Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14217 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed July 2012

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

This trip was fantastic as it combined trekking in Mont Blanc during the day with the luxury of chalet accommodation in the evenings!

Most Inspirational Moment

The walking was fantastic and the views were amazing - especially on the final day on Aguillette des Houches! I really liked seeing Mer De Glace on the free day - i've never had the chance to go inside a glacier before and it was amazing!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Oliver our leader was very funny and very knowledgable about the local area. He paces the walks just right- you get to have regular rests to catch your breath and he made sure we were all enjoying ourselves.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice would be to take all the essential equipment and clothing as the weather changes quickly on the mountains!

Reviewed July 2012

INCA TRAIL & THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

An inspirational trip that packs a lot of amazing experiences into two weeks. From the Amazon jungle to the Inca Tail and on to Lake Titicaca, the scenery is so varied and the experiences so different it’s like having 3 mini holidays in one.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many! The Inca Trail was as challenging as expected but our leader made sure we paced ourselves to minimise the chance of altitude sickness. Reaching Dead Woman's Pass as a group was fantastic and seeing the mist dance over the mountains was beautiful. In fact, the whole of the Inca Trail is breathtaking with every corner revealing a different view! Macchu Pichu at sunset... and again at sunrise. Say no more! The porters who virtually run the trail in sandals while loaded up are incredible. The short flight from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonaldo takes you from the moutain peaks to the lush jungle so try to get a window seat and enjoy the ride! White water rafting through the Sacred Valley was great fun and the drive along the altiplano to Puno was stunning. Meeting the local people and the homestay on Amantani Island was wonderful and humbling. All in all an inspirational trip where you'll find yourself using superlatives again and again. And again!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Rene, was a superb organiser, anticipated our needs and was always ready with a smile and an answer to our questions. He was very professional, friendly and calm under pressure and his passion for Peru was infectious. Thanks Rene for a fantastic trip!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to your leaders advice and drink at least 3 litres of water a day - even more on the trek - as it really does help to avoid and/or deal with effects on altitude. Walking poles are ESSENTIAL. Take them to both the jungle and on the Inca Trail.Take lot of layers for the trek as the days can be warm but the nights can drop to 0 degrees. Take spare batteries for your camera on the Trail as there's nowhere to charge them. Take a potato peeler to the homestay (and leave it behind!).

Reviewed July 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Excellent organization. Maybe a bit over the top in the commodities… but definitely appreciated once there. The African Walking Company is an excellent organization.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing how one of our main guides took the load from a porter from another organization that had damaged his knee and carry the load until the end of the route. No one else did anything, and the porter kept pushing even though the damage he had done to his knee was really serious. Knowing that the company respect human values is very important.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Just one word: Awesome

Advice for Potential Travellers

Drink, drink, drink.

Reviewed July 2012

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

Stunningly beautiful with a huge sense of achievment at the end. I found it equally hard as Kili and Base Camp Everest, it certainly deserves to be on the Exodus big 5 list! The more you train, the more you will enjoy it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the final summit and having a glass of bubbly, just awsome.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I liked Mike but I did wish at times that he would let us at the back catch up a bit more often, quite sole destroying plodding along on your own, however I do know that he had confidence in my ability or he would have waited and he certainly made sure I had his second pole every time we desended as he never forgot that my knee was giving me some grief. I certainly trusted him and would be pleased to have him as my guide again.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train, train and train and don't underestimate how hard it it.

Reviewed July 2012

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

I have been on many walkig & Trekking holidays and I would like to say that Graham Hickman our Leader & Mountain Guide rated as the most friendly, compitent and encouraging leader I have ever met, this together with the new boy Lewis Bates, Driver, Camp Cook and all round good guy made a 15 day TMB trekking holiday a excelent experience I would recomend to anyone wishing to undertake this holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the numerous cols and taking in the magnificent view's coupled with a remarkable sense of personal achievement made a 65 year old very happy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As mentioned in the first section I wish Graham and Lewis all the best in their own future careers in the coming years, they made a wonderfull team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure you are as fit both physical and mental fit for this holiday, listen to your leaders and let them set the pace.The TMB is NOT a walk in the park but I believe I have proved that good preparation leads to sucessfull achievements.

Reviewed July 2012

PRAGUE TO BUDAPEST RIDE

Although I found the “rolling hills” hard work I had a great time, the countries we visited were fascinating and I particularly enjoyed Cesky Krumlov where we were lucky enough to arrive for their medieval festival and Bratislava.

Most Inspirational Moment

Learning how to 'ride' those dreaded 'rolling hills', enjoying the different scenery that each country had to offer and meeting up with other group members

Thoughts on Group Leader

A great leader with an excellent knowledge of the countries we visited, he was also a very nice person

Advice for Potential Travellers

Research your chosen trip carefully before you book and ask for advice re the classifications , I learnt that what I call significant hill climbing is to others' rolling hills'

Reviewed July 2012

THE AMALFI COAST

This was my first experience of a walking holiday, so I was a little apprehensive at first. However, as soon as I arrived, I knew the holiday was going to be something special. Our guide, Christine was absolutely lovely as well as being really knowledgeable and made the week really interesting. Added to that, a great group of people of all ages and good accomodation and food, made for a truly wonderful holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Quite honestly, there were so many breathtakingly beautiful sights of the coastline as we walked above it, that it's hard to pinpoint a single moment. However, pushed to choose one -I really loved Ravello and the views from Villa Cimbrone were pretty near to my idea of Paradise!

Thoughts on Group Leader

As I've said above, Christine our guide was great. I immediately warmed to her and as wellas being very organised, she was also full of fun and very engaging. She was also very encouraging to everyone and I can't speak highly enough of her - she contributed enomously to the enjoyment of the holiday experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although rated as leisurely/moderate, I would say this holiday leans more to the moderate end when temperature ( I travelled at the end of June) is taken into consideration. I was in two minds whether to invest in a walking stick, but found to my surprise, that it was invaluable for walking both up and down hills.I travelled with a friend - a little concerned about going on my own - but having now experienced this type of holiday with Exodus, I would have no worries about going it alone next time.

Reviewed July 2012

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

A fantastic week on Kilimanjaro. This was my 2nd attempt @ Kili after previously climbing on the Rongai route. I was under the misguided impression that this would be easier. How wrong! Each day was significantly harder than the Rongai route and in my mind the final ascent was just as hard as previously. It is a long day! It took me 9 hours to get to Stella point, another 5ish to get down, then a quick lunch break before the final 2-3 hour walk to Millenium camp. This trip is far harder than you believe it will be however you will form great friendships and ultimately have one of the most memorable weeks of your life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Amongst our group was a grandfather travelling with his 2 grandsons. The speech given by the grandfather upon receiving his certificate choked me and many of our group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group of 15 was supported by a network of over 50 local staff. Abraham was our group leader and his skills at managing this large group were exemplary. He was always happy, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountain and I was never in doubt that our safety and enjoyment of the time on the mountain was his top priority.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was my second trip to Kili and there are a couple of points I think are vital · HIRE A SLEEPING MAT! They are thicker than anything you could buy here and are carried separately to your luggage therefore do not take up space in your holdall/15kg allowance.· The scales at the Moivaro lodge are incorrect. They stated I was 3 kg over my allowance however after getting rid of some peanuts and wet wipes, my bag only weighed 12kg when weighed by the porters. · Take more cash than you ever intended for tipping. You will need to add to the group kitty but then so many individuals play an important part in your journey you will want to show your appreciation to them directly (i.e. the porter who carries your bag / the guide who gets you to the top of the mountain) I promise that whatever you expect to tip you will want to double when you see how far everyone goes out of their way to help you.· Tuck your trousers into your socks when walking through the jungle or else biting Ants will make the journey north. My friend had to rip her trousers down to find 2 ants biting her legs dangerously close to her knicker line! · READ MY BELOW ADVICE ON DONATING CLOTHES TO THE PORTERS!

Reviewed July 2012

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a great trek with amazing views and chosing to camp along the route provides a great atmosphere for the group. We were very lucky with the weather (30 degrees most days) but even the one very wet day we had was still a great day of walking.

Most Inspirational Moment

After crossing the Col de Balme on day two and teetering downhill on the snow high on the mountain and then zigzagging through the woodland, there was nothing more magical for our first camp in Switzerland than La Peuty. Located on the edge of the village the rough camp spot was quiet (thankfully not the one near the cement works which other reviews have complained about) and more importantly we could sit next to a field of wild flowers in the evening with a small campfire and a well earned beer.I was very surprised about the amount of snow still around having not walked in the Alps before, but it made the trip all the better; especially on the last day and after a tough ascent of Le Brevent we could slid on bums back down to Plan Praz.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Simon had a relaxed style which was great and meant that we were able to walk at our own pace and meet at specific check points (usually refuges for food and drink stops). This meant that a trip that could have felt like bootcamp still felt like a holiday.Simon also had the unfortunate task of looking after some group members feet when they suffered from blisters which i though was over and above what i would have expected from a group leader.Ben our logistics coordinator was also really great. Being the only vegetarian i expected that i would be eating similar food every day, but i ate very well and was well catered for.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get fit and break in your boots! Most walking days have around 1000m of ascent and also descent which is often quite steep. The upside is that there is always a refuge somewhere enroute to treat yourself to a coffee/hot chocolate/ cake. The Refuge Bonatti has the best hot chocolate and well worth sampling!Also, make the most of the rest days. The cable cars, especially up the Auguille de Midi are well worth the money to get close to Mont Blanc and watch alpinists on the snow. It is also very easy to find somewhere to paraglide in Chamonix on the last day.

Reviewed July 2012