Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick an inspirational moment as I wouldn't say anything was "inspiring" in those words except we had a great group moment on top of Sigirya with one member afraid of heights-we all helped her get to the top. It was nice to stop at Exodus Tsunami House #7 for lunch, but would have liked more interaction with the home owner and her family. The lunch, however, was one of the absolute best meals we had in the country. Very fresh and delicous and her papadams were heavenly!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh Bandara is a great tour leader. He went beyond the call of duty several times to ensure comfort and well-being to the tour members from arranging a quick neck massage before departure to tracking down some aloe vera cream (and actual plant leaves!) at 8pm for a sunburn. He works very hard to make sure the tour members are having a great time and he provides excellent information. He is very open to answering questions about Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans and he's inquisitive about our home countries and customs as well. He's always trying to learn new English phrases he can use with future groups. Every day he made sure my husband and I had either a "king's bed" or two twins pushed together. That really meant a lot to us.The only point I would like to see more of is a better idea of the day's itinerary when we meet for breakfast. With the Trip Notes I knew where we were going, but I wasn't sure of the timing. Would we get to the hotel in the early afternoon? Have the activity before or after lunch? How long (approximately time and distance) would we travel that day? I know I am more interested in time than many people on holiday, but I like to have a good understanding of the process. A simple "Today we drive approximately 30 minutes to this temple then drive 1 hour to the hotel. We'll check in and have time for lunch and a swim before we meet again at 3pm for the afternoon activity" would be helpful for me.I loved the day's "topics" and personal details Suresh shared with us. He is a wonderful guide with great enthusiasm for welcoming and sharing his country with visitors. He has a big heart and his laugh makes everyone laugh with him because he's so happy. He is very generous and gving of more than his time."Dinner?" (Wobble-wobble) Ha ha!

Advice for Potential Travellers

For women bring a combination of shorts and capri pants. Trousers were only needed at Nuwara Eliya and when hiking out to World's End (we didn't have Adam's Peak on this itinerary). No shorts or tank tops at temples, but the rest of the time shorts and capris or longish skirt are fine.For swimming in the river at Kithugala: local women don't wear swimming costumes. They swim in shorts and t-shirts. If you don't want stares from local men, dress modestly. The local guys think it's OK and flattering to say, "Hey, Hottie!" and whistle. On the rafting trip you'll have the chance to jump out and swim in the river. Dress accordingly.At the Hill Club Dining Room: No clothes to lend for women-we just need to be dressed "suitably enough" to accompany the men. For men: they have jackets, ties and shoes to lend, but no collared shirts or trousers. Make sure you have the appropriate collared shirt and trousers wtih you and you can borrow the rest. National dress ok for both men and women. No sandals or trainers on men. If you're not dressed suitably, you'll have to eat in the casual dining room. On the safari in Yala NP: bring a bandana or something to cover your face while driving down the dusty roads or you'll be coughing out orange dust after! Also bring a plenty of sunscreen-you'll need it. A 1L refillable water bottle is also helpful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Making it to the top of the first walk without too much agonyFinding the local people in and around the gite so friendly and welcoming

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan was wonderful, a really dry sense of humour that got us all through any difficult points

Advice for Potential Travellers

Practice hills before you leave

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking above Petra and seeing the treasury for the first time in day light from above in the clear sunshine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was lovely, friendly efficient open and funny. We learnt so much about Jordanian life history and politics but a bit too much about his personal life! A few more moments of quiet and direction to find meals at night our selves some of the time would have been appreciated. Some people may well want to be lead all of the time but some independence is what most are after.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots, including:- some flying descents on max adrenaline;- reaching the top of the longest climb in a respectable state;- doing something I really enjoy with a thoroughly nice group of likeminded people; - playing drums with a group of Morrocans;- a cool beer on the hotel terrace in Immouzzer watching the sun set over endless folds of mountains; - the final descent to the sea and a refreshing dip in it. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 leaders on this trip: Liz and Richie. Both excellent. They worked very hard (and successfully) to keep the bikes running smoothly during the week - no easy task as the bikes take a fearful battering. They dispensed a number of tips on technique, gave us a good idea of what to expect each day, pointed out cultural and topographical features of interest and were concerned for safety without wrapping us in cotton wool. I would be happy to go on another trip with either of them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As a number of previous reviewers have pointed out, you have to go up before hurtling down: try and do some hill climb training before you go (on and off tarmac). Also if you're not a regular off road rider, try and ride some rocky trails (e.g. Coed y Brenin in Wales) before you go as this will probably help to get the most out of trip right from the start. (Having said which, those in our group with little or no mountain bike experience did brilliantly.) I am a veggie and, while this was no gourmet extravganza, I survived perfectly adequately. 

Most Inspirational Moment

With out a doubt coming through the Sun Gate to see Machu Picchu spread out below you. Treking along the Inca Trail through the vast mountains and spectacular scenery. One is sometimes afraid that when you eventually see such a "wonder of this world" that it will not live up to expectations - there's no danger of that !

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Group Leader certainly added to our Peru experience. She was knowledgable and well organised. It would be fair to say she was better on a one to one basis than when addressing the group as a whole.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although there is no in country payment for this holiday, travellers should be aware that there are considerable costs - in particular tips for local guides and porters. Also the Optional Excursions / Guided Tours are not cheap. The Trip notes do mention them so take note !Remember the Inca Trail and Lake Titicaca are at altitude and you will have come from considerably lower down at the Rainforest Reserve. Drink plenty of fluids and slow down!

Most Inspirational Moment

Spending an hour with the mountain gorillas - incredible! Seeing them so close and watching their behaviour we could see how much like humans they are. But the following come a close second:How the people of Rwanda are putting the genocide behind them and rebuilding their relationships with each other in order to move forward to a better future.Seeing the great wildebeest migration from a balloon over the Masai Mara.Sightings of leopard, lions, cheetahs and a huge range of other wildlife in magnificent scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Moses was a very good leader. He was well-informed and informative, friendly and helpful, and his sense of humour helped create the sort of atmospehere that made the trip so good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The advice on tipping on the Exodus trip notes was unclear and, once briefed by Moses in Nairobi, turned out to be misleading. As a result we took far too much cash.The optional excursions as set out in the trip notes and final joining instructions were also misleading. We were looking forward to being able to cycle through Hells Gate National Park, do the Crater Lake walk, and see the golden monkeys at Ruhengeri. But none of these were feasible in terms of time within the very tight schedule of the overall trip. The reference to such optional excursions created an impression of more free time available and of 'other exciting things to do' than was the reality. We came armed with loads of US$ ready to pay for these optional excursions so in the end this contributed to us carrying far too much money with us.We understand that Exodus will be amending the details of the trip and relevant trip notes.  But we would advise potential travellers to check to ensure the information provided by Exodus reflects their own expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the high place of sacrifice at Petra.Wierdest  Floating in the Dead Sea

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good and both proud and knowledgable about his country

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just to go with an open mind and enjoy the trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Kalar Pattar and seeing Everest and the Khumbu glacier in brilliant clear skies was fantastic. The view was awe inspiring and the tremendous effort to get to that moment made it all the more special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lakpa was brilliant and I have tremendous respect for him. He lead a wonderful team and Exodus should be proud of them. Lakpa made everyone feel safe and comfortable in the group and was a  great authority on all geographical, religous and cultural questions that we bombarded him with - a real mountain Guru ! Lakpa made a great trip into a fantastic experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be flexible in your approach to this trip , the weather can cause some disruption with internal flights etc so be patient and just go with it. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving at the Sun Gate at the end of the Inca Trek and looking down to Maccu Picchu.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan Cardenas was excellent.  He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all aspects of the history and wildlife of Peru and this ensured we had a wonderful time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't buy bottles of drink at Lima Duty Free.  Our bottles were confiscated when we were in transit at Madrid airport. Camping on the trek can be very cold.

Most Inspirational Moment

Possibly one of the most inspirational moments of my life, let alone the trip, was reaching the top of the Chiriasqa Pass at 4,950 metres above sea level. In the thin air it was hard work getting there but I felt that every gasp for breath and every aching muscle had been worthwhile as I stood there and looked behind me at the ice capped Mount Salacantay and its icy blue glacial lakes and ahead of me at the vast wilderness of Sisay Pampa as snow flurries contrasted against bright blue sky and dark clouds. With no sign of human life in sight this was probably the most remote and isolated place I had ever been.  I had always wanted to walk the Inca Trail but the Salcantay extension made the experience all the more remarkable. Seeing hardly a soul for days, star gazing at the clearest night skies imaginable, having a bath in the icy waters of the Rio Cusichaca and emerging from my tent each morning to look up at snow covered peaks and down at cloud filled valleys are moments I will remember and treasure for the rest of my days.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bobby was an absolute star. He’d already done the Inca Trail something like four hundred times before and consequently knew every mountain, every mountain path, every block of stone at the Inca sites, every exotic species of plant, every llama that we met along the way, every native bird and insect, every star in the sky, every statistic about South American football and the best way to cook a guinea pig. He always had a smile on his face, he had an infectious laugh, he punctuated his speeches with jokes and he liked a beer.  My favourite moments with him though were when we were all seated round the table after dinner on the nights of the trek. High in the cold, cold Andes and miles from civilisation he would tell us his tales of days gone by, his personal experiences and the history and superstitions of his country. His round Peruvian face looking stern in his concentration, illuminated only by a camping gas lamp, was an absolute picture. And then he would laugh.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you immerse yourself in the culture of the Andes, eat everything you’re given, breath in that beautiful fresh mountain air, stare at the stars, talk to the people and take in everything that you see you will have a wonderful trip and you will hardly notice the gruelling physical exertion.