when you land. Drinks are available at the Lodge with high Norwegian tax added! I packed way too much, inside the lodge is super warm and cosy so a t-shirt is fine. Cosy boots useful for traversing between lodge and sleeping hut as are some sort of mini-crampon overshoe as it can be an ice-rink out there! Bring an extra towel you can use in the sauna...bikini's too if you don't fancy going native. A flask and sit mat are essential but you can borrow one if you forget them. Extra snacks are good to pack for when you need a burst of energy out on trail Hiking clothes are perfect unless you're extra sensitive to cold. I just wore merino long johns with trousers over the top and a couple of merino base layers, a wind proof top and a lightweight hard shell.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the mountains on day 4, amazing views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Guide was fantastic, really made the trip - he had a passion for his island and dealt well with the individuals in the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reading Spanish with the tour leader assistant Christmas morning over eggs & toast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Loved him. Very lively and insightful. I loved the assistant as well. Both are well trained in emergency services.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't get hung up if you don't complete the trek for whatever reason. You'll still have a great trip with stories to share.

Most Inspirational Moment

I'm really pleased to look at the map of Gozo and know that I have walked virtually all of it. The walk booklet led me across the island in all directions but knowing that it was very hard to get lost gave me more freedom to explore 'off piste'.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Not applicable

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Ta Cenc hotel was very welcoming and the rooms comfortable and heated! The spa was a bit tired but the heated pool a must. Staff were lovely. Winter in Gozo was okay but it would have been even nicer in the spring. As a single female traveller I felt very safe.

Most Inspirational Moment

The fantastic scenery in the Atlas mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Radu was excellent. Always thinking ahead,He had great attention to detail and understanding of the preferences of the individual group members.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is very cold in the mountains so bring enough warm clothes - the sort of things you'd wear cycling on a winters day in the UK.

Most Inspirational Moment

all participants said that they felt that they were looked after and their needs were met

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was very patient with the individuals in the group and competent in teaching basic skiing skills

Most Inspirational Moment

We loved the visit to Treviso. Our guide Gabriella gave a great tour and we loved it so much we returned on our free day to explore some more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine was great at ensuring the group interacted well and despite it being only the first time she had run the trip she was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can get very hot walking on the slopes of the vineyards so drink plenty of water. Sticks are helpful on the descents.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the 30km downhill ride - great fun. I also enjoyed hearing about the history, and cycling through the little villages in the country and having the children rush out to say 'hello' and slap your hand as you cycle past.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was just brilliant - a real professional. Incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Always had a smile and was encouraging us along - even in the rain early in the morning! A real asset to Exodus. Support team were also wonderful - couldn't do enough to help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book the trip! And drink lots of Vietnamese coffee while you're there - it's great!

Most Inspirational Moment

I particulary enjoyed the hillside walks in the North where we really got off the beaten track and witnessed the simple way of life in the hill villages. Also top of my list would be the kayaking in Halong Bay where we saw monkeys with their babies swinging in the trees on one of the islands. Hoi An was probably my favourite city, but I loved Hanoi with its bustling nightlife and where we enjoyed a session of laughing yoga with some local ladies. A trip on a cyclo through Saigon's chaotic streets will also never be forgotten.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hai our group leader was superb. His command of the english language was excellent with a fantastic accent and ability to tell englishman/irishman/scotsman type jokes. He kept us laughing throughout the trip and brought a smile to everyone's face whether in the group or amongst the vietnamese people we met along the way. He provided us with a wonderful insight into Vietnamese culture, history and politics with an honesty and balance that we all found compelling. He was supremely organised at all times and faced every challenge with a smile; calmly smoothing every situation. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious, his patience and friendliness outstanding. We could not have had a better leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We travelled in December when it was a little chilly in the north and hot and humid in the south. Hanoi is a fantastic place to buy warm down jackets and rucksacks (big and small) so if you need anything of this sort buy it whilst you are here. We took sheet sleeping bags which we used on the train and gel bike seats which were great. The cycling involved three days of 40km and took us along some stretches of very busy, bumpy unmade roads. I am reasonably fit and found some of it quite hard, although the teenagers in the group thought it was easy! The bikes were good quality and the helmets fine. We had regular stops every 10km or so, for water and snacks which helped. The mosquito net we brought was only used once and that was on the train to escape the ubiquitous cockroaches! Take plenty of mosquito repellant as the mosies have a habit of finding you and a rain jacket came in useful for a deluge in Hoi An. We organised a separate four day stay in a beautiful hotel in the beautiful sandy palm fringed resort of Mui Ne at the end of our trip which I would highly recommend. After the hectic fourteen day trip we really appreciated a bit of rest and luxury. Many people stay in beautiful places like that for two weeks and go home saying that they went to Vietnam but we knew that we'd seen the real Vietnam first on our Exodus tour and were staying in a luxury version unknown to most local people.

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it, but the others doing the same walk at the same time as us have become firm friends. Its no cliché to say that its the people that you meet that make this trip so special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

No leader as such as this is a self-guided trip, but the local agent in Leon was excellent as were the local staff when one of our bags went awol.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is relatively easy, no heavy boots required. There are plenty of cafes on the route so don't worry about food and drink during the day.