Most Inspirational Moment
So many stunning views and great rock formations. The Spain we rarely see.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jose was excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to go on any other trips he was guiding.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go there!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Stunning Sierra de Aitana
This was an outstanding walking trip. Our guide Jose was very enthusiastic about the area and the activities. He was good fun and the holiday was made extremely enjoyable by both him and the other people in the group. The walks were fast paced and of a good length. It was nice not to get back to the hotel too early, although we still had plenty of time for drinks and a swim before dinner. Food is authentic and remained excellent throughout the week. Lunch time sandwiches are something else! The hotel is perfectly positioned in a very quiet area with fabulous views. The walks are all very local but varied. Perfect!
Amazing experience
Well organised, fantastic guides, wonderful experience amongst the highest peaks in the world. Never to be forgotten.
Most Inspirational Moment
Landing at Lukla to be at the Himalayan gateway.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Complete trust in Kumar who knew exactly what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Trust the guides, they will get you to the destination.
I think I'm turning Japanese?
We loved Japan. The people were amazingly friendly and helpful, the food was an experience in itself. The different culture had to be witnessed. The lack of litter was refreshing. The punctuality of the trains had to be seen to be believed.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Mount Fuji emerge from the clouds when we arrived at Hakone.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Initially disastrous. Pepe? stepped in on day 2 and was excellent until he handed over to Shin-ichi Maruyama who provided excellent service for the remainder of the tour. He really went the extra mile, including guided tours around Tokyo that weren't part of the itinerary. He always ensured that the group kept together, essential when connecting trains where there was a 5 minute gap between them.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just savour the whole experience. The Ryokans, especially in Takayama were very different but should be taken in context. What's the point of staying in 5 star hotels. You would just be missing out on a truly Japanese traditional inn. Surely that's the whole point of the trip. Plus the food was exceptional. Also be prepared for long days, long train journeys and lots of walking. But if you want to see so much in such a short period this is what it takes.
Enjoyed Prosecco in the Prosecco Hills
This walking tour was very enjoyable; walks were of modest difficulty and quite scenic in terms of views of the vineyards and surrounding countryside. Guide provided excellent service, frequently going beyond the call of duty. Transportation to walks was excellent. Accommodations at Hotel Villa Soligo were very good; hotel staff were very courteous and welcoming. Meals included in package were excellent; guide also provided good advice for other dinners.
Most Inspirational Moment
Panoramic views from Monte Cesen on the last day of walking were awe-inspiring, in spite of the somewhat hazy day. Visit and tasting of prosecco at the San Gregorio winery was also very enjoyable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Serena Cassol, was excellent. She shepherded the group effectively, keeping us on time without being annoying. She gave us good advice for the dinners which were not included in the package and also for the activities which were possible on our free day. She is an enthusiast for the prosecco region and that helped a lot.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The distances noted on the trip notes are often longer than the actual distances walked. While the walking is of modest difficulty, I would recommend using walking poles because the trails are frequently uneven and have loose stones so the walking poles are very helpful for balance.
Great itinerary but let down by poor accommodation
The itinerary was very interesting and our tour leader Barbara was great. But the accommodation overall was not good. I wasn’t expecting luxury accommodation but clean and comfortable. However, in every hotel including the 4 star hotel in Ostuni there were problems for various members of the group but the worst was the Sassi accommodation in Matera where I had fresh black mould in my bathroom. Like the other recent reviewer, I found the included dinner very poor. Our group was also supplied with a minivan and bus on two different days that had broken seatbelts. I really would have liked to have rated this trip higher because the sights and experiences were great.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around Alberobello and Matera
Thoughts on Group Leader
Barbara was a delight. Knowledgeable, warm and attentive to the different needs of the group.
Reply from Exodus
We would like to thank Lynette for her feedback. Whilst we are pleased that she enjoyed the itinerary and found her tour leader, Barbara, to be great, we are very sorry that she was disappointed with aspects of the accommodation. The properties on this tour are usually in typical Apulian style buildings and generally receive positive feedback, so we regret if members of her group encountered issues. The hotel in Matera is carved from rock, thus reflecting the typical and unique architecture of the town, but the material sometimes causes issues with dampness when it rains and we are sorry that this affected Lynette’s stay. We have followed up the issue regarding the broken seatbelts with our local operator to ensure with the transport supplier that this does not reoccur. Marta Marinelli – Product Manager
Cape Town and the Garden Route
One of the most ‘magical’ trips we have ever been on. experiencing different locations and cultures, seeing amazing scenery and wildlife and learning about the ‘real’ S Africa. Travelling with like minded people was a bonus. Our group bonded together well, due in part to our amazing guide Justin Barr, who promoted the ‘feel good’ factor.
Most Inspirational Moment
Many, but seeing lions and whales close to, and visiting a 'community' were very special moments
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin Barr is simply the best leader you could ever have. He is passionate about the tour and his country and leaves no detail to chance. He was inspirational in finding the best places over and above what formed the tour and he looked after our every need. Thank you Justin, you are amazing.
Advice for Potential Travellers
S Africa can be hot and cold in 1 day. Take cool and warm clothes. Take the extra tours offered as they make the travel experience very rounded. Especially, do not miss the 2nd Game Drive on day 2. You see spectacular wildlife close up, and finish after dark with a great meal in a wonderful location. The 'township' (now called 'community') tour, gave us an insight into part of S Africa 2018 that we could not have experienced elsewhere
Beautiful island, great walks
There’s a huge variety of scenery on La Palma and this week gave us a taste of everything. The walks aren’t especially long but there’s quite a lot of ascent and descent so I’d agree with the grade 4 rating. Although part of the Canary Islands there’s often a bit of cooling cloud about and it didn’t feel too hot for walking. The accommodation was all good; six nights in aparthotels with lots of space, one in a regular hotel. The tour leader Henry was excellent, knew a lot about the island’s culture, geology and wildlife and was really friendly and approachable.
Most Inspirational Moment
Lots of stunning views of the volcanic scenery
Greek Islands.
This is an ideal trip to get a flavour of three Greek Islands, Paros, Santorini & Naxos. Also it is a good way of experiencing the culinary delights of the islands.
I would question the classification of the trip, which is Leisurely. While there is plenty of time to relax on the ferry crossings betwen each island, all the walks while, relative short have ascents and decents on rough country paths. The path on Naxos is graded Difficult on the local trail board.
However our mixed aged group (50 to 70+) coped with only a few minor difficulties.
Most Inspirational Moment
The off trip visit to the Akrotiri excavation site of a buried Minoan settlement on Santorini plus the visit to the Santorini Museum of Prehistoric Thera. All the excavation finds are housed in the Museum.( I did this instead of the trip boat trip around the Santorini Caldera). Also the deliciously cooked octopus at the tarverna on Paros.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Thanos has a wealth of knowledge of the island's history plus an extensive knowledge of flora of the islands. All of which he imparted, to the group at regular interval and was never seeming not to be able to answer the most obscure questions. He ensured the group was well catered for at the local tarverna's' that the group ate at. Plus ensure the group exited the ferries in a timely manner. All this meant that trip ran seamlessly thus providing an very enjoyable experience.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walks on Paros & Naxos are on country paths with mixed under foot conditions, the same applies for part of the Santorini walk. Thus good walking foot wear is essentail plus I found walking poles usefully on the uphill and down hill sections of each walk. I noted that in 2019/2020 brochure that the Santorini boat trip has been replace by free time in Fira. I would recommend the visit to the Akrotiri excavation site, which is being classified as "The Pompeli of the Aegean". While it is not as extensive as Pompeli, it is covered by a very interesting building and can be easily reach on the local bus in 20 minutes from Fira. You will be required to get your luggage on and off the Ferries via the rear loading ramps. So you need wheel luggage that can be pulled along or travel light so you can carry your stuff. Large items of luggage are stored on the car deck of each ferry.
Fabulous time...
This holiday was made extra special for us by the professionalism and kindness of the Headwater reps – Tony & Ludmilla. The one day when we got soaked, they came to our rescue and collected us early with no no fuss whatsoever. Apart from that one day the weather was kind and the walks spectacular
Most Inspirational Moment
Views from the headlands looking at the crashing waves
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take your waterproof trousers - I had mine ready to pack and left them in the bedroom!
Excellent tour
Do this tour! Excellent itinerary, no early starts, relaxed pace but full on interest, guided tours and “guided” free time to wonder, excellent guide, Tiziano and driver Allessandro, great group of 6 people, great food at local restaurants that had lots of character, really good choices. A couple of hotels could have been better standard but they were ok and in a great location so its a choice that I think worked, plus I wasn’t there for the hotels. That said a few great hotel picks in the mix too.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too difficult to choose one moment or place as it means "downgrading" all the other equally great places on this trip. If I have to pick one great one...….. its too hard! I can list the bottom ones - Zingaro walk could easily have been left out - not a great walk; the Mt Etna walk was a stroll on a windy hillside and didn't give any feel for Etna, its there to pass the time while any of the group do the optional summit excursion. (My following tour was a week walking on the Volcano trip so its not that I don't like walking!) All the rest of the itinerary is equal first.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tiziano and the driver Allesandro were both great. Good company, very cheerful, very helpful. Tiziano was always available and preceded each free time with an orientation tour and suggestions ending at the coffee shop where we could find him with any questions (we also had his mobile number)
Advice for Potential Travellers
If like me you are a bit fed up of long bus journeys on similar tours then this tour is great for you, the 14 days allocated means there are no early starts or long bus tips, I think the longest was 3 hours the rest were really short allowing enough time for a short sit down before another wonder around. The expert guides were all excellent. There is a lot of easy walking but easy really depends on your view of walking I guess. I don't want to steal another travellers comments but his app after about 10 days told him he had walked 70km - sounds like non stop walking but it really didn't feel like it -don't be put off you can walk around a lot or not according to your preference - the coffee shops are great!