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Our first trip with Exodus was a wonderful experience. The diversity of flora and fauna was amazing.
So many wonderful moments - Boat trips, hikes, good company, great driver, excellent guide.
Guillermo was a fountain of information and always did his best to show us as many birds, animals and plants as possible. He is friendly and helpful.
If you can avoid transfer/transit through USA, then do. Takes a very long time and we nearly missed our flight on return journey.
A well structured holiday that delivered all that we had expected and more. Seeing some of rural India together with the 3 different game parks was spectacular with some rare sightings of some of India’s threatened species.
There is not one moment that can be singled out as there were so many. Obviously the point of this trip for us was to see Tigers in the wild while there are still some about and to that end the goods were delivered with sightings of 7 tigers including a close encounter with one named 'Vagrant'. Leopard, Wild Dog, Indian Gaur and Jungle Cat were among some of the other species seen together with numerous other mammals and birds. The overnight train journey was also quite an experience and we even managed to get some sleep! The Taj Mahal is incredible as was the fort at Aggra.
Our group leader Sarvjit Singh Sohi better known by our group as 'Singh' was brilliant. His local and wildlife knowledge was invaluable and allowed us to gain much more from this trip. He was very attentive and was always willing to attend to any needs or enquiries that we may have had and sorted out any problems quickly. He encouraged us to learn more about their culture and religions and was always able to answer our questions.
Make sure that you take a fleece or at least a warm sweater as at 5.30 in the morning it is quite cold and does not begin to warm up until around 8am. Be prepared for continual early morning calls at 5am or even 4.45. These are necessary to ensure that you get a good start in the park and from our experience certainly paid off. This trip is not suitable for anyone who does not have a taste for spicy food as alternatives are very limited. Do not forget your swimwear.
In able to say there were many
Meeting the people, all so friendly
Hai our tour leader was, fantastic. He has a fantastic personality, sence of humor,and great knowledge of the country. Not to mention a great handle on English. We would highly recommend Hai. 10 out of 10. Our Cambodian tour leader, whom we called Rose was also great, very dedicated to her job, a great sence of humor also.
Exodus is the best tour company. If you choose Exodus you won't be disappointed. This was my third Exodus trip & won't be my last.. Carol F.
The perfect Vietnamese adventure. Cong was an amazing guide!
I shed lots of tears at the History museum, it really was heartbreaking. All of the places we visited were just breathtakingly beautiful. Our holiday picture are other-worldly! I think the most inspirational part was seeing how these people live and realising what our contributions can do. We took colouring books and pencils for the children and the gratitude of the people whenever we did anything for them was so rewarding.
Cong was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable and very attentive. I spent a lot of time speaking to him on a personal level and he wasn't only a great guide but he was a really nice bloke. We had no waiting in queues and he only took us to the best authentic restaurants.
Be prepared to be sweaty 24/7. The humidity is crazy and it is impossible to stay clean. Don't pack excessively because believe me you WILL wear the same couple outfits repeatedly because staying cool is the main objective. Plait long hair! I had my hair in tight French braids for the entire fortnight because otherwise it be sweaty, greasy and knotty. It seriously is the best option. Remember to tip kindly, these people rely on this income and it isn't anything to us. Pennies can make such a difference out there.
The cycling in the first two thirds of this trip was fairly challenging, at least I found it so. Whether it was fear of unseen wild elephants or just a keen, fit group, I don’t know but the pace was brisk and the effort needed to rejoin the peleton discouraged me from taking as many photos as I would have liked. On many days there were supplementary activities which provided plenty of photo opportunities, however.
The food and accommodation was generally excellent. The sophistication of the hotels and lodges was variable but everywhere was welcoming and clean.
Towards the end of the trip, there was no longer any pressure to reach destinations and the cycling became much more relaxed, giving a chance to chat and take photos. The roads were quieter too, with one morning in a bird sanctuary.
Galle fort was very picturesque but full of a different sort of tourist to ourselves! Colombo was a mixture of elegant colonial buildings in the centre, now restored to create elegant shopping malls, and many miles of poor, rather depressing, ‘suburbs’. Strange, to my eyes at least, that the extra income in the city seems to bring about a reduction in the quality of life compared with the country.
The ascent of Lion Rock in Sigirya was a high point in more ways than one, as the rock itself dominates the area. To reach the extensive remains of the summit fortress involves climbing many hundreds of stone steps (and a few more modern iron ones). The effort is worthwhile just to admire the 5th C engineering but the view from the top is stunning, with an almost shear drop to the palace ruins and gardens 200m below, and a panorama of the surrounding countryside. On a quite different level I was constantly amazed that we seemed to be such a source of fascination (and amusement) to local children. A cheerful "Good Morning" resulted in gales of laughter. Equally unfathomable was why all the children shouted "Bye", even though we had just arrived! It was very noticeable how, even in the poorest areas, the children were sent to school so neatly dressed. There was little evidence of Sri Lanka's colonial past on the trip, at least until we reached Nuwara Eliya. The Hill House Hotel had all the ambience (and stuffiness) of a rather run-down Surrey golf club and made me wonder whether colonial grandeur had ever been all it was cracked up to be. The trip to the tea plantation and factory was fascinating however, though I wouldn't care to be a worker there. I will never look at the picture on boxes of Brooke Bond tea in quite the same way again.
Dileepa is a terrific leader, who combines hard work and professionalism with a very likeable personality. I think that he also set an excellent example for his support crew, who could not have been more helpful. He genuinely seemed to enjoy being with our group, even 'out of hours'; this included organising some party games at the end of the trip and even a cricket match. The very few problems that cropped up were dealt with, with efficiency and good humour. Having a native Sri Lankan for a group leader is of huge benefit, whether it is a matter of enquiring whether a roadside snack is suitable for vegetarians or understanding the history or way of life of the country.
Although the trip notes say that 95% of the roads are tarmac, this is not how it feels. 95% of the distance could just about be tarmac but certainly not 95% of the riding time, particularly as Sri Lanka seems to be in the middle of an ambitious road improvement programme. Sri Lanka is very hot and humid, just like it says in the trip notes. Despite starting each day soon after first light, the temperature rises quickly and, particularly when it was necessary to ride through the hottest part of the day, this could be exhausting, in spite of the regular drink and snack stops. The ride distances may seem modest but the effort (and time) to complete the rides is much greater than a comparable distance in the UK.
This was an awe inspiring trip with excellent company and a splendid guide. Personally, I achieved 2 firsts: glacier walk and lava tube caves.
Experiencing the continental divide between the tectonic plates of Europe and North America
David was very understanding and excellent at getting us to places at the opportune time.
Be prepared for a physical holiday
An excellent trip. Varied itinery with walks along beautiful coastline and trips to interesting historical sites. Trip leader was very knowledgable and the guides in Pompei, Herculaneum and Vesuvius were also excellant.
Great food in the hotel and enjoyed the cookery demonstrations!
Walk of the Gods.
Very good. Highly knowledgable about Almafi and made sure everything ran very smoothly in a packed itinery.
Day 1 – met by Leader Santo James At COCHIN airport – bus ride to Grand Hotel – Kathakali dance show followed by shared dinner –
Day 2 – Harbour cruise – explored Fort Cochin, Saw Chinese fishing nets, Dutch cemetery, St Francis Church, Vasco de Gama tomb, Visited Laundry, Spice shop, Jewish synagogue, Mattancherry Palace,
Day 3 – drive to MUNNAR – group walk into town through spice market – hotel buffet dinner & back to hotel in Tuk-tuk
Day 4 – Trek up through tea plantation – To tea museum/factory,
Day 5 – Long drive to MADURAI – Tuk-tuk to Gandhi Museum, swim in pool on hotel roof top
Day 6 – Visit to Meenakshi Temple & Palace – wander through market – carpet shop – fantastic Rickshaw 3hr ride through town – children & people very friendly – rooftop dinner & fireworks
Day 7 – drive PERYAR WILD LIFE SANCTUARY – Ayurvedic massage & fun cookery class in chefs home
Day8 – Spice farm tour, boat cruise – saw bison & otters but no elephants or tigers –
Day 9 – Drive to ALLEPPEY – Boat cruise, stopped enroute at big church – saw pineapple & rubber trees, stopped to eat stuffed banana & then curry lunch & supper on houseboat
Day 10 – Houseboat sunny breakfast of pancakes, omelette & stuffed banana while cruising down canal seeing villagers washing & brushing teeth. Arrived COIR RESORT at THRiKUNPUZZHA & another boat ride down canals when boat boy lost his hook & had to dive into water to retrieve it. Walk with Our Leader to see Coir rope making.
Day 11 – lunch in VARKALIA at Juice Shack – arrive KOVALAM – Sagara Hotel – walk on Beach – dinner on roof top. fireworks
Day 12 – optional trip drive to KANYAKUMARI southern most tip of India where 3 oceans meet – The Arabian Sea, The Indian Ocean & The Bay of Bengal, Visit Wooden Palace at PADMANABHAPURAM where 2 of our group were blessed by a guru & are blessed. lunched on Banana leaf curry eaten with fingers, Visit to Hindu Temple on Island – dipped feet in Indian Ocean
Day 13 – early morning optional boat trip to Mangrove Forest – saw several rare birds – walk on beach
In afternoon finished shopping, swam in sea & 2 hotel swimming pools – dinner at restaurant, jasmine flowers decorating table.
Day 14- drive to TRIVANDRUM for flight home at 4:30 am
We took advantage of all the optional trips and for me, having been born in India, the one to the southern most tip of India was especially poignant. It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had & I will certainly travel with Exodus again.
Santo James, our Leader worked so hard to make it such a wonderful holiday from beginning to end. We kept thinking it couldn’t get any better and then it did. Santo had so much knowledge and information on absolutely everything. The picture he gave us of village life and his own experiences as a farmer made it very personal and really added to the wealth of history, culture, politics and local life; the range of experiences offered us was fantastic and we loved it all.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable time from start to finish and would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see and experience Sri Lanka. The people were warm and welcoming and we were often to hear children call out ‘ hello, how are you ?’ along the way when cycling or rafting. I think it must be the first phrase taught in school.
Great variety of country and activities covered. Bus journeys passed by quickly with plenty rest stops for refreshments. We were looked after by the bus driver, helper and guide Roshan who would start the journey each morning giving a clear, helpful ,informative explanation of the day’s activities and local customs.
We travelled in February and had good weather except for one afternoon when torrential rain came down just as we were on the Elephant Safari. Lots of crazy careering about in jeeps and soaked as we had the roof open ( watch your cameras & phones stay dry ) but had a great if bumpy time. Was rewarding to see the elephants enjoying playing in the rain in the freedom of a natural habitat.
Totally unexpected but the most memorable and enjoyable part for me turned out to be the Mangrove boat trip when down South. Worth every penny of the £10 it cost. Paddling out to visit the islands was relaxing and felt privileged to be allowed to land on and explore Temple Island where up to 60 monks live then Cinnamon Island where we were shown how the cinnamon sticks, powder and oil are made by the families living there. The cycle ride along the canal also gave an insight into daily life of the people living there and an opportunity to see more wildlife close up. Loved the monkeys living and playing by the ruined temples at Polonnaruwa.
Roshan was helpful, polite and displays a clear pride , knowledge and love for his country which he was able to convey well. His daily descriptions on the bus each morning were well paced and informative. He has a great sense of humour and excellent use of English. His enthusiasm teaching us local games on the farm land was infectious with all enjoying the morning's activities. Our group had a diverse range of interests, age and ability which Roshan catered well for. He displayed great patience when listening then dealing with any queries or concerns which arose. It was a relief to see his happy smile greet us on arrival at the airport and we were sorry to have to say goodbye at the end of the trip. I hope if Roshan ever wants to visit Scotland, we can help him see and understand our country.
Money cannot be changed into rupees until you arrive in Sri Lanka so you will have to visit the exchange on arrival before leaving the airport. Porters will be keen to help you collect your bags but will expect a tip in return. There are plenty chances to change money throughout the trip and I would advise using cash rather than credit cards to pay as some in our party found their card details being copied. At the start of the trip we each put £20 into a kitty with the guide to cover daily tips, bottled water on the bus etc. which made things easier. You can also pay for optional excursions in sterling though must be notes as £1 coins not accepted. Useful to keep some small notes & coins ( rupees ) handy to give if taking photographs or buying trinkets when the bus stops for rest breaks. Supply of cool water and air conditioning on the bus was much appreciated. Be prepared to be standing on the train as busy and seats can only be reserved in Colombo but great views and lots of character. Wi fi is available free in most hotel reception areas. Handy to have an adaptor plug though most rooms also had square pin sockets. Plugs can usually be borrowed if you ask at reception . When quoted a price for something it is definitely worth haggling as can usually be bought for half or a third of the original price. Price for spices was a lot cheaper in Kandy than at the Spice Gardens. The waves crashing on the shore make it difficult to do any more than paddle on the beach but most hotels had beautiful pools to swim in.
It is a bit of an effort to get to Patagonia but it is worth it. The Andes are majestic and the glaciers mesmerising. A two week tour really is not enough time to do justice to the area.
Getting up to the lake at the base of Fitzroy. It was a tough hike especially the last bit, but it was so beautiful up there. If you get the right weather you will never forget the view.
Denis was a friendly and helpful leader, but sometimes his organizational skills were a little unorganized.
Try and push for an early start on the days of the main hikes. It will give you more time to go at your own pace. Take walking poles if you have them as the walks are hard. At Torres del Paine we set off (late) in really nice weather, but by the time we got to the top it was snowing, it was 1 degree centigrade, and we couldn't see anything. Check on the currency situation before you go. Make sure you have large denomination US$ bills to exchange to get the best rates. It is worth adding on a few days to see Buenos Aires and make a trip across to Colonia (Uruguay).