Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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14448 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Reviewed October 2014
Primates and Dragons of Indonesia
A thoroughly superb trip which does exactly what it says on the tin. The encounters with Orangs are magical. These animals that you see are rehabilitated so are used to humans and therefore are unafraid to approach you. The truly wild orangs will keep their distance. We also encountered a funky gibbon that was partial to a bit of fruit. The jungle at Bukit Lawang is hot and steamy, so be prepared, and the optional extra walk is well worth doing as it takes you deeper into the jungle and offers plenty of opportunities to fall over!!! Two days on board the boat from Flores is a great time to reflect on the passing world before you jump back in the sea to snorkel, recover from lunch or prepare yourself to meet a Komodo Dragon
Most Inspirational Moment
I fully expected to be overawed by orangs and dragons. However, we were lucky and saw manta rays just below us whilst snorkelling. The first encounter blew my mind.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Evie. brilliant, hard working and SO helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The trip notes hint that Brestagi is cool enough for a warm jumper, but we found that a long sleeve shirt was sufficient. Be aware that Bukit Lawang is hot and steamy, Komodo and Rinca islands in the middle of the day can be like ovens. The two day boat trip is very dependant on currents, so you get to where you're going when you get there. Be prepared for changes to the internal flight schedules from Medan down to Flores but just go with it and enjoy the experience.
Reviewed October 2014
Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
We were a little unfortunate with the weather in that we had a full week with minimal views, quite a lot of rain and very low cloud which was disappointing and at times frustrating. However we had a great group and learnt to recognise a lot of alpine flowers, as this was all we could see at times. We really appreciated the expansive views when the sun finally came out. The tents were a really good size for two and Charlie whipped up some fantastic meals in camp.
Most Inspirational Moment
Finally getting to see some fantastic views after a week of minimal visibility.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jenny was keen to keep the group together during the day, and make sure the group didn't get too split up. She did a good job at trying to keep morale up when the route had to be changed on several occasions as it was too dangerous in the snow and poor visibility to go across the highest pass of the route to Col Prafleuri, having already had to go on the low route rather than go on the path near the Trient Glacier.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared to experience days with poor weather and limited visibility, rather than just the picture perfect blue sky photos in the advertising for this trip. Also pack clothes/layers for all temperatures from a really hot sunny day to a cold winter's day - we experienced it all.
Reviewed October 2014
Cycling Vietnam MOV
One of my best holidays ever. The whole group (there were 7 of us) were looked after from the moment we arrived in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) to when we left Hanoi at the end of the trip. The scenery, organisation, accomodation, food and cycling were superb. I have stayed in some good hotels in my time but the ones chosen by Exodus for this trip were simply superb
Most Inspirational Moment
The trip around Halong Bay in the boat and the kayaks was truly fantastic and we were lucky enough to be lead by Danh (who must surely be the best tour leader ever) and he helped us to find the monkeys which inhabit some of the rocks in Halong Bay:- we were lucky enough to see them virtually at arms length.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour leader, Danh, was truly inspirational. Nothing was too much trouble, he organised absolutely everything and we really did not need to think for ourselves as Danh had already thought of it for us! When we went to the local restaurants for dinner we didn't reallyhave to look at the menu as Danh had already found out from the chef what was the best to eat and we simply had to pick up our chopsticks (you do get used to they quite quickly) and get stuck in! He made us feel totally safe when we were cycling and we had no worries at all whilst cycling either through the busy streets or up the steepest inclines (undulations he used to call them). We also had Li as our mechanic and he was a saviour to some in the group as he gave them a helpful push up some of the inclines. Danh's knowledge of the route and the history of his country was huge and he truly enjoyed himself during our trip. Exodus should be very proud to have him in their team he is an asset to your company.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't take too many clothes!! You will not need them. T-shirts and shorts are really the order of the day. I took 2 pairs of long trousers, 2 long sleeve shirts and 2 pairs of proper shoes and did not need them at all.
Reviewed October 2014
Bulgarian National Parks
I have been on plenty of holidays like this one and this was one of the best. I was on the same trip as Beth and Penny who have also posted reviews and I echo what they have said. We were blessed with good weather, a group that worked well together and an excellent leader.
Most Inspirational Moment
This is a trip with plenty of highlights.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Valdimir has quiet, calm, professionalism about him and that makes him one of the best leaders I have come across. Taking a group of 16 people with ages ranging from mid-20's to mid-60's into the mountains can be tricky. He set a pace which kept us moving but equally kept us together as a single group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be well prepared! The trip is marked as grade 5, Challenging and that is a fair grading. Each day had separate challenges, and mountain weather can be variable at the best of times. Make sure you take plenty of food up the mountain as there are some long days when it's necessary to keep the energy levels up. Always carry extra clothing and waterproofs.
Reviewed October 2014
Get away from it all and enjoy the ride....
Great trip. Great places to visit. Great group leader. A different taste of Italy.
Most Inspirational Moment
We went a day early to see Matera properly. This is an extraordinary and attractive place that has been transformed from being Italy's national disgrace in the 1960s to be named as the European City of Culture for 2019 while we were on the trip. Not to be missed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was Michaele. He was professional, knowledgable, organised, hard working and personable while also being great fun and spontaneous at the same time. He made sure that everyone had a fantastic holiday. It's hard to imagine anyone doing the job as well as him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The trip was a combination of interesting medieval towns and villages, great climate and a taste of of Italy far away from the usual tourist sites. The cycling was through countryside and by the coast, but not always beautiful - we understand that the route is to be 'tuned' in the near future. Some days were quite tiring but really shouldn't be a problem for anyone who has prepared for the holiday. The opportunity for a dip in the turquoise sea during October is not to be missed.
Reviewed October 2014
Brilliant trek with some astonishing mountain views.
A holiday of two halves – firstly a 6 day trek with some of the best mountain scenery I have witnessed. The second half was more cultural – visiting towns in Sikkim, plus the excitement of the overnight train to Kolkotta.
Most Inspirational Moment
Definitely the trek and the mountain scenery. It really gave you an idea of the vastness of the Himalayas and why those over 8,00 metres are referred to as "Himalayan giants".
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dilip was excellent. Experienced, knowledgeable and able to keep us together as a group. Great leadership skills. We couldn't have done it without him! His back up team on the trek were also faultless - the food on the trek was the best of the whole trip!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you are not used to camping - there is a bit of free time at camp (especially on the two short days), and it gets dark at half past five, so don't forget to take a book or some cards to keep you occupied before dinner. And it may get colder than you think!
Reviewed October 2014
Sierra de Aitana Trek
If you like decent rough mountain walking, great scenery, good views, quiet villages, good food and drink at great accommodation do this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
The sunrise over Puig Campana seen from our accommodation in Sella.
The view from Puig Campana to Mallorca on our last day
You need to understand that while some of the walking was on 4x4 tracks and pleasant little footpaths there was a lot of walking on steep rough ground over scree and rocks and you should come equipped with reasonably stiff mountain boots with good ankle support.You will find poles come in handy and bring bottles etc for at least 3 litres of water, it can be hot even in October.
If you want to send post cards buy them and stamps that at Guadalest, the supply of stamps at Sella is not great.
If you like to follow where you are going on the trip get there is an excellent 1:20000 map that covers most of what we did.
Reviewed October 2014
Sierra de Aitana Trek
This was a superb holiday in what was to us an unknown area of Spain. The area was full of historic sites and had excellent walking opportunities with some relatively demanding paths to the summits. The whole holiday was very well planned and coordinated and the short transfers to the start of the walks were appreciated as avoided sitting on a bus for too long.
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Most Inspirational Moment
The sense of history walking in the steps of travelers from centuries past, along the tracks and mountain passes.
The peace and solitude in the area as there were very few other walkers around - some days we saw none.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had Jose Miguel as our leader, who lives in Sella and is passionate about the area and its history and ecology. He has lead much of the restoration of the old tracks and paths and is knowledgeable about them and their history. On the walks he was supportive and encouraging, whilst quickly able to assess individual strengths and weaknesses and make decisions as to ability to tackle the more demanding walks - just what you want from someone leading you in a mountainous area.
He was pleasant and amusing, made triple-decker sandwiches to keep you going all day, and was all we could have hoped for as a leader.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We had warm/hot weather (October 2014) but we would suggest going fully equipped for mountain weather with good walking boots with ankle support as many of the tracks are rough and stony. The trip is graded Moderate/Challenging and this is realist - imagine a longish day in the Lake District with sunshine. Ensure you carry plenty of water - on some walks there is no opportunity to resupply and we drank 2 to 3 litres.
Reviewed October 2014
ANCIENT & MODERN JAPAN
A great holiday, with plenty to see and do.
Most Inspirational Moment
Several:
1. The Peace Park in Hiroshima, and in particular the 'Atomic Dome'. Very moving.
2. A quite-unexpected visit to Tokyo Zoo, and time to see the giant pandas munching through loads of bamboo.
3. A garden of azaleas in full bloom - very colourful. And cherry and plum blossom.
4. Mount Fuji in all its glory, from the air on flight out of Tokyo.
5. The cleanliness, the politeness, the hi-tech toilets.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Good, though whilst he didn't lose any of us in the crowded streets and stations, etc., I felt he should have checked more often that we were all together.
Advice for Potential Travellers
1. Public conveniences are plentiful, but most did not have any means of drying hands after washing - so I recommend taking a small hand-towel for such purposes.
2. During the holiday we stayed at 3 different ryokans, which varied in standard from OK down to very, very basic.
3. Take some ear-plugs to shut out noise of snoring sleeping companions!
Reviewed October 2014
Tiring.........
The important thing to bear in mind with this trek is that, with the exception of the summit day, the walking is pretty dull. I’ve trekked extensively in Nepal, Europe and the UK and the scenery on Kili is less interesting and less varied than pretty much anywhere else I’ve been. If you took away the summit, no one would be that interested in walking there. Yes, the scenery does change from day to day – you start off in forest, then that becomes scrubland as you get higher – but there isn’t the interest of variety which is present in other places. Therefore, I look at this trek as a challenge, rather than something to do for the sake of enjoyment.
The summit day is very, very, very tough – six hours of steep climbing on gravel/scree, with an ascent of around 1200m, not much in the way of oxygen and in the dark, with the temperature comfortably below freezing. It’s not so much about personal fitness as how well you cope with the altitude and how mentally tough you are. If you follow the advice from the guides, it’ll certainly help though.
The contribution of the guides to the success of our group cannot be underestimated – they were fantastic, particularly on the summit day.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sunrise from the top
Advice for Potential Travellers
Only do this if you want a challenge where the satisfaction comes after the event. Judging by the comments of my group, this isn't one you'll enjoy while you're doing it.
If you aren't used to sleeping in tents, I'd suggest you practice before this trip - you need to be as refreshed as possible, and that means lots of sleep.
