Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

there were many - local kids enthusiastically greeting us on an island off Nha Trang; dinner in a busy local restaurant; people on scooters pulling up next to us while cycling to say hello; seeing the excitement of people in small villages at the sight of those crazy Westerners cycling through their country in the heat

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh: Always smiling and happy, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country. Really helpful and always willing to go the extra mile - literally! He told us at times we'd be cycling another 15km which turned into almost twice that distance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the heat in the South. We cycled in the mid-day sun (temperatures around 35 degrees C) with very little shade. Don't expect to be able to take lots of pictures while cycling - most people in our group wanted to cycle from A to B without stopping. Not really what I was expecting. Also, don't expect to have much time to yourself, even the free days are packed with activities. A typical day usually starts at 8am on the bus (or bikes) and you don't get to the hotels until about half 6 or 7pm. You'll just about have enough time for a quick shower before meeting up with the group for dinner.  The trip notes also mention about "predominatly flat" roads, but on most days there were a few long, steep hills to climb, so be prepared for that.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walk along the coastline to Cais do SardinhoLovely groupFinally good food in the last restaurant we went to as a group in Funchal

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very much into walking. However, it would have been nice if he had spent a bit more time to form a group like organising a dinner on the first evening when everyone had just arrived and we were all left alone to meet only the next morning. Or for going for a coffee or a meal somewhere.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Please mind that in the mountains, temperatures may go from really hot to really cold.

Most Inspirational Moment

A Little Doggerel on the Occasion of the return of the Sixteen from Sri Lanka. (With apologies to J. Milton Hayes, Rudyard Kipling etc.) There's at least a hundred Buddhas on the road to Kandy Town, Where the locals all smile broadly as they wish us ayubowan. Yes! Welcome to Sri Lanka! We're here to see the sights! Just sixteen cheery travellers for sixteen days and nights. There's Graham, Neil and Jason, Big Andy, Jo and Steve - Two Lindas, Charlie, Rob and Kevin make a move to leave - Two Alisons and David, Ron and Anna swell the throng And Sujan takes us all in hand to jolly us along. We clamber over boulders, we march through Horton Plain, We trudge up dusty mountains and scramble for the train, We bounce through raging waters and creep through temple prayers And ride upon the elephants and sweat up rocky stairs. We cycle by the river, we wonder in the caves, We gaze at tea plantations and gambol in the waves, We picnic in the jungle and sample Sujan's fare And watch the whales and fruit bats (and the leopards - if they're there). We see the sea, the waterfalls, the forests and the plains, The pools and 'tanks' and rivers, the sun and (sometime) rains, The trees and crops, the flowers, the birds, the turtles and the crocs And thirty dusty elephants who bathe amongst the rocks. There's at least a hundred Buddhas on the way back home through Galle - Some are very short and fat and some extremely tall, But when we all wend homewards we won't forget this isle - 'A Land of Milk and Honey' - an island with a SMILE. (But what will we all really remember - ancient cities - distant views? No - Charlie dancing frantically in his hotel room in his sexy mankini ……)

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the shadow of Adams Peak form on the clouds behind the peak.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good, helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. The Adams Peak walk was tough, only 1100m of ascent but >5000 concrete steps. Is this one of the longest staircases in the world? It took 5 days after the hike before I could stride normally. My preparation with 600m of steps twice a week for 6 months wasn't enough preparation. We rushed up in 3hr15min; down in 2hr 15. Would advise taking it more slowly and resting more. It is difficult to gauge how far you have ascended when walking on a well lit staircase surrounded by darkness. There were 2 x WCs about half way up. So if you reach that point in under 2 hrs, you deserve a rest! Take your time and don't rush!2. Mosquitoes. Plenty about in Jan/Feb. We did use insect repellant and, at night, permethrin impregnated mosquito nets. We only got one bite each.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching elephants in the river below where we were having lunch, whale watching though I did that with mySri Lankan friend, not with the group

Thoughts on Group Leader

Extremely over anxious, but appearred to know his stuff

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you do Adams peak don't rush; it is easily 'doable' in 3-4 hours sitting on the top getting cold waiting for dawn really left some of our party frozen. I was a bit slower so did less sitting around and did not get so cold but was able to easily keep up going down in the light- I had struggled to see my way at night the trail lights cast more shadows than light, I also recovered faster than those who rushed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to choose......loved travelling through rural India......tigers were amazing........Taj Mahal extraordinary....people delightful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Harish Kumar was an excellent leader. He tried very hard to accomodate everyones wishes and mostly succeded. Apart from the odd misunderstanding, usually due to language difficulty, we could not have asked for more. He was good company and steered us through the travelling with ease. Getting us all on the train with luggage was quite a task which he managed brilliantly!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for extreme cold at this time of year. The suggested scarf, fleece and gloves were no where near enough to cope with the icy temperature in open safari jeeps at 5.30 in the morning! Thermal layers and warm coats/hats essential. Although we were provided with hot water bottles and blankets which helped. The food becomes very monotonous and is ,of course, very spicy! Meal times are quite eratic. Take biscuits/snacks and indegestion pills. Eat as little as posible for the first few days until you are used to the food. Use hand sanitiser constantly.Sheewee..(for ladies) available from camping shops invaluable when clean loos not available. Take travel disinfectant. Even the hotel loos are not always as clean as you might like.Be prepared to spend up to 12 hours a day in vehicles!

Most Inspirational Moment

Amazing desert scenery.   Sleeping outside under the stars.    Stories around the campfire.   Scrambling up to Burdah rock bridge.   Lovely food and plenty of it.     The ancient city of Petra with its magnificent facades. Excellent group of people to listen to, walk with, laugh with, and be inspired by.   The Bedouin who looked after us with great attentiveness. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Zuhair - we were his "tribe" and he was our Tribe Father!   Zuhair was lovely, a real family man who looked after us, kept us right, told us many tales of long ago, and generally made our whole trip a great success.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The organisation of the week was excellent, so you just need to make sure you have personal things you need: moist face/body wipes are great, and a flat toilet tissue pack is nifty.  Hair washing not necessary - after 4 days everyone's hair is a bit messy - just wear a hat/scarf.  You might like to take a  small travel pillow, but thick foam sleeping mats are provided and are very comfortable.   The food is plentiful and yummy, but if you think you might run out of steam, take one or two muesli bars.  (I took some but didn't use them)

Most Inspirational Moment

Gluhwein!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl, was a very entertaining, knowledgeable and trustworthy leader. “Shall we stroll on?” he would say.On our final day, walking to the summit of Monte Piano, ‘stroll’ became ‘trudge’. Like other days, the effort was worthwhile for the magnificent views.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Snowshoeing is not difficult, and the grade ‘moderate’ is an accurate description. Worry not: if you’re an average hill-walker you can do this.There were 5 – 6 hours of leisurely walking every day, and plenty of stops for stories recounted by KarlThe Hotel Adler is everything it says on the tin: a gem with all facilities as described with helpful and welcoming staff. Stuff yourself at breakfast, and you won’t finish the packed lunch provided, but you will be ready to enjoy a 4/5 course evening meal – all of which were worthy of presentation on TV cooking programmes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Back onboard after our trip ashore at Petermann Island, when a vast pod of Killer Whales surfaced and were coming straight for the ship. The action was absolutely enthralling. The pod eventually went under the vessel, resurfaced on the portside, then headed straight for Chris who was returning to ship in his Zodiac with the Kayaks. Camcorder footage to die for ! During our Zodiac cruise around Neko Harbour we were lucky enough to see a group of six penguins sequentially dive from a snow covered hill into the water below. Their expressions and movements were hilarious.The scenery and tranquility of the sail from Ardvord bay to Danco Island was breathtaking, and the views from the hills above Paradise Harbour and Neko Harbour were memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

To say that "Woody" made this trip is not an exaggeration, and I know 96 passengers who were of the same opinion.His leadership skills were awesome. In addition to always being pleasant, friendly and helpful, his boundless enthusiasm, energy and humour were truly infectious.The smooth running of the expedition did not happen by accident. It was the result of a great deal of hard work, planning and improvisation with great attaention to detail."Woody" and his team made it all happen and it was a privilege to have him as our leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are considering making a trip to Antarctica, do not hesitate. Do it, you will not be disapointed. Quite a lot of money, but worth every penny, and more. . .Based on our experience we would not hesitate in recommending Exodus Travel and we hope to work with them again.We are in our 60s and have been lucky enough to enjoy some pretty special experiences including the Wildebeest crossing in the Masai Mara, Sperm Whales and Dolphins in New Zealand, and Grizzlies gorging at the end of the Salmon Run in Northern British Columbia, but for us, Antarctica is number one so far. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Mountains and panoramic views were the memory I will keep with me for a lifetime

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andy McKee was a very effiicent, friendly and capable leader. He ensured everyone was looked after and acted as an excellent motivation to get us all up the hills. Well done Andy!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes! If you are going on the February trip prepare to be cold ! I needed fingered gloves, body warmers, ear covers, neck covers and full length warm leggings are essential. Its cold in the mountains and some mornings we were riding over frozen puddles which can illustrate the starting out temperature. Also the hotel on Day 2 has no heating at all so ensure you have hats and gloves and a warm coat for that one. Hotels after Day 2 improve immensley, including a palace and the most stunning central hotel in Essouria. Also be prepared for lack of alcohol (most nights this is not available at all) and very healthy eating - fantastic way to get fit!