Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Every moment was brilliant. Cycling, swimming, dancing and drinking with lovely new friends were fantastic moments. Woke up in the early morning before the sunrise and went to the sea where's no one else but me. Floating on the sea and seeing the beautiful sunrise was one of the inspirational moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader Freddy is perfect leader we can count on in this trip. His accurate knowledge of history, technical advice for riding, smart joking boosted our travel. Also his prompt action with warm consideration was really helpful when I had a trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No worries about cycling. The support vehicle follows us every time, you don't have to have any equipments during cycling. A bandanna is useful to clean your face, to cover your mouth with it. You sometimes get a terrible vehicle emission when riding behind the cars.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to choose just one. It's impossible to master all of Romania's complex history in just a week, but at the end of the trip I felt as though I had really seen the country. In addition to beautiful scenery, we experienced life in the villages, visited a flour mill and a family-run wool factory, met Saxon priests, and even squeezed in some sightseeing in a couple of cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca is an outstanding guide. She is competent, attentive, organized, personable, and passionate and knowledgeable about her country. From the guesthouse stays to the daily history lessons, she did everything to ensure that we experienced the real Romania. The fact that she clearly has strong personal relationships with everyone we encountered testifies to her commitment to her job.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking into the active volcano at night. I was a bit cynical at first about the school visit but it is the real thing , Roberto truly loved those children and made a meaningful interface between us and the children so that they and us gained without patronising the children.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberto and Steve who took over on last days were both great and went beyond anything expected.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some hill training before you arrive as there are some steep climbs.I had only prepared on the flat . No sure I ever will hear the word "undulation " again without wincing

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the overnight trip into the desert was the highlight. The weather was perfect, our ride on camels was unforgettable and the night we spent sleeping under the stars at the Bedouin camp will remain with me forever. Our accommodations were unbelievably nice, the food the nomads prepared was delicious and their drumming, inspiring us to dance, was delightful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Samir, was awesome. He had a delightful personality, was patient in answering questions, well informed, told us just the right amount of information. He managed to get us in several places for a meal or tea that would not have happened with a larger group or another leader. He genuinely seemed to like our group and commented that he found us especially great since we didn't "winge" like other groups do.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be sure to take several credit cards for getting cash from ATMs. We had difficulty with some cards and some cash machines. Trip will require more cash than the trip notes suggest.

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming at Eleanor Lake park was a personal favourite - lake swimming in a beautiful setting providing an oasis of calm in a busy schedule. My daughter was thrilled with the animal life - a bear walking through the campsite, and a raccoon raid on our snack table. Oh, and Lake Louise is beautiful!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Laurent was amazing, working from early until late with cooking, driving, and organising the activities - all with good humour!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Rockies are colder than you might expect. While it was 32 °C in the day in Vancouver, it was only 5 °C at night while camping. Take an inflatable mat for sleeping, as the ones provided are thin, and may deflate. Check age limits for activities before you go. If you are from the UK, allow a couple of days in Vancouver before joining the tour to explore this lovely city, and get over jetlag. Calgary is less touristy, but probably worth a night to sort luggage and enjoy some luxury after camping.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being in the most beautiful scenery but with no one else around most of the time apart from our group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro is just the best leader. Every day he adjusted the programme according to the weather. His knowledge and love of the mountains is outstanding. He worked so hard going from the front of the group to the back many times on each walk to encourage us and ensure that everyone was OK.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are not easy but definitely worth the effort.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many...1) Seeing my son (12) enjoying the hard day's trekking on Day 2 of the trail and making to the top of Dead Woman pass. Location of all campsites were breath-taking and meals provided by our chef were simply brilliant. 2) Seeing that Inca trail is well looked after by the locals authorities as it is something they really want to preserve for the future generations. Most of the track is in pristine condition. A great place to enjoy birdlife and high altitude scenery. We were either above the clouds or trekking through them every day from an Inca site to another. 3) Noticing how Tambopata/Exodus guides help educate visiting crowds about their fragile eco-systems. All living there know the importance of their rainforest and contributing in a positive way towards a better future for their environment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Denis was one of the best group leader I have ever had. He was very polite, organised, interested and was always available to help us all in the group with our questions. A true assest to Exodus. He made sure that everyone on the trip is having a great time and was very quick to help with any issues. His knowledge of Incas and Peru is second to none and his passion for his country/people came across on many different occasions. I loved spending time with him to get to know more of him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light and only carry what you need. You do need clothes for Summer, winter and for days when it rains so plan in a way that you have multiple layers of clothing to keep you warm and dry when it is cold or wet.A good head torch and a half decent camera is a must for this trip specially on the trail and in the Amazon region. Do not miss any activities that are on offer as many start quite early in the morning which is probably the best time to observe wildlife. Carry some small gifts (pencils, pens etc.) for porters help carry your luggage as they were really happy to receive them from one of the family when they handed them over. 

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was perfect but if I were to pick a section that stood out, I would say Aberobella. To stay in a Trulli house was such a wonderful experience - not at all what I was expecting. The cookery lesson was more of a demonstration (although we did get to try make some pasta) but it was thoroughly enjoyable and the meal at the end was the best meal of the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Salvatore' was an excellent leader. He was knowledgeable, professional and caring. His English is perfect and he has a personable way about him that makes him a pleasure to listen to. Nothing was too much trouble, he didn't once look irritated (particularly by eight women who were always looking for the next loo stop!). His choice of restaurants and eating places was superb. Once you know you're in good hands it is so easy to switch off and chill out.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't hesitate - just book it.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think the thing that inspired me most was the unexpected variety of each day. The visit to the flour mill on the first day (most were destroyed in soviet times) through to the sightseeing at the end in Bucharest and the unbelievable palace of Ceausescu in Bucharest. Every day was exciting but probably my favourite was staying in Viscri which has been beautifully restored with the help of the Prince Charles foundation. I've never seen bricks and tiles being made by hand before. Or woken up to cows going along the Main Street at 06:30 and people wheeling their milk home in the old fashioned milk churns!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was brilliant. She was informative, friendly, took care of all our needs (lots of short stops and snacks). Her knowledge of the history was good and answered all our questions intelligently. She directed us to the best sights, great restaurants and was fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go. It is a great holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is very hard to say what the most inspirational moments were on the trip as there were so many magical moments, these included swimming in a beautiful fresh water lake even though the locals seemed to think we were barmy doing this. however it was great fun and a good way to relax after a longish day trekking. The many varied views on the trek, the Helbruna cable car to the Aiguille du Midi and from the campsites watching and recording the sun rise and set on the Bosson glacier were truly stunning and inspirational. The great humour shared by the whole group and leaders during the trek and the communal camping life style Particularly having to muck in with the cleaning and washing up brought everyone closer together and more integrated as a group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

John Briggs was and is an exceptional tour leader!! very dedicated and well organised!! John guided us all safely and brilliantly!! throughout each day of the trek. There were 14 of us on the trek and John set the pace brilliantly allowing for the people like me to have time to take photographs and to record the scenery through painting and drawing. John paced and managed each trekking day extremely well giving a detailed briefing each evening of what to expect on the days trails. John also shared his in-depth expertise on the mountain scenery and its flora a Forna. Whilst on the rest days he gave equally good briefings with options and directions of what's available to do in the region(s) where the rest days were spent. I have undertaken a number of treks in Nepal and some in south America and I have never had explained by any previous guide(s) how to be able to walk properly to use your boots and to be able to trust them to avoid potential walking hazards etc. John did this at key intervals in the trek which was extremely useful and made walking easier and safer. Clare Appleby who also had an equally difficult job of organising all the camping logistics including setting up each campsite, shopping and then cooking great three course dinners as well as transporting the luggage between each campsite. Clare made everyone feel extremely welcome and her cooking was amazing! If you are lucky enough to have John Briggs and Clare Appleby as your team leader(s) then you will get a truly well managed, organised and emersive camping trek that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to have a good level of fitness to do this trek with some experience of mountain trekking as some of the days have continuous fairly steep ascents and descents. It is important that you have a undertaken some training / walking in preparation for this trip before you go and to have the right equipment including good well broken in boots. I also find that trekking poles help a great deal whilst on the trails. The tents that exodus use are spacious and comfortable but I would recommend a good self inflating camping mattress and I also took a four season sleeping bag even though it was only cold a few nights during camping. You may need some extra Euros than outlined on the trip notes as some of the refuge drinks can be expensive. If it is clear and good weather it is well worth paying the 80 euros (approx). to do the return cable car trip from Helbrunna on the Italian side to the Aguille Du Midi on one of the rest days for some of the most breathtaking scenery of mountains you will see any where!! You can pay in Euros in Switzerland - so there is no need to take or change money into Swiss francs. Bring some swim ware / shorts - for swimming in rivers etc..