Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The first time our guide lit the small gas heater in our freezing cold gite is firmly embedded in my memory.  Until then, I thought I was going to die from the cold!The 32 km walk to and from the lake on the last day was pretty special too. On the first day, I opted out of the lunch venue that our city guide took us to, as I thought the food looked rather bland - as did the restaurant. I found THE MOST AMAZING place to eat in the following place www.lesjardinsdelakoutoubia.com   Incredible roof terrace, amazing views, fabulous food and brilliant service, for not much more than the price of the place I had opted out of. I highly recommend it.  I spent New Year's eve there too and it was truly amazing. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very competent and very patient indeed. He had his work cut out pacing the walks to suit a very mixed ability group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are travelling in Dec/Jan ditch the T-shirts and take thermals and fleeces. Consider packing a hot-water bottle. Gloves and a wooly hat are a must. Also consider bringing some savoury snacks for munching on. You might also wish to pack a flask as the gite staff will fill it with boiling water if you wish to have a hot drink on the walks.

Most Inspirational Moment

- The mountain walking- The temple in Mudurai- The fantastic food made under simple conditions during our camping

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ajith is a very good guide, full of kowledge about the nature and his country, a good organiser, and a very nice person.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Give your packing list a real consideration. Although wet and a little chilly in the mountains, most of the time it is really warm. Be flexible and multi-purposed in your packing. A warm waterbottle in your sleeping bag works miracles for chilly nights. Be aware that the camping life is very basic, with little chance of a wash for 5 days. The tents are small, so keep your bags as small as possible.

Most Inspirational Moment

When I finally stopped freaking out because I couldn't control my speed!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders Eric and Andy, who were both fantastic.  Excellent instruction for both beginner and experienced skiers...also very patient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're expecting Italian food in Dobiacco you won't find it unless you go out to specific restaurants.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think everyday was inspirarainal, but the first day really sticks in my mind.The first ride which was rather relaxing cycling through the jungle and children running out and saying hello to the group, then visiting the beautiful cave temples at dambula and then later climbing the rock fortress at sigiriya. there were so many highlights to this trip but I loved the tea stops and bakeries, the sri lankans make great cakes! also just to eat fresh fruit everyday which hasn't travelled thousands of miles was just brilliant :-)

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was really really great, he put 100% into the group and kept everything running smoothly, nothing was a problem for him, we had mentioned we were intrested in the pottery and potters in the area of ahangama, and so with our group leader and driver we went on the hunt for a local potter, it would have been impossible without the help of the leader and it was a great experience to see the potter work and show us her techniques. I also like comment on the rest of the team who were also great and helpful the driver was amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

The final ascent, of course! But then I dont think I would have made it without all the wonderful friends I climbed with. We all bonded really well from from the moment we journeyed from the airport to the hotel. The Porters also made me feel very humble too. The do an incredible amount to make the experience unforgettable. We truly could not have climbed without each and every one of them from the helping porters to the guides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Meke, the Head Guide, was the nicest person you could ever meet. Each of the 4 Guides were excellent. You absolutely respected their decisions. If they said you couldn't go on, then you couldn't. Equally, if they felt you had it in you, even though you didn't think you did, they would encourage you to keep going! And we all made it!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for the dust! There's an incredible amount of it. Try to put all you clean clothes into plastic bags. this will keep the clean stuff seperate from the dusty stuff. Take throat lozenges too. Also have in your mind that its perfectly normal to feel bad. That's what climbing Kilimanjaro is all about. Once you accept that its normal to have a headache and feel a bit sick, then it makes life easier. Also prepare to tip the top rate for the Porters. The do an incredible amount, and carry not just your bag, but anything else they can manage too. And, finally and most importantly, just enjoy every single minute of it! It's over too quickly!

Most Inspirational Moment

Stood on the crisp snow covered riverbank, gazing into the break of white water cascading past 'The Mill' as I placed my snowball and thoughts in a secret position to be remembered upon my return to 'the real world'.Standing back to admire the 5 hours worth of hard work from our group of four quincee builders, before creating a 'Benny Hill' style sketch around them! Thanks girls - such fun!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb! Very approachable, chatty and knowledgeable of the local area. All staff gave every effort to their jobs but also created a relaxed atmosphere whilst efficiently going about their work - from the cook to the group leaders, excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You really don't need to take much with you to wear, other than personal items such as underwear and thermals. A holiday where you could almost get away with hand luggage!

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing atop Monte Piano, on a plateau of swirling snow surrounded by peaks. It was like standing in the centre of a coronet. Yay we did it !!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Karl has an inspiring passion for the Dolomites. He was thoughtful and encouraging about making sure we enjoyed every element of our holiday. His deep knowledge of the area created confidence alongside his stories describing the history as we chugged along.He invited feedback throughout the week and wanted to make sure the holiday would be the best that it could be for us. Best ever group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We were the oldest on the group (60 + 66). We probably should have done some more steep hill walking before we went, but we had a wonderful time and highly recommend the trip. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day was special on this trip. Be it the unusual Sigiriya, the cultural and beautiful Polonnawura, the spectacular mountainous centre of the country from Kandy, through Nuwara Eliya to Ella, the wildlife, the beaches, the towns or the delicious Sri Lankan cuisine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh, Upali and Dasun were all great, very attentive caring and fun. A great team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You will enjoy this trip most if you are fit. For sure there's a back-up vehicle, but why book on a cycling holiday to sit on a bus.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think my two favourite moments in the trip was 1) signing Auld Lang Syne around the campfire under the stars in the Sahara and 2) being up in the High Atlas.The Sahara was wonderfully beautiful and so silent, watching the sunset turn the sand pink was an amazing experience.  Our group made the most of the two bands that entertained us by dancing and singing along and after dinner going out for a group hug by the camp fire. The night and walk in the mountains was also a brilliant time and more relaxing than i thought it was going to be.  The contrast between the sahara and the mountains was great and everyone we met was very welcoming and looked after us very well. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan our guide and Abdul our driver were both very funny and looked after us very well.  Hassan really enjoyed telling us about his country and was always willing to answer our (endless) questions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is alot of driving, so bring something to read or entertain yourself with.  Also, take a little more money than advised in the trip notes, you can take it in sterling and change in country as there are exchanges everywhere.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtedly the first early morning game drive in Bandhavgarh when a magnificent male tiger padded out of the bamboo and crossed the road a few feet behind our jeep - magical.  But India is a destination like no other and the whole trip was an unforgettable experience, shared with a good bunch of fellow travellers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Hemal Dey.  Hemal is a very likeable, kind man with good knowledge of India and its history and customs and a bird specialist.  He did his very best for us in often testing circumstances:(1) The late addition to our group of three people whose original-choice holiday trips were cancelled  caused problems with game drives and Hemal was constantly trying to manage the situation to be fair to all.  Exodus had flagged the problem in an e-mail sent shortly before departure saying that at Kanha and Bandhavgarh game drives would need to be 5 people per jeep but this did not happen on the ground and at all the parks our 10-strong group (plus Hemal) was spread across three jeeps and only rarely did all three together gain acess to the premium zones.(2) Because there were no additional game drives on offer we had several days featuring hours of "leisure" time and Hemal arranged village visits and "birding" walks for us.(3) Our schedule for Agra and Delhi at the end of the trip had to be abandoned because extensive fog caused the train from Katni to Agra to run 12 hours late and instead of arriving in the early hours of Thursday morning we reached our hotel in Agra after dark in the evening.  In fact Katni Railway Station (including the "first class" waiting room) and the sleeper train are experiences I will never forget - with Hemal producing brunch (toasted bread sandwiches and boiled eggs) when we had gone almost 24 hours without food.(4) As the Taj Mahal is not open on Fridays, after visiting Agra Fort (well worthwhile) Hemal took us to a vantage point behind the Taj Mahal where we could just about see it in the distance looming out of the mist.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My resume of each park and the accommodation provided:Pench Jungle Camp had the best facilities (including a pool) and the park offers the best game viewing.  It has a huge variety of animals and birds which are easy to see through the teak forest.  But none of our group saw a tiger (Hemal had warned us that a tiger sighting here would be unlikely).Wild Chalet at Kanha had the best location (overlooking a river) although it was extremely cold evenings and mornings and game drives away from the premium zones were practically a waste of time - dense sal forest making game viewing very difficult.  But I had my first tiger sighting at Kanha - our jeep spent some time watching a female on the edge of the forest a hundred yards from the road stalking a spotted deer.Nature Heritage Resort at Bandhavgarh is close to Tala gate and this is the park where, across the group, we saw several tigers.  However, most sightings were "manufactured" - the park authorities use elephants to find tigers and shepherd them to where jeeps are waiting.  Bandhavgarh is the most beautiful of the parks we visited with spectacular landscapes.The staff at the lodges made us most welcome, service was excellent and the food was always good - plentiful and tasty, mostly vegetable curries of all sorts but with one meat option and all the usual Indian meal extras.The park roads are all extremely dusty and everything gets covered with a reddish film.  The evening shower back at the lodge was always a highlight of the day for me!