Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit after a torch-lit trudge up the mountain - and realising that everyone else had also made it since 3 or 4 of the group found it really tough.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Meke estimated that he had been up the mountain about 200 times and he was a calm and reassuring presence all week. The other guides were also very friendly and welcoming throughout the week - and many had been lead guides on other trips. Four of the group who were struggling were each allocated an individual guide on summit day - and each said that they may not have made it without their support. It still left Meke and 4 guides to lead the remainder of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The food was excellent all trip and there was always plenty of it - with some snacks as well. Every person in the group was paired with a tent porter. They would overtake you during the day (except summit day) along with the other porters and then meet you as you arrived at the next campsite to take your daypack. You would be lead to your erected tent with sleeping mats and main bag already inside. It was another nice touch that contributed to the feeling of being well looked after the whole way.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were three really great moments on the trip for me.  The first was on the Falkland Islands, when we were at Port Stanley and we had done a brief guided walk around the town before being given free time - it was suggested by the Expedition Leader that the Globe Pub was a great place to visit as they serve good beer and fresh fish and chips!  Unfortunately the chef was not working so there was no food available but as far as I was concerned we did better than that - there was a Falklands War veteran there, from 3 Paras who spent nearly 45 mins chatting with 3 of us.  He was very emotional and he showed us on the map on the wall how they had done their manovers during the war.Secondly was visiting Sailsbury Plain on South Georgia where there were 250,000 King penguins, fluffy brown chicks and adults as well as many fur seals.  It is very difficult to re describe seeing so many en-mass and with the noise and smell they produce!  It was great and if you stood or sat still they would come very close and did not appear to be at all bothered by lots of people walking around in red clothing!Thirdly was our last zodiac ride in Fournier Bay on the Antartic Peninsular - the sea was flat calm for most of our time around the Peninsular (thankfully!) but as we sailed in to the circular Fournier bay, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the glaciers and mountains were bright white and we had great reflections in the water. We dropped anchor before getting in the zodiacs. It was so calm and we had a bit of a speedy ride (for fun) before looking for wildlife on the icebergs.  We were not disappointed and to me it was just how I had imagned Antarctica to be like. We found 3 penguins sitting on top of an iceberg which made for great photos, seals lazing in the sun on the icebergs and then about 24 penguins waiting to dive in to the water which they duely did!  It was then ended by a celebratory champagne farewell on the boat as we set sail and even the whales did a "swim by!"

Thoughts on Group Leader

Boris Wise was our main Expedition leader - helped by a further 18 members of staff and about 45 crew.  Every one was excellent and nothing was too much trouble for any of them.  The whole trip was run in a very professional and slick way and a time schedule but nothing ever felt rushed.Safety was paramount at all times from getting on and off the zodiacs to being advised not to go out side as the decks were covered in ice.  All the staff had radios so if for example you needed the doctor any one would just call for him.We also had an American professional photographer on board who gave talks and helped people with any camera issues, 2 excellent bird and wildlife spotters, 2 people who had worked / been involved with Antarctica and South Georgia for many years, a British professional wildlife artist as well as 2 kayak guides, zodiac drivers who all have good knowledge, massage and yoga professionals and excellent "hotel managers"Exodus as such does not provide a specific leader for their own clients on this trip (which is not a problem) as there are all the staff members as above. The boat was filled with various groups from places throughout the world and one of the larger groups did bring a fairly vocal agent with them!  You just have to learn to turn a deaf ear to them!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book it....it may be costly but it is worth it!I also did the option of going to the Iguassu falls (I believe Patigonia extensions are also available which is worth visiting too) which I did for 3 days before the start of the trip which I found to be very good as it meant I had caught up with any time changes. It also meant that I was also in Argentina and closer to Ushuaia - Areolinas Argentina sometimes delay and cancel flights at very short notice. Make sure you get to Ushuaia at least one day before leaving with the ship - there is plenty to do there and it is better to be early than miss the boat.We had very changable weather and discovered fairly early on that the wet skin tousers were not completely water proof - easy solution was just to wear a thin pair of water proofs under neath which also gave an extra layer of warmth (so pack your own just to be on the safe side).Take plenty of layers as you will definately need them - as the guide said on several occassions "put on all the clothes you have!"   On a couple of times I had 8 layers on my top and 5 on my bottom half and I was very glad I did. If you think you may be going to feel sea sick, book a cabin on deck 3 as it is the most stable area of the boat in rough seas..........None of the cabin doors lock - this is for health and safety reasons (if some one was ill / had an accident it would be very difficult to gain access).  However this was not a problem and infact many of the staff members left their doors wide open with all their belongings on show.  There was a safe available on request.The power supply was 2 round pin plugs but worth taking a double adapter or multi plug so you can do lots of charging at the same time as the cold weather uses up your batteries and you will also take lots of photos / videos.The Shackleton walk is worth getting up at 530am for - it is medium to hard but walking poles are provided.  Steep ascent to start and end but worth it for the views.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Toubkal and Ouanoukrim

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was excellent and made the trip thoroughly enjoyable. Excellent local knowledge and went out of his way to help everyone in the group. Organising a trip to the local Hamman was definitely a new experience for us all & one which will not be forgotten!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

take plenty of warm clothes & ear plugs for the refuge!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Floating on the Dead Sea - so relaxing!Making it up all the stairs to Monastery at Petra - well worth it as more spectacular than the Treasury and less tourists 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair was always friendly & enthusiastic about his country and his faith.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Fira to Oia walk on Santorini was spectacular and we had great weather for our 5km easy walk....the scenery just kept getting more spectacular as you got closer to Oia. Picture postcard stuff.We were kindly invited by locals jamming in Lefkes to a traditional music festival in Paros, in the town of Naoussa, and it was fun just people-watching. The dancing by young and old was a lot of fun to see. I'm glad I went as it was just so Greek!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was a very friendly and helpful guide and gave a good insight into being an expat in Greece. I thought she guided the walks well with the different speed levels. Good communication at times did not always work well as I think our group was a straggly bunch but Cecile did her best to keep us all informed of the group's plans. She booked us a fabulous guide at the Akrotiri archaeological site, very informative and well worth the trip. Exodus should really include it not as an option but as an inclusion: our entire group went to see it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

September was a great time to visit Santorini, Paros and Naxos: warm but not unbearable and tourist numbers are much lower. There is a music festival held at the Naxos castle in August and September so I recommend taking in a show. The organiser was a real character and you get to try several homemade alcoholic beverages as part of your ticket price.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing such a variety of chameleons, both in the wild and at a fantastic sanctuary we visitedLemurs, especially the very tame (but wild) ring-tailed lemursAwesome landscapes!The spiny forest national park right down southWaking up to the sound of Indri calling in the jungle before dawn, also hearing a family chorus when we were watching them - I will never forget!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tahianna, our leader, went out of his way to make sure we were all happy and comfortable. He gave us a lot of information about Madagascar, including personal insights and experiences that really enhanced my understanding of the country. At one point, about 2/3s of us were taken ill (a hazard of travelling in less developed countries and nothing to do with the trip) - he came to each of our rooms over the next 24 hours to check we were ok, made sure we had water and whatever else we needed, and even rearranged the itinerary when it was obvious that the group weren't up to going to a national park. I would give him 11 out of 10 for his tireless care and consideration of our needs.We had a different guide, Roger, for the last 36 hours (the guides change when you fly back from Tolear). I wasn't too impressed by him, it felt like we were a load of boring tourists to him!   

Advice for Potential Travellers

You will witness extreme poverty so be prepared, especially if you're not used to travelling in less developed countries. On the positive side, your tourism is bringing much needed income and creating an incentive to protect the rapidly disappearing rainforests.You need to be reasonably agile on some of the walks (the trip notes say reasonably fit, but its not just about distances). At times we were clambering over rocks or walking on very uneven paths.Be aware, especially in Tana, of the risk of petty crime (snatch and run). This is nothing to worry about so long as you know it could happen. After learning that one of our group had a necklace snatched on her first day there I took off my (very small) gold St Christopher that's been with me on extensive travels over 20 years... if I'd realised that even this small item would be a temptation I would have just left it at home.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't define it as being just one day or event, but...Cycling through the back roads and seeing grand houses and then a shack just down the road - the contrast in lifestyles is very apparent due to the developing economy in India.Cycling up Ooty and being defeated after completing 30 of the 36 hairpins. My excuse: Cycling in circles waiting for my girlfriend to catch up as we ascended the mountain, so in theory I must of made it to the top already! ;)And as much as the descent was marred by Loo coming off the bike the following day, we have both said that the descent was an amazing day as we travelled past tea plantations, through the eucalyptus forest and winding down the mountain. As I prefer mountain biking when at home in the UK, I found a new appreciation for what road cyclists must enjoy when descending roads such as this.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vishnu was a great guide - my first time on a holiday such as this so I didn't know what to expect. He was very informative and had good knowledge of the the local history, plants and wildlife. He was clear with setting expectations for the ride each day and the pace of the ride each day suited the group well I believe.Importantly, as there was an incident with my girlfriend falling off her bike, I would like to say that Vishnu handled the situation like a professional and there was no fuss or confusion. He dealt with the hospital staff and being transferred efficently. It is times like these that you count your blessings that you were travelling with a guide who takes the stress away from such an incident. Thank you Vishnu! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you haven't ridden a bike for some time and you want to reach the top of Ooty, find a steep hill and ride up and down it at least every weekend for a good few months before. The guides Vishnu and Rintu seemed to think that we had put more effort in by pushing the bikes up the hill in the end - I'm not quite so sure!We didn't get caught out by any rain, but one evening whilst at the hotel in Cochin Fort there was a monsoon shower which knocked down trees and electric/cable lines. Be prepared for rain by taking some form of waterproof jacket so you can still get out and about to see the sights.Take a decent zoom lens for capturing wildlife and scenery if you want to ensure you get some nice photos to keep.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved meeting people everywhere. That was my reason for doing a cycling trip. I had previously done a trip with Exodus in Africa and felt disconnected being in a truck travelling through places a lot of the time. I wanted to connect more with the people and the country.Sadly the day after Ooty Hill I had a fall having almost completed the descent. I had a nasty gash and fractured my elbow. I didn't cry until they told me that I couldn't cycle anymore. Following the rest of the group in the support vehicle was tough.The people and culture was inspirational, different religions can live together with tolerance and respect for one another. I loved the trip to the orphanage. I had a fantastic time chatting with the girls, helping to make chapattis. That was a lovely place 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vishnu was our group leader and he was fantastic, He gave us a pep talk each day letting us know what to expect.He looked after me really well when he found me after my fall and sorted out medical care calmly with no panic or stress. I felt well looked after and didn't have to worry about where to go etc.He looked after everyones requirements and even helped one of the group source a birthday cake for his wife's birthday. Even harder he helped us locate a very hard to find birthday card for us to give her also. I think we found the only card to be found in Allepelly.Vishnu did join me on the support vehicle when he could so that I did not feel so left out. Rintu was the his assistant who looked after the bikes. He was very attentive servicing the bikes and adjusting any with gear issues. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go along with an open heart and mind and enjoy all that India offers you It is beautiful. Do take care on the descent from Ooty. I was unlucky going downhill and around a bend. I am so glad I had a helmet on. So be aware accidents can happen and it can spoil your trip of a lifetime. Be cautious. The traffic can be daunting but it's not too bad if you are sensible.Be wary of where you have a massage, if you have one. Different people within the group had variable experiences from very good to very bad. We went on a premium departure and the standard of hotels thoughout was good, however I didn't feel that the houseboat was of higher standard as we all said to one another  the following day that the bedding etc was not good, there was no shower curtain and it would not of been possible to of had any less space in the cabin than we did have.  I certainly don't feel like that aspect of the trip had been upgraded as promised in the trip notes and so felt a bit let down by that.As previous people have said we all paid into a kitty for snacks, tea, tips at the start. I certainly did not get the  same value out of the kitty as others in the group but it did make the tea stops less complicated so go with it . Treat the people around you with the respect that they show you and enjoy.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellant leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

No need to take a sleeping bag for the desert

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlight of my trip was the view of the great peak from Kala Pattar. It was a magical moment to be on the top of it. I wasn't prepared for this incredible moment and I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at the breathtaking view! Thankfully one of the Sherpas started to take pictures with my camera as I was in such shock I did not even think about taking pictures. I'm so glad now to look back at them as they bring my fabulous memories back.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ngima was very helpful, knowledgeable, entertaining and very charming. He gave us a very details briefing every night and great advice. I wasn't part of the main tour group returning to the UK and my flight to Australia was departing in the late evening. Ngima made sure that I go to the airport safely and on time for my flight. It was also very thoughtful and generous of him to buy me a Nepalese gift for my birthday. The others Sherpas were great too and very helpful. They were great fun to be around.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I think everyone can do this trip but if you are fit you'll enjoy it a lot more! Drink plenty of water! Bring playing cards, chess games and books for the evening. Buy an extra battery and memory card for your camera. Don't miss Kala Pattar, even if you feel tired from the long walk from the day before.