Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Over breakfast on the last day I thought I was ready to go home, having had a great week but feeling tired.  However, everything I had learnt that week finally came together and I had a fantastic day skiing.  That evening I wished I was staying another week!Seeing everyone in our beginners group fastly improve by the end of the week.

Thoughts on Group Leader

David Davies was a brilliant group leader.  He had the combination of being a great skiier and a great teacher.  Luckily for me, he had more confidence in me than I did and ensured I persevered with snowploughing down hills until I finally managed to control myself!  He knows the best places to ski and stop for refreshments and can then entertain everyone with some very funny stories.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of layers because you soon warm up when cross country skiing.  To relieve aches and pains, make use of the sauna but also take some Deep Heat, it really helps.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to say really its was all great- each day the walks were great with stunning views and just enough challenge

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lachen was very friendly personable and knowleable - a great ambassador for his country

Advice for Potential Travellers

It gets very cold at night in February! My 3 season sleeping bag was not up to the job.  I had two pairs of thermal underwear and a down jacket over the sleeping bag too.  One girl left her daypack in the food tent overnight and her camel pack froze!  Take ear plugs as each camp seemed to come with howling dogs and don't forget a head torch.  You will need lots of wet wipes and toilet paper as you really are wild camping!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Monte Piano - views were stunning but it was very cold - approx -20.Sitting outside a pension in the middle of a walk with blankets wrapped around our legs, eating Kaiserchmarren and drinking hot chocolate with rum and looking at stunning scenery - excellent

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl was very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly but could tell some 'tall' stories!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear several layers of clothing - it can be extremely cold at the tops of hills.There are no tea/coffee facilities in the hotel rooms - we took our own kettle and made up flasks for the walksUse the swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna etc after the walks - helps with achy, tired musclesThe hotel was very good at catering for any special dietary needs and all the meals were excellent and the staff were helpful and friendly

Most Inspirational Moment

This is impossible because there was something every day that trumped the day before. The National Park (we saw a tiger 30' away and wild elephants...the young bull charging the bus was great (no we don't refer to Safi!). The ride through the national park and arrival at Wild Haven (could have stayed for several months there!). Guruvayor and the temple. The boat trip through the backwaters! In all of this was the joy of being welcomed so warmly by everyone we came across.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was fantastic. Really good leadership skills, great english (made us laugh alot) he was intersting to talk to and really well informed. The trip was smoother than smooth (all that constant ringing ahead while cycling). Safi rode the front but constantly checked that the group were OK). Mention here to for Shebu (the best support driver in the sub continent and a nicer person would be difficult to meet). And last but not least Vipin who rode the rear (except for an attempt at the record for cycling Ooty!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother with water bottles as the endless supply of water was faultless. Take a travel washing line.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights with wonderul sunrises, sunsets, stunning wildlife with excellent commentary by the guides and of course the excellent company of the others in the group. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both guides were extremly imformative and kept us on schedule but allowing the group to set the pace when possible. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The visa cost is now $50 and it can be a lenghty process getting it at the airport.  The balloon trip is well worth doing as it incorporated a personal game drive back to camp as well as the champagne breakfast so you don't feel that you are missing out on any game drives.

Most Inspirational Moment

seeing the ranges of mountains beyond - I don't know why but I though it was going to be desert - the region is far more mountainous than I had realised

Thoughts on Group Leader

The team leader (Mohamed) the porters, cook, and abdullah (guide0 were all fantastic - wish i could have them on every trek!It is worth brushing up your french for when explanations in english don't quite work 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The kit bag is a single trip bag - most failed at one end if the big handle was used - the bag is not ergonomically designed - a ruck sack is better...That said I am going to use the kit bag t store old gear because its shapes means it uses space efficiently in storageUse exodus - they use local guides and leaders with an abundance of knowledge - I don't think a question went unanswered...Haggle in the souks - don't pay the first thing they ask for - if you wouldn't pay 50% of where they start walk away - your best haggling is unlikleyt to get you much better than 50%Don't eat in the square when they are warming up yesterday's left oversBeware that everyone that approaches you is likley to want money from you - its not your charm... 

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was inspirational, each day was as good as the next, bathing in the sea before lunch on the beach at Dai Lanh was brilliant as were the tunnels at Cui Chi, the Victoria Spa resort was like paradise after a hard day cycling and managing to cycle the whole of the Hai Van Pass was a blast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant he made the trip, he was funny and friendly with a great deal of knowledge, he had contacts in every city and we ate at some brilliant restaurants which he had arranged. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothes for Hanoi, dont overpack as you never get to unpack your case make sure you have plenty of clean cycling clothes, there are laundry days but you get very dirty from the roads.  

Most Inspirational Moment

The sounds and smell of a penguin colony.Visiting Shackleton's grave.Kayaking amongst the ice with seals and penguins alongside.Icebergs.The total lack of fear of humans shown by the wildlife.The clear air.Watching the albatrosses following the ship.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was a charismatic and dynamic leader. His daily roundups of the day's happenings and the next day's programme were inspiring and amusing. He was well supported by a team of knowledgable and enthusiastic expedition staff. The educational programme covered a wide variety of topics and was superbly delivered.

Most Inspirational Moment

The bike ride was a highlight, as it gave us a chance to get close to the locals. The train journey was great fun, the elephant ride was worth every penny but the most inspiring was seeing an elephant in the wild, not even in a park, just ambling across the road, it was very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was fantastic with "maximum tolerance"! He was very patient, helpful and knowledgeable, with a great sense of humour, which he needed, with 16 of us!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Missing a night's sleep to climb Adam's Peak was hard but well worth it. However, it's very cold at the top, so wear trousers and take a fleece... or two!Mosi repellant is definitely needed, especially by the coast.I think it's important to know that the Whale watching costs an extra £50.00. Perhaps a little pricey but I was glad went, I got to see humpback whales and dolphins.  

Most Inspirational Moment

- Seeing three tigers in Bandipur- The descent from Ooty- The friendly, smiling & accommodating people; we here in the UK really could learn so much - The South Asian drivers - on the whole surprisingly respectful to the two wheeler- Kerala Backwaters- Varkala chill out over New Year post tour end.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Attentive, caring, courteous, GSOH, intelligent, flexible, informed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

One does require a good level of fitness to get the most out of this trip.  The climb up Ooty is, of course, character building and testicle breaks are obligatory even with the best cycle shorts.  There are other days too which say even on the flat are pretty full on due to the heat of the day very evident even in South Asia's winter and also, quite simply, the distances being covered.The application of sense on the roads is required but do not fear.  Cycle defensively, use your eyes to the max and above all watch out for pedestrians too who often just step into the road at will.  But also remiember, it is only for a minority of the time that highways are actually used. The accommodation is, on the whole, very good and I understand the first hotel I had the misfortune of staying at in Mysore with Exodus has now been changed due to consistently very bad reviews & experiences.If possible, as well as staying in Varkala at the end for a few extra days, perhaps also consider coming a day or two earlier to Mysore.  It is a lovely city to walk around in - how often can one say that about a large settlement in India?!  I can recommend the Hotel Metropole if you are prepared to pay a bit more.  Also you will be fresher for those early cycle days.