Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the top of the ice wall.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teddy was fun and informative
Advice for Potential Travellers
The clothes provided mean you don't have to bring lots of winter gear. No cash needed for basecamp
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Fantastic
A very busy and cold week but fantastic fun. Expect to we well fed, exhausted and probably bruised by the end of the week but equally thrilled with the beauty of basecamp and exhilarated with activities.
Chimps and gorillas of Uganda
This was a great holiday and we fell in love with Uganda during the trip. Although most people booking this trip will probably expect the gorillas to be the highlight, we found the chimpanzees’ more energetic behaviour even more captivating, though having a silverback plus females with infants clinging beneath almost brush past us was the highlight of the trip. We saw a leopard resting very close to a track in Queen Elizabeth National Park, saw a tree-climbing lion in Ishasha and had a great boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.
Most Inspirational Moment
For the trip organised by Exodus the gorilla and chimp trekking were both highlights. We took the optional second day on each occasion and were surprised how differnt the second day was, especially for the gorillas. If you do two gorilla treks your tour leader will try and make sure you see a different group on the second day. After the Exodus trip we spent a few relaxing days in Entebbe, and had the most insprirational moment of the entire trip when we visite a tiny fishing island called Makusa, only an acre but with 450 people living in wooden shacks only just above the level of the lake. Everyone was so friendly and the kids so happy - makes you appreciate that you don't really need all the trappings of modern life.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Male was the group leader and was fine. We spent more time with Sula who we found more lively and keen to discuss anything. We learnt a lot about Uganda from Sula. Both worked really hard to make sure we were happy, and took great care of us.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't expect anything special on your first night, the Central Inn was adequate but no more. We stayed at a much better place in Entebbe (Gately Inn) for 5 nights after the end of the Exodus trip. Don't expect to see shoebills on the quick stop at Mabamba swamp. We were lucky enough to see one on a separate trip after the Exodus holiday, but you have to go to the right place. Take at least one walking stick on the gorilla trek, but depending on your age and fitness you may not need one on the chimp trek. Use the services of a porter on the gorilla trek, well worth the $15 plus tip. The plants that look like nettles on the gorilla trek don't sting and we didn't encounter much that would warrant a pair of gloves, but someone on our group went on a more demanding second trek where gloves and robust clothing were needed. Despite the number of flying insects on the gorilla trek none of them seemed to bother us. You may find that you get better results from a good HD video than a conventiuonal camera when trying to capture the chimps and gorillas - more fun watching the videos when you get home too. A good HD video such as a Sony Handycam only weighs a fraction of a camera with large zoom. Tip as generously as you can as local hotel staff and others are on very low wages. If you take a close up of a local person offer money in advance and agree an amount that seems fair. No one has change, anywhere, so get mainly low value shilling notes when you exchange your dollars. The exchange rates for dollars to shillings is much better for values of $50 or above. Take a few extra days at the end and visit Murchison Falls if you have time. If you have time in Entebbe you could visit the Reptile Village and Makusa Island, both well worth the trip.
Discover Sri Lanka
This holiday did exactly what the title suggested. We discovered ancient Sri Lanka, its flora and fauna, its magnificent scenery and its friendly people. We cycled, walked, and did white-water rafting and tried our skill playing the local games. The coach was comfortable and driven well. The guide, driver and co-driver were excellent. The hotels were good and the food excellent. We travelled over Christmas and New Year and the weather was unseasonably wet but this adversity seemed to bring the best out of the group. I would recommend this trip but you may need to catch up on your sleep afterwards.
Most Inspirational Moment
The summit of Lions Rock, Sigiriya
Thoughts on Group Leader
Despite the heavy rain for 2/3rds of our holiday our leader used his local knowledge to ensure that we saw every thing as advertised (except the railway trip, because the line was destroyed by floods). He also made sure we had ample opportunities to meet local villagers and get a little insight into their way of life, away from the usual tourist haunts. His humour and knowledge educated and entertained us on our coach journeys.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take clothes that dry quickly and do not crease easily. There was only one hotel where we could dry our clothes and shoes.
Colours of Rajasthan
It was a busy trip, small group only seven of us, a lot of travelling but that added rather than detracted, an amazing guide and driver and we saw everything! The advantage of being on the road is we saw things we could not see had we flown or even been on a train. People working, doing business, women gossiping in groups, children playing, it was an eye opener.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to name, riding the ox on a small mill with the permission and amusement of the owner, my first site of the Taj Mahal, the Bollywood film our guide organised for us, the boat trip in the lake at Udapur, so many memories.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Aarti was amazing, funny, engaging, went out of her way to ensure we saw and did what would make the trip for us. We also have to mention out driver Amal, whose knowledge and eyes for spotting things we may have missed was unsurpassed. What a team.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Expect long drives, but make the most of it. If you have a good guide as we did rely on her/his expertise, Aarti knew the shops, the chai stops, the restaurants, in my case the best place to have a Meade to measure silk dress made.
Vietnam adventure
Absolutely sensational!! We were able to see the most popular tourist sites in Vietnam and traversed the country from the North to the South. A really fantastic trip with lots to see and do.
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip was amazing!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Thanh was phenomenal!! He was enthusiastic throughout the trip and always had a smile on his face. He gave us great advice on restaurants, activities to do in our free time as well as local food to sample. He has a great sense of humour and was incredibly accurate with all of the historical facts and information at each site.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack light and take a good size overnight bag as you will use this on more than one occasion.
Everything's bigger in China
Fascinating jam-packed itinerary of one of the most important influences of the modern world. Looking at the historical sites (like the Great Wall, the Summer Palace lake, the Terracotta Army) side-by-side with modern China’s immense infrastructure projects (the railway tunnels/bridges, the Three Gorges dam and ship locks) demonstrates how China has always done things fearlessly and BIG.
Most Inspirational Moment
Photographs of the Terracotta Army don't really prepare you for the vastness of what is only a fraction of the whole site, and the detail of the warriors is fascinating right down to the tread on the boot of a kneeling archer warrior. The pandas were pretty cool too - but they DO look like dudes in panda suits (I tried very hard to see the zip)! The food was fantastic everywhere we went (with the possible exception of Congee - a Chinese breakfast I never quite mastered). Cycling round the walls of Xi'an.
Thoughts on Group Leader
One of the great things about the best Exodus tour leaders is that they get you to places at the best times to beat the crowds. Our leader Xin worked tirelessly, the clock-round for two and a half weeks.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I loved this journey, but we need to be honest about the intensity of the schedule. Despite the lack of physical "activities" on this trip, it is arduous. Negotiating the main railway station at a city of more than 30 million people (when most of them seem to be crushing to get in to the station), 16-hour train journeys in filthy compartments, squat toilets with dire hygiene, pollution which catches in the back of your throat - this trip covers huge distances and is pretty intense, takes it out of you, and you need to be stronger than the activity rating would suggest. There is very little "downtime" and Chinese hotels don't have much in the way of common areas where you can chill out, swim or watch the world go by. None of this can be changed by Exodus, it is part of the experience of this much China, but it is not for the faint-hearted. Psych yourself up and power on through. The rewards of this fascinating country are fantastic, even if they don't come easily!
Winter is coming - and Iceland is the place to experience it!
Fantastic country – other-worldly landscapes – this trip offers a thrilling mix of the ancient sagas which tell their own tale of the landscape, the stories of modern life under constant threat of volcanic eruption, geography and geomorphology, wildlife and food. And if you get Kristján as your tour leader, you will be among the luckiest Exodus travellers out there – I’ve done 9 or so Exodus trips and am confident he is one of the best, most knowledgeable, resourceful, responsive, hard-working and entertaining leaders out there.
Most Inspirational Moment
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon - utterly breathtaking. Think of Superman's ice palace, add colour and seals! I had no idea such places exist - so beautiful, one or two of us had a little tear. We were lucky enough to see the aurora borealis on the last night, thanks to the persistence and hard work of our leader Kristján. It was an amazing experience - so much is said of it - but it has a great deal to compete with against the dramatic landscape that is Iceland.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Kristján is one of the most knowledgeable, resourceful, responsive, hard-working and entertaining tour leaders out there. He was tireless in ensuring that we all had the greatest time. His enthusiasm for his country and his delight in sharing that knowledge and enthusiasm with travellers is quite infectious! We "tested" him with questions on geomorphology, politics, history, the sagas, women's rights, religion, wildlife, you-name-it, and Kristján rose to the challenge every time.
Advice for Potential Travellers
These days we all look at the weather forecast on the internet - but remember Iceland is very breezy, so the windchill factor is considerable. Take loads of layers (including for legs and feet), a hat with ear flaps (e.g. trapper-style), and an outer windproof and waterproof layer. If you're planning any photography, consider two pairs of gloves (a thin pair you can work in plus an outer pair for additional warmth). To photograph the aurora I'd recommend a tripod, long exposure, wide aperture, cable release / self-timer. Batteries perform poorly in the cold so take spares and keep them in an inner pocket.
Rewarding Wildlife
Whilst the focus of this trip was chimps and gorillas, Uganda rewarded us with a wide variety of mammals and bird life and in contrasting landscapes; forests, savannahs and volcanic craters.
Most Inspirational Moment
The gorillas were great, but the Kazinga channel was such a surprise, teaming with wildlife and not just birds; elephants, lion, buffalo, hippo, even the elusive forest hog and to cap it all a leopard on the way out.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had 2 Land Cruisers and 2 guides, Male and Sula. Male was the group leader and very professional, sought and listened to our feedback and gave time for photos on game drives. Both engaged with the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a pole for the gorilla trek and definitely make use of the porters as a good way of supporting the local community. These guys are on rotation and may only get to porter one trek a month. We ascended around 500 metres from 1400 to 1900, but you could get a group at 2500 metres. If you don't do the 2nd chimp trek I would recommend to do a birding tour in the morning through botanical gardens and marsh. Stephen from the botanical gardens gave a great tour and we saw some 36 different types of bird. Morning is best. Money - I'd suggest accounting for $50 for your local tipping to cover the entire trip. We were responsible for our own tips, and found the local staff and guides preferred tips in schillings. When it comes to changing you will get a better rate at the exchange your leader will take you to. You can pay in dollars at hotels and lodges but the rate is less. Similarly dollars can be used to pay for optional trips in Bwindi.
Uganda - Wildlife
We picked Uganda for the diverse wildlife and was not disappointed.
Most Inspirational Moment
Chimpanzee's The Gorillas The tree climbing lion Leopard The Kazinga Channel - Needed more time there
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both leaders were good and flexible with our start times, as we all were so eager to make the most of our time watching animals. We wanted to start as early as possible.
Advice for Potential Travellers
One walking stick is essential for the Gorilla trek no matter how old or fit you are. As they said they are MOUNTAIN Gorillas and it's at altitude. Some long drives but so worth it. US Dollars can be used for payment at most hotels. If you can add a few extra days on to your trip, Murchison Falls we heard was a must - disappointed we hadn't considered this at the time.
Cycle Indonchina and Angkor
A great way to see the three countries visited – up close and personal. Cycling off the beaten track in Thailand takes you to places other visitors don’t usually see and allowed for everyone to cycle at their own pace (be that racer or not). Cycling in Cambodia on the other hand is somewhat of a different nature, particularly in Siem Reap. We really enjoyed the exhilaration of dodging the traffic including mopeds riding the wrong way up your side of the road. Viet Nam was different again with endless over excited children running out to wave and say hello..makes you feel like royalty with all that waving 🙂
Most Inspirational Moment
Realising how lucky we are to be born in Europe and not experiencing the many hardships that continue to this day in Cambodia even twenty years after the end of the Khmer Rouge era. How do they keep smiling? We were also very impressed by just how much you can load into the trailer of a moped and still ride it!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour leader, Is, was really great - no one in our group has enough good things to say about her good grace and smiles and organizational skills keeping 18 cats herded in the same direction for two weeks. Also, not really a group leader, but the local cycle team in Thailand were also really great - the set up of all the rest stops was superb with lots of fresh fruit and cold drinks and all sorts of nibbles.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Echoing some of the other feedback, padded shorts and a gel saddle are a must! Be prepared for the hideously long travel day from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. They dug up the road two years ago, all of it, by the look of it, and apart from a couple of 500 metre stretches, have not remade it. So, that day, it took us over 9 hours and not the 5-6 it says in the trip notes. Don't indulge too much in snacking at rest stops as you always have a big lunch too and it feels really bad leaving food on your plate because you weren't hungry any more!