Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

This was the first evening in the initial hour or so with the view of the Northern Lights over the Jokusarlon Lagoon to the glacier 2 kms away. Initially, we thought it was low lying mist but when the camera took an extended time exposure, the lights came out in glorious colour with amazing reflections on the lagoon. The second night was even better with 3 hours of viewing over a famous and beautiful waterfall. This was the night to remember with the lights in many configurations over the night sky. The camera captured it all in glorious colour. Brilliant!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul Goldstein has a brilliant personality, is very enthusiatic and a professional leader. The trip was arranged purely for the photographer to capture amazing images that make Iceland a beautifal country to visit. He had several followers in the group who had previously travelled with him to Africa and Antarica. We are photographically challenged but we learnt a volume of information from Paul and the rest of the group who helped us with camera settings to move away from our usual 'auto' settings.  Also should be mentioned is Kristian, who is the local Icelandic organiser. His photographic input and organisation of transport, accommodation and amazing meals was invaluable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip was all about the Northern Lights and capturing professional images that Iceland presented to us. Travel light with a good to reasonable camera and accessories and you will not be dissapointed with your results. I only had a Canon G12 and a tripod and captured great images, the more 'professional' girls and guys in the group took brilliant shots..... 

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking up to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu in the morning before the hordes of other tourists arrived was really magical....and on the jungle walk, when our local guide dived into the undergrowth and appeared with a very, very long snake in his hands - amazing and beautiful.  I felt really privileged to be able to touch this gorgeous creature in its natural habitat. ... and Lake Titicaca - stunning, having read about it in Arthur Mee's Children's Encyclopaedia I had been wanting to go there for probably nearly sixty years! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rene Calancha was excellent in every way - fun, knowledgeable, tireless and, most of all, extremely patient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't lose your passport!  I did and it is not recommended.  Once again, Rene was brilliant and arranged everything for me to be able to return to Lima to get the yellow emergency one (now known as the "idiot's passport").

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights for me on the trip but a few stand out to me: the vastness and beauty of the Serengeti - words can't describe how amazing it is.  I have done quite a few African safaris now but the Serengeti is the king of all the African NPs in my opinion.  Camping out in the bush as amazing - and the stars at night...simply wow!The drive from Kenya to Tanzania through the gorgeously lush and green tea plantations.  I was transfixed!Zanzibar - picture postcard beaches, amazing sunsets over the Indian Ocean.  Gorgeous place - everyone must go!all the different people you meet on the trip - from the amazing crew to the incredible African people.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Moses was the best tour leader I have ever met on a trip like this.  He was faultless.  He did everything he could to make sure everyone enjoyed the trip, nothing was too much trouble.  He worked hard to ensure we all got something amaxing out of our time in Africa - from pointing out things to educating us on history of the places we visited and about all the wildlife we saw.  He is an absolute credit to Exodus.The crew overall was fantastic and took great care of us all - so special thanks to George and Kennedy too.  Thank you!  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you read the trip notes and bring all the essential items!  Try and resist the temptation to upgrade to rooms - the camping is great fun!  There are long drives on a few days but there is lots to see so sit back and enjoy!  Mosquito repellant essential and also think about bringing spare camera batteries and lots of memory!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the temple at Madurai and the Hill station at Munnar.I wish the whole trip had not been quite as regimented, as an adult and a seasoned traveller the follow-my-leader approach without a chioce  did not really fulfill my expectations of an organisation as long standing as Exodus

Thoughts on Group Leader

I think that Ajay did what he had been trained to do - lead a group of people around various sights. However what I believe might have been missing from the training was - these are people who are having an experience they ahve paid handsomely for, who may appreciate a choice of places to eat, who may not wish to be led around following their leader's hand in the air, who may want to ask questions individually and may not find being told to wait to be told until the whole group is together altogether useful, who might appreciate some information about places to visit or eat on their free time, who might expect a certain level of enthusiasm from their leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ask a lot of questions about how the trip is organised.

Most Inspirational Moment

I'd always wanted to visit the jungle since i was a small boy watching Tarzan on TV, so this was a big highlight for me. The fact i managed to get a picture of a Harpy Eagle was also a highlight, as our guide claimed these are very difficult to see. Walking through the Sun Gate & seeing Machu Pichu was an incredible moment after trekking for 4 days up & down the Andes (opening my Champagne which i carried for 4 days was very refreshing).

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought our group leader was very knowledgable about a lot of subjects, especially his history of Peru & other cultures. i feel that he could have interacted with the group a bit more than he did.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the humidity in the jungle. the heat wasn't a problem at all for me, but humidity was 85-95%. cold showers went down a treat after a few hours trekking ( no hot water). i feel that the website/brochure was a bit misleading regarding Inca Trail, when it claimed that moderate walkers would manage this quite easily. This is a lot harder than i imagined & i run 4-5 times a week, but it was worth every calorie & bead of sweat lost when you see Machu Pichu.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the place where Ghandi had been assasinated and seeing his worldly possessions in a glass display case.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide wasnt the best I had ever had but I couldnt have managed without him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I took some single US dollar bills which were handy for tipping toilet attendants in the early stages of the trip before I had accumulated a stock 10 ruppee notes and came into their own again later in the trip when I ran out of small denomination notes at one stage..

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mao was a great leader. Interesting, entertaining, friendly and very passionate about his job. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was happy and was very helpful if anyone had any problems during the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light and for hot humid weather. Take good insect repellent for the south. You don't really need to take malaria preventatives.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole expedition was so inspirational, but for me it was being in the ocean with a "mola mola" (sunfish) google it, you will see what I mean.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Darwin our group leader was absolutely brilliant, his predictions of what we would see from day to day were always proved right. His knowledge and enthusiasm rubbed off on all our fellow travellers making everyday and every sighting of wildlife, landscapes and flora fauna interesting and exciting. Darwin was magicle!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you decide on taking this magical trip. Make sure you have a large memory card. You do not need a lot of clothes just shorts and t-shirts, the ship has a bare foot policy on board so don't waste luggage space on deck shoes. Also a large part of the daily program is snorkelling usually twice a day, make sure this is for you and take your own masks and snorkels(they are available for hire but it's nice to use your own)

Most Inspirational Moment

4 climbs 4 amazing views.  An inspirational moment at the top of each.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The trip leader is Jose Garcia whose trekking expertise, local knowledge and great sense of humour make him an  excellent guide. If anyone is going to get you up the mountain he will!    

Most Inspirational Moment

The entire trek inspired me, from the lovely people in the group,and the leader and his assistants, to the friendly and generous Nepali people who have little, but are happy to share all. The final trek up to the sanctuary left me silent and reflective, ( not something my fellow travellers had seen before...!), I was completely overcome by the beauty and majesty of the mountains. I will never forget sunrise at Annapurna Sanctuary. I will also never forget how quickly the clouds closed in the day before and how small and insignificant we were as the mountains disappeared from sight. I also loved the hot springs we visited ( another 35 mins down to the river, 55 mins back up after a very long days trekking) with our guides, the cleanest I'd been for some long time! As a non tea drinker before the trek, I am now addicted to ginger, lemon honey tea.....but not at 05.00..

Thoughts on Group Leader

Prasant was knowledgeable, organised and looked after us all with much care. He gave us excellent advice about our health and well being and went out of his way to make sure everything ran smoothly. if Prasant said "no beer", we knew no beer was the best! (Only at altitude tho'!) We were also indebted to our assistant guides, "uncle", Lak Phar, And BJ who were always there when needed but never in the way and organised our food and drinks with efficiency and cheerfulness despite none of us ever remembering what we we ordered and eating each others ( you know who you are...!) Lak Phar and BJ were particularly cheerful at 06.00 each morning with "Excuse me Claire, lemon tea". If you are reading this, I was trying to be cheerful back, but mornings aren't my best time!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it, just go, you won't regret it, it was the best thing I ever did. Do as much training as you can, I found it challenging especially the long downhills towards the river, beautiful but always aware that his would be followed by an equally strenuous uphill the other side of the valley. Be prepared for the altitude to affect you how ever fit you are. Slowly, slowly, find your own pace, listen to your body and try not to bring up your tea on Poon Hill as I did...trying to keep up with others rather than listening to my heavy breathing and slowing down. Practice your squatting, personal thanks go to my Pilates teacher for my ability to hit the target... Drink loads, eat Dhall Bat and apple porridge, and veg noodle soup. I was lucky enough to share rooms with a lovely lady, an experienced trekker who taught me so much, including how to seal 4 day socks in a freezer bag and how not to pee on your clean trousers, and how to laugh and laugh like school girls at the daftest things, thank you lovely Ella.