Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

We lost two days of cycling due to rain but Michele quickly sorted a new itineray and in each town he found excellent restaurants and the best tourist sites to visit. In Padova the Scrovegni chapel painted by Giotto was a marvel to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele Quaresimin is the best guide I have ever come across and I have travelled the world and come across many guides! He is professional, friendly, caring, resourceful, gives 100 % every time - he brings back customers to the Exodus tours because he makes the trips come to life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like cycling and love Italy and Austria - do this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

As others have said, too difficult to choose just one. The many shrines where locals are praying while tourists gaze upon them, the giant Buddha at Nara, the Golden temple and gardens, the scenery of the Japanese Alps with the autumn colours, the monkeys, the excitement of the bullet train's speed and the unforgettable experience of the Onsen.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko Hansen worked very hard to ensure we all saw as much as possible. She offered suggestions and accompanied people on visits that were outside the itinerary. It was tough for her to try and keep 15 people together in the busiest railway station in the world. She is incredibly energetic and it could be hard work trying to keep up! It is a huge benefit that she is Japanese (though now lives in Australia) and so could give us insights into the Japanese way of life. We ate with Chiko in some great local restaurants that the ordinary tourist would not have found. On the downside, her sense of direction was not always the best and she had to be persuaded to occasionally stop to allow eating or comfort breaks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for more walking than the trip notes suggest. Quite a lot of energy required and good idea to carry snacks and water in a small backpack. Take comfortable shoes that are easy to slip on and off for temple visits. Do plenty homework to help decide what you want to do on the free days as some places will need advance booking. If you want to see the Tokyo fish market make a plan to go early (0600-0700?) as when we went at 1000 it was closing. Evening eating places seem to close by 9pm, so plan to eat fairly early. Look out for the "Western style" toilets as you have to squat in the Japanese ones

Most Inspirational Moment

Not caving on a 14% slope and doing the last hard climb all in one go!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Armand was friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful. A great group leader always available to help, take us out to great places to eat and motivate us to ride!

Advice for Potential Travellers

A rather tougher 3 rating than some of the others, but so worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many - Cambodia with its awe inspiring temples, but then the sadness of the killing fields. huge numbers of children shouting hello when you cycled by, cycling through a flood in the Mekong Delta...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rit was amazing. He was so professional and made sure that we were well looked after and had nothing to worry about for the whole of the holidday

Most Inspirational Moment

the Hot air balloon flight was incredible, the views of the 'fairy chimneys' amazing. The rock formations of the 'red valley' and the white. Goreme open air museum with its many churches and frescoes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Omer was a calm ,relaxed guy with a sense of humor and plenty of knowledge, a really likeable fellow: he never was put out if my wife was recording whilst he was talking of the churches ,history or else. He always obliged when we stopped to take pics

Advice for Potential Travellers

We would recomend taking trekking poles as they do help with unsteady terrain and climbing on the rocks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Without doubt the sea kayaking. The two of us were complete novices but after an embarrassing start we managed well and felt safe with 2 guides to help us and a support boat nearby. Paddling over the sunken city was a great experience and then on to the small village where we had an excellent buffet lunch and climbed up to the castle. Another memorable occasion was our visit to the ancient city of Arykanda where the enthusiastic local guide showed us round and then took us to his house where his wife had prepared a lovely buffet lunch mainly from their own produce including cheese and yoghurt from their goats.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Turget was a brilliant guide. He genuinely seemed to want us all to have a great holiday and worked hard to ensure that we did. He communicated really well, had an excellent knowledge of the area and I feel I learnt a lot about the country and people. He listened to us and was flexible and changed things if necessary. We felt safe at all times and appreciated the way he found interesting restaurants for us in the evening and made individual arrangements on request.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a few steep sections and for some people, the crossing of the bridge on the aqueduct could be scary. Poles are useful. Rooms near the breakfast room and stairs can be noisy.

Most Inspirational Moment

I went for the architecture, and got it in spades. Bokhara's Poi Kalyon was a high point, until we got to Samarkand's Registan Square. Came home very satisfied!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dilshot was magnificent. Sympathetic, knowledgeable, totally in charge; he led the group with light-touch certainty and firmness. He rose to every problem that arose. He led us round a comprehensive but still manageable itinerary which otherwise would have made navigating the richness of Khiva, Bokhara and Samarkand much more difficult. He provided comprehensive background information, plus personal insights which added valuable illumination. He helped us around meal options and hard Uzbeki menus - serious practical issues.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You could spend years in this part of central Asia, but this tour captures the best bits and crystallizes them. Unless you want to put in the years, this is the overview and experience you wanted in a holiday trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having seen pictures of Machu Picchu for years and thinking I knew what it would be like to be there - it surpassed all my expectations. Seeing the condors launching themselves off the cliffs and soaring effortlessly on the morning thermals.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Leo, worked tirelessly on our behalf. He sorted out the problems that were thrown his way in an extremely professional manner and ensured we got the most out of our trip. His English was excellent and he had a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A lot of people worry about whether they might suffer from altitude sickness, but the way in which this trip is organised means that you are able to gradually acclimatize before getting to Machu Picchu. The hotels and the buses we used also had oxygen available for anyone who was feeling any effects. Everyone on our trip was able to visit all the high altitude locations.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are just too many to list: reaching the top of the Tsingy ( and I recommend an even earlier start than we did), sunset and sunrise over Isalo, snorkeling off Ifaty, the ring-tailed lemurs, having the entire beach to myself in Morondava, Lemur island (which is just too much fun to have the lemurs so up close and personal), swimming in the natural piscine after a long hike, Baobab alley, and on and on!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sol was unequivocally the absolute best. He is patient with everyone, answers every question you might pose (or finds the answer for you if he doesn't know), has the greatest smile known to man, and his love for his country comes through in every thing he shares with the group. I can't imagine having done this trip with anyone else!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long, hot, dusty days of driving. But use them to look at the countryside and the people and enjoy the scenery. Bring quick drying, moisture wicking clothes, and listen to Sol when he tells you how much water you will need!

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the caves and Rupestrian churches in Matera.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nino was a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and extremely flexible guide who couldn't do enough for us and made wonderful recommendations about where to eat and what to visit in our free time. His ability to put together a pic nic which we all shared on our walk to the caves was fantastic. I very much enjoyed meeting Nino and his enthusiasm for the history and current way of life in Puglia and Basilicata was infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be intimidated by the walks if you are "not a walker" - they are easily doable for somebody with average fitness.