Reviews

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

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14245 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed April 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

An absolutely amazing experience that I would not have missed for the world, and which I would recommend to anyone. Also the hardest thing I have ever done – a view shared by all the rest of the group, including 3 marathon runners.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk along the crater rim to Uhuru was exceptionally challenging, but the views were absolutely amazing, and the feeling of achievement on reaching the summit was incredible. There were a few tears from various members of the group at this point, which was an incredible and emotional moment.On the ascent, the moment when it suddenly dawned on me that I could see the curvature of the earth, was absolutely unforgettable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent leadership. Abraham was consistently engaging and encouraging, and did a great job in encouraging us to the very top.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We spent a lot of time worrying about the cold etc and making sure we had proper clothes and gear for the final day. Don't forget it is hot nearly all the rest of the time, so you will need gear to cope with this as well. Do take some moisturiser for your face and lips (as well as sun cream and sunblock lip prep) as the weather can be very drying.

Reviewed April 2011

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Tougher rides than expected because of heat and rough terrain in places. A good mix of cultural, social and wildlife experiences. Good organisation with excellent back up team

Most Inspirational Moment

The close encounters with village life during "off the beaten track" routes. Enjoyed the varied daily itineries. Everyday produced highlights. Quirky street food and tea stops, leopard sightings and blue whales to order.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very well versed in local culture. Very helpful in gaining insight into life in Sri Lanka. Good organisational and people skills. Knew the back roads and good bars and eateries. Thanks Pete.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Watch out for potholes in the rougher sections. I came to grief in a split second. Don't underestimate the pace of the group in hot and sweaty conditions. Although you can take a leisurely pace, for the older rider there is a sense that some rides are faster than necessary

Reviewed April 2011

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Full schedule with places of great interest. Biking mainly downhill and reasonably easy even for complete novice. Good food.

Most Inspirational Moment

Strolling through the wadi rum just after sunrise when no one else was around.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent tour leader (Hassan) though obviously a dalek as he didn't do stairs. Scheduling was spot on all week, snacks provided with perfect timing and an evil sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Gel seat for the cycling and take some warm clothing as the night in the desert was seriously cold.

Reviewed April 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

I had my doubts about doing an organised trip, but my recent Exodus experience really did change my view! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment when when we arrived at the Sun Gate and had the first glimpse of Machu Picchu. A truly memorable and unforgettable experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Packet of dynamite - could not have asked for a more competent, inspirational and knowledgeable person - Flam was brilliant and her co-leader too was just incredible. Always ready to assist and to deal with the most challenging of situations, such as the night that we were due to leave for our return to Cuzco and the trains got delayed. Flam made sure that we all arrived back safely and amidst the chaos of the 100's of travellers at the station she stayed cool, in control and was ready with a contingency plan. I cannot praise her enough for her leadership and guidance throughout our trip. Always friendly and approachable she lead with great confidence and knowledge about the places and its people that exceeded my expectations.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your time - nobody is doing this trip to compete. If you make your own travel arrangements and join the group in Cuzco, try and arrive a few days in advance as this may help you to adjust to the climate and altitude. Opinion on the use of walking poles varies, but I for one found them incredibly useful (because of old knee problems) and would not have been able to complete the trip without them. I chose to walk with high quality hiking sandals (and was the only person in the group to do so) and was really pleased that I did just that - dried quickly and kept my feet cool whilst some of my fellow group members complained of wet boots and feet that were on fire. Take a good insect repellant, you will need it at some point. A good supply of wet wipes will come in handy too. As for clothing, I wished I had taken an extra set of thermals and a fleece - was slightly underprepared for how cold it got on the mountain at night. An inflatable pillow too would have been rather nice. Make sure that your gear is genuinely waterproof!! It rain quite a bit on this trip, but that did not dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of the group.

Reviewed April 2011

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Not a classic scenic holiday, often passing through mundane rural areas in Thailand and Cambodia rather than through eye candy landscape, but an excellent introduction to the mood and pulse of these hardworking people. The Vietnam segment, in the Mekong Delta, was more lush, varied and picturesque, offering a contrast. In all countries, riding a bike makes you a participant in the daily life of the land, much more welcomed by the residents than a bus tourist, whom they may see as staring down from behind an antisceptic barrier with arrogance, disapproval or even disgust. PS, the Thai and Khmer countryside might look very different in other than the dry season we experienced.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the poverty of Cambodia but feeling the country's resilience and sense of hope as it improves from the decades of horror and misrule. The youthful population is looking forward, not back. In Phnom Penh's Genocide Museum are photos of many victims. In their eyes you see fear but also defiance, innocence and, occasionally, hope. Those people are gone but the strength of their spirit lives in the new generation. May it find the leadership and community spirit to accelerate the current progress.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wasan was a very capable and upbeat leader, always smiling and always on top of the details. He had to handle several traveler emergencies and illnesses and always did so with poise. A good source of information, particularly about Thailand (his home country). His English is good. One suggestion: replace the small electronic megaphone (used by Wasan and the local guides) with something more robust! Or just speak up! That megphone, unless used well, distorts rather than clarifies.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be ready for some fairly demanding first days of cycling, several covering 70 to 90 kilometers. Though flat, it is a lot of time in the saddle, and our group was often battling a strong wind. Retiring to the "sag wagon" is no dishonor and can be a smart move to avoid stressed muscles or joints. I second Katy's wise advice to test your anti-malarial before you go -- if it is a bad fit for you, the side effects can be disabling. Be prepared with plenty of sunscreen. This is the tropics, after all! I was surpised to see my fair-skinned British companions exposing themselves, unprotected. Admittedly, as a redhead, I am a bit paranoid about melanoma.

Reviewed April 2011

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A fabulous trip… love Petra and Wadi Rum most, and met a lot of friends. The trip is well organized and the recommended restaurant is really good.

Reviewed April 2011

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

This was an expedition that promised much but delivered rather less, though I would have given it 3 stars out of 5 if there had been no description of the categories. We weren't told in advance that our Photographic and Whale Special had been amalgamated with another trip because of insufficient bookings, and this really diluted its value, particularly as the expedition leader was from the non-photographic trip and did not appear particularly sympathetic to the needs of photographers. The quality of the catering was poor compared with previous trips: contracting out the catering to the lowest tender was not sensible and will not encourage repeat bookings.

Most Inspirational Moment

Excellent landings on Petermann Island and Danco Island which gave good photographic opportunities and just about adequate time.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She spoiled the trip with excessive over-caution with regard to Health and Safety, and inflexibility with regard to landing times. We were not allowed out on deck if the decks were wet or the sea was even a little rough, thereby preventing us from experiencing the full atmosphere of the Antarctic. On our previous Exodus Antarctic trip the leaders did their utmost to allow us the genuine Antarctic experience, but with this one we might as well have been in an enclosed capsule for much of the time. Often only half the ship's zodiacs were deployed for landings, when to deploy the full complement would have given us significantly extra time on land.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Inevitably there is a huge of travelling involved on this trip - from the UK or wherever to Ushuaia and thence to the Pole side of the Antarctic Circle. Be prepared for long roughish days on board ship across the Drake Passage and don't expect too much in the way of wildlife sightings, though we did have very good views of whales (particularly humpbacks). Leaving late in the season (late February) means that there is a good chance of achieving the objective of crossing the Antarctic Circle but does mean that the penguin breeding is completely over apart from a few stragglers and the majority of penguins seen will be moulting.

Reviewed March 2011

BHUTAN: LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON

I think you may need to rethink the categorisation of the trek. You say that it is nowhere difficult but we had a member of the trip who found it very difficult. There were 17 participants on this trip so we were very spread out at times with one guide tied up very far behind. In this circumstance I think another guide should have been provided.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tiger's Nest Monastery and the Paro Festival.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very knowledgeable and helpful

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check that the categorisation of the trek is correct and assess your own level of fitness honestly.

Reviewed March 2011

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

I was lucky enough to travel with a great bunch of people who really made the trip for me. The weather was fantastic and the scenery superb.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through Old Trinidad which felt a bit like something out of an old Clint Eastwood movie- very Mexican with so little traffic and fabulous buildings. The local musicians playing with such fire and passion and the people watching opportunities. The army of enormous black shelled crabs marching across the motorway was a wonderful sight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't leave anything of value in your hotel room (unless it's locked away) as I had a decent pair of cycling sunglasses stolen.Although Cuban healthcare is free you may want to bring some everyday medicines with you as they are really expensive for local people to buy at pharmacies. Soap is a very welcome gift as it is also a bit of luxury.Try to speak to local people (if your Spanish) is good enough to get a greater understanding of the country and its culture. You may want to try the "Dirty Havana Trilogy" books by Pedro Jaun Gutierrez for a taste of gritty urban realism! I would definitely try to stay on in Old Havana for a few days at the end of the trip as it's absolutely full of beautiful old buildings such as the Barcadi HQ

Reviewed March 2011

THE AMALFI COAST

Basically a perfect week in a beautiful part of the world, good food, great companions, great walks, excellent guide, great weather and fantastic views and experiences…

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking around the crater of Vesuvius, visiting Pompei and Herculaneum (optional), any number of beautiful towns/villages on the Amalfi Coast, the views around every corner, the fantastic landscape and the italian cafes...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Barbara was great, we couldn't have asked for a better guide to keep all of the group happy; enough breaks and stops and well-managed pace on the walks for all the different-level walkers (with plenty of local knowledge) and assistance on organising the 'free days' activities (Herculaneum and Ravello for the majority of the group, bus info etc for the others who wandered off in other directions). A very good guide indeed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking poles could be useful for a couple of the days - the walk to Amalfi and the Walk of the Gods to Positano have 'quite a few' steps down... there are a fair few steps up too on the walks.

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