Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Every minute of every day was inspirational. Just being in the natural environment of the mountains, enjoying the fresh air and exercise with a fun-loving group of people. Particular highlights were soaking up the wonderful scenery from the alpine passes and the close view of the ibex on the final day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Frank, was excellent in all respects. He was knowledgable about the geography, history and culture of the area and provided us with plenty of extra information. His daily briefings were concise and accurate so that we knew what to expect each day. Frank understood the needs, strengths and weaknesses of each person in the group and acted upon this information so that everyone could enjoy their holiday to the fullest extent. A great sense of humour!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Are you capable of completing this trek? Exodus grade the TMB as moderate/challenging; I would grade it as moderate for the following reasons: Although the average walking day length is about 8 hours we found that 2-3 hours per day was rest time. Morning and afternoon coffee stops are usually scheduled at mountain refuges and the lunch stop can be about one hour. (If you are on the slow side then these times may be reduced for you).There was no difficult walking terrain. All of the walking is on paths so no technical skills required beyond being careful in where to place your feet. The short chained and laddered sections of the paths present little difficulty for the typical walker.There is only one "long" day (Les Contamines to Les Houches) - about ten hours in total.In our mid fifties we found this walk to be quite easy and feel we have a few more treks ahead of us!If in doubt, go for it! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you plan to quadbike then bring gloves and a sports bra!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing my first wild giraffe!  The lions, the elephants right by the safari vans - it is hard to find which was best.  Listening to hyena in my tent at night in Kruger.  Stunning views from the house in Drakensburg. Zip wiring at Hazyview.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The 3 group leaders were excellent.  They did us proud on the feeding and were hilarious to be with!  An excellent team and they really looked after us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is a must  - but a little practice is needed for hills and the altitude takes your breath away - literally!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many, it's difficult to pick one! The highlights were the experience we weren't expecting and which were off the beaten track. Trekking through tea plantations and spotting a wild elephant, meeting tea pickers, exploring Fort Cochin washing ghats, fishing nets, fish market, Jew Town and finding the best chai of the trip, experiencing monsoon downpours in Munnar, sampling local food in Madurai, cookery class in a traditional Keralan home in Thekkady, being in Allepey for the annual Snake Race and partying with the locals, chill time at the end of the trip at Varkala and Kovalam. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charls could not have done more to make our trip the best possible experience. He checked out our interests at the start of the trip and taiolred the experiences accordingly. He was positive, fun, informative, managed our expectations and ensured that we had a truly local experience, especially in his home town of Madurai. Charls is a great ambassador for India and for Exodus. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep your camera charged as there are so many photo opportunities, don't forget mosquito spray, waterproof jacket if you're there during monsoon, hand gel and loo roll!

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the sweeping vistas of the steppes dotted with Gers and herds of fine horses.   It was good to see that customs and traditions are being maintained.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was helpful and sociable.  His English was very good (one of his many languages).  We were able to visit a couple of sites that were not on the itinerary because of his suggestions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is not a physically strenous trip as there are few opportunities for walks; however, the long journeys on really bumpy and dusty roads are bone jarring and tiring.   The food can be challenging especially if you are a non meat eater.   Be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and chocolate bars (for desserts!).   The picnics were not well done.     If thinking of arriving early I'd pick a hotel in the centre of town.  Our tour hotel in UB was  inconveniently located a long walk from the centre and its facilities were poor.   

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the climbs, and arriving in Santiago on the last day of the trip

Thoughts on Group Leader

Can't imagine a better leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring your own pedals and bike shoes if you want to clip-in.

Most Inspirational Moment

The countryside was pretty amazing.And that we cycled the whole thing!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was very knowledgeable and passionate about his country and adept at communicating this to us.  He was extremely good in stressful situations and was able to re-organise the itinerary quickly and effectively to our benefit.  He was also able to mix with the group socially and enjoy the 'banter' (mainly from the Aussies at his expense!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take small toiletries and possibly old clothes to give away to locals along the route.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Moraine was my trip highlight, I have never seen colours like that anywhere in my life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She is probably the best tour leader I have ever had.  This was my first exodus trip but I have used many other operators and she by far surpassed my expectations.  She was fun but serious when she needed to be, direct and as helpful as she could be, not to mention strong (a very handy requirement given the weight of my case!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for extreme temperatures at both ends of the spectrum.  When the sun is shining on you it is very hot but otherwise very cold.

Most Inspirational Moment

Taking in the stunning views on the walks every day.Standing on the viewing platform at St. Elijah.The last night when women from the village came to dance and sing traditional songs for us.  Also when local people joined in with the singing and dancing and a young man started to play the traditional Bulgarian bagpipes.  Fabulous!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was very knowledgeable about the area and the country in general.  Always happy to answer any questions and if she didn't know the answer she would find out.  She was always cheerful and had a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot in August which made some of the steepest ascents harder for me than they would have been otherwise.  Take high factor sun cream.If you go to the bear-hide one evening be very patient.  We left just before a group of wild boar came down to eat.  The evidence was captured on a night vision camera.  No bears though! 

Most Inspirational Moment

There are several contenders: watching the ceremony at sunset at the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai;  the houseboat cruise; all aspects of the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race at Alappuzha (Alleppey) and sunrise at Kanyakumari - plus sunset at Varkala and the wild seas at Kovalam! I knew we were going to see the Sri Meenakshi Temple, but returning at sunset was memorable. Similarly I'd not realised we'd go to Kanyakumari to see sunrise over the end point of India. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charls Gnanaraj was absolutely brilliant. He was unfailingly cheerful and helpful (even when monsoon conditions attempted to undermine the schedule). At the beginning of the holiday he checked out everyone's interests and found we shared a lot of things (eg photography, animals and birds, sights of interest, local culture, food, gin) - and also that we weren't interested in (eg gold jewellry). He was very sociable and also mindful of individual needs and preferences. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The day walk in the tea plantations and jungle walk at Periyar Sanctuary require you to wear leech socks. They are necessary: there are lots of leeches. If you've got swollen feet due to the heat to start with, you'll never get leech socks AND normal socks into your boots. However leech socks and walking sandles (provided you don't mind getting them wet and muddy) are fine. I'd suggest not bothering to take walking shoes at all: stick with sandles.