Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many it is hard to believe so much was squeezed into one week.  On the 2nd day we descended from Mount Nebo towards the Jordan valley.   The sight of the ‘promised land’ rising up from in front of us was spectacular and gave me goose pimples.During a descent on the 4th day our cycle guides started dancing to music in the truck.  They were shortly joined by the bus driver, the mechanic and a few cyclists.   Great fun and a magical pit stop.The stars in Wadi rum are phenomenal.    

Thoughts on Group Leader

We all loved Zuhair!  He was a non stop story book.   He had many forthright views on the middle east and I’m not sure his explanation of the Sunni/Shi'a divide was entirely objective but he spoke with unadulterated passion for Jordan.   He was immensely proud of his country and rightly so.   Petra by night was cancelled because of issues with people from the local town however he used his contacts in the Bedouin village to give us ‘Bedouin by night’.    He arranged for the coach driver to drive us into the desert where we had dinner in a cave cooked by a local Bedouin woman, her nephew and various friends.   It didn’t feel as if it was a show to keep the tourists happy instead it felt the most authentic moment of our trip. He made the entire week the success that it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I booked my own flights and this can be a considerable saving and what is more the flight times were preferable.  Admittedly you have to purchase your own Visa but this only costs £20 and was a simple process. Do not worry too much about clothing.  Our cycling guides wore lycra and were topless from within 3 minutes of a ride beginning. 

Most Inspirational Moment

The time, effort and kind-heartedness that Roshan has invested in trying to help some of the people effected by the tsunami and the poverty (caused by years of war) is truly inspirational stuff and a lesson to us all. His informative morning talks really gave us a different perspective on the struggles of his people and being able to meet many locals on the trip felt very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan is a truly exceptional group leader and deservedly won the Exodus leader of the year in 2010. The fact that he has done this trip 195 times now and still has the boundless enthusiasm, passion and humour of a newby is quite incredible. He also plays a mean game of cricket which (as a cricketer myself) I really appreciated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't have any pre-conceived ideas on what you do or don't want to do before you leave, or how much money you are willing to spend. The options are all worth doing for different reasons - but worth deciding how you feel on the day and after they are explained fully. Don't necessarily expect to see leopards or whales and you won't get too disappointed if you don't end up seeing any (as happeend for our group). And regarding the money - it's very easy to be persuaded into buying gifts and souvenirs - most of us came back with gems of some description. But that ensures that money does end up trickling down to the people who need it. Sri Lanka is still suffering from the years of war and political mismangement and the people need all the help they can get from tourism.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was looking forward to China as a country, but for me it was the giant pandas, the food (no water chestnuts, bean sprouts or prawn toasts in sight), the western influences in a communist country, the scenery and the shopping, Emei Shan, Three Gorges locks, the transport, the buildings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anson had us very organised, kept us well fed and on time. He was receptive to altering times if group wanted half hour less somewhere to give us more time elsewhere, and was very keen for us to enjoy our holiday in China.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Trip notes are largely accurate. There are opportunities for laundry in several places, plenty of ATMs, meals generally didn't cost more than six pounds for food and a beer, weather was hot and humid, hotels about Exodus average - some better and some less so but evens itself out over the trip. Overnight trains are an experience and fun, sleeping bag liner needed for the longer third trip. Plenty of camera memory needed. The travelling wasnt particularly tiring overall, but it was nice to have a few days in one place e.g. on the boat or Yangshuo. It did feel a bit touristy at times, but that's what we were.  Food was great, and the shopping. There is lots of luggiing luggage about, often at stations with no escalators, so travel as light as possible, and leaves room for the shopping bargains, especially in Yangshuo. Like Cuba and Peru, if you see something and know the price you want to pay for it then buy it, as you may not see it again.  The Dong Fan hotel in Beijing is within walking distance of Tianamen Square, about 25 mins, and there the buses are cheap and plentiful. Olympic Park is simple to get to from the hotel on the metro from Tianmanen Square as its not included. The optional trips are dear in comparison to the rest of the holiday, acrobats ok, music and dumplings - food great, music ok, Sechuan opera - very good, Yangshuo - light show ok, lazy boat raft - great, cycle ride - exilerating! (walk to Moon Hill - not worth it), free trips from the Yangzte cruise - walk to ghost village (?) not worth it, chill on the boat, Three Gorges yes. A busy fascinating country....

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the end of the Inca Trail and seeing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate is great, but camping next to Salkantay glacier and walking alongside the mountain up to the Inca Chiriasqa pass was even better.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Arturo was great fun and very knowledgable; apart from running the trek he was well able to talk us round the various Inca sites without a guide. Staff were excellent, and the standard of meals on trek was amazingly high.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We were pretty lucky with the weather and most days were sunny and mild, but camping at 4000 metres is cold. Really cold. Who'd have thought it?

Most Inspirational Moment

Great memories:-Completing the climbs on day 1 and 2.-Cycling as close as it gets along the coast line on several occassions.-An amazing Croatian lunch at a family run restaurant in what to me seemed the middle of nowhere. -Dubrovnik early in the morning! I will certainly come back here. -Last but not least: making new friends to go on more Exocus holidays with. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group leader Vlad was great, he doesn't usually does this particular trip, but much more advanced ones. By the end of the week we were all convinced he was super-human. With the patience of angels he made sure the whole group managed most of the rides. He is passionate about his country and encouraged us all to make the most of all opportunties to explore. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you understand the skill level you need to do this ride, several in the group hadn't and it made the rides a lot harder for them and slower for the overall group. Because we all got on so well, it wasn't an issue in the group I was in, but could have been in a group who were after speed. Know your gears and be aware that you will be cycling 55K, with 2 x 1000m climbs on 2 days and around 35K the other days. 

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several highlights. The visit to Mount Etna was very interesting and the cheese and wine tasting later that day was most enjoyable! The Zingaro NP was lovely to walk in with some interesting museums in the park. The scenery was lovely and it was good to get some exercise and enjoy the countryside. The food and wine in Sicily is great and the people were very warm and friendly. Noto is beautiful and so is Erice.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Salvo was an excellent leader , full of knowledge and enthusiasm for his Island and especially the Etna area. He was patient and organised. An added bonus was that he is very sociable in the evenings .I learnt a lot about Sicily and Sicilains from him and also learnt a bit more of the Italian language. The driver , Luca was also very good , very friendly and sociable. The local guides were also very good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is very much a sightseeing trip. It covers a lot of the Island and therefore there isn't a lot of time spent soaking up the scenery and culture in any one place. It is listed as leisurely /moderate but compared with other trips I've been on this one was just leisurely . The walks on Etna and in the Zingaro Np are only very short. There are some steep bits , but mainly in the towns and villages due to them being built in hillsides or the tops of hills. Don't settle for a sandwich at lunchtime,instead find some local delicacies in the local pasticcerias. Great local food and quite cheap.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many highlights. All the walks were great but I really loved Valley of the Ten Peaks/Sentinel Pass, Yoho National Park and Crypt Lake. Loved the Waterton Lakes region, it was so different to the other 3 areas we camped in.Great wildlife sightings, grizzly and black bear, elk, moose, deer, sheep and pika!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Renee and Catherine were great - fun, friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. They cooked fantastic meals, and Catherines lunches were mouth watering.Renne has so much great knowledge about Canada and was willing to answer the many questions. They were the best guides I have had on any trip I have been on. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Weather is very changeable so make sure you pack clothes for layering. 

Most Inspirational Moment

We had many excellent experiences but I think from a walking point of view it must be the Amphitheatre at Drakensberg. After a cold and not too promising start the weather gradually cleared to reveal some awe inspiring views. I think the best picnic stop ever !!!The Game drives were great and varied: The first private game reserve we stayed at was very memorable seeing many animals but we came across two young Lionesses who were not at all bothered by our presence, great for the photographers. When we entered Kruger The water hole was very busy with Elephants, Hippo, Giraffe .... quite a sight.        

Thoughts on Group Leader

Admire and Mathew worked very hard to make things go smoothly, between them they had a lot of knowledge and if they didn't know usually found out.  They made the trip a very pleasant and memorable one.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a very varied holiday but does involve some long coach transfers. If you really don't like coach travel it may not be for you. But for me ... I thoroughly  enjoyed it.We are not campers but this was no problem. The guides had the tents up in no time and the beds very comfortable. The tents large enough to store your gear and tall enough in the centre to stand. 

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole Dalmation coast itself and especially Dubrovnik.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take note when the guide says there's hills involved!

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk down the Demosaris Gorge & swimming inthe lovely blue green Agean sea at the bottom

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was brilliant.His enthusiasm,knowledge of cultural,political& historic issues was incredible.Nothing was too much trouble for him.One of the best leaders I have walked with.