Reviews

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

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173 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviewed September 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

I had wanted to walk the Inca Trail for many years and am so glad I finally made the effort to do this superbly organised trip – it was everything I had imagined it would be and although I found the trek hard going & exhausting in places, it was all worth it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing four Condors flying high above us on the first dayWalking on my own for a bit on the 3rd day of the trek, it was so peaceful and quiet and the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful (Day 3 was my favourite overall)The lovely wild flowers and bird life along the trek The fantastically hard working porters and cooks who looked after us so well & put us to shame they way they ran up and down the steps carrying such huge loads and often wearing the flimsiest of sandalsSeeing Machu Picchu - nothing really prepares you for how amazing it is no matter how many photos you've seen before

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marcial was great, very experienced and knowledgable and with a great sense of humour - his love for his country shone though & I left knowing a lot more about Peru & it's history than I arrived with. I'd also like to thank Ricardo, our second guide, for his patience and kindness when I needed it (I was ill going up Dead Woman's Pass) and & also his infectious enthusiasm for plants & wildlife - I'll remember his clever little trick to attract the moustache bird for a long time!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you bring enough warm layers for the trek - it gets v cold when the sun goes down. I had debated whether I needed my down jacket but was so glad I did pack it in the end! Pack some plastic bin liners or bags to keep your clothes dry (the kit bags aren't waterproof and it does rain even in the dry season!) Perhaps investigate making your own flight arrangements if you can afford to - I was not impressed with LAN (at Cusco when checking in for return flights, there was chaos and confusion with half the group being told they did not have seats from Lima to Madrid - this was sorted out at Lima but did not make for the best end to a great trip) I wouldn't choose to fly with them again unless it was totally unavoidable (not Exodus' fault of course but just something to bear in mind)

Reviewed August 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

Everything I had ever dreamed of and more

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Machu Picchu itself, after a long and hard treak the group arrived at a ridge overlooking the ruins of Machu Picho. One look and I got so emotional I started to cry, it was amazing and well worth hiking all that way to view. The next day as you walk round this amazing city and learn about its history the feeling cannot be described in words.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan our group leader was excellent. His knowledge was of the Incas and Peru was amazing. He quickly made us all feel as ease. There is no way I would have been able to complete the trip without his help and encouragement. I had to take at it a very slow pace but Juan gave me the confidence to keep going. He had a great sense of humour and it just felt as if he was part of the group. I do not think the holiday would have been quite so memoriable without him as the leader of our group he made everyone feel welcome and as a result I feel we all bonded very well and had many laughs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try and get as fit as possible, apart from the altitude and high accents and decents you are often climbing up and down rough trails over large rocks. There are no flat bit in Cuzco or on the trail so the fitter you are the better. On saying that as long as you have good stamina you will manage. Bring trousers that are easily washed out and will dry quickly.

Reviewed August 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

What a great trip. The scenery was really spectacular, the people so friendly, and as for Machu Piccu itself: breathtaking.

Most Inspirational Moment

That first glimpse of Macchu Piccu as we passed through the sun gate is something I'll never forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

What a lovely lady. So helpful & she really went out of her way to make this a trip of a lifetime for all of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget that spare battery for you camera - you'll likely need it!!!

Reviewed August 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

A well planned, interesting and enjoyable adventure.

Most Inspirational Moment

A great group of people - age ranged from 16 to 61 - our Guide Disnarda encouraged a team atmosphere to make a great holiday wonderful.Getting up Dead Woman's Pass! Up to 4215m, Disnarda paced us so we all got up there together - a real moment of achievement for us all. The third day of the trek is the most scenic - fantastic views.Sleeping above the clouds and watching the sun rise over the mountains has to my moment where I really thought WOW!!!Maccu Picchu is amazing and walk there puts it into perspective.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Disnarda Aragon - she is amazing. She is thoughful, humorous, kind and regularly reminds you to wash your hands so you stay healthy! She is very knowledgeable about the history, geography, flora and fauna. She is very well organised and is excellent at making sure everyone's needs are met (usually before you have even thought you might want something). She made us all feel very welcome, cared for and safe.I was really impressed with her skills and humanity.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Choose Exodus. This is the first trip I have done with them and I was really impressed. The details are amazing - getting woken up with a cup of tea and a bowl of hot water to wash in when you are above the clouds; great food, prepared on a gas ring - made me feel very inadequate but then cooking has never been my thing! Take lots of layers - it is hot during the day (dry season) but can get down to -3 at night. I slept in 5 layers and a sleeping bag! Drink a lot of water - Disnarda reminds you of this all the time - and just pace yourself. The walk is tough in places but if you take it slowly and rest regularly (to enjoy the view) it is achieveable by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. The downhill bits can be hard on your knees. Poles are useful if you are used to them. Take a second camera - I took sooooooo many photos my battery ran out on day 3 of the Trail, luckily I had a spare one with normal batteries.

Reviewed August 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

Amazing and the best trip so far with lifetime memories. A must to do for all keen trekkers.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment was entering the Sun Gate and the view of Machu Picchu for the first time. Like all wonders of the world, no picture can capture the breathtakingly beautiful sights of the Inca Trail.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Demas Tarrang Masco and his team were excellent from start to finish. Dimas was extremely knowledgeable, fun, enthusiastic and very keen to enhance our trip to the full. In our experience having booked Exodus trips before, they select the premier local guides and I will continue to book with Exodus knowing they select the best.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If booking the Inca Trail, I would thoroughly recommend the optional trips of Lake Titicaca and in particular, The Amazon. The whole adventure in Peru was absolutely awesome and one I will never forget!

Reviewed July 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

Everything it says on the tin……and then some!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Sun Gate and looking down on the prize of the trip....the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

Thoughts on Group Leader

First class - friendly, knowledgable, funny, motivational.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Good camera.

Reviewed June 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

Everything that you would expect and more! Our guide was a brilliant ambassador for Peru, the pace of the trip was perfect and the scenary stunning. We were extremely well looked after by the support staff with great meals, and our needs well attended to.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit at Dead Womans PassReaching the Sun Gate and gaining our first views of Machu PicchuThe views from the campsite at dusk in the Cloud Forest

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan was the best guide I have had on any Exodus tour to date, and I have been on about 5 now. He had a great sense of humour, was very knowledgeable about the area, flora and fauna, gave us extremely valuable advice about acclimatisation and kept a very steady pace allowing us to arrive in Machu Picchu at a time of day that allowed us to see it without the tourist swarm.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of warm clothing for the night time and a hot water bottle. Ground was very hard, cold and damp in most of the camp grounds. The two days planned for acclimatisation in Cusco are certainly needed. Our arrival was delayed by 24hrs which meant we lost a day. Fortunately no members of the group were sick but we did feel the effects. Juan was able to give us plenty of good advice about how to combat the symptoms.

Reviewed June 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

What a sensational holiday! I knew it would be amasing, but the scenery was inspirational. What a fantastic holiday and what a great group of people I experienced it with. This is a great holiday which I’d recommend to anyone who’s hesitating booking this once in a lifetime trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Them most inspirational moment of the trip was watching the sun rise on one early morning above and watching the early morning mist drift past the mountain range- it's so easy to see how the Inca's viewed the area with such spirituality and reverence. The ruins of outposts along the Inca trail were so charged with emotion and charm.We were also lucky enough to see a wild deer near to a small lake on the trail, that was at points only about twenty feet away.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I don't think we could have had a better tour leader than Charlos. He was so incredibly knowledgable and he and Wilson were so patient when it came to waiting for me to take the hundreds of photographs which I took (over a thousand!). The English spoken by Charlos was exceptional, and I think the best I've heard from any guide. He was articulate in explaining the many sights of Peru, it's culture and beliefs. Exodus sends its guides and chefs to college and courses to help them create a wonderful experience for the holiday maker. This shows in the fantastic quality of food which was served up on the hiking part of the trip. They prepared three meals a day for the group, which was amasing and certainly helped fuel us for the journey.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking poles are a must, and the best time to travel is May/ June, as there are no mosquitos, and the temperatures are lower- a great point considering you'll be excerting so much energy hiking the many steps of the trail. And the gentle breeze we encountered throughout the walk made the hike comfortable and a really beautiful feeling when you reached the top of a long climb. A head torch is also a must, as navigating around the camp at night can be challenging.

Reviewed June 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

Great trip, though dead woman's pass is a testing day. Superb guide in Carlos who was very cool and also very informed about the whole history of the trail and the Incas. The sights are stunning as are the mountain views and Machu Pichu lives up to its reputation. Benny the cook did a great job with the food. Exodus let itself down with the hotel in Cuzco: do not let them put you in the Andean South Inn" awful hotel and awful area: we checked out and stayed elsewhere

Most Inspirational Moment

The third day with simply stunning views of the Andes and the day in Machu Pichu; rates with Kili and Everest as a sight to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carlos was the best of the group leaders I have had on exodus tours. He was polite, erudite with a nice dry sense of humour. He made the trip and we missed him on the rainforest and lake titicacca extensions

Advice for Potential Travellers

don't let exodus put you in the Andean South Inn in Cuzco: they have had previous reports that its not good, not in a nice area and has no warm water. It was the worst hotel I've stayed in with Exodus by some margin

Reply from Exodus

Thanks for your review. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip but I have asked our local partner to provide feedback from our tour leaders on recent trips which have stayed at the Andean South Inn, as this is a property we have used for several years and it usually gets good reports for both the services and the location. We have had reports about the water supply in the past, but this turned out to be related to a city-wide shortage rather than a specific problem with this hotel.

The hotel is in the San Blas district, which has many hotels and is certainly not a a bad area – I have stayed on the same street as the Andean South Inn several times over the past few years and have always felt safe, despite the fact that streets are narrow and not always brightly lit at night. Safety for our clients is of paramount importance, and our tour leaders always recommend that you take one of the city’s many inexpensive taxis in Cuzco after dark wherever possible, as petty crime is not unknown – this is true of Cuzco in general, and is not specific advice for San Blas.

Tim – Product Manager for Peru

Reviewed January 2012

THE INCA TRAIL

I was really nervous about doing this and thought about backing out so many times. I’m so glad I went through with it! It was truly amazing and the sense of achievement was immense! Don’t get me wrong, I found it hard but it is an experience I will always cherish!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting up to 'Dead Womans Pass' is hard work but getting to the top and seeing the view of the valley, it was worth it. Obviously getting to the Sungate and seeing the clouds clear and reveal the icing on the cake brought a tear to my eye, not only was it beautiful but, I did it! The rainbows, ruins and snow capped mountains were also magical.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Disnarda, was a great guide. Her and Orlando made sure that as a group we were fine and despite feeling like the weakest link in the group they did not make me feel as though I was holding anyone back. Be warned, they may be vertically challenged but they move like the wind along that trail with endless energy and enthusiasm.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a good mechanism for keeping your kit dry, we weren't in the wet season but it rained and hard. Don't worry about taking too many snacks, you get given stuff daily. Toilet roll is always a good one. Take a good sleeping bag and pack some thermals, high altitude camping can get cold. Metal water bottles are good as they can act as hot water bottles when it is really cold but 'plats' are good whilst trekking. If you don't like things flying in your face get a face mosi net (I was so jealous of those that had the common sense to take them). Trip to the hot baths on the last day, I'd skip it if I were you, the 'hike' to get up there, in my opinion, is not worth it, better off sharing the cost of a hotel room and getting a good hot shower that way. Day pack rules for Machu Picchu seemed a bit 'changeable'. I had a 35 ltr pack but we told that the limit for day packs for the following 1 day entry would be 20ltrs. Luckily we were allowed in with our packs but I think it is one of those 'fickle' policies and walking poles are not allowed during your day at Machu Picchu.Final day, before train ride back to Cusco, get something to eat, you will be on the train for several hours, they serve drinks but that is about it.

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