Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14315 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed December 2011

SOUTH AFRICAN WALKING SAFARI

My first trip with Exodus but I have travelled with similar companies although not including camping.I found the trip to be exactly what I was expecting and as described in the brochure. The camping wasn’t arduous at all.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two things stick in my memory.1. Being able to walk inside a Game Reserve knowing that the previous evening on a Game drive we had come VERY close to elephants, lion and cheetah with a recent kill. Then on the walk getting very close to the cheetah and her cub.2. Walking in the Drakensberg Mountains. One day we walked along the Tugela Gorge and even though the rains hadn't come and the river was virtually dry we had lunch in the riverbed of the gorge (thankfully there was no flash flood!). The following day we made the ascent onto the plateau via the 'terrifying' chain ladders. Unable to climb a ladder at home this was MY achievement of the trip. Coming down was much easier thank goodness.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bongani was an excellent leader. Quiet and efficient but able to impart his knowledge when required. He has a wicked sense of humour which took us a while to suss out. After a few days we just didn't believe anything he told us!!There was a lot of driving during the trip so while we relaxed in the minibus he was working hard and then had the camps to set up on arrival.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As said before there is a lot of travelling. South Africa is a huge country and the locals think nothing of driving 100's of miles on straight, quiet roads. We rotated our seats around the bus each day as some seats had better views/more legroom than others.As we move about regularly there is a fair bit of packing/unpacking and not much room in the tents to spread. I found using bags to store underwear, shirts, trousers etc in my main pack made getting the following day's clothes ready easier.

Reviewed December 2011

SIERRA DE AITANA TREK

Brilliant holiday if you want to clear your head and get away from it all. Stunning views, amazing local food and practically no extra expenses (apart from lunch and dinner on a free day). I was really surprised that such a dramatic, unspoilt place still existed in a 2-hours flight distance from London.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was constantly being surprised by inspirational moments on this trip, it's impossible to choose one. The mountain range is so majestic that it simply encourages you to have a think about bigger things in life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose Miguel is clearly very enthusiastic and well-educated about the area. He was very outgoing and caring for the group and was definitely going an extra mile to ensure everybody felt comfortable and safe on the walks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take at least one walking pole. I did the most of the trip without the poles, but I had to borrow one for a couple of descents.

Reviewed December 2011

ATLAS DESCENT

Great scenery and great biking with an excellent leader (Liz) & support crew. I would have liked more singletrack and also many of the group had little off road mountain bike experience which affected the dynamic of the group.

Reviewed December 2011

LAND OF THE TIGER

There were undoubtedly a good many positive aspects of this trip. But the trip notes and web site information were not sufficiently open regarding the negatives (see below) to give a realistic view of the problems associated with making the trip at this time of year.

Most Inspirational Moment

The one meaningful tiger sighting (during a total of 17 game-drives in 3 different national parks).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Harish was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the wildlife and birdlife, and he made considerable efforts to ensure everything ran as smoothly as possible. Communication and sensitivity to the feelings of ALL group members were not always up to the same standard.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes and reviews published on the web-site do not make it clear that it is extremely difficult to sight tigers in October, when the rainy season has only recently ended, foliage is lush and there are many sources of water for the wildlife. This difficulty is further reinforced by the often unhelpful (positively obstructive?) approach of the park authorities and officials, apparently for political reasons. And running the trip during the Diwali holiday period, with its consequent large numbers of local tourists, is an additional disadvantage. A significant body of anecdotal evidence made it apparent that the far more regular sightings virtually promised by the tour leader are much more likely at the end of the dry season in March/April.

Reviewed December 2011

TREKKING IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand exceeded my expectations and the trip provided even more than the brochure promises. The value for money was exceptional. There was such a diversity of landscape and no end to the opportunities to explore it to the full.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspirational moments that it really is difficult to pick just one. Being dropped by helicopter in a remote location on the Wilkin River in the Mount Aspiring National Park, the hundreds of waterfalls in Milford Sound after a day of rain, the latent power of the Tongariro volcanoes, the pristine wilderness of the Whirinaki NP, the vastness of the volcanic crater that is Lake Taupo, a close encounter with the rare Fiordland Crested Penguins and sleeping under the incredible, starlit, southern skies are all inspirational moments that will linger in my memory for the rest of my days.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders, Kath Watzig in the North Island, and Chris Steele in the South Island. Both were capable, competent, diligent, knowledgable and inspirational. They both had to do absolutely everything from early morning to late evening with no support teams or assistants to share their load. They both approached their roles with such enthusiasm and comprehensive knowledge that the entire group derived the absolute, maximum benefit from the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it!

Reviewed December 2011

ATLAS PANORAMA

A thoroughly enjoyable, sociable and beautiful trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

On our third day walking we started in rain and walked up above the snow line, had a snowball fight in the most beautiful setting beside a lake and then had lunch brought to us halfway down by mule. That was a great day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Helpful, approachable, good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a couple of warm layers. The gite can be chilly at night. Good waterproofs were very useful too.

Reviewed December 2011

MARRAKECH & THE SAHARA

How much more can you cover in a week – from the Sahara to the mountains to Marrakech – amazing week

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking from the gite into the Atlas mountains was my favourite part of the trip - getting away from it all - this was made even more special by arriving into the hustle and bustle of Marrakech on a Friday night - amazing contrast. The main square in Marrakech and the markets came a close second - I've fallen in love with Morocco and can't wait to go back.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan helped to make the trip what it was, at no point did I feel rushed or hurried. He was knowledgeable and friendly, always being there for us and had a lot of fun with us. I have to give Hassan 10/10 for the week.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you go in November / December be prepared for the evenings being very cold. Always carry some toilet roll with you - you never know when you might need it.

Reviewed December 2011

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

This was a brilliant trip and offers a more interesting walk than just going up to Everest Base Camp and back the same way. You walk round in a loop so each day is different and the view from Gokyo Ri is not to be missed!

Most Inspirational Moment

It was brilliant to complete the whole trip - Gokyo Ri, Cho La Pass, Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar. Seeing Everest for the first time was amazing and then seeing it up close from Kala Pattar was a real highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nothing was too much trouble for Pasang. He was a brilliant leader and was seriously tested on our trip. Due to bad weather in Lukla he had been stuck there for 5 days with a school party. Shortly after they left our group arrived. We were also 2 days late because of the weather but Pasang changed our whole intinerary and fit a 15 trek into 13 days. He got all of our group all the way round the trip and made us laugh along the way. I couldn't have asked for a better person to lead our trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You are very likely to come down with a cold and cough so make sure you have cold and flu medication and lots of strepsiles and throat sweets. The tea houses all have thick blankets and duvets so a good synthetic sleeping bag is fine ( a down bag is not essential). I down jacket did come in handy in the evenings and on several of the days.

Reviewed December 2011

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

A diverse tour that took me to cities, mountains and villages, highlighting the wide range of Moroccan culture from sheep and goat herders, Berber people and progressive city life – something that would have taken a month to do on one’s own.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the Berber Villiage in the High Atlas. The Gite we stayed in was the most sparse accommodation of the trip, with mattresses on the floor and communal bathroom/showers, but with warm Berber blankets and good food. Hot porridge in the morning, a fabulous pasta and salad for lunch, and delicious tajines for dinner. Our visit to a Berber home for strong, spicy Berber coffee and sponge cake was an experience that doesn't come around often, if at all. I felt honoured to be invited into this home. Our guide Mustapha provided all the details on how people live in the High Atlas whether we were relaxing together, eating or walking through the village and the surrounding area.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha was friendly, caring, genuine, and kind. He is proud of his Berber heritage and was happy to explain it all to us as the two week trip unfolded. His patience was exemplary as it's tough juggling 14 people's tastes and wishes. When I mentioned to him it was sort of like herding cats, he just smiled as if it was no trouble at all. He went out of his way numerous times to make sure we were comfortable with our questions answered, sometimes over and over again. He even came back to visit my partner and I in Marrakech after we had been travelling on our own for a week. He had previously helped us book our last night of accommodation in a Riad off the Jemaa el Fenad, which made me feel much better that I knew where we were staying on our last night in Morocco. You have a first rate guide in Mustapha and I hope he has an opportunity to travel himself, perhaps on a complimentary Exodus tour! He deserves it. I consider him a friend and hope to stay in contact.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring warm clothing for the High Atlas and don't forget your sleeping bag. Sunscreen is more important than you think, even if you're travelling during the cooler months. As a Canadian I was introduced to the Moroccon sun - real sun that can burn (but only slightly because fortunately I had 30 SPF on - another traveller wasn't so lucky) regardless of the temperature outside.

Reviewed December 2011

SOUTH AFRICAN WALKING SAFARI

A wonderful holiday which really explores the east side of South Africa. Wonderful walks, great game viewing! Could not ask for more.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being 3000m high in the Drakensberg with wonderful views and a sense of achievement getting up the ladder!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader - Bongani - was great. Very organised and a good cook! Quite quiet though so did not learn that much specifically about S Africa as a country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure your plug adaptor covers S Africa as a lot in our group didn't and note that there are two guides on the trip with you all the time so when it coming to tipping them - that is twice as much.

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