Reviews

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't assume that you're going to see the Northern Lights, you're reliant on the weather playing ball, and it coinciding with solar activity. Unfortunately I didn't see them on this trip, however some of my fellow travellers who went out 1 day before had an amazing view - typical! I visited in mid-Feb, so there was a decent amount of daylight and darkness. Even without seeing them, it was a great trip with great people and included a wonderful landscape. Other than that, Iceland itself is pretty expensive, so factor that into your budgeting.

Most Inspirational Moment

Summit night. To quote one of our fellow group members after summiting: " We looked deeply into ourselves, all through a very dark and stormy night on an unrelenting climb, faced real adversity and prevailed!" Sounds a bit melodramatic but all of the previous night's summit attempts were cancelled because of the weather.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lucia Kivio and her assistant guides, Anna, Angela, Happiness and Joyce were superb. As stated above, I couldn't have summited without them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1) Pole, pole, the slower the better. 2) Drink more than you think you will need. 3) Eat plenty, it's easy not to but you need as much energy as possible. 4) A positive attitude is essential, one step at a time, only think about one day at a time and enjoy. 5) Enjoy the company of your group and support each other.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing lion and lioness at very close quarters in Ado National Park

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro was excellent, informative, organised friendly and was a key catalyst in creating a great group chemistry

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a cash travel card loaded with local currency

Most Inspirational Moment

Learning about the heritage and culture of Colombia, with some fascinating real life stories from our local guides Marta and Milton.

Thoughts on Group Leader

German worked hard throughout to improve our experience as the trip developed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for different climates across Colombia. The intense heat and humidity towards the end were a challenge for me so definitely need good sunscreen and mosquito repellent plus the right clothing. An umbrella might be worth having to protect from the sun. Also be prepared for some long journeys along unmade roads. It is all worth it though!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a tiger and other wild animal including leopards

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very Good

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go go go!

Most Inspirational Moment

The day we visited Vesuvius/Vesuvio and Pompei. We walked up to the crater with a specialist and very knowledgeable guide and he then took us away from the (school trip) crowds around the crater of Vesuvio. The views in all directions were fantastic, Naples Bay, Sorrento peninsula, Apennine mountains etc. Looking down into the crater was impressive and awesome with the thought this volcano is going to blow again at some time. Afterwards we drove a short distance to Pompei. This was very interesting and ticked of a long held wish to visit this world famous historic site. For me, it was the best day of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent! Our group leader was Veriano. Veriano had good humour, knowledge, patience and flexibility. With any group on a trip like this , there will be a mix of physical ability. No one was left behind. We were in good hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My trip began in late February. This is still winter in southern Italy too. We were gambling with the weather, dodging rain, from start to finish. We were very lucky and never actually needed full rain gear on the trail and had plenty of blue sky while on the trails during the week. The sky did however tend to cloud over in the afternoon. I found weather forecasts available on the internet were not entirely reliable. I'll put this down to the fact we were on a hill top location right on the coast. Temeratures were generally cool 14-16C during the day. The fact this time of year is low season was very apparent in towns like Amalfi and Positano. The advantage being we had the trails almost entirely to ourselves. The roads in the immediate area are narrow and winding. I don't think I was the only one that started to feel a little travel sick in the back of the mini bus.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day was fun and novel but the husky-sledding was very special. The dogs we saw at their farm were so well cared for with plenty of inside and outside space. They were so gentle too, loving a stroke and a fuss after their 10km run. Their excitement was off the scale once they were harnessed and ready to run; they LOVE it! The reindeer visit was lovely too: a short 300m plod as opposed to a 10km sprint but we were able to feed the year-old animals and stroke them if we were quick!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elina was our main group leader and she was fabulous! Her English is excellent and she has a wicked sense of humour. She inspired confidence with the new outdoor activities we tried and is an expert shoveller for quinzee building. We learnt so much about northern Finnish culture and history from her in her "guide hour" and she was always available to help with anything. Tuomas was the other guide whose love of nature and the wilderness were inspiring. His English is also superb and we loved looking at tracks in the snow to guess which animal had left them or learning about the precious lichen hanging from branches among other things.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Much has been mentioned in previous reviews which are vey helpful. The group of 18 travellers on this tour was such a special bunch of people. We all got on so well and laughed a lot. Although most people were aged over 50, there were also people in their 30s and 40s who didn't seem to mind being with us more "mature" folk! There's decent wifi in the dining room and bedrooms and a wood-burning stove in the dining room to keep you cosy at all times. It turns out that 2 sets of fleece base layers are provided - along wot all outer wear - and it was recommended that we wear those next to our skin. I preferred to wear my own base layers next to my skin with a fleece layer on top. Woollen socks are the best for your feet and you can wear them for more than one day. The weather was mild for our week: hovering around 0 degrees so we were not cold at all but the huskies and reindeer were boiling! We didn't get to see the Northern Lights as it was cloudy every day so it's probably best not to set your heart on seeing them. I have back problems but was able to do all of the activities. I didn't go snowmobiling but people said it was very bumpy. Don't forget to take your driving licence if you want to do that activity.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many every day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is by far the best leader I have witnessed, his attention to detail in dealing with group members is over and above anything I have seen on other trips and this for two weeks, I have only done week long trips. He works with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions, sometimes failing and sometimes exasperated by our constant questions, I’m sure, but he is funny, caring and very professional. I have huge respect for anyone working so hard to give a great experience in tourism. He is an excellent ambassador for Sri Lanka. Exodus you are lucky to have him!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with a good attitude, a sense of adventure and a quest for joy!! I did and had a fabulous time! I did go a couple of days early and therefore very chilled by start of tour, can be hard straight after long flight!

Most Inspirational Moment

The cycle ride around the paddy fields and cottage industries just outside Hoi An. This gave us a real feel for how ordinary Vietnamese people live outside the major cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader in Vietnam was excellent. Very knowledgeable about local history and culture and made some great restaurant recommendations. The leader in Cambodia was also great, though we only had him for a day and a half.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take enough Vietnamese dong. There were many places outside the cities that were cash only. Take any opportunity to see life outside the cities and make the journey to the river market on the Mekong. Well worth it, despite the early start.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling past elephants, and seeing all the wildlife Visiting tea plantations / tea factories Beautiful scenery in Nuwarya Elyria and waving at all the children when cycling The additional extras such as walking up Lions rock, tea with a local family ( food was amazing) and visit to Galle to do some shopping

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh was a brilliant leader and the crew were so helpful always smiling and happy to help Suresh was Very organised and nothing was too much trouble, he was Extremely knowledgeable on the history and culture of Sri Lanka and happy to answer questions whilst cycling and walking - he stopped many times to tell us about history or to point out a rare bird or crocodile! “Best leader so far”!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather was very hot and humid and made the cycling very challenging at times, we had to get in the bus a few times due to the heat, there are a couple of challenging days, and the train was an option for 1 day Which in hindsight I wish I had taken! A good level if fitness is needed Or consider an e- bike Half of the group were on e- bikes and I would consider for next cycling trip There was some busy roads at times but also cycling the back roads We didnt get the rabies vaccine as not mandatory- I would however recommend as there are lots of stray dogs and monkeys!