Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14317 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed August 2013

CYCLING CUBA

This trip was everything I expected and then some. Offering a unique way of engaging with a beautiful and fascinatingly contrasting landscape. A winning blend of physical exercise, laughter, fun and ‘nourishment’ – don’t expect much cola with your Cuba Libres – this trip is a blast for anyone who is generally fit and healthy, from complete novice’s like me to the more experienced riders. Physically you’ll leave stronger, healthier with a profound sense of personal achievement, and an urgent need to plan the next trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Sounds a tad affected but I would say that cycling gave me a sense of being more closely attached to the land (and at times a wishful longing to dive into the sea!). Seeing the real Cuba without the barrier of a pane of glass to separate you from it provided many inspiring moments which I don't think would have been quite so powerful travelling on a coach. Amazing journey. Very special experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our team leader Laz made the trip what it was. His knowledge of the area, enthusiasm, sense of humour and genuine care for every member of the group was sustained throughout the entire experience. We were in very safe hands... made a very good salsa teacher too!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to spend the first two days aclimatising to the heat and strong headwinds. There is at times little shelter from the sun and roads can be relentlessly long, albeit flat. There is a support vehicle behind should you want to retire for the rest of the day which a few of us did! Don't be alarmed if you do find yourself suffering a little, keep going, I promise you will get used to it.

Reviewed August 2013

WALKING THE GREAT WALL

An excellent trip, well organised, and a real experience! Each day brought a new challenge, and our Tour Leader Jerry was a fantastic leader – a real motivator on achey mornings! The food was the biggest culture shock, but if you aren’t fussy it wont be a problem – try everything! Tips? Take Baby Wipes, buy a camel back, and stash some sweets!

Most Inspirational Moment

Their are parts of the wall that are very busy, and our group did not enjoy these as much - however, as you hike further you become quite alone on the trail and you feel like you're the only ones for miles around. The views were sensational, and although the days were hot, it was worth it for the stunning views; we had blue skies and really green land which made the wall really prominant and even more impressive than I had imagined. It was, at times, a lot harder than I had envisaged but the view from the highest points and the satisfaction you got from reaching the top of "the stairway to heaven" was amazing! My favourite climb was what Jerry called the "Spiderman" wall, as we had to use hands to get us up - we all had so much fun climbing up, and the views were worth the effort!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group Leader, Jerry, made my holiday. He was the perfect leader and provided us with excellent local knowledge, information about food and provisions, and a lot of laughs. He was a great motivator on achey mornings, and ensured that the group kept together without keeping us under each other's feet. He truly felt like a good friend by the end of the holiday!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take a nice big pack of baby wipes - they are great for wiping sweat, cleaning hands, and using in the toilet (very few toilets had toilet roll so take your own or baby wipes)Do not be fussy with food - try as many things as possible, and ensure you stock yourself up for the hikes; they give you big lunches etc for a reason! I'm not a lover of water, but you really do need to drink lots and lots to get you through the days - in hindsight I would have taken some squash or water flavour pouches to ensure that I drank more. On top of that - I was very jealous of those that had camel backs, because they didn't have to faff taking water out of their bags on steep parts, and it didn't get warm in an outside pocket; I will be investing in one for my next trip! Stock up on some supplies before you go - we were craving a little sugar hit, chocolate or coffee a few days in due to the food being a bit samey and a lack of desserts for our sweet tooths, and the exercise being so demanding. Stock up in beijing or bring some treats in your bag - a fruit pastel was the best thing ever after a steep up hill hike.When I changed up my sterling in to chinese currency I only got 100 notes - when you are in beijing ensure you change up around 300 into 10s - there isn't much change available, and you don't want to give the water sellers etc 100 notes! I spent just under £350, that includes a shopon the last day in the silk market.

Reviewed August 2013

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING DRAKENSBERG & KRUGER

An awesome trip mixing up cycling through the varied scenery of the Drakensberg Mountains & a decent amount of time for game drives in Kruger National Park. Our guides were very efficient at managing all aspects of the trip but also a really good laugh. Thinking of this trip and the Group will I know, always make me smile.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational cycling part was the door to door 70kms from Badplaas to Barberton which was a whole day spent on quiet roads where steady climbs were rewarded by good descents. The scenery all along the route was so stunning it kept your mind off turning the pedals up the climbs and gave great excuses for stopping to take a photo break.Doing the game drives, I found it funny wathcing people in other vehicles pointing at our trailer of bikes as this was obviously a pretty unusual sight. Just to be clear though, you do not cycle on the game drive which I imagine may have been running through some of their minds. On one of our drives we saw a pride of lions just lazing on the road with not a care in the world about anything including the 10 vehicles surrounding them which was incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tallis was a very good leader who was very knowledgeable, well organised, solved any issues and great company with the group in the evenings.Bevan our cycle guide was like a machine when it came to cycling but always kept the group together and informed and at one point even gave us chance to have a go at being a pelaton which was a new experience for all of us.Andrew who drove for us was much more than just a driver being a leader guide himself. His braais were awesome and the snack box was always full to keep us going even through the windiest sections.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As with other Exodus cycling trips the distances cycled were broken up into very manageable sections of around 15kms at time before a snack, coffee or lunch break and although there are some hilly sections, they are steady climbs on quiet roads which most of the time have a decent hard shoulder.

Reviewed August 2013

ESSENTIAL PERU

One word describes this Exodus trip – ‘exceptional.’ ‘Essential Peru’ is a comprehensive trip covering the highlights of such a wonderful country. Trip is really well planned and paced allowing one to discover the dramatic contrasts Peru has to offer. From deserts to glaciated summits – this trip has it all.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day of the trip has something to offer but nothing beats - Machu Picchu. The lost city of the Inca is set in an unrivalled backdrop - a true marvel of Mother Nature. Other trip highlights are the Condors flying high over the Colca Canyon and the drive through the Vilcabamba Mountain region. The visit to the floating Reed islands and the Amantani island home stay also proved to be unforgettable experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marcial - our tour guide was a highly knowledgeable person and gave us a thorough insight of Peruvian history, culture and lifestyle. Throughout the course of the trip he recommended several good eateries - which were not only very good value for money but an experience in itself for example; meat served on volcanic stone. Eating together as a group also helped to enhance group dynamics - by the end of the trip we became one 'family' - hanging around together sharing jokes and past experiences.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Our main concern prior to the holiday was altitude sickness - however there is a gradual ascent - which makes acclimatization easier. It important to stay properly hydrated during the tour and consider taking Diamox (Acetazolamide). The tour involves walking - don't forget to take comfortable clothes and a good pair of walking shoes. The weather varied considerably during the day - layered clothing is ideal. Viewing the Nazca lines from the platform proved to be disappointing - the plane ride was good value for money since it offered a better insight of the vastness of the designs.

Reviewed August 2013

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

A great trip, with great scenery and cake stops. It’s hard work though!

Most Inspirational Moment

At the Col du Bonhomme refuge one of our party played the guitar that was in the refuge. It seemed quite surreal for us to be singing along to the Pretenders 500 miles at 2,100 metresThe views across the whole trek are sensational, hard to pick a highlight, but the descent into Italy down the Col Ferret was pretty niceThere are plenty of cake stops along the route, which certainly helped me, the cakes at each refuge were really good and I was lucky to be part of a group that wanted to stop and partake at regular intervals.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mike Rhodes was an excellent leader. I have no experience of the other leaders, who I would expect to be just as good, but if you end up with Mike you are really lucky.He is a really nice man, who knows the area like the back of his hand. He can identify every flower, peak (including who climbed it first) & animal you might encounter and is a wealth of knowledge on the area generally, including recommended activities on the rest days.Because of his knowledge he is able to adjust the route to fit the group's ability, he put several tougher climbs in for our group as we were all fairly fit, but these were also avoidable for those who would rather have a rest.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Compeed! - I was lucky and didn't suffer with blisters, but on a 10 day trek, if you do suffer you will certainly get through them. Mike also uses surgical tape over the top of the Compeed to stop them rubbing on your sock and coming off. a bit of vaseline on the top of the tape helps even more. There are quite a few chemists, shops etc on route who sell them, but better to be self sufficient Don't wear white t-shirts - I doubt mine will ever be white againYou can buy stuff in Chamonix before the trek starts, but it is pretty pricey and best left for things you forgot to bring, I would recommend purchasing anything you need at home. Take your camera, ipod etc chargers. The support van is well kitted out and I was able to charge batteries in it once we got to camp or overnight (it had about 8 socket points the group could use) A book is useful for the evenings, as is a small speaker for your ipod, but obviously only if the whole group like your taste in music! Wet wipes are useful for the 2 days you are basic camping (ie no hot showers, but there are toilets)

Reviewed August 2013

WALKING THE GREAT WALL

A really enjoyable trip, with a great guide and a fantastic group of people.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the variety of walks on the Great Wall. Each day brought different scenery, and different challenges, whether it was steep climbs, or lots of steps. But the scenery was always amazing. I also enjoyed getting out into the countryside and seeing how people lived both in the cities, the suburbs and in the villages. The people were friendly and helpful, even though the language was a barrier! The accommodation in the guest houses was generally comfortable, and it was lovely to stay with families rather than in hotels all the time. In Xian, the street food was fanastic, and it was great fun walking around the markets and food stalls. I found the Terracotta Warriors fascinating, and I would recommend taking the opportunity to see them if you can. It was fun travelling on the train to get there too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was great. He made sure that we were looked after in every way. He had a huge knowledge of the Wall, and told the stories in an enjoyable way. He had a great sense of humour, and he really added to the trip. His enthusiasm and encouragement ensured that everyone got the most out of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring toilet paper, a towel and walking poles ( quite a few steep ascents and descents to get on and off the Wall). If you go in the summer, be prepared for the heat. I didnt use the sleeping bag liner I brought at all- all the linen was clean. Flip flops for the bathrooms are essential.

Reviewed August 2013

CHOPSTICKS & COCONUTS - FAMILY HOLIDAY

The holiday of a lifetime, absolutely superb in every way.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every single day had an inspirational moment, its impossible to single one out. The range of transport was amazing - from cyclo rickshaw to overnight train, to luxury cruiseship in HaLong bay with cycling and boats in between.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tom/Tho should be given an Exodus award for being the most enthusiastic, knowledgeable and endlessly patient group leader. He really went the extra mile to make sure that everything ran smoothly and that we had a great time. He was particularly good with the children

Advice for Potential Travellers

make sure you get some clothes made in Hoi An - I came back wishing Id bought more.

Reviewed August 2013

BORNEO FAMILY ADVENTURE

Wow…what an adventure!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the river canoe trip, watching the elephants crossing the river and struggling to get up the muddy bank on the far side. This was a rare event and we watched for ages as the baby struggled up the bank with the help of the adult herd. Truly amazing! Spending the night in the jungle camp was an experience. No electricity, and only a roof and a mossie net to protect us from the thunder storm is something I'll never forget. The boat trip back from the island in rough seas, I was dreading, but absolutely loved it...thrilling!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was excellent. Very patient and understanding of our needs. She was ready to spring into action at any point and did so with a smile on her face the whole time!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is an adventurous holiday and can be quite challenging at times.you need to be prepared for basic accommodation, which is described in the brochure and web site as such, but "showers" were often a barrel of rainwater and a scoop, and toileting was somewhat of an adventure..especially when you find a frog in the toilet! It really makes you appreciate the comforts of life, though, like toilet paper and hot running water! There are a lot of "beasties", most of which love to bite or sting so take some antihistemines just in case! I'd advise breaking up the jouney there with a stopover as the time difference can be difficult. We had a great time in out homestay, the house was clean and comfortable and we played with the children for hours ( learn some good hand clapping games!), so not speaking the language wasnt a problem. Other families were not so lucky though, so our group had a mixed response to this aspect of the trip. You just need to go with the flow on this part. We booked the trip so that we could visit Sepilok, but I was disappointed that there were so few orangutans to see and they were quite far away...its so much better to see them in the wild!

Reviewed August 2013

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

Yes, it’s the best trekking trip I have ever had. Good roomy, thunderstorm proofed tents (easy to pitch up and dismantle), great camping sites (only two had no internet access, and no showers) with one having a large LCD TV screen to watch the Tour D’ France going up Alpe d’Huez (an excellent treat for me as I had biked up it 10 days ago), and, not forgetting, good food (four nights at local restaurants on Exodus tab). Of course, the scenery was just awesome, and we took lots of beautiful picture postcards.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many. Most would include doing the touristic stuff in Chamonix (Aguille du Midi to see Mt Blanc at close range; trip to Heilbroner; seeing skiers going down Vallee Blanche, Mers du Glace and the Cave); having lunch at Lac Blanc; seeing Ibex, Marmot, and even a baby poisonous snake; doing the Balcony and the Bovine trail; multi day view of Grand Jorasse; having gelato in Courmeyer; ascending Col du Tricot in just over an hour; watching the bungee jumpers in St. Gervais; the paragliders taking off in Mt Brevent and toasting our successful completion at the top of Mt Brevent….10 days trekking, 3 countries, 176 km, 10000m cumulative elevation. Too many pleasant memories so much so some of us had withdrawal symptoms on returning home.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mike was knowledgeable and experienced. He modified the start times based on his estimate of what time we would like to arrive at camp e.g. on the day of the TDF going up Alpe d’Huez, he made sure we arrived at 2.30 pm in camp so we have time to settle down, and get to watch the race at 3 pm. This flexibility also ensured we did not get caught in bad weather, although there may be an occasion when we got wet (although not very heavy). Safety was always a priority, and he was always around to lend a helping hand whenever there were obstacles such as crossing a fast running stream, climbing down a ladder, walking over a slippery patch of snow, and climbing over steep rocks adjoining deep ravines. Matt, our driver and cook ensured we always have enough fruits, bread, cheese, and salad for our lunch bags. We were never hungry. And dinner was something that was always a pleasant surprise, with enough for second helpings for those who wanted more. I am still trying to lose the 2 kg I put on.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My group was an experienced group, having done tougher treks in higher altitudes. However, this trek was still very challenging, especially the last two days where climbs of cumulative 1500m elevations were the norms. Train hard. Also bring lots of warm clothing as it can be very cold at night. Bring long sleeves/pants, a hat and sun block to protect from the UV…we were deep fried by the end of the trek. Be careful of ticks even though lyme disease is not prevalent in the alps. I may have been bitten, and had symptoms that were indicative such as muscle and joint ache/pain, fatigue, ear ache, and other normal flu symptoms after returning home. As a precaution I took doxycycline (an antibiotic) to kill the bacteria

Reviewed August 2013

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a stunning country and cycling along the backroads is a great way to see it and experience all there is to offer. Every day is different with a constantly changing landscape to keep you interested as you pedal along. It’s wonderful to get away from the busy roads and towns and onto the quiet backroads where children rush out of their homes to wave and call "Hi, Bye!" as you pass by. The people we met along the way were amongst the friendliest I’ve met anywhere.

Most Inspirational Moment

With each day bringing along new places to see and new experiences it's very difficult to choose any one most inspirational moment, but here are a few occasions which I really enjoyed:- Climbing the rock fortress at Sigiriya...when you first arrive and look up, you begin to wonder why would I climb up there when I've still several kms of cycling to go? But it really is worth the climb and is not at all as daunting as it might seem. The view from the top is spectacular.The cave temples in Dambulla are amazing, it's really worth starting at the furtherest away cave and working back as cave 2 is really superb. The monkeys will also keep you entertained!Kandy is really interesting.Making it up the long tough hill climb to Nurawa Eliya! A really tough day's cycling! But worth it when you make it!Festival in Kataragama Temple (we were lucky to time our visit with the festival).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is a fantastic guide. He couldn't have done any more to make our visit to Sri Lanka any better. Every need was catered for and he went out of his way to ensure that everyone was having a good time. We were very fortunate to have a fantastic group who really gelled together well and Suresh was always on hand to answer questions and fill us in on interesting facts and stories...though he could do with a few new elephant jokes! We also had a great support team, Dasun who rode along with us, Upali, the bus driver and Chamara who had the difficult job of following along behind the group. Together they make a great team!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're thinking of this trip to Sri Lanka, go ahead and book it. Do get some cycling practice in as cycling in the heat can be quite demanding and some of the days are quite challenging. But as with other Exodus cycling trips I've been on you can do as much or as little cycling as you choose.

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