Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Not one moment but so much wonderful scenery, unspoilt and historic towns Berat, Gjirokaster, Permet, Butrint, Apollonia, Kruje, lake Ohrid….

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eri was a wonderful guide and excellent ambassador for Albania. He was extremely knowledgeable and taught us so much about Albanian culture and history, as well as taking us to the best restaurants and places to visit. Driver Goshi was excellent also.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for a direct flight from Gatwick (BA) rather than the standard group flight which changed at Vienna and took much longer. You can arrive the night before and have the best part of a day longer in Tirana, and at the end you can have an extra half a day in delightful Kruje. Was cheaper overall too! The trip is full on but no really long journeys on the bus, and well timed stops. Bottled water was provided on the bus and some of the hotels. Kettles were provided in only one of the hotels, so take your own if you drink tea. ATMs charge high fees so take cash (£250 will be plenty for everything) and change it as you go. Plenty of places to change sterling commission-free everywhere you go. Food was good and fresh, and outside of Tirana and Sarande, beer, wine, coffee and ice creams were so cheap.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyday was different & we enjoyed it all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Michael Newcomb was very knowledgeable about the local area with respect to flora, fauna & history & shared this information in an easy manner. He was well organised & catered for all abilities within the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Relax & enjoy your time in Andalucia.

Most Inspirational Moment

two things for my hiking, first, mountain environments that provides exercises and good air; second, beautiful views here is have both

Thoughts on Group Leader

group is leader is very good; take good timing for stop and rest; flexible adjust routes to accommodate people's conditions (some of over 70s);

Most Inspirational Moment

Besides making it to the top of some longer hills, as well as one 25% grade, we had one cyclist crash and damage his shoulder and ribs. I was impressed with my fellow travellers who looked after him until the leaders arrived on scene. I was impressed with Becs and David for the way they looked after him, his partner and still managed to look after all of us. Most of all, I was impressed with the injured cyclist and his partner. He stayed with us, rode the van, came out to dinner and kept participating despite what must have been a lot of pain. She rode the rest of the trip with us. I thought they both showed determination and toughness and it was great having them on the trip

Thoughts on Group Leader

David and Becs did a great job of handling our group and dealing with issues that arose. Lots of energy, a few necessary untruths (undulating), great support and good fun. As did our last trip leader, I think they went above and beyond in supporting our vacation.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be skeptical of the difficulty rankings and try to find someone you can talk to about the trip and the difficulty. This one, Exodus got wrong.

Most Inspirational Moment

Unexpectedly fabulous weather and a fun group. So many days with beautiful views and great to see different aspects of Mont Blanc. I really enjoyed the paragliding experience. The hot tub was very sociable and a beautiful finale to each day with the backdrop of the mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny is experienced and passionate about the mountains, and kept us informed with daily briefings so we knew what to expect. Many of us relaxed and didn't always listen attentively which led to some funny experiences on our free day when some of us caught a bus going in the wrong direction and another group couldn't work out how to open the train door. None of this was a big deal. It made for some funny stories.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking poles save your knees and apparently it's a requirement for companies to provide them to all Chamonix mountain guides. Thin gloves are useful if it's a bit nippy, particularly if you use walking poles. If you enjoy snacks eg crisps, nuts, energy bars, chocolate etc, there is a local supermarket nearby and also a rather fine bakery. The lunches available to pack up at the chalet are healthy and nutritious and you really don't need anything else unless you want additional snacks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Many wonderful moments. Flying over the Nasca lines was a highlight, having studied pre-Hispanic South American history decades ago and finally seeing them. The condors at Colca Canyon were amazing. On of our free days, we visited Rainbow Mountains; a surreal landscape that was breathtaking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent leader. Knowledgable, passionate, very calm and relaxed. Very hard working and kept everything running smoothly, organising many activities for the diverse group. Amazing organisational skills. I've done a number of small group tours (Intrepid, Geckos) and Reynaldi is one the best tour leaders I've known. Outstanding.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plenty of sunscreen. If hiking, take good equipment, although some can be hired before trekking. Take layers of clothing, as weather ranges from very cold to very hot.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is very hard to pick out a single moment, but the walk on our last day was extra special. I picked a challenging departure (grade 5) and on the last day we did two tops - Mancondiu and San Carlos Peak. As well as feeling good at managing the technical challenge (not that difficult really!), we were above the clouds for a lot of the walk and that made it seem extra special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jairo was a star. He has a fantastic personality and he really helped to foster a good atmosphere within the group. He was a confident leader on the hills and made sure that we were all comfortable with the technicalities of each walk.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a Level 5 departure - you need a good degree of fitness for the walks, but as long as you have done some preparation beforehand then it is definitely achievable. I would also highly recommend using walking poles - I used them for all the walks apart from the Cares Gorge. Our weather in September was really good the majority of the time, without being unbearably hot. However, given the altitude do expect the occasional shower and be prepared for all eventualities. One of our walks had a long muddy section, not helped by the heavy rain experienced just before we arrived. As noted on another review, if you enjoy lazing on the beach, then if you do the coastal walk I would recommend spending more time on the beach at Poo rather than at Llanes itself (we stopped at Poo for pre-lunch drinks but didn't spend any time on the beach as it was slightly overcast that day). Finally, I added on a few extra days at the end of my holiday to visit Bilbao and then up the coast to San Sebastian. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in both places so would highly recommend these if you want a holiday extension.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every valley and every col had its own 'personality' and this made each day different. I loved turning a corner and discovering another fantastic view. It was also nice to be with a group so that the experience could be shared with others.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shaun, our mountain leader was knowledgeable and experienced. He knew the route and the region well and provided very accurate introductions to each day's hiking. His pace was as steady as a metronome and perfect for the speed of our group. Once he understood our capabilities on an individual level he was good about letting us go on ahead or lag behind the pack if that's what we preferred. I definitely felt like I was in capable hands. Peter our camp support was so much fun and a delight to see at the end of each day because he has such a positive and warm personality. We arrived to a camp that was already set up which allowed us to chill out and relax as soon as we arrived. His cooking was fantastic and much better than the few restaurant dinners we had along the way. He was good about ensuring that each of the group members had what they needed for breakfasts and lunches.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be very honest with yourself when evaluating your abilities if you're considering this trip. Our group overall was comprised of fairly experienced hikers. I think that someone who's not able to maintain the group pace would risk not enjoying this trip themselves and also negatively impacting the group. Proper equipment is also a must. Weather can change quickly and being unprepared can make for a miserable and potential hazardous day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Route 4 rom Halki - an unexpected 7k walk on our extended. Stay on Naxus. Good pace and distance whilst still leisurely. One to add to the main itinerary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was great and more than performed given the circumstances. Very knowledgeable and patient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is ranked as leisurely and it is. Do not expect it to be anything more. Be prepared for itinerary changes as the ferries are suspended whenever there is poor weather. We had an unlucky week with exceptional weather fir the area and time of year.

Most Inspirational Moment

I didn't have any one particular moment that was the most inspirational, but taking in the vistas at the top of mountains we climbed after a long hike were serene moments. It was relaxing and inspiring to look out at all the pristine nature.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julian was an enthusiastic and well informed group leader. He is very passionate about bears and Bulgaria, and was happy to share his knowledge with the group. He was also well informed about many other aspects of Bulgarian wild life and Bulgarian culture. He made sure we were healthy, happy, and well taken care of.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear good hiking shoes and be prepared to fill up on delicious Bulgarian food for the hikes! Also make sure to carry some of the local currency with you, there is the possibility to purchase locally-made traditional crafts from the village. I purchased some beautiful hand-made items in the village.