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We booked this cycling trip to provide an additional week following the Exodus ‘Walking in the Azores’. That holiday visits four islands but not Terceira. So, by booking both trips we were able to visit five of the nine islands. It’s easy to get between islands by ferry or plane. There is a lot to see on Terceira so it’s a good place to visit. Angra is super, the volcanic cave is really good and I developed a keenness for photographing the colourful ‘imperios’ of the Holy Spirit which can be found in most villages. They look like (but aren’t) brightly coloured little chapels. The cycle route takes you round the island over three days with inland rides on the other two – five days in total. You can see quite a lot. When you go inland off the coastal roads it can be quite steep. This is especially the case with the first day of cycling (Day 2) which is probably the toughest, especially if you’re getting used to the bikes. These are mountain bikes with 2 x 10/11 gears. We’re used to hybrids and 3 x 8 so these took a bit of getting used to and we found we needed to walk up some of the hills. Having recently done two ‘moderate Exodus’ cycle trips, I reckon it is one is at least ‘moderate’ with some tougher bits where it’s absolutely fine to walk. One of the nice things about Terceira is that outside the towns there isn’t lots of traffic. We adjusted our route on Days 2 and 5 (the inland days) to suit our interests and were given good ideas from Tiago who supplies the bikes. Day 3 was our best day. There is a choice of routes. I did the route down to the edge of the coast and my wife stuck more to the roads. There were great views of the islands of Soa Jorge and Graciosa and we had lunch at the café attached to the cheese factory. The highlights of Day 4 were cycling through a herd of cows that was being moved between fields, cycling through the US airbase (mostly mothballed) and arriving at the religious monument that looks down on Praia. Praia is lovely. My wife relaxed on Day 5 in Praia and I cycled in the morning to the mountain with the wind turbines, for a great view both ways. We were lucky, there was a summer festival while we were there and we enjoyed a local food area, bull running and marching bands. It rained on Day 6. I completed the route and could see that it is pretty nice through some fishing villages and past interesting volcanic hills. We then added an extra day in Angra. So there are five interesting days of cycling – especially if you’re used to mountain bikes, are good at steep hills or don’t mind walking occasionally. If you’re not so sure then e-bikes are available and one of us would have preferred that! Being self-guided, the dates are flexible and so it’s easy to combine this with another trip or your own island-hopping plan. We booked late and at relatively short notice but rooms were available by upgrading our accommodation. The other islands we visited were very interesting and had different attractions – see the walking tour for ideas. Tip: one of the delightful things about the Azores is the blue hydrangeas. Our week in Terceira was in early August and we found that the hydrangeas were getting past their best at lower elevations.
Cycling through a herd of cows moving from one field to another. Enjoying Angra.
This was self-guided.
See above about linking with other trips and the blue hydrangeas.
If you have thought about visiting Costa Rica, then don’t put it off. We visited this delightful country in September, not apparently in the Wet Season, but in the Wetter Season! However, don’t be put off by that. When it rained (mainly in the afternoons) it did rain heavily and it came at a time for a welcome rest. But despite that we did achieve a tremendous amount, and it is worth noting that some things can only be seen at this time – eg turtles laying eggs in Tortuguero, and whales playing in the Pacific Ocean. Key to the success of our trip was Glenda, our outstanding guide (and a “good witch!”): she knew exactly where to go to see the sloth and baby feeding in the trees, where the ellusive quetzal could be found, how to hunt down the red-eyed tree frog at night; she was also an expert on the country‘s biodiversity guiding us through Rain Forest and Cloud Forest, identifying all the trees, ferns and plants; in addition, she was always on hand to save cameras dropped into lagoons, and advising how to order the best well-balanced meals in the Hotels, Lodges and Restaurants. Costa Rica was unforgettable in so many ways, and I for one was so glad to have chosen this Exodus Trip .
The whale watching trip was truly unforgettable: as the speed boat leapt over the Pacific Ocean swell, none of us were prepared for the amazing performance laid on for us by a humpback whale and her calf. For 30 minutes we were enthralled by the ballet the two of them put on breaching every two to three minutes. The excitement of this experience was truly unforgettable, and we were all felt privileged to have been given an opportunity to see nature at play in this way.
Glenda was a real star: she was full of energy and life, sharing her passion and love of her country. Throughout the trip, Glenda made sure that we were her priority and that we were all given the best chance to appreciate the wonders of her country. No request was ever too much for her, and her sense of fun and humour helped us all relax throughout the trip. Her knowledge of her country’s biodiversity, and her ability to spot and identify both flora and fauna was remarkable. Without her I am not sure we would ever have discovered the elusive quetzal, but with her we saw makes and females twice - and then she used her skill to enable us to have photographs on our phones through her telescope. Glenda wanted us all to feel like we were part of her family, and her wish was that we would persuade others to come and enjoy her country. I hope many more will follow in our tracks - you won’t be disappointed.
Be prepared for the humidity and the rain. September was the start of the “wetter” season, but mornings were nearly all sunny and hot, and actually we only had two afternoons which were torrential. But you will need to have a good poncho or waterproof top - perhaps a small umbrella? The humidity can be very high, so there is a need to have a good change of clothes as wet clothes do not always dry overnight. The other issue might be whether to have cash or use debit/credit cards. Some extra activities could only be paid for with cash (US dollars) and it is important to understand that not every ATM gives dollars but they all take commission.
A group of strangers met at Porto airport, and departed from there a week later as friends. The week was well planned, excellently organized, by and expertly led by Lina and her husband Antonio. They lavished care and attention on us to ensure we enjoyed to the maximum our time in the beautiful Douro valley. The walks were delightful, with panoramas of vineyards and river valleys. And, of course, every day we enjoyed tasting the delicious wines and ports of the Douro valley. New tastes and types of wine were explained by expert guides at the wineries, and enjoyed with gusto. No swilling round the mouth and spitting into a spittoon for us! The food was delicious and portions were extremely generous. A single order divided into two halves was not unusual in restaurants. We had outstanding lunches at some of the wineries, in beautiful surroundings. A most enjoyable holiday.
Difficult to say. Every day was most enjoyable, and gorgeous vista succeeded gorgeous vista. We walked through several villages, and it was so interesting to see village life - some clearly losing population and young people, and others where there was new building going on, and we could see the village expanding. Perhaps the most inspirational was the visit to Quinta das Escomoeiras, a small new organic winery producing delicious vinho verde. According to the owner, some 15 years ago, he decided he want to build an organic winery, and so he did! The quinta is in the beautiful position amongst the hills overlooking the river valley.
Our group leader, Lina, was outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble, and she was aware of and pre-empted an special needs. I couldn't carry my suitcase, as I had broken my elbow, and Lina was most solicitous and made every effort to ensure that she was on hand to help. She was a delightful guide, knowing in depth the walks, country, flora and fauna, and taking care to explain what we were seeing or walking through. Her husband Antonio was also very helpful, and took many, often humourous, photos of our adventures. Showing the day's photos at our evening briefings was a great start to the evening.
Don't expect rigourous or long walks. The walks are graded 1 for a reason, and were perfect for me.
This is 7 days of intense travel round the highlights of Sicily. It is not leisurely and Exodus do longer trips. A huge amount is packed in so come prepared for some early starts and a really active week.
Sitting in Noto in the warmth of the evening in the golden light off the beautiful buildings Stunning
Very well informed and engagingly honest about Sicily. Helpful at all times.
Pack light and keep up!
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The hotel was comfortable and the food very good. Hotel staff very friendly Saw everything we wanted to see.
Difficult to choose one thing. Scenery was beautiful
Eduardo was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about the area as he lives there. Everything was well organised. Trips wer changed to suit weather conditions as appropriate. On our free day he organised a trip to Vesuvius and wine tasting. Eduardo had a good sense of humour and is very friendly.
Fantastic Trek through Wadi Rum’s amazing landscape and then a day spent at Petra exploring the fascinating and ancient ruins.
My abiding memory will be of lying round the campfire at night, gazing up at the fantastic canopy of stars. Wild camping at it's best. I thoroughly enjoyed the two hour scramble to Burdah Bridge and the challenge of standing on the bridge - what a fabulous location. And the Wadi Rum landscape - just amazing. I opted for the camel ride for the last morning of the trip - again I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone who has not done a camel ride before.
Our guide Abdullah was fantastic and so knowledgeable about his country's very long history and the Bedouin way of life. We were well supported by a jeep with crew, which not only carried all our luggage and camping equipment but met up with us every two hours to replenish our water supplies.
My flight arrived at midnight and it was 2:30am before I got to bed in Amman. At 5am you are woken by the call to prayer. I was really tired the next day. The rest of the group (mostly from outside the UK) had flown in the day before and had rested but also had chance to explore Amman - I wish I had done this.
An amazing, once in a lifetime experience which has left me humbled, speechless and overwhelmed in equal measure. From the landscapes of Brandberg to the wildlife and waterways of the delta and everything in between this truly is a trip to treasure I have fallen in love with both countries and will be back!
There were two moments. Sitting with the hippos in mokoros in the delta, and watching the sunset over Brandberg will stay with me forever
Angelo was an excellent tour leader, driver and guide who was knowledgable and enthusiastic in equal measure. He made the trip fun and enjoyable, whilst always ensuring our safety and security
Expect the unexpected, ensure you have plenty of cash (as it’s the preferred method of payment in most of the rural places), and just go with the flow!
I loved everything about this trip: the blue skies, the heat, the fabulous scenery, the lovely Cortijo Rosario and the wide variety of interesting trails. The leader Michael was top class all round: attentive to everyone’s individual needs, knowledgeable and passionate in telling us all there was to know about the landscapes we walked through and super conscious on safety. The itinerary succeeded brilliantly in showing the charms of the local environment as well as the more spectacular highlights such as the Caminito del Rey through the El Chorro Gorge. Evening meals were exceptionally tasty and varied and all eaten outdoors on a patio overlooking the olive groves. Everyone got on happily with Michael and with one another. I would strongly recommend this trip to other Exodus fans.
Hard to single one out.
Great leadership qualities.
Expect plenty of heat in September.
Challenging point-to-point remote hiking trails (partly due to terrain and partly due to temperatures in June/July), with no rest day. Staying in local guest houses and upgraded shepherd huts was great and the locally produced food wonderful. The region is quiet; scenery fantastic and if you like wildflowers, this is a must trip for you.
Alpine meadows and wildflowers! I was blown away. Farming communities and traditions. The homemade food and hospitality at Sylbice Huts and hosts at the shepherd village of Milisevac were so friendly and served amazing food (in fact there was too much!). Treks to the Hrid Lake reflections with alpine newts and to stunning Jezerca glacial lakes.
Bledi's military background ensured smooth, organised trekking with water breaks. His communication skills were excellent and he has a very good knowledge of the region. I read other reviews saying that there wasn't much of a tour in Tirana. Well, Bledi gave a navigational tour that included ample information of the history and culture. The only area of expertise he lacked was wildflowers so if you love wildflowers, have access to an ID app or get a book. I actually think that Exodus should support the guides with these on this trip (it's similar to wildlife and safari tours when there is usually access to reference books).
The old converted shepherd huts have been upgraded and bedding is provided so there is no need to bring a sleeping bag during the summer months. A single sheet was enough at times, especially as you're sharing a room with 3-5 others. During rainy seasons, walking poles would be a must as even when it's dry, there are some sections and ridges when poles can give you that extra bit of support. Take plenty of snacks including fresh apples and dried fruit as there is a lack of fruit during the trip. Eat a good breakfast as you only get sandwiches for lunch and use a sandwich box (this should be added to all trekking trip notes, when a picnic is provided, under optional equipment) . I used a steri pen for most of my water although on a few occasions I didn't bother as the fresh mountain water was so nice. Most people didn't treat the water and were fine. Avoid the hotel sauna as 4 of the group including the leader got a 24 hr norovirus.
All in all, an enjoyable trip with a very friendly group. Really interesting place to visit from a historical and geological point of view. As expected, the scenery is amazing.
The hot air balloon ride.
Very knowledgeable about the area (particularly history, geography, restaurants) and well able to adapt the walks to fit with the different weather conditions and fitness levels of the group. Only two minor criticisms: 1) Unlike on previous trips, we were not given the leader's mobile number, which could have posed difficulties for those who were unable to join the day's walk for any reason and needed assistance. 2) The leader tended to walk a long way out in front of the rest of the group on walks during the trip. This was occasionally problematic given the difficulty that less able members of the group faced with some of the descents in this area (i.e steep sections with loose gravel and sand).
Be prepared for how exhausting the heat can be when walking in Cappadocia. Walks are not particularly long but there are some tricky descents. Also due to the heat there are no packed lunches on this trip so watch out for the tourist lunch buffets - two of the group suffered bad gastric bugs.