Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

We really enjoyed the optional trip down to the very tip of India. I would recommend that that day be part of the itinerary. The wooden palace en route was amazing, and the island off the coast where the three seas meet was just wonderful. The ferry was an experience not to be missed.The houseboat was very well appointed and the food excellent with such an attenetive crew. The views as we cruised the backwaters were a delight = very restful and romantic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gopal was lovely. Kind efficient and very thorough. He was very good at making sure we enjoyed all sorts of culinary delights. It was our third trip  to India but he found us different tasty meals that we had not tasted before.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You know leeches are not so bad. Inconvenient but not life threatening!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting a Berber family for tea, bread, cheese and cakes.  So welcoming, so friendly.  So generous with their smiles and humour

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excelent.  Extremely good at his job.  It was a pleasure to meet him.  Very caring.  A good organiser and team member. A fantastic snse of numour  - understanding our jokes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go as sson as yopu can.Take warm clothes for the Gite (this is in the trip notes).Take some souvenirs/pictures from your part of the World for the Berber family - pencils etc for the children Buy a carpet for lonmg time meories.  Haggle, haggle, haggle in the souks. .

Most Inspirational Moment

India. Its a country of such contrasts, history, friendly people, sights, poverty, the contriductions of modern New Delhi versus Old Delhi. The Amber Fort, Jaipur and the Taj Mahal are obvious highlights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The organisation was very effectifient and able to cope with the minor mishaps you expect on these trips.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check the temperature averages for time of year you are travelling, December and January is close to freezing overnight in Rajasthan and therefore the unheated hotels are very cold at night. Also some mornings when the majority of the cycling is done were foggy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day was inspirational for me, i've always wanted to go Great Wall when i first saw it on telly as a kid, can't believe i've done it. The view is so breath taking, everyday was a different section of the wall and different scenery. The people/family running the guest house are lovely and friendly. Food is great out there, so many choices.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group leader Danny was brill, always smiling and joking around, very approachable, deserves a big raise!!!A trip well planned out and not just a group leader but was apart of our team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a plastic knife with you for when you stay in guest house, spreading peanut butter on toast with a chopstick was another experience  but a great laugh.

Most Inspirational Moment

Pompeii....or the Walk of the Gods....stunning scenary and amazing history.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was fab.  Incredibly knowledgable and very friendly.  Kept the group together well without being overbearing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Very good choice for either a new Exodus traveller to see what it's all about or a great shorter break for a seasoned Exodus traveller (like myself).

Most Inspirational Moment

First site of a tiger when we where just driving through Bandhavgarh NP.Taja Mahal was an amazing sight and experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He couldn't have been better. Arranging activities (indian weddings, cooking in the hotels) above and beyond the call of duty. Sympathetic beyond expectation when we were not seeing any tigers. Joining in your joy and amazement when you did. Handling what could have been a difficult situation with professionalism when the train to Delhi was delayed by 8 hours, he kept us fully informed of what was happening from the moment he new there could be a problem - 3 days prior to the delay.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A very full on tour, lots of early mornings, and long days of travelling. Do not expect any luxury on the trains, they are very basic with little privacy, but are an experience not to be missed. Tigers are a rarity to be seen and expect to spend alot of time on safari not seeing much especially tigers. But when you finally see one it is well worth the effort as you feel so privaledged to see such an amazing and elusive creature and to spend time with them.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was quite surprised by how awe inspired i was by Machupichu, its a place that you think you semi know prior to arrival as its been photographed so many times and plastered here there and everywhere, but being the last people walking in it at sun down was incredibly magical

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rene was natural charmer, managed to appease the groups uncertainties before we even knew we would have them, 10/10

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Onapeia (excuse spelling!) was a high point in terms of views and the challenge of aiming for a summit. I equally enjoyed the off track routes dodging, or not!, the trees and overhanging branches through the forest. I had a birthday whilst on holiday and Ilse had noticed this and made an effort to make sure I felt special that day which was a lovely quite unexpected gesture.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ilse and Mary led the group. Mary's patience with technique coaching saw me get my first ski award. Ilse knows the area and local snow conditions better than the back of her hand and is a natural teacher inspiring confidence in the most fretful amateur. The morning warm ups are ridiculously fun, and worth the effort for jiggling aching muscles into action.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that this is very much a centre that welcomes families and groups. If you want to have a quiet dinner for two, maybe book elsewhere, but we love the warm relaxed camaraderie of shared stories over the evening meal, comparing ever more exaggerated tales of the days events. Alcohol is expensive in Norway, there is opportunity to buy a beer at the lodge but you may want to consider calling into duty free before you leave the UK. You will need gaiters if you don't want boots full of melting powder snow. Take something to entertain you in the evening, if you're awake that long.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Treasury for the first time in Petra had to be the highlight of the trip. But Petra is so much more than just the Treasury it is also an amazing place to walk around in its own right. The first full day in Jerash was also a great surprise with the ancient city being discovered before our eyes. Oh and floating in the Dead Sea wasn't too bad either and sampling the local sweets, pastries and falafels.

Most Inspirational Moment

the long ride up to Nuwarya Ellya - classic challenging day with the most wonderful hotel at the end of it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter and his team - Ekanaike, Upali and Suresh. Great team work. Peter knows Sri Lanka like the back of his hand. Always chose different route etc and places to eat and stop to suit the group and the weather (we had lots of rain). Bikes well looked after by the rest of the team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was lots of rain in November but apart from not taking as many photos with blue sky it did not spoil the trip very much. Trekking sandals best to bike in due to the hat and wet. Make sure your saddle is comfy - bring your own and bring chamois cream for the sore bits. Take your time. There may be faster cyclists than you - this was my first bike trip and I was at the back but never felt it was too hard.