Reviews

Trekking in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

What an experience! After a delayed start due to weather conditions we finally landed at Lukla for the beginning of an awe inspiring trek in the Himalayas. A team of 15 meandered across the Dudh Kosi river to reach Namche and then North eastwards steeply through forests to above the tree line reaching Thangboche. From there we headed to Dingboche, Loboche, Gorak Shep and our ultimate goal Everest Base Camp.

The scenery was excellent from walking through fertile farming settlements, through forest, high altitude settlements and glacial moraine to reach EBC and it wasn’t a disappointment – witnessing the khumbu icefall and ice seracs at base and seeing Everest flanked by Changste and Nuptse and other giants was amazing.

Nile Cruise and Pyramids

This was a wonderful trip. It was very exciting to get our first glimpse of the Pyramids which were only a short ride from the airport. There was a few early morning starts which you should be prepared for and lots of optional tours so make sure you have budgeted extra for these. As you have to pay at the local toilets it would be handy to have some small change with you (which isn’t easy to get) otherwise you will have some very expensive pees 🙂 I felt very secure the whole time we were there. There is security at all the hotels and museums.

Egypt - Truly a Wonder of the Wordl

I have always dreamt of visiting Egypt and seeing for my self the many ancient wonders going back to the dawn of history. This trip was a dream come true. Having been back a few days I find it hard to believe I have seen and learnt much about so many awe-inspiring ancient monuments, the life of the Pharoahs, and experienced this wonderful diverse country with its friendly welcoming population.
Yes there were many traders selling their wares at most places we visited, but this did not detract from the beauty and the history. Most were very polite and, bearing in mind the average salary is only 7000 Egyptian pounds per month (a little under £300 at the current exchange rate of 23.6) who can blame them for trying to extract the tourist dollar the economy depends so much on. They have some wonderful souvenirs at mainly very cheap prices too.
This trip packed in so much – it is not for the infirm or feint hearted – although there is plenty of opportunity to opt out and rest if required. Personally I felt obliged to make the most of the trip and see and learn as much as possible. The Cruise upon our boat Mirage I was sublime with stunning sunsets and amazing views as we chugged up the great Nile to Aswan. The crew were friendly and helpful and a good variety of delicious freshly cooked food – and plenty of it.
Overall a dream come true and an amazing experience shared with a great bunch of people on this trip!

A fantastic experience

This trip really lives up to it’s name – every day is an adventure. Most mornings our alarm was set for 6am, sometimes earlier. There are so many different experiences, it was exhilarating. The food is amazing. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.

Great southern India Experience

A great all round trip with lots of variety.

Brilliant experiance for any one wanting to see Northern India

If you want to see India and experience Indian culture in a small way i cant recommend exodus travels enough, after a lot of searching and investigation i booked my holiday / trip with Trail Finders whom recommended Exodus. I chose the colour of Rajastan tour as it covered everything i wanted to see in a short period of time.
I was not disappointed, upon arrival at Delhi International airport i was met by Ronit the Tour leader, he took me to a taxi to take me to the hotel in the centre of New Delhi, explianing that we would leave the hotel at approx 1pm as there was still another flight coming n later, the Taxi driver was friendly and the transfer was included, I checked into the hotel, showered and changed and went for a walk onto the small street outside the hotel, the local shops and market was just 100 meters from the hotel, Met up with the rest of the group at 1 for our tour around Delhi, what an experience, Seeing India Gate, etc. This is a truly brilliant trip, I wont spoil the rest for you but it got better by the day highlighting with the final city of Jaipuir
I would recommend this to everyone, however you have to be reasonable fit expect to walk about 2 to 5 miles each day up steep hills and steps, the Indian Roads are not brilliant once off the main highways and can be very bumpy and rough.

Manaslu Lodge Circuit

One of the best treks that we have done in Nepal fulfilling all our expectations and more!
A brilliant blend of valleys, gorges, forests and unforgettable surprise views of the Himalaya.
Villages are relatively unspoilt as the area does not receive the volume of tourists as on the Circuit or Everest treks.
If interested in nature the area abounds with birds and butterflies plus some mammals.
Lodges, although basic, were perfectly adequate and the standard of food generally very good.
However the lodge at Dharamsala was very basic. We stayed in a room as opposed to a tent but the fact that you get up at 3am it really does not matter. Food was fine.

Indochina is fantastic

I booked this trip after doing the Vietnam cycling trip in February. I had really enjoyed that one and suddenly found myself with time off before Christmas, and with the threat of a cold Canadian winter looming, I decided to get some sun while I could.
For a Canadian the logistics of this trip required getting the Vietnam visa ahead of time (Thailand didn’t need one and Cambodia offered the ability to get one ahead or at the border). Luckily, having been there recently, my Visa came back quickly. The cost was prohibitive for the few days I would be there, but I enjoyed the country so much last time that I couldn’t resist.
Our guide was professional and knowledgeable. We also had local guides for Cambodia and Vietnam to augment his knowledge. The organization was top notch and things went smoothly, despite having to cross two land borders and meet up with bus drivers and local mechanics, trucks, and bikes. Everything was waiting and prepared for us. I needed pedals installed, but that was taken care of very quickly (three times) and efficiently.
Three countries provided lots of different scenery, different food, and slightly different riding conditions. I saw rolling countryside, lots of livestock, rivers, rice paddies, lakes, vegetation….I am biased, but I liked Vietnam the most.
The sights built into the tour were awesome and important. I am glad I went and I do not regret it for an instant.
The accommodations on the Vietnam only trip were better than the ones on this trip, but there is nothing to complain about on this trip. Rooms were clean and air conditioned.
Our group was small so that allowed for a bit more customization to meet our needs that might not have been possible with a bigger group. I appreciated that our guide worked with us.
If you want to read more about my trip, I blogged about it almost every day (December 2 onward). Here is a link to the blog. If you have trouble finding it through the dates, look under the My Travels heading.
https://todaysperfectmoment.wordpress.com/
I will definitely do another cycling holiday (when finances allow) though I am not sure where. When I got home, the new catalogue was waiting in my mailbox.

Patagonia Rocks (pun intended)!

Views of Torres Del Paine and Mount Fitroy are breathtaking. We were very lucky with weather throughout and the trekking was very enjoyable with scenic views at every turn. My inspiration for going was pictures of TDP and it didn’t disappoint. However, Mount Fitzroy is just as impressive – if not more so. Overall I didn’t think the walking was overly demanding (weather helped of course) and am surprised it was a 5 rating. I believe next year, the real tough day is being split into 2 days?

Trip of a lifetime!

What a way to see a stunning country! Cycling in the heat of the desert, walking through the Siq towards the Treasury at Petra, sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum. I’d always wanted to go to Petra, so in trying to build a holiday around some time in Petra, it made perfect sense to pick up a bike and see the country rather than sitting in a stuffy coach.