Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There are many parts of this trip which were unforgettable, but climbing the dunes of Wadi Rum and dancing with the Bedouins at the camp are the most memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Samer, was freelance and contracted to us for the week. While very warm and helpful if asked, he did not take as much initiative in explaining to us the itinerary for the day or helping us understand what we might need in terms of the various bits and bobs required to make a trip more comfortable. For example, the group would often wonder how long a journey may be, where we would have lunch next, or how far we'd have to go before we reached a toilet. With children (there were ten children) it is more essential to be told when we would need to slather suncream on them so we could do it before we got to a destination rather than waste time at it. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Wadi Rum accommodation is actually quite good - they provide very thick blankets (in April at the time of writing this) - so you may not really need sleeping bags. Aqaba has a laundry service round the corner from the hotel (Mina Hotel) and you can wash there if you need to. Carry strong sunscreen for the Dead Sea and Red Sea and Bethany.  

Suggestions

I very much enjoyed this holiday - it encapsulated everything that Jordan has to offer within a very short amount of time.I would however have liked to spend one more day in Amman because we did not get the opportunity to see Jerash. Perhaps getting to Aqaba earlier/leaving earlier might help to gain more time in order to see Jerash.I wish the hotel in Amman was closer to the downtown area, as that may offer a glimpse of Amman. Our time in the city was fleeting so having a location closer to be able to see the city better would compensate for it. Also, there is nothing near the hotel at all, so the only choice was to eat its rather large (and expensive) menu. The staff though was warm and welcoming, as is usually the case with most Jordanians. People are friendly and seem to really like foreigners. If you are kind and patient and friendly with them, they often go out of their way to help you. 

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed Khiva most, being a very well preserved walled city the visual impact of the history associated with the country is hard to miss.  I also enjoyed the Kazak singer at the camp fire in the Yurt camp, apart from experiencing this specific type of music the setting made us all relax and feel how special the simplicity of the night was.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very good.  He was very relaxed, fun and nothing was ever a problem.  He was very knowledgeable about the sites we were visiting and gave general information and advice to help us enjoy our stay in Uzbekistan. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a safe country where female and single travellors should feel safe.  I would recommend taking a sleeping bag liner to the Yurt.  Only a couple of times were we required to wear modest clothing to visit some holy places, clothes covering womens elbows and knees was needed.

Suggestions

The drive from Khiva to Bukara is very long and uncomfortable due to the poor state of the road.  It takes 10 hours and for most of it you are bumping along.  If there is an option to go via train or air I would highly recommend that as an alternative.

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it, can't say I could pick one thing out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.  He was very knowledgeable and if he wasn't there we wouldn't have seen as many animals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy it.  Long days but make the most of it.  Book the optional trips as it is a trip of a lifetime.

Most Inspirational Moment

My two stand out moments were fairly predictable but no less enjoyable because of that: - walking down the Siq at Petra and catching my first glimpse of the breathtakingly beautiful Treasury; and- sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum and watching the moon make its way across the night sky.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was great - smart, extremely well informed, kind, helpful and endlessly patient. If anything, he gave us a bit too much information and could have perhaps shortened and/or simplified some of the explanations that he gave us. I think he may have assumed a bit too much prior knowledge on the part of the group!  

Advice for Potential Travellers

A week is long enough to see the key sights of Jordan but it's still a pretty hectic itinerary. So don't be expecting long lie-ins or anything! Highlights for me were Petra (of course) and the majestic Wadi Rum. You'll get most out of Petra if you have a reasonable level of fitness as it's a vast site to cover and many of the best trails and viewpoints requires some (fairly tough) climbing. It can also get blisteringly hot, even when we were there in April, so be sure to wear heaps of sunscreen and a hat. And drink plenty of water.   As long as you're prepared for fairly basic conditions in the desert, you'll have a great time at Wadi Rum. And the food we had there was absolutely delicious! It would have been nice to have a bit longer in Aqaba (Red Sea) after the rigours of the desert but there wasn't time in the itinerary for that. I can highly recommend the boat trip in Aqaba. We had the entire boat to ourselves (there were only about 10 of us) and both the snorkelling and the lunch they fed us were brilliant. Judging by what those who didn't come on the boat told us, it was definitely the best thing to do in Aqaba.  Amman was a bit of a disappointment ie, a mostly modern city with very few sights of historical interest, but that's fine as it was mostly just a starting and finishing point for the trip.  

Suggestions

Make sure you get a good guidebook before you go and make the effort to mug up on some of the history and politics of the country and broader region. It's such a fascinating part of the world with so much to see and do. I constantly wished I knew more about so many things (although our guide was great for filling in the gaps!)  

Most Inspirational Moment

The most memorable moment was day 2 – standing on top a mountain and seeing the Atlas panoramic – it was breathtaking to look at the beauty nature can create.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The local guides were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You have to take a camera that can take panaramic shots - better still a video so you can attempt to capture the beauty of the panaramic when you see it.

Suggestions

The mountain can warm in the day but pretty cold at nights...

Most Inspirational Moment

Many moments:- seeing a lion drinking from a large puddle in Etosha - we were so close we could hear him lapping up the water, absolute breathtaking.- watching the thousands of seals at the Skeleton Coast - everywhere you looked there were seals in different poses, barking to one another and baby seals feeding.  The smell is indescribable - and worth it. - the scenery across Namiba - from the sand dunes and desert in the south, the incredible hills in the Namib-Nauklaft park, the huge boulders in Damaraland and the Waterberg plateau.  - sleeping under canvas for the first time - the night sky in Namibia is second to none, seeing the Milky Way, Mars, Venus and Jupiter.  All the night-time noises, the lions roaring, the jackals scratching at my tent, the crickets chirping.....

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was brilliant - a great guide and a great driver. He was so knowledgeable about his country, the people and the animals. Jonas was a superb cook - I've never eaten so well!  Tuafeni was a lovely camp assistant, and the three of them got on really well.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a waterproof!! It rained more than 85mm of water on the day we walked up Dune 45 - it was at the end of the rainy season but this was apparently more than they'd had the entire rainy season, and roads got washed away.  You can buy a proper pillow at the supermarket/shop stop before the first night camping, well worth doing, and the guys collect any unwanted items for distribution to locals afterwards.   You also get a fair amount of free time; many of the campsites have pools so take a swimsuit and plenty to read.  You need to get a special adaptor for Namibian plug sockets - if you don't get one before you go, you can buy one in the same shop as the pillows (sorry, cant remember the name of it).  The campsites all have sockets for recharging electrical items.  You can buy a guide pamphlet (A4) on the animals/birds of Etosha in many places, so you dont need to worry about getting a book beforehand.

Suggestions

This was my first camping trip and I loved it.  I was a bit concerned about the ablution facilities but they were (on the whole), absolutely fine.  The only 'dodgy' ones were at the municipal camp site but a few of us found the one decent shower and formed a queue outside for it.   If you are considering going to Namibia, this trip is definitely for you - I really enjoyed it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing the wonderful Vietnamese people and how they have come through such a war torn history.Halong Bay of course . The site of the Thet Offensive and clear evidence of the battle. The War Museum and the erie silence of the visitors.

Thoughts on Group Leader

 Thuay.Absolutely excellent. The standard against which all your guides could be judged

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not have any doubts about experiencing this visit and do it soon.

Suggestions

We enjoyed our group experience so much we have suggested to all members that we get together again. Has that ever been done?

Most Inspirational Moment

My favourites included:- Cycling around the local villages and meeting local people (take some pencils for the children)- Climbing Lion's rock - great views and a sense of achievement- Paddling down the river on a raft watching people playing and washing up!- Watching the women pick the tea on the plantations

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan is excellent. Always accommodating and very knowledgeable. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of wet-wipes - it's humid on the coast and dusty on the game drive.You need to like rice and curry - some are mild so no problems there. The food is delicious.Most hotels have a pool, so don't forget your swimming gear.

Suggestions

Notes for Exodus: For me there were a few points which were a little touristy rather than in the traveller spirit that Exodus normally portrays - these included visits to the spice gardens, gem factory and wood carving workshop - there was no pressure to buy anything, but when the intinery is tight I would have preferred to spend the time at local sites. Also, why go to a small turtle hatchery and the elephant orphanage, when you could visit the real thing on the beach and at Yala? Travellers - You only have an hour at the most at these, don't let it put you off - the trip is great! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of some relentless cimbs still on my bike.  If I had seen the climb beforehand, I might not have believed that I could do it!  The blues and turquoises of the sea at different points was amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.  Very responsive to changes in weather and very conscious of safety on wet, slippery roads and busy traffic areas.  Bonded really well with the group and was a mine of local information.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train well and go looking for some hills to climb before you depart as there are some long switchback climbs.  Having said that the bikes are very good and you will eventually grind your way up there if you are not so fit.  Just more enjoyable to stick with the group.

Suggestions

The Salerno to Amalfi trip could start earlier on in the day to accommodate changes in weather.  The buffalo mozzarella farm visit was ok and could probably be tagged onto the previous day.  We didn't ride at all on the transfer day which I was very grateful for as the conditions were treacherous. 

Most Inspirational Moment

There was a day of "scambling", so minor rock climbing up the mountain. Everyone had different levels of experience and it was great seeing everyone work together and cheer each other on to make it up and down the mountain.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ibrahim was a really decent guy. He was authentic and told it to you straight. He had great insights into the Bedouin people and their history and wasn't afraid to share stories, opinions, and songs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring wetwipes! You won't even notice the lack of showers ;)