Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming in the Caribbean Sea - our tour leader factored this into one of the afternoons and the whole group loved it!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberto is an asset to Exodus! Nothing was too much for him and he went above and beyond to ensure that each person had a memorable trip. I hope to keep in touch with him and visit him on another trip to Costa Rica in the near future.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack washing detergent as not all of the hotels have laundry facilities, everywhere accepts credit and debit cards so there is no need to carry cash, pack padded cycling shorts as you'll need them and take tea bags with you as they're not always available in the hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

I could say the spaghetti ice cream, but it would have to be having so many miles of cross country ski tracks to ourselves with just each other and the trees for company.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I went in Alex's group. He was very well prepared, knowledgeable and a skilled skier. He planned each day with alternatives in case his original plan was not compatible with prevailing conditions. He was patient and pleasant at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Two things: 1. Check that the difficulty level of the holiday is the correct one for your ability. One person struggled because they were expecting a level 1-2 holiday and this was very much level 3-4 2. Do make sure that you do lots of appropriate exercises for a couple of months before departure so that you are able to participate with ease.

Most Inspirational Moment

`entering the area by the Treasury having walked along the Siq. the place just kept giving and two days there are essential in order to take it all in and walk the walk everywhere. excellent

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mikheld is a very gentle soul who in true jordanian style wants all of the group to have a great experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

None. Go with an open mind and a mixture of travel wear just as you would for any other trip - the Wadi Rum experience was fantastic but take an extra little bag with your swim stuff for the next day and leave it on the coach overnight..then your packing is much easier.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying at a homestay in the Mekong Delta, delicious food cooked by the family and comfortable accommodation with en-suite facilities. The peacefulness of the countryside was a contrast to the busy cities. I also did the Angkor extension which I would recommend if you haven't seen the famous temples.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bac Bui (BB) was excellent, very knowledgeable and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a selection of clothes for the different climates, cool in the north, hot in the south and cold in UK on your return. If you are doing the Angkor extension ,see below and be prepared.

Most Inspirational Moment

The diversity of activities and the knowledge of our leaders who provided so much information that we would not have got without their guidance. Absolutely loved our visit to Hoi An which was unspoilt by the war damage, and the difference in cultures between the north and the south.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was excellent. He provided lots of detail about the places we visited, about the culture in Vietnam and his own experiences when growing up. This detail greatly enhanced our experience. He was very attentive to people in the group and dealt with queries or problems efficiently. He was particularly helpful and supportive to us to make sure my husband's needs were met, as he had a knee injury at the time of the trip. He did this in a quiet, discrete way, just checking in if he was OK and if he wanted to maybe not participate in a full activity. We really appreciated his kindness and support. He was on hand throughout the tour and also provided us with helpful tips on where to eat and what the local delicacies were for the different regions. We thought our leader was an asset to Exodus and the tour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want a very active trip then maybe look for a different Vietnam tour. This one was fine for us, just what we wanted, but those who like more walking or cycling would maybe prefer a different itinerary. Because of the internal flights and overnight train, do think about the size of the luggage you take. Large cases do not fit under the train seats!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Not one aspect stands out, the whole trip was inspirational both in terms of the physical demands and the scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen, our group leader, was first class. His English is tip top, nothing that was requested of him was too much, and he took time to highlight and explain features of the trek, habitat and life in the Anti Atlas. He led well, setting an appropriate pace for both the ascends and descends, while being ever mindful of the abilities of the group and the needs of individuals. Although the weather throughout our week was unusually cold - adding to the challenge for both him and the group - he kept us focused and ensured we were well nourished, and rested for each day. As well as enjoying a great rapport with the group, he seemed to have an excellent interaction with the support team (chef, driver etc etc) which made

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking was challenging and potential travellers should ensure that their feet and leg joints are strong to cope with the hard and uneven ground.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to say as there were many. It is between seeing Quetzals in Savegre and the beauty of Esquinas Lodge and the inspirational story of how it came about. Costa Rica has been lucky that it listened to some inspirational people. We also met several inspirational people who have created a life from what was a very hard environment. Real explorers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Johnny Villalobos is an amazing person. You don't need a bird expert trip because he is one. He is also encyclopedic and very proud about the stories of Costa Rica. It is all put across in a very calm way and he always seems in control. Most mornings at 6am he would do an extra bird walk for those who wanted to attend and along with Wilbour our excellent driver added several extra activities at no cost. He is still answering questions on Whats App.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it. The country is very stable and beautiful and that cannot be said for many places these days. We were there in the dryer season and we found we didn't need walking boots. Good walking shoes were enough. If required as it was for the night walk rubber boots will be supplied and are compulsory. I was unlucky at the end so pack some immodium (I was the only one) and if it's bad visit a pharmacy. But don't let that put you off it can happen anywhere. Wash a few things everyday as you go along. I never needed to use a laundry.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was not that kind of a trip. There was no spectacular waterfall, mountain top, ridges, wild animals or great cathedral. But each day there was a vast emptiness and solitude leaving you with the knowledge of how small and insignificant we are. Is that inspirational, yes because for the week the modern rat race was left behind. and there was an opportunity to relax.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Faultless Leader Lahcen, was very good. His knowledge and relationship skills were superb. He was able to accurately gauge the pace of the group. He managed the administration of the Exodus team, chef and porters, in a quiet professional manner. Lahcen is a credit to Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Beware of the temperatures, 4 season sleeping bag is a must. On a basic level wet wipes (preferably disposable ones) are a must as washing facilities are not existent. Also it is worth taking trail food, Lahcen did have a good trail mix that he dished out but carrying the Mars/Marathon bar helps provide a boost on some of the longer steeper sections. The paths are very rocky, and I found trekking poles very useful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrew was very good.