Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching two cheetas eating their kill meters away from us as we were led through the bush on foot.  This was an amazing experience.  The trip to the Drakensberg was also very memorable, especially negotiating the metal ladders!  Great stuff!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrew was a first class tour leader and Admire a excellent back up.  As a team, they made our holiday from preparing lovely food to always getting camp ready quickly.  Their driving was faultless.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go in the winter as there are no insects or bugs and the bush is very thin so there is a much better chance of seeing wild life.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment of the trip was reaching the top of Dead Woman's Pass. After climbing for 1200m reaching the top was fantastic! We were all elated. A definite highlight. Another moment was first seeing Macchu Picchu when we reached the sungate, be warned there are some very steep steps before you reach that point. Luckily, our guide was there to carry our trekking poles as we scrambled up. Lake Titikaca is amazing, staying at the homestay was not something that I was looking forward to but was one of the most amazing parts of the trip, especially dressing up in Peruvian attire!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Juan was brilliant. He organised us and made sure we were in the right place at the right time. He had lots of knowledge to share with us on the Inca Trail and was able to answer any questions that we had. I became ill during my trip and Juan was able to sort out all medical help that I needed which meant I could carry out with the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Use trekking poles on the Inca Trail, there are lots of steps going down and they were very helpful. Make sure you have spare rubber tips though as this is the regulation of using the trail. Ensure you have a good pair of walking boots and socks so that you don't get blisters. Be prepared to tip all local guides as well, we had separate guides in the rainforest, an additional guide up in the Inca Trail and a guide for Lake Titikaca which we have to tip separately to our main guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was great camaraderie in the group I was with and we all supported each other during the trickier sections.  Finishing the challenging trek on Tuesday morning was particularly rewarding.  The views from the top were incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Oliver was a very supportive group leader with endless knowledge about the area and history of the region.  His jokes were an acquired taste - but we all got used to those! ;o)

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want to explore the beauty of the Alps and want some home comforts at the end of the day, I think you'll really enjoy this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

So difficult - was it the quad biking on dunes stretching as far as the eye could see for 360 degrees, or spending time watching the pride of lions playing and interacting almost within touching distance of the truck, or watching the sun rise after climbing a huge sand dune or scrambling on all fours up the Waterberg plateau? Each day brought a new experience and a significant challenge bringing its own thrill of achievement.

Advice for Potential Travellers

When the trip notes say the temperature can get down to freezing at night in August, they were not kidding - make sure your sleeping bag can cope in a tent- or bring lots of thermal undies!Water is all drinkable - great.Travel was often very long, often on gravel roads, not for tender behinds! Take a good guide book to read and to make sense of the amazing landscape and wildlifeCan't always promise it but there were no nasty beasties biting us at this time of year.

Most Inspirational Moment

The last day was rainy and misty. We went ahead with the climb to Aguillette des Houches in spite of low visibility. Just as we arrived on the col, the clouds parted and the top of Mt Blanc came into view: what a moment...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get fit before the trip: this makes it so much easier to enjoy even the harder parts.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip to Halong Bay was particularly rewarding and the scenary and experience was fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide couldn't do enough to ensure we had a safe, comfortable and enjoyable trip. He recounted many personal and fascinating insights that made the trip and the places we visited come to life. A great guy and a pleasure to have his company thorughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a long flight so be prepared ... bring plenty of insect repellent ... sign up to the extra activities that Linh arranges they are great fun ... expected it to be very hot and wet so bring change of clothes and take advantage of opportunities to get clothes washed

Most Inspirational Moment

That first glimpse of Macchu Piccu as we passed through the sun gate is something I'll never forget. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

What a lovely lady. So helpful & she really went out of her way to make this a trip of a lifetime for all of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget that spare battery for you camera - you'll likely need it!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are many inspirational moments - from Herculaneum and Pompeii through to Ravello and Amalfi - the "Walk of the Gods" would be our top choice.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine was very well organised and looked after us very well. She had a wealth of knowledge and kept the walks at the right pace. Our expecations were well managed in terms of hills and steps! Exodus has very good leaders and guides and Christine was no exception.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you can cope with 6 - 9 miles walk in the heat (if you go in the summer) - it was over 40C on Vesuvius (even the locals were complaining!) - so we had to take it slowly and drink plenty.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were no bad bits during the week, but the highlights included the 2 day walk with a night in the refuge. The walks covered the highest peak in Tuscany, plus an earlyish morning walk to the second highest peak in the neighbouring range. Seeing the sunset high up in the mountains was amazing and worth the walk alone.The food at the accommodation was perfect and plenty of it, always seconds available!There was plenty to challenge and enjoy on the walks, with chains, scrambling and ridges all done at some point, plus forest walks but always excellent views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was our leader, and she was excellent, she was friendly and helpful and made sure that we all knew what we were doing every day and made sure we were comfortable on each walk, by allowing the faster walkers to go on ahead, but giving clear instructions of where to wait for the group. On the walks she made sure that we were all ok, and on our day off she ensured that we all knew what the options were for us to do. On the last day, as we had a late flight back to London, Liz ensured our day was full with a trip to Lucca and Pisa, thus meaning we had 7 full days.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are not fit, or do not walk regularly then this is not a week for you. However, if you are fit or walk regularly in the hills then this is a week for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

Without a doubt it was reaching the Sungate on day four of the Inca Trail to obtain the first view of Machu Picchu.A close second was the sunset on Amantani island on Lake Titicaca. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan was a wealth of information who assisted everyone in the group with their individual needs and never seemed to tire of answering questions and accommodating group members.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring along good insect repellent, carry toilet tissue paper at all times and make sure you have a good camera with long battery life!