Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The route from Fes to the desert  was the most inspirational part of the trip. Watching the landscape changing from pine and cedar tree hills to moonscapes and sandy oasis with palm trees and desert bushes.... Final destination... Merzouga.. a sea of sand, where one could enjoy the silence and peacefullness of the desert... At dusk everything would seem magic... The heat wave at noon felt like just a warm blanket on my shoulders while everybody else would stop for siesta... Sleeping on the terrace or on the sand, watching the sky and the stars... Incredible feeling...Essaouira and Todra Gorge are second best inspirational destinations in this trip. Moroccan culture would emerge from all smaller or bigger cities with their Medinas. I enjoyed a lot the dinner at the family house in Fes.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha would show his concern about us at every single moment. He would always ask how we feel, if we are ok. He was protective and always happy to help us or answer our questions. He got us to the best places to see local craftsmaship. After many tours around local Medinas I can tell the difference amongst original and fake stuff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read Trip Notes and follow Mustapha's guidelines and you will be happy and safe. Antibacterial! Your best friend in this trip!Best carpet quality at Merzouga!

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting such a diverse group of people and seeing how each of us coped with our particular challenges; then witnessing the support from within the group... Couldn't have been better!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent! Really nice guy, very knowlegable, very helpful... and somehow managed to understand our strange sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a moderate to challenging trip, you can challenge yourself and make it more difficult if you like, however, what I would suggest is that people enjoy the downtime and also to look around and enjoy the countryside. For the first day of the climb, with the heat and the terrain etc. I missed some spectacular views because I had my head down trying to get somewhere fast.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the last day of walking above Chamonix.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ace - Mel is really good. Good leadership qualities, knows her stuff, enthusiastic about the fauna and flora. Adds much more to the trip. Pascal, her support driver/chef also added much to the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the notes, be flexible, enjoy the company of others. This trip works well as you have a definite purpose ie the circuit.

Most Inspirational Moment

The variety was the key point for me - Thailand provided peaceful rural cycling in beautiful countryside; Cambodia and Vietnam provided significant history (both ancient and modern); all countries provided fabulous local food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader set a very high standard; he went above and beyond requirements to support travellers to solve medical & visa issues. His years of experience of the cycle tour shone through so that we could concentrate on just enjoying the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check visa requirements carefully.

Most Inspirational Moment

The graveyard in the older church in Innichen - amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl was excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ear plugs essential for Villabassa if you value sleep. Fly swatting equipment for the hotel restaurant.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, it was climbing to the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu first thing in the morning in the fog (having got up at 4am) and, on arriving, turning around to look at Machu Picchu  - and right on cue the mist lifted. It brought tears to my eyes and I think, for the 10 of us who saw it, it will remain with us forever.However, there were other really good memories as well - waiting for the wind to drop so that the condors could fly over us and then the juvenile flying over and over us, giving us a good look;  the stars in the sky when we were on the homestay on the island in Lake Titiqaqa; the smile on the faces of the family when the drivers stopped the bus to hand over bread when we were on  the high plains. And seeing so much sky!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan Manuel was amazing. In the course of our trip he had to deal with a lot of problems and he never once exhibited any stress over it and I personally felt he had our safety and wellbeing at the forefront, whilst maintaining a smiling face. He was always keen that we asked all the questions we needed and made us feel very welcome in his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The members of our group with the best journey experiences went via Europe rather than the US. Take immodium with you, lots of us had some issues. Its probably best NOT to eat the quiche at Machu Picchu cafe. Also take something for colds, lip balm is useful as well. Drinking water is really important, drink loads, even through the night.  There is a toilet (liquids only) on the bus for the obvious side effects during the day. There is the chance to do laundry in Cuzco but the city doesn´t always have water so be prepared to receive your laundry back dirty!! I recommend you change plenty of money in the airport (you can do this in the baggage collection area before you get through security), they do not take dollars so easily once you are outside Lima and there are few opportunities to change money again until Cuzco. Make sure you have plenty of space in your luggage for souvenirs. There is a lot of travelling and there are a lot of early starts....but you don´t remember those bits once you get home, just the amazing sights.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sarajevo. I'm already thinking of a good reason to go back and I don't even like city breaks.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

The team Samer+Alen had the perfect combination of knowledge, skills and temperaments. I enjoyed every second of the time I spent with them and they made the whole trip not only easy, fascinating and (very) safe, but really great fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go. This trip has everything (except point to point walks, but the bus rides are never over 1 hour and I ended up enjoying even those - I guess it's all about the company).

Most Inspirational Moment

Finally ascending the second col on the penultimate walking day in a somewhat less than healthy state.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Am I allowed to give Mel marks of eleven out of ten?

Advice for Potential Travellers

Unless you are incredibly unfit or have an overwhelming health concern which you have discussed in detail with your GP and Exodus, do consider this two week nature extravaganza.  Some training before hand of course would not go amiss. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through a mist shrouded forest and then emerging onto a sunny plateau

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent leader. He gave me a memory stick full of Bulgarian folk music after we discussed listening to local musicians. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Just being in the Masai Mara is inspiration in itself. There were too many moments to account for but three stand out: spending 6 or more hours with a pride of lions, watching them interact with each other and their lion cub was truly special, seeing a python swallowing a male impala out in the open field was a first for many, but the moment of the week was in our final hour – seeing thousands upon thousands of Wildebeest & Zebra crossing the Mara River eagerly awaited by the crocodiles. I had always wanted to witness a crossing but nothing prepared me for how emotional I would get. One of nature's wondrous spectacles we were all extremely lucky to see. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

There is no one word to describe Paul. His passion for the Mara is contagious and his drive to get us to the right place at the right time made for some incredible shots.  For a beginner photographer like myself, there is a lot to learn from him but he will only say something once, it is for you to retain! He is a true entertainer and storyteller and you will never get bored in his presence. Be warned, his photography skills may leave you on the jealous side!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a sense of humour and a thick skin! Make sure you have all the essentials with you: a hat, a light scarf or sarong can come in handy for protection against dust, sunscreen etc. Know your equipment well before you go, I only had a small lens 55-250mm, may have been worth hiring a lens for my first trip.  Ensure you have a wide-angle lens and your polariser with you.  Ensure you bring a second camera body to be on the safe side, lots of memory and extra batteries, as you will need it. Try not to drop your camera outside the vehicle, however much amusement it provides the lions…. Sweets and a few good jokes if you know some, never go amiss during the long days.. But most importantly, learn to put your camera down from time to time and take it all in. You will never forget it.