Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The Peaks of Mount OchiSwimming in the sea after the gorge walkThe lovely lunchesTasting a variety of Greek startersSitting drinking beer outside the local tavernas after a day's walkThe ancient ruinsThe mountain flowers

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was friendly and well organised and took great care of all of us. He was passionate about the island on which he grew up and delighted in telling us facts and stories.Everyday at precisely the right moment Thanos would produce a bakery box full of delicious biscuits or pastries which was appreciated by everyone in the group.Thanos chose some great places to eat and he continued to entertain us at dinner with his anecdotes. I particularly enjoyed the great range of starters. The food was great for vegetarians. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was hot during the day in April but cool in the evening so take something to keep you warm in the eveningThere is free WiFi in the lobby and you can use the reception computer. Useful for doing online checking in and printing your boarding passThe rooms have tea and coffee making facilities with tea, coffee and biscuitsThe room has a fridgeTowels are changed daily and can be used to take out for swimmingThe museum is small but worth a look on your free dayThe beaches have stones so water shoes are really useful on swimming daysHairdryers are available from receptionThe ferry leaves Rafina at 9pm so you really need to have your evening meal in Rafina on the Sunday evening.Agean Airlines provides a hot meal and free drinks including wine. Remember to book your vegetarian meal at least 24 hours in advance.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the picos in their winter garb glistening in the sunshine.   Spotting a chamois on the final day.   The eagles, vultures and kites soaring overhead.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pilar lead us for the week and was great - she is clearly devoted to the area and loves it greatly and this came across.   She was great company and offered lots of local information.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As usual I found my walking poles very helpful.   The food in the hotel is great for vegetarians.   The packed lunches substantial to say the least!    Worth checking with exodus about group size - we had only four but this did work very well and I had a relaxing week.  

Most Inspirational Moment

I wouldn't classify this trip as particularly inspirational, but it was wonderful nevertheless, and the views every day were stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I'd rate Jose Miguel right up there with the best leaders I've met. Sociable, outgoing, well organised, and very caring, he maintained a very good balance between efficient leader and friend - something that can be very difficult to get right. I never saw him once get flustered or frustrated, no matter what kind of problem we threw at him! He would often produce little surprises from his Tardis of a rucksack, such as a thermos of tea or a bar of chocolate, just when we most needed them, and his sandwiches were the best I've ever had on an Exodus trip. As I've come to expect from Exodus guides, he was also passionate about his job, the local area and the environment.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather can be quite changeable, so do go for a few thin layers and some kind of windproof top. Take walking poles, even if you've never used them before, unless you are a true mountain goat. On the slippery descents, if nothing else, they can really save you coming a cropper. This trip would actually be a good place to try them out for the first time. Also do make sure you have a decent level of fitness, it's a pretty tough week with some long days of walking. Also many people had blisters at some point so come well prepared - well-worn in decent boots, plenty of tape, blister plasters and make sure to protect your feet sooner rather than later. Applying Vaseline to your feet every day before putting your socks on really helps too.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most fun was learning to make a mojito and then dancing the salsa.The whole trip was inspirational in that it gave us an understanding of life in today's Cuba.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Humberto was fantastic; knowledgeable and fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We extended this visit by a week staying in hotels and casas particulares in a couple of locations.  It was really beneficial for us to have got used to travelling within Cuba by taking part in the Exodus trip and we also started our independent travelling with a much better understanding of the country.  It did help that one of us could speak basic Spanish.  In Cuba buses run on time.  We felt totally safe wandering round in Cuba even at night, there is very little crime against tourists.

Most Inspirational Moment

As always these trips are so well organised, the tour leader and back up staff go out of their way to help and assist you, nothing is ever too much trouble.  I just loved all the cycling through the back roads off the beaten tracks, stunning scenery with the ocean on one side.  The climb up Ooty was probably the most talked about subject on the trip - probably the hardest thing a few of us had done but at the same time manageable even if you have to walk part of the climb.  I have to say the accommodation on this trip was outstanding especially the houseboat!  And of course the food - just way too much!  Don't expect to lose weight on this trip!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was brilliant, always willing to assist and part with information.  The 2 support guys were amazing too.  Such nice guys.  Always a smile on their faces. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

I do think you need to have some bike skills for this trip, cycling in the traffic can be a little daunting at times, luckily not too much of it.  If you feeling insecure rather pull over and wait for the large vehicle to overtake you - the pecking order is alive and well in India.  A level of fitness is obviously necessary, the first week is probably the hardest week, the 2nd week is mostly dead flat.  If you plan on waiting at the top of the Ooty climb for all the party to arrive perhaps put a space blanket or light jacket in your pocket, we had more than 2 hours to wait at the rest stop and were quite cold waiting for the others to arrive.  Cold in India, yes we did feel cold!  Apart from Ooty is is HOT HOT HOT and HUMID!The kitty works well - covers all the extras apart from alcohol, for 2 weeks you dont even have to think, everything is taken care of for you.  Outstanding. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Normally I would say the dog sledding which was just great but on our trip we were very lucky with the northern light's seeing them five night's out of seven with a tremendous display one night. This was without doubt the highlight of the week, Henri put the show in his all time top five!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was great, cheerful, helpful and informative and all in good english!

Advice for Potential Travellers

They issue you with all the clothing you need for the outdoors so you can probably leave some of the things you were going to bring at home, the only exception in my opinion is headgear which you can never have too much of.

Most Inspirational Moment

That first glimpse of the Treasury from the Siq at Petra has to be my first choice, but the vast silence of Wadi Rum cmes a close second.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Khaled is a wonderful leader. Nothing was too much trouble, and his considerable knowledge combined with  unfailing good humour ensured we never suffered from information overload. He was always there to answer the million questions we threw at him, and was equally willing to help with problems and queries beyond what I would expect from a holiday guide.  A truly inspirational leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Collect small change in coins at every opportunity. There are lavatory attendants at all tourist attractions (many handing out loo paper to each individual customer) who expect to be tipped. Calls of nature can become expensive when you have to hand out a 1 dinar note, roughly the equivelant of £1 each time you only want to spend a penny. Take flipflops or crocs for the Dead Sea -- the sand is very sharp and crunchy, even under water. Check the weather forecast for Jordan before final packing. I left a warm and sunny London in early March to find snow piled in the streets of Amman. It was unusual weather for the time of year, but luckily, I had warm and waterproof clothing. Three days later, we were swimming in the warm waters of the Dead Sea and sunbathing on the beach.

Most Inspirational Moment

We were very lucky in that we saw tigers on both of our drives (morning and afternoon) in Ranthambore National Park. The afternoon sighting was exceptional. We spent two hours sitting watching a tiger which was no more than 4 metres away from us. It was dozing, occasionally waking to look at us. It then got up and wandered past us for a toilet stop, before settling down again.This was a highlight, but to be honest, there were so many.  I could have spent all day sitting in a the magnificent Jain temple at Ranakpur.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayur Hada was brilliant. He was experienced, knowledgeable and considerate - everything you want in a guide. He really made everything come alive, and the trip would not have been as good without him. He made sure that on the long driving days, we always had an interesting place to stop mid-way, rather than just having a simple lunch stop. Chittorgarh (an unscheduled stop not mentioned in the dossier) was the best of these, and actually warrants an overnight stop.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the dossier so you're not surprised by the hectic pace of the trip and the occasional very long driving days. Don't change too much money when you arrive - the dossier estimate of up to £15 per day for meals is way too high. Most dishes were £3  - £4 each, and would often feed two people. There are lots of ATMs, so change as you go.Leave space in your bag for some of the fantastic things you can buy.

Most Inspirational Moment

As other reviewers have pointed out, the Angkor Wat complex is, indeed, awe-inspiring.One of the moments for me, though, was taking a boat on Ton Le Sap lake - a truly massive lake upon which thousands of people live and work.  The poverty is shocking, but who are we to judge.  The homestay overnight and following day's boat-trip and cycle ride on the Mekong were also inspirational, and have given me a few ideas about going back to the region and maybe exploring life on the Mekong in much greater depth.The food!  Everywhere we went.   The villagers and village life, and their friendliness in those parts of these countries.  A complete contrast to the cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All three were first class.  Siam (from Thailand) held the whole thing together really well over the three legs, while the others (Fila for Cambodia and Yam for Vietnam) provided intimate local knowledge on their individual segments.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is hot (>40C) in these countries in February/March, so people that have not done this sort of thing before might consider going a few days in advance to acclimatise.  The back-up crews are always on-hand with water, electrolytes and fruit/chocolate, but make sure you take on water at every opportunity.Try every type of food the guides suggest, including the crickets, beetles, and tarantulas to name a few.  But, by the same token, check with them before you try anything radically new!

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the Agouti walk out of the woods in front of me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent natural history knowledge.