Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14246 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed August 2012

BULGARIAN NATIONAL PARKS

This was a hard-work holiday, but so worth it. It was far more varied than we’d expected. Each mountain was very different, from bare-rock splendour to a weather and military station with a kiosk serving tea! Blazing sun to hail and thunder, beech woods to alpine meadows and pastures, village hotel with live local music and dancing to sightseeing in the capital city, culture to wildflowers, glacial lakes with romantic legends to ski resorts, weird rock formations to monastery buildings and, best of all, the incredibly varied scenery and views, oh, the views!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Mt. Vihren. We felt a huge sense of achievement and terribly proud of ourselves reaching this real top-of-the-world summit with breathtaking views after a steep ascent and a final bare rock 'long exciting scramble' (see Trip Notes). Mind you, 'long exciting scramble' became an in-joke term for serious understatement in our group!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vladimir was superb. He was efficient, knowledgeable, cheerful, professional, encouraging. His obvious experience as a guide, along with him being an excellent psychologist, really helped us to complete all the walks despite being inexperienced mountain walkers. He was accurate and solidly realistic about what we would be facing each day. We felt that if he thought we could do it, we could, but that he would certainly have dissuaded us if he thought we couldn't (but oh so courteously!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Use walking poles. Those long ascents and descents are VERY hard on the knees!Although we are keen walkers, we had little mountain experience and were very apprehensive about our trip. We worked hard on our fitness in the gym and were extremely glad that we had. These are long days at a good pace and you can be walking steeply up and still be doing so hours later!We really wished we had had those back-pack hydration systems with drinking tubes. We had regular short drink/snack/rest stops, but it was hot and thirsty walking at times.

Reviewed August 2012

4WD DESERT EXPLORER

A great trip with amazing scenery and wildlife

Most Inspirational Moment

Wild camping in the Palmwag concession, with no one else for 30 miles in any direction!Leopard, lion and rhino sightingsThe waterhole at Etosha at night

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent-both were great guides and cooks, good sense of humour, really made the ttrip

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring plenty of warm clothing for the evenings/early mornings (including a hat and gloves!), and a head torch...No need to bring towels.2 pin adaptor needed for charging in the vehicle.

Reviewed August 2012

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

This trip is not for the faint hearted, it is extremely challenging for all apart perhaps from the most seasoned Trekkers. There is something for almost everyone: I particularly loved the challenge of ascending col de tricot (600m of ascent in 1km) as fast as I could and I have never seen my 67 year old dad happier than after he realised he had completed the 161 km in 10 days… He couldn’t stop smiling for days afterwards. The views take your breath away and the sheer variety of places in the three countries mean you are never bored.

Most Inspirational Moment

Dad and I had a great time. Dad has never completed a physical challenge as daunting as this trip and he did not think he could make it almost until the very end when he made it to the top of Col de Voza on Day 12. His smile that day was definitely an inspirational moment for me. The group became really close and supportive of each other during the trip and certainly helped my Dad achieve his aim, with people from all walks of life with ages ranging from their twenties to their seventies lending a hand... Encouragement from the group definitely helped pull him and up and down some pretty steep terrain. Seeing Dad overcome his fears and doubts was really something quite awesome.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Graham was superb. I believe that his greatest skill is closely observing people in the first couple of days, figuring out how to motivate each individual and working with each person to help them achieve what they are trying to get out of the trip. For example, after 5 days my 67 year old dad (who accompanied me on the trip) was struggling with the descents (of which there are many). Graham took Dad under his wing and worked with him, focusing on improving his descending technique using walking poles for several hours. Dad responded to Graham's patient instruction, learned a new skill and increased his confidence. This not only reduced his discomfort but also meant he could complete the trip with a smile on his face. Without Graham's assistance I am not sure he could have made it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Two pieces of advice: 1. Do the camping trip. There is nothing like 2 weeks under canvas to get to know a diverse bunch of people and really experience the great outdoors. 2. Some training makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of the trip. If you come from London like me, make the effort to do dome big descents and ascents (like in Scotland) before you go. If you can't organise that, then an hour on the stepping machine at the gym really helps.

Reviewed August 2012

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An excellent, well balanced holiday, which gave a fantastic insight into both life and wildlife in Costa Rica.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having a toucan land and pose for a photo on the tree directly in front of my accommodation at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge on my birthday!Watching the turtle hide its eggs before preparing to go back to the sea.Stepping into the accommodation at Savegre (cloud forest) - wow!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antonio was superb. He wasn't afraid to admit that he wasn't sure what a particular bird or plant was, although was very knowledgable and knew most of them. He was also very professional in his work making a point of speaking to everyone in the group and ensuring our safety and well being at all times. Mario our driver was also a great guy who drove some difficult roads with care and attention and was always prepared to have a laugh with us, following some translation by Antonio.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plastic bags proved to be very useful in keeping clothes dry in the very humid conditions in the rainforests (nothing dries here once wet!)Prices in Costa Rica were similar to here with meals at some of the hotels and restaurants being more than we anticipated. This said, there wasn't much time to fit in many of the optional activities listed on the trip notes so this reduced expected costs.Rainy season had just started when we got there, but it seemed fortune was with us and we enjoyed some excellent weather. I only used my raincoat a couple of times due to feeling a little cold in the mountains. When the heavens really did open up we were setting forth on a boat trip from Tortuguero and were provided with Ponchos. However, these didn't hold off the rain completely and we all ended up soaked through and paddling in the boat! However, in retrospect, this experience gave us a true insight into the real 'rain' forest!US dollars were accepted almost everywhere. Change was often given in local currency which then meant you had some of this for the odd drink or ice cream.Walking sandals were ok for most of the walks, although there were a couple where we were advised to wear proper shoes/boots. I only had trainers with me, but found these to be fine. At some places where mud was likely wellie boots could be borrowed.Make the most of supermarket stops to buy water and drinks (both alcoholic and non), although in most places the tap water is drinkable and the majority of our group did exactly this without any adverse affects.

Reviewed August 2012

THE AMALFI COAST

Very enjoyable trip in a beautiful part of Italy. Lovely walks, great leader and fun group of fellow travellers.

Most Inspirational Moment

Enjoyed the walking, food, hotel hospitality plus visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum with an excellent guide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wonderful!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go and enjoy!

Reviewed August 2012

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

Costa Rica was a real surprise! It is really a wildlife-destination. It is a must for anybody with an avid interest in wildlife, plantlife and nature in general. It blew us away!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

First of all, the visit to the green turtle hatching ground in Tortuguero was amazing. Nothing prepares you for the sheer magic of it ! The most inspirational moment is hard to pick as there were so many! In general all the boat trips were outstanding. The best one was an optional boat trip organised by our fantastic tour guide Antonio. It was a crocodile safari. It was absolutely outstanding. I would really recommend Exodus to take this excursion on board as part of their holiday. The crocs were within touching distance..... Simply super! The hike to the lava fields of Arenal is not to be missed.The 'hanging bridges' or walking bridges were amazing.The lodge at the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge at Golfito Nature Reserve was just simply breathtaking. What an experience. Every day was a highlight!One hightlight is not possible to pick.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Antonio was simply amazing and outstanding.He was a great people's person, and got on with everybody.His knowledge of Costa Rica was second to none, from the population to eco deails, from wildlife to all sorts of species of birds. He was a genius! Well done Exodus!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The tour is marked as 'Leisurely'.I would like to point out a few things. Whereas the accomoodation is great (=leisurely), the driving distances and travelling time is great(= leisurely), some of the walks would challenge a person that was not a little more than 'average'- 'fit'. We had no problem at all, but the walk to the waterfall and some of the jungle walks, due to high altitude and humidity could not be totally classed as 'leisurely'......Somebody that carries some excess weight or has some breating difficulties could be in trouble here.For that reason I think Exodus should mark this trip as 'Leisurely/Moderate'I took musquito nets, and there is NO NEED to do so! On the other hand bring plenty deet!We applied deet morning and night and got 1 bite each! Others that did not apply the deet had a lot of bites.

Reviewed August 2012

PICOS PEAKS & GORGES

Excellent walking for a comfortable hotel. Our guide Alvaro was very attentive to safety

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational was reaching the Col before Pandescura - there is an amazing view up to the Eastern Massif and still snow on the peaks in July!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good and attentive to weather and safetyHe had to change our walks due to weather but this meant that we got the best views

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is challenging with a total of almost 80Km in the 6 walking days

Reviewed August 2012

THE AMALFI COAST

An excellent experience. The area is beautiful, the hotel has good accomodation and very good food. The walking was enjoyable with stunning views. The leader was very good and the group bonded superbly. The trips to Pompeii and Herculaneum are fabulous.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views of Positano from the Walk of the Gods are stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very pleasant and thorough. She added a lot to the enjoyment of the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it-assuming you like walking and have an average level of fitness.

Reviewed August 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

The trip of a lifetime, well organised from start to finish, totally professional. Our group of 8 started and successfully completed the trek to the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world – Mount Kilimanjaro…Uhuru Peak – Hakuna Matata

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the Baranco Wall was one of the best days along with the Baranco Camp views above the clouds looking out over to Mount Meru which sat below us at 15,000 feet. Summit day, reaching the top with 100% success in the group, me being the eldest and a 17 year old the youngest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Henry was pleasant and inspirational, he was like my dad, always checking if we had drank enough, eaten enough, if anyone was quiet he was onto them straight away to ensure everything was ok and he directed his other guides with army like precision. One comment about Henry that maybe Exodus could help out with, he can't sing...totally tone deaf, although his song "This is how we do it" cheered us all up every time he sang it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes and advice, get all of the injections and kit required, train well, listen to your guides they know more about the mountain than you will ever know. Drink plenty on the mountain, and most of all, take a happy and positive attitude with you, summit day is very testing and is all about your mental attitude, if you are weak and not positive you will not make it up there.

Reviewed August 2012

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An excellent holiday for enjoying wildlife viewing and walking in the rainforest.A really good active tour, yet relaxing also. Each day was full, yet at a slow pace.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlfe viewing, from nesting turtles to gentle sloths.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antonio was excellent.He paid attention to details,was informative and is extremely knowledgeable about plants, birds and animals.A great ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is a little more walking in the trip than the itinerary would indicate , but all to the better.Remember to pack warmer clothes for the higher areas.Good binoculars are essential, although all the guides carry binoculars and telescopes.A camera with a good zom lens is useful.

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