Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Each time you got to the crest of one of the hills, turned a corner or looked up at the crystal clear night sky you were greeted with something awe inspiring

Thoughts on Group Leader

If you can get on a trip with Valerie, I would implore you to do so. She is so knowledgeable about Ladakh as she has spent the last 40+ years coming to this part of the world. She was also a brilliant listener and troubleshooter for when you had an issue which is what you need when you are in a fairly remote part of the world.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take around £200-£250 over as whilst it is very cheap to eat over there, it soon seems to go with purchases of drinks etc

Suggestions

A big thank you to Valerie and her team for giving me a summer holiday I won’t forget in a hurry

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Gongmaru La pass after it snowed. Great views followed by river crossings which were fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jigmat was an excellent leader. The best one I’ve had from Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take proper sandals that can be strapped securely to your feet. Bring clothing for all weather conditions. Take games in case it rains.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing over the highest passes, overcoming my fear of descending (I really prefer walkin uphill), letting go of everything that was going on in my life back home, meeting wonderful new people, dealing with altitude and learning the effects it has on your body, meeting monks in Ladakh and visiting the Taj Mahal (I booked the extension Golden triangle).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ngima was the best! He was so experienced with climbing and the altitude. Also, he was extremely fit. He made sure everyone was doing alright all the time and motivated us to keep on going even if we were having a hard time. He showed genuine interest in all of us and opened up to us during the trip. Tashi was great as well, as was the rest of the staff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was very happy with my walking poles for the descents. Also, bring lots of sunscreen and a hat with a long flap that covers your neck. Exercise enough at home before you start this trip. I was very happy that a came prepared and fit enough. The altitude and the heat during the day already make it hard so having a certain level of fitness really helps you to be able to enjoy this trip instead of having to struggle through it. Bring a set of playing cards and invite the rest of the staff to join you for a game after diner; they love that! Earplugs will come in handy at night as most nights you will here the continuous sounds of the bells on the horses that stay around the tents. Warm clothes are a must, especially a warm hat, fleece and gloves. A washcloth helps you clean up a little bit during the 7 days camping when you get a bowl of warm water and you try to ‘shower’ in your tent ;-).

Most Inspirational Moment

I found it all very memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Valerie Parkinson is a very experienced and pleasant tourleader. She really knows all about Ladakh and buddhism, has good humor, knows how to 'handle' a group, gives you plenty of good tips. After trekking days she encouraged us to go for extra acclimitization walks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take enough batteries and powerbanks with you on the trek when you like to take a lot of photos!

Most Inspirational Moment

Many! Getting up to the top of the GandaLa Pass after struggling a bit with the altitude, and seeing the incredible view from the crest. Contrasts between summer crops and the utter barrenness of the mountains. Watching the sunset from the Old village at Markha. Visiting Thikse Monastery. All the opportunities to experience the culture and religion. Walking the final few kilometres down the valley to Shang Sudmdo in golden light surrounded by mountains of other-worldly colours.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Valerie is a truly superb group leader. She brings calm authority, care, respect, humour, a vast depth of expertise and local knowledge, and a calm that is both reassuring and authoritative. She has a great knowledge of group psychology too! I feel very fortunate to have been on a trek led by Valerie.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry boiled sweets or peppermints to suck on - helps to handle the dry air. If you want to take a lot of photos, take a power bank with plenty of capacity for recharging your camera, as well as a couple of extra batteries. I ran out on the last day of the trek despite having 3 batteries and a 6000 ma power bank!

Suggestions

All aspects of Exodus planning and organisation were excellent. I will recommend the trip to friends and am looking at my next trip already. Exodus will be my go-to company.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being able to enjoy spectacular landscape ranging from the different valleys, canyons, with a multitude of colour changing rock formations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guide Rajeev was extremely organised and took great care of the group. Both him, his assistant Wangail and the team were also very social which is always nice.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do prepare for any weather conditions as with this being the end of the season we did wake up to Snow one morning. Also with is being hot during the day do not pack too much in your day bag.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in relatively isolation through the amazing landscapes. Crossing the two passes were an achievement.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both the group leader and the trekking guide were excellent, friendly and competent. Very well organized and no issues with communication.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for cool or cold night temperatures. Some of the parts of the trail are on narrow (sometimes crumbling) ledges above the river so people with vertigo issues or unsteady feet may want to come prepared. There are also some sections where you are walking along rocky riverbeds so you may want to ensure you have boots with adequate ankle support. Definitely bring a wide brim hat, sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen as well as the sun was particularly strong during the day and there was often little shaded areas. Bring extra camera batteries and memory cards if you like taking photos as this trek is full of photo opportunities!

Suggestions

Great trip and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in beautiful scenery and relatively isolated environments.

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Gongmaru La pass-stunning views in every direction, and worth all the effort. Seeing the Dalai Lama in Leh.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lakpa was a great leader. Always on the ball, checking everybody was OK, and making sure everything worked like clockwork-great job! Wongel, the assistant guide was also a star.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take big memory cards-the scenery is breathtaking. It can be very hot and dusty, so be prepared.

Suggestions

Worth the cost, the overnight flights, not showering, being caked in dust, and generally feeling privileged to have been there.

Most Inspirational Moment

Fellow trekkers. Scenery. Guide and Ladaki people

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. No other words to explain him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it!! Weather a little hotter than I expected

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk to Nimaling was special as the views really open up as you approach the plateau and the light on the snow topped slopes of Kang Yatse shifted to reveal huge cracks in its cornices. Cows and horses grazed at the camp and huge flocks of sheep and goats (including Kashmir goats) passed by the tents to gather in summer corals on the opposite side of the river. The crossing of the Gongmaru La Pass in perfect weather with vivid blue skies enabling us to see a perfect panorama of mountain tops including a 7000m+ peak belonging to the Karakorum range in Pakistan. It was very special seeing somewhere you would love to visit but are unlikely to be able to. The descent through the gorge was spectacular.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lakpa Lama was brilliant as a leader - kind, considerate, patient, good fun, competent. He had a great manner - at ease with everyone and quietly making sure that any problems were attended to and resolved as best as circumstances would permit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On our trip we had real extremes of temperature almost every day - 35 daytime, below freezing at night- so pack for both extremes. I regretted not bringing a very lightweight windproof long sleeved top - my summer base-layer was too warm. A flannel for the morning basin of water is useful. We found canoe shoes good for river crossing leaving sandals dry for the evening. The dry air can cause throat/chest issues so Strepsils, cough sweets etc useful. Unlike Nepal you can't just pick up things like that at a local teahouse though there are tea parachute tents en route where you can buy soft drinks and some local community handicrafts made from wool. The stuffed snow leopards are best at Rumbak village tent. Mobile phones are blocked in Ladakh though there is erratic wifi at Glacier View Hotel. Safe water shop in Leh is great- try the Apricot or Sea buckthorn juice though I found the latter too bitter.

Suggestions

Excellent acclimatisation schedule. The river does change course and you do sometimes end up on narrow cliff passes but the sand on these is 'sticky' and gives a good grip. The food is excellent and quality of tents - including toilet tent- is good. Easy to change money at the hotel in Delhi which has a swimming pool - great after the flight. Nearby Mughal Mahal restaurant good. We did the Golden Triangle Extension with Wellcome Travel and enjoyed it.